Tube with complex shape made by electroforming - and suitable for mfg. rocket thrust nozzles

摘要

Tubes are made, esp. with a changing cross-section and/or an undulating or bent shape, e.g. to make a tunnel consisting of a rocket combustion chamber followed by a thrust nozzle contg. a constriction. A core is made of metal, or of a nonmetallic material with an electrically conducting surface layer; and the tube is made by electroforming a metal onto core, or deposition of metal by electrochemical means; core is then removed. Core is pref. made by casting a low m.pt. alloy, esp. Cerrobend (RTM). Several cores are pref. mounted on a jig, esp. a shaft fitted with disks between which the cores are located; and the jig is immersed in the electro(less) forming bath. The cores are then melted out of the tubes. An inexpensive method of mfg. tubes with complex shape.