Centripetal reflex method of space launch
US7523892B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/005
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of launching space vehicles by towing them aloft, then twirling them around a large transport aircraft (40) at the center of a formation (AA) of other tow aircraft (28, 34) and other devices of the invention. A lengthy, semi-rigid tow pipeline (14) serves as a conduit for the transfer of fuels and oxidizers, as the tow cable, and as an energy storage device that reflexes efficiently when it is flexed. The flexing of tow pipeline (14) is caused by a parachute (22) acting in conjunction with all the aircraft making the tighest turn they are capable of doing. Tow aircraft in certain arrays (28) are joined to tow pipeline (14) by sliding trollies (26) that also host canard rotor wings for the aerodynamic support of the main tube (12). The tow trollies (26) aid the sliding tow aircraft arrays (28) in gaining mechanical advantage to accelerate the space vehicle. The space vehicle may also burn its own motors for a longer-than-usual time as it gains in angular velocity because its fuels are replenished by a pipeline that automatically increases the pressure and volume of fuel flow as the angular acceleration increases. The tow pipeline (14) features a micro-hole laminar lift foil…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.