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Abstract

A flexible, aerodynamic inflatable nose fairing for use in combination with flat nosed canister launched missiles having a wide circular cylindrical shape. The inflatable nose fairing is fabricated as a fiber-reinforced elastomeric membrane having a laminate construction which includes a silicone rubber inner or base layer as the gaseous pressure membrane or bladder, surrounded by two or more ply layers made up of resin-impregnated yarns. In a preferred embodiment, the silicone rubber bladder is applied to a generally conical shaped mandrel. The first ply layer is fabricated by hoop winding resin impregnated yarns on a constant diameter cylinder and then cutting to form gores. The gores are applied to the conical shaped mandrel such that the gore fibers are oriented in the axial direction of the conical shaped mandrel. A second ply layer of resin-impregnated yarns is applied circumferentially over the first ply layer by hoop winding such that the fibers of the second ply layer are oriented transverse to the fibers of the first ply layer. The second ply layer is roughly twice the thickness of the first ply layer. The unbalanced ply stacking facilitates bending in the axial direction and allows the nose fairing to be compactly folded into a shallow stowed position which, in turn, allows for an increase in the payload capacity of the missile. An outer protective layer may be applied to the outer structural ply layer to provide thermal and erosion protection.

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First Claim