# US 2019/0168606 A1 · Systems and Methods for Creating and Automating an Enclosed Volume with a Flexible Fuel Tank and Propellant Metering for Machine Operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168606 A1 - Document ID: US20190168606A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/211,095 - Filed: 2018-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Orbit Fab, Inc. - Applicants: Orbit Fab, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel Faber; James Bultitude; Jeremy Schiel; Eric Weinhoffer; Andrew Witte; Tyler Mincey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168606A1 ## CPC - B60K 15/03006: {Gas tanks (B60K15/07 takes precedence)} - B60K 15/03: Fuel tanks - B64G 1/22: Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles - B64G 1/2227: {Inflating} - B64G 1/4021: {Tank construction; Details thereof} - B64G 1/646: {Docking or rendezvous systems (refuelling in space B64G1/4024)} - B60K 2015/03085: {using inflatable bags or bladders in the tanks} - B60K 2015/03171: {Expansion tanks} - B60K 2015/03309: {Tanks specially adapted for particular fuels} - B60Y 2200/46: Arctic-/Extraterrestric explorers - B60Y 2200/50: Aeroplanes, Helicopters - B64G 2004/005: {Robotic manipulator systems for use in space} - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract An enclosed volume is provided for performing operations in space, or on any astronomical object, in a manner separated from aspects of the external environment. The enclosed volume can be a flexible container for a satellite. The enclosed volume can include a membrane having a fluid barrier layer and being configured to contain a propellant gas or fluid; and an expulsion device configured to expel material from the membrane. In a stowed configuration, the flexible container is contained within the satellite, and in a deployed configuration, the flexible container extends away from the satellite. The flexible container can inflate from one shape, in the undeployed configuration, to another shape, in a deployed configuration. The other shape can be toroidal or other appropriate shapes. The flexible container can provide bipropellant, blowdown, and gas/fluid metering functionality. Entertainment and game play can be enabled by the enclosed volume involving robots and other devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible container for a host to be deployed for space operations, the flexible container comprising: a membrane having a fluid barrier layer and being configured to contain a propellant gas or fluid; an expulsion device configured to expel material from the membrane; the flexible container being configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, in the stowed configuration, the flexible container being contained within the host, and in the deployed configuration, the flexible container extending away from the host; and the flexible container being configured to change to the deployed configuration when the flexible container is in an extraterrestrial environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is a flexible tank configured to expand from one shape, in an undeployed configuration, to another shape, in a deployed configuration, wherein the other shape has a hole in the middle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, further including at least one coupler for transferring the propellant between the flexible container and the host. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The flexible container of claim 2, further including at least one coupler for transferring the propellant between the flexible container and the host; ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The flexible container of claim 3, wherein the membrane is configured to contain a bipropellant using two types of propellant, the at least one coupler comprising a single coupler having at least two fluid cores or two side by side couplers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The flexible container of claim 3, wherein a blowdown gas supply and fuel are provided via the at least one coupler, wherein the at least one coupler comprises a single coupler having at least two fuel cores or two side by side couplers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The flexible container of claim 4, wherein a blowdown gas supply and fuel are provided via the at least one coupler, wherein the at least one coupler comprises a single coupler having at least two fuel cores or two side by side couplers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The flexible container of claim 7, further comprising strain gauges on the blowdown gas supply for fill level detection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the membrane is multi-layered having separate functional layers including: an inner layer for separating fuel from air or another blowdown gas, wherein the inner layer is the fluid barrier layer; another layer for separating air from an outside fluid or medium, and a mechanical restraint layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The flexible container of claim 9, wherein the mechanical restraint layer comprises a strapping, a webbing, a netting, or non-porous material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, further comprising one or more doors for restraining and physically constraining the flexible container, wherein the flexible container is configured with the one or more doors for launch and transport, the flexible container being configured to release the doors for deployment using a release mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The flexible container of claim 11, wherein the flexible container is configured with four doors and the release mechanism comprises a double hook mechanism to release the four doors using one actuator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The flexible container of claim 11, wherein the flexible container is configured with four doors and the release mechanism comprises a single hook mechanism to release the four doors using one actuator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the stowed configuration comprises the flexible container being folded within a receptacle of the host. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises a vacuum compatible material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the membrane is configured as a balloon and is pressurized relative to an external environment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, comprising an outer flexible bladder, the expulsion device comprising an inner flexible bladder positioned within the outer flexible bladder, the inner flexible bladder being configured to expand within the outer flexible bladder to expel material from the flexible container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the inner flexible bladder is configured to expand by gas provided by a gas source carried by the host. ### Claim 19 A flexible container system comprising: one or more flexible containers each comprising an inflatable section; one or more flexible container housings, each for housing a respective one of the one or more flexible containers; and for each of the one or more flexible containers, a coupler positioned on each of opposite or adjacent sides of the respective flexible container housing, each coupler for coupling to another of the one or more flexible containers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The flexible container system of claim 19, wherein the one shape is non-toroidal and the other shape is toroidal. ### Claim 21 A method for an enclosed volume for machine operations, the method comprising: providing a membrane having a barrier layer for providing separation from one of more aspects of an external environment; the membrane being configured to have devices inside the membrane, devices attached to the outside of the membrane, or devices physically separated from the membrane, the devices including at least one camera and at least one robot, the membrane being configured for wireless communication between the at least robot and a ground segment; and providing a computing platform to enable users to perform tasks related to at least some of the devices. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the membrane is inflatable. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the tasks involve entertainment or game play. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the host is a satellite, a launch vehicle, or a stage of the launch vehicle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 9) The flexible container of claim 9, further comprising a micrometeroid and orbital debris shield layer having a single- or multi-layer Whipple shield configuration. ### Claim 26 (depends on 9) The flexible container of claim 9, wherein the fluid barrier layer comprises an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. ### Claim 27 (depends on 11) The flexible container of claim 11, wherein the one or more doors comprise fabric or membrane sheets. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is a flexible tank configured to expand from one shape, in an undeployed configuration, to another shape, in a deployed configuration, wherein the other shape is a dumbbell shape. ### Claim 29 (depends on 19) The flexible container system of claim 19, wherein two or more of the flexible containers is carried by a spacecraft or a host. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, further including at least one coupler for transferring the propellant gas or fluid between the flexible container and a satellite, the satellite being other than the host. ### Claim 31 (depends on 2) The flexible container of claim 2, further including at least one coupler for transferring the propellant gas or fluid between the flexible container and a satellite, the satellite being other than the host. ### Claim 32 A method for coupling flexible containers to more than one host in space, the method comprising: providing a flexible container having a first coupler at one end and a second coupler at another end; coupling, via the first coupler, the flexible container to a host; in response to the host maneuvering in space close to another host, coupling the second coupler to the other host; and the flexible container having a membrane configured to contain a propellant gas or fluid, such that the propellant gas or fluid is providable to both the host and the other host. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the membrane is operational while partly inflated. ### Claim 34 (depends on 10) The flexible container of claim 10, wherein the separate functional layers of the membrane are combined or bonded. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The flexible container of claim 1, wherein the membrane contains one or more volumes, each volume of the one or more volumes for holding different or similar fluids and blow down gasses, each volume of the one or more volumes being separated by one or more layers.