Rocket’s TPS includes sealing features

A metallic, thermal protection

system (TPS) for rockets, that

includes various sealing features,

was discussed at a recent meeting

of the American Institute of

Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The economics of reusable

rocketry largely depends on the

success of heat protection

systems. Without a robust, heat-

resistant and easily maintainable

outer skin, rockets of the

future may never offer routine,

low-cost access to space. A new

adaptable robust metallic

operable reusable (ARMOR) TPS

has been designed, analyzed and

fabricated. It promises to help

achieve the goal of cheaper rides

for people and payloads into

space and back.

Several ARMOR TPS panels

have been fabricated. The outer

surface is a foil-gage, Inconel 617

metallic honeycomb sandwich

panel. This outer panel is

structurally connected to an inner

box beam by a thin Inconel 718

metal support bracket at each

corner of the panel.

The ARMOR TPS is built

to accommodate aerodynamic

pressures, as well as thermal

conditions found in the cold of

space and throughout the heat

of re-entry. Furthermore,

rainwater and moisture are

managed by a thin-gauge metal

foil that closes off the bottom of a

panel to create a watertight

container for internal insulation.

A metallic TPS can be designed to

prevent water from reaching the

internal insulation, eliminating

the need for time-consuming re-

waterproofing procedures.

For more information, contact:

American Institute of Aeronautics and

Astronautics, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive,

Suite 500 Reston, VA 20191-4344, USA.

Tel: +I 703 264 7500, Fax: +l 703 264

7657.

its speciality chemical business

Goodyear has sold its speciality

chemical business, based in

France, and certain related assets

in the USA, to Littlejohn & Co

Llc, a private equity firm with

headquarters in Greenwich,

Connecticut, USA.

According to Goodyear, the

divestment reflects its long-term

strategy to sell non-core assets and

reduce company debt. The company

says that it had successfully grown

the speciality chemical business and

although it continues to be strong,

speciality chemicals was not part of

Goodyear’s long-term plan.

Financial details of the agreement

were not disclosed.

The business, which includes

resins for paints, coatings and print

toners, elastomeric modifiers, and

rubber and plastic anti-degradants,

generated sales of more than US$l20

million in fiscal 2000. It includes

facilities located at Le Havre and

Orsay in France, and Akron, Ohio,

USA, and employs more than 410

people.

Goodyear Chemical says that the

sale will help it focus resources on

its three core businesses. These are

basic and high-performance

polymers and antioxidants used in

tyres and other rubber products;

rubber latex used in asphalt; and

adhesive resins used in hot-melt

and pressure-sensitive applications.

For more information, contact:

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, 1144 East

Market Street, Akron, OH 44316, USA.

Tel:+1 330 796212l,Fax:+l 330 796

2222.

Monitors are sealed for healthcare applications

US-based Elo TouchSystems Inc

has released a range of sealed

touch-monitors for a variety of

healthcare applications within

the medical market, including a

drip-proof model that may be

safely placed in the operating

theatre itself.

The company’s medical-grade

monitors meet agency safety

standards, including UL260 l- 1,

CE and cUL. Its Entuitive LCD

drip-proof medical touch-monitor

meets IEC529/IPXl specifica-

tions. The design of its enclosure,

coupled with the addition of a

special gasket, ensures that the

entire unit sheds water and is safe

from liquid drops and spills. The

drip-proof seal also allows the

monitor to be sterilized with

hospital-grade disinfectants.

For more information, contact: Elo

TouchSystems Inc,6500 Kaiser Drive,

Fremont,CA 94555, USA.Tel:+l 510

7394600,Fax:+l 5107900627.

Garlock moves to new premises

Sealing technology business

Garlock (Great Britain) Ltd has

completed its move to new

premises in Elland, West

Yorkshire.

Th e move, from its original

facility in Newbury, to the larger

more centralized UK location,

will allow the company to support

its expanding customer base.

Garlock says that its new

facility will not only permit it to

increase its manufacturing

capacity, but will also provide

its customers with increased

support.

A training school in the

building will offer its customers

essential information to help

them understand the limits

and capabilities of increasingly

complex technology.

For more information, contact:

Garlock Sealing Technologies, Garlock

Ltd. Premier Way, Lowfields Business

Park, Elland, West Yorkshire HX5 9HF,

UK. Tel:+44 1422 313600,

Fax:+44 1422 313601.

SKF closes seals plant in USA, moves production to Italy

SKF’s seals plant in Bethlehem,

Pennsylvania, USA, will be closed

at the end of March 2002.

The manufacturing equipment

will be transferred to the

company’s RFT seals operations in

Italy. Forty employees are affected

by the transfer.

The Swedish company says that

the closure of the US plant, which

manufactures bearing seals, is part

of its strategy to rationalize the

production of such seals and

improve productivity and

profitability.

For more information, contact: SKF

Group, SE-415 50 G6teborg.Sweden.

Tel:+4631 3371000,Fax:+4631 337

2832.

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