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US 11,377,234 B2Granted
Reusable space transport vehicle with modular networked rocket propulsion
OwnerJoseph G. Leeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rocket-powered space launch system comprises both a vehicle segment with an integrally designed propulsion subsystem and a supporting ground facility segment. Elements of a propulsion unit as easily accessed for removal and replacement of individual components. Said launch system is highly reusable, operable, and facilitates governmental agency regulatory compliant safety of occupants and public without passenger escape function and/or commanded vehicle destruction.
Claims14
A rocket vehicle system, comprising:
- a vehicle including an airframe, and a passengers capsule or a cargo capsule;
- Primary Propulsion Unit (PPU) pivotally attached to the airframe, the PPU comprising:
- a plurality of Thrust Chamber Units (TCUs) arranged around a perimeter of the PPU, the TCUs individually removable and replaceable while the vehicle resides on a Ground Operations Facility Segment (GOFS) in a launch configuration;
- and
- a plurality of fluid pumps in fluid communication between at least one propellant tank and said TCUs through flow control valves individually removable and replaceable, and pumps individually removable and replaceable.
2 more elements
A rocket vehicle system, comprising:
- a vehicle including an airframe, and a passengers capsule or a cargo capsule;
- Primary Propulsion Unit (PPU) pivotally attached to the airframe, the PPU comprising:
- a plurality of Thrust Chamber Units (TCUs) arranged around a perimeter of the PPU, the TCUs individually removable and replaceable while the vehicle resides on a Ground Operations Facility Segment (GOFS) in a launch configuration;
- a fuel tank;
- an oxidizer tank;
- a low pressure fuel manifold in fluid communication with the fuel tank through a multiplicity of independently controlled first fuel valves, the low pressure fuel manifold forming a continuous closed circuit;
- a high pressure fuel manifold in communication with the low pressure fuel manifold through a multiplicity of independently controlled parallel fuel pumps and independently controlled second fuel valves;
- the high pressure fuel manifold in communication with independent manifold sections, each manifold section in fluid communication with a corresponding section of the TCUs, through a multiplicity of independently controlled fourth fuel valves;
- a low pressure oxidizer manifold in fluid communication with the oxidizer tank through a multiplicity of independently controlled first oxidizer valves, the low pressure oxidizer manifold forming a continuous closed circuit;
- a high pressure oxidizer manifold in communication with the low pressure oxidizer manifold through a multiplicity of independently controlled parallel oxidizer pumps and independently controlled second oxidizer valves;
- and
- the high pressure oxidizer manifold in communication with the TCUs, through a multiplicity of independently controlled fourth oxidizer valves.
9 more elements
A rocket vehicle system, comprising:
- a vehicle including an airframe, and a passengers capsule or a cargo capsule;
- Primary Propulsion Unit (PPU) pivotally attached to the airframe, the PPU comprising:
- a plurality of Thrust Chamber Units (TCUs) arranged around a perimeter of the PPU, the TCUs individually removable and replaceable while the vehicle resides on a Ground Operations Facility Segment (GOFS) in a launch configuration;
- a plurality of fluid pumps in fluid communication between at least one propellant tank and said TCUs through flow control valves individually removable and replaceable, and pumps individually removable and replaceable;
- and
- an Active OML Shape Control (AOSC) device comprising:
- a PPU skirt comprising multiplicity of deformable segments circling the PPU;
- and
- overlapping seal-flaps attached to the airframe and vertically overlapping the PPU skirt, the AOSC device is variable to provide a symmetrical shape and a non-symmetrical shape to change aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.