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US 10,954,004 B2Granted
Energy extraction and storage, and propulsion systems for space vehicles
AssigneeThe Aerospace Corporation
InventorEvan R. Ulrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A space vehicle may extract and store energy, and also include a propulsion system. The space vehicle includes one or more wings connected to a body of the apparatus. Each of the one or more wings includes a propellant system configured to eject mass away from the apparatus, the ejection of the mass causes the apparatus to move from a first position to a second position.
Claims35
An apparatus, comprising:
- one or more wings connected to a body of the apparatus, wherein
- each of the one or more wings comprises a propellant system configured to eject mass away from the apparatus, the ejection of the mass causes the apparatus to move from a first position to a second position, and
- the one or more wings are displaced and angled, wherein the angle of the one or more wings are relative to a direction of motion creating torsional force on the one or more wings, the torsional force causes the one or more wings to rotate around the apparatus.
A space vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of wings with a spin rate of greater than 0;
- and
- a body with a spin rate of 0, wherein
- each of the plurality of wings comprise
- a propellant system located at the tip of each of the plurality of wings,
- the propellant system is configured to eject mass transferring momentum from the propellant system to the space vehicle, thereby moving from a first position to a second position.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- one or more wings connected to a body of the apparatus, wherein
- each of the one or more wings comprises a propellant system configured to eject mass away from the apparatus, the ejection of the mass causes the apparatus to move from a first position to a second position, and
- the propellant system comprises a mass ejection unit configured to store and release mass from a tip of the one or more wings, the mass ejection unit comprising a first door configured to open and close, and upon opening of the first door, the mass from a storage chamber moves to a launching chamber via spring within the storage chamber or by way of rotational force exerted from the apparatus.
An apparatus, comprising:
- one or more wings connected to a body of the apparatus, wherein each of the one or more wings comprises a propellant system configured to eject mass away from the apparatus, the ejection of the mass causes the apparatus to move from a first position to a second position;
- and
- a motor configured to be despun, wherein energy extracted from the despinning motor is stored within a battery or is used to drive the one or more wings around the apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.