O-RINGS AND PUTTY

The short stack finally went together after repeated attempts, but one of the O-rings was cut. Efforts to separate the joint were stopped because some do not think they will work. Engineering is designing tools to separate the pieces. The prints should be released tomorrow. 2. The inert segments are at T-24 and are undergoing inspection. 3. The hot flow test rig i s in design, which is proving to be difficult. Engineering is planning release of these prints Wednesday or Thursday. 4. Various potential filler materials are on order s w h as carbon, graphite, quartz, and silica fiber braids; and different putties. They will all be tried in hot flow tests and full scale assembly tests. 5. The allegiance to the O-ring investigation task force is very limited to a group of engineers numbering 8-10. Our assigned people in manufacturing and quality have the desire, but are encumbered with other significant work. Others in manufacturing, quality, procurement who are not involved directly, but whose help we need, are generating plenty of resistance. We are creating more instructional paper than engineering I data. We wish we could get action by verbal request but such is not the case. This i s a red flag. . c-A56

¶Ebeliiig R. V .

288

¶v-I l o r m m d EP25 (79-23) February 6, 1979

¶TO: O i s t r i bution

¶FROII: EPZHIR., R4y 1

SUBJECT: Y l s i t to Precision R u b k r Products Corporation and hrlrer Seal Company t

The purpose of t h i s memorandum i s t o document the r e s u l t s o f a v l s i t

t o PreCiSlOn Rubber Products Corporation, Lebanon, TN. by Hr. Eudy. EESl and Rr. Ray. EP25. on February 1. 1979 and also t o inform you of the v i s i t nade to Parker Seal Company. Lexington. KY on February 2. 1979 by Rr. Ray.' Th. purpose of the v l s i t s was to present the O-ring seal manufacturers *1W data concerning t h e l a m O-ring extrusion gaps being experienced on . the Space Shuttle 50114 Rocket Motor c l e v i s j o i n t s and to seek opinions. mganting potential r i s k s involve+ Thc v i s i t on February 1. 1979. to Prao4sion Rubber Products Corporatlon by Rr. Eudy and Nr. Ray w as very welt recelvcd. Conpany o f t l c l a l s , Mr. Hcuard G i l l e t t e . Vice President f o r Technlcal Direction, Mr. John Hoover, Vice President f o r Englnccring,and R r . Gene Hale. Design Engineer attended the meeting and were presented with the SRn c l e v i s j o i n t seal t e s t data by Mr. Eudy and Mr. Ray. A f t e r considerable discussion. capany representatives declined t o m k c IImnediate n c a n n n d a t i o n s because o f the need f o r more time t o study the data. They did; however. voice concern f o r the derign,stating t h a t the SRn O-ring extrusion gap was larger than t h a t covered by t h e i r experience. They a l s o stated t h a t more tests should be performed w i t h the present design. Hr. Hoover promised t3 C o n t i s t MSFC f o r further discusstons w i t h i n a f e w days. M r . G i l l c t t e provided Rr. Eudy and Rr. R a y with the names o f two consultants who my be able to help. Ne are indebted t o the Preclslon Rubber Products Corporation f o r the time and e f f o r t being'expended by t h e i r people I n support of t h i s problem. e m a l l y slncc they have no connection w i t h tbe project. , ilw v i s l t t o the Parker Seal Conpany on February 2. 1979. by R r . Ray, 0 EP25. was also wall received; Parker Seal Company SUpplieS the O-rings W d i n the S M c l e v i s j o i n t design. Parker representatives. Hr. B i l l n Collins. Vice President f o r Sales. Rr. N. B. Green. Ranagcr for Technical Services. Mr. J . N. Kosty. Chief Oevelopnnt Engineer f o r RID. Rr. 0 0. P. Thalnm. T e r r i t o r y Ranrger and Rr. Obtch Haddock, Technical N Services, met w i t h Hr. Ray, EP25. and w a n provlded w i t h the i d e n t i c a l 0 P . ( . . (

289

¶SIW clevis j o i n t data as was presented t o the Precision Rubber Products Company on February 1. 1979. Reaction t o the data by Parker o f f i c i a l s ws essentially the same as t h a t by Precision; the SRM 0 - r l n extrusion gap i s larger than they have previously experienced. They a !

¶s o expressed rurpi*lse t h a t the seal hdd performed so wet1 i n the present application. Parker experts would make no o f f l c i a l statements concerning r e l i a b i l i t y and potential r i s k factors associated w i t h the present design; however. t h e i r f i r s t thought was t h a t the O-ring ws being asked t o perform beyond I t s intended deslgn and t h a t a d i f f e r e n t type of seal should be considered. Th. need f o r additional t e s t i n g o f the present design ws also discussed and i t was agreed t h a t tests which more closely simulate actual conditions should b dona. Parker o f f i c i a l s w i l l study the data i n more d e t a i l w i t h other Company experts and contact MSFC f o r further discussions i n approximately one week. Parker Seal has shown a serious i n t e r e s t i n assisting MSFC wAth t h i s problem and t h e i r e f f o r t s are very much appreciated.

¶W i l l i a m L. Ray/ S o l i d b t o r Branch. EP25 Dlstribut1 on : SMl/Rssrs. Hardy/Rice EESl/Mr. Eudy EPOl/Mr. HcCool

290

¶V-J

¶Interolllce Memo :

¶This poai ti on l a now drasrically chansed aa a result of the SRn 16A nozzle j o i n t e r osi on w h i c h eroded a secondary 0-Bing w i t h the primary +Ring never sealing.

¶If th; same scenario should occur in a f i e l d j o i n t (and i t could), then i.t is a jump bJ1 aa t o t h e aucceaa or failure of the j o i n t because the secon&rl O - w g cannot respond t o t h e c l e v i s opening r a t e . d may not be capable of pressurizac?on. -The result would be a catastrophe of the highest order -

..¹¹ For the purpose of this report, a procedure is a formal set of instructions designed to guide and assist in the performance of a technical or management function. g8 mid., July 24, 1986, p. 11. 1 9 9 Ibid., June 25, 1986, p. 52. .; : Ping the team and its purpose yu never

¶published) vith leader vaa fonned on 19 July 1985 and n s tasked with 8olVing , t h e problea for both the short and long term. This unoffidrl t urn is e s s c n t l a l l y noneristent a t r h i s . t 3 ~ e . ,In DY opinion, the team must be o f f i c w y gi ve n the r e s p o n d b i l l y and the authority t o uecuta the Work . that needs t o be done o n i-om-in terferen ce b a s i r (full tlma a s s i p e n t u n t l l .

¶. _ d .

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¶29 1

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . .. ...¹¹ For the purpose of this report, a procedure is a formal set of instructions designed to guide and assist in the performance of a technical or management function. g8 mid., July 24, 1986, p. 11. 1 9 9 Ibid., June 25, 1986, p. 52. . :- ' " . . ' . 'i L- -

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292

¶VI-A

COIJTRHCTOR DES ICN RQMT ' S

¶L I I I - 1H -JSC 07700

294

-VOLUME X REVISION D

¶NATIONAL -

SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

¶PRoaRAM

.. c,

¶SPACE SHUTTLE FLlQHTAND QROUND SYSTEM

SPECIFICATION

S- B ER 30,lW

¶)r 4 1 GE ME N ! . SLOutSCMENlS

296

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¶10.10-!4

N A S A TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM

¶NASA IM X - U 7 9

TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT (CLIMATIC) CRITERIA

¶GUIDELINS FOR USE IN AEROSPACE l@HlCLE