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US 9,850,008 B2Granted
Integrated vehicle fluids
AssigneeUnited Launch Alliance, L.L.C.
InventorFrank C. Zegler
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AssigneeUnited Launch Alliance, L.L.C.
InventorFrank C. Zegler
Estimating the term…
A system and methods are provided for combining systems of an upper stage space launch vehicle for enhancing the operation of the space vehicle. Hydrogen and oxygen already on board as propellant for the upper stage rockets is also used for other upper stage functions to include propellant tank pressurization, attitude control, vehicle settling, and electrical requirements. Specifically, gases from the propellant tanks, instead of being dumped overboard, are used as fuel and oxidizer to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other elements including a starter/generator for generation of electrical current, mechanical power for fluid pumps, and other uses. The exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is also used directly in one or more vehicle settling thrusters. Accumulators which store the waste ullage gases are pressurized and provide pressurization control for the propellant tanks. The system is constructed in a modular configuration in which two redundant integrated fluid modules may be mounted to the vehicle, each of the modules capable of supporting the upper stage functions.
An upper stage launch vehicle comprising:
A method of providing mechanical energy for supporting functions of an upper stage launch vehicle, said method comprising:
A method of pressurizing a propellant tank of an upper stage launch vehicle, said method comprising:
A method of providing electrical power for an upper stage launch vehicle said method comprising:
A method of providing vehicle settling for a space launch vehicle in orbit, said method comprising:
A method of venting propellant tanks of an upper stage launch vehicle, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.