Launch vehicle system

US5529264A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Ernest R. Bedegrew · Santa Cruz, US
• Allan L. Chan · Pleasanton, US
• James J. Connors · Santa Clara, US
• Donald E. Damon · Danville, US
• Kenneth W. Epstein · San Jose, US
• Daniel H. Hada · Cupertino, US
• Robert M. Heath · Sunnyvale, US
• Michael B. Prewitt · San Jose, US
• David L. Sutphin · Saratoga, US
• Edward W. Szeto · Fremont, US
• Howard D. Trudeau · Cupertino, US
• Michael J. Vogel · Sunnyvale, US
• Michael Wong · Mississauga, CA
• Larry Y. Hsu · Fremont, US
• David P. Kennon · Saratoga, US
• Robert J. MacDonald · San Jose, US
• Steven D. Mettler · Santa Clara, US
• Gene Spencer Ogden · Sunnyvale, US
• Douglas B. Pereyda · Los Gatos, US
• Chau N. Pham · Milpitas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 18, 1994
• Grant date: Jun 25, 1996
• Expiry date: Feb 18, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/80
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A launch vehicle system includes at least one primary solid fuel motor, a shroud for housing a payload and an attitude control system. The attitude control system is connected intermediate the primary solid fuel motor and the shroud. It has a circular outer wall and liquid fuel motors for exerting thrust along a longitudinal axis of the rocket system, and for controlling pitch, roll and yaw of the shroud. The attitude control system includes a support structure defining three pairs of fuel tank supporting zones, each zone having laterally extending supporting brackets connected to the outer wall. The attitude control system also includes connecting tubing for connecting outlets of sets of fuel tanks consisting of one, two and three pairs of fuel tanks to the liquid fuel motors.