Abstract

Systems and methods for a multimode propulsion system (MMPS) are presented. The MMPS includes a chemical thruster, an electric thruster, and a shared propellant tank. The MMPS further includes a propellant decomposition chamber that transforms, via a catalytic and/or electrolytic process, the propellant from the tank into vapor form for use as gas propellant by the electric thruster. The electric thruster can be configured for targeted ionization of one or more constituent species present in the vapor form of the propellant. Flow activation/control from the tank to the chemical and electric thrusters is provided by a fluidic feed system. The branches include a check valve and a pressure regulator in series connection. A normally closed squib valve prevents propellant flows/leaks from the tank to either the chemical or the electric thrusters when the MMPS is not in operation.

IPC Classes  ?

• F02K 9/44 - Feeding propellants
• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• F02K 9/42 - Rocket-engine plants, i.e. plants carrying both fuel and oxidant thereforControl thereof using liquid or gaseous propellants
• F02K 9/58 - Propellant feed valves
• F02K 9/60 - Constructional partsDetails not otherwise provided for
• F02K 9/68 - Decomposition chambers
• F02K 9/76 - Rocket-engine plants, i.e. plants carrying both fuel and oxidant thereforControl thereof combined with another jet-propulsion plant with another rocket-engine plantMultistage rocket-engine plants

Abstract

An electrothermal plasma production device is presented. The plasma production device includes: a plasma production chamber; an RF antenna external to the plasma production chamber; a propellant tank and flow regulator external to the plasma production chamber and in communication with the plasma production chamber; and a plenum disposed between the propellant tank and the plasma production chamber. The RF antenna, in combination with an AC power source, is configured to provide an RF energy to an interior region of the plasma production chamber and to an interior region of the plenum with sufficient power to ionize at least some of the propellant in the plenum. The plasma production chamber is configured to include a propellant injector for receiving propellant at a first closed end of the plasma production chamber.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• F03H 1/00 - Use of plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust
• H05H 1/54 - Plasma accelerators

Abstract

The invention provides an electrothermal RF plasma production system and thruster design, and associated components, that may use water vapor or other condensable propellants. The plasma production system and thruster design may be used in terrestrial and/or on-orbit applications.

IPC Classes  ?

• H01J 37/32 - Gas-filled discharge tubes
• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• F03H 1/00 - Use of plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust
• H05H 1/00 - Generating plasmaHandling plasma
• H05H 1/24 - Generating plasma
• H05H 1/46 - Generating plasma using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy
• H05H 1/54 - Plasma accelerators

Abstract

The invention provides an improved gridded ion thruster design having one or more separate plasma generating modules.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03H 1/00 - Use of plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust

Abstract

The invention provides a plasma production and control device that may be used in propulsion (e.g., satellite propulsion) and/or industrial applications. The plasma production system comprises a unidirectional magnetic field.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03H 1/00 - Use of plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust
• H05H 1/46 - Generating plasma using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy
• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems

Abstract

The invention provides an electrothermal RF plasma production system and thruster design, and associated components, that may be used in terrestrial applications and/or miniaturized to the mass, volume, and power budget of Cube Satellites (CubeSats) to meet the propulsion needs of the small satellite (~5 to ~500 kg) constellations and larger satellite buses.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03H 1/00 - Use of plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust
• H05H 1/02 - Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fieldsArrangements for heating plasma
• H05H 1/18 - Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fieldsArrangements for heating plasma using applied electric and magnetic fields wherein the fields oscillate at a very high frequency, e.g. in the microwave range
• H05H 1/54 - Plasma accelerators

Abstract

The invention provides an electrothermal RF plasma production system and thruster design, and associated components, that may be used in terrestrial applications and/or miniaturized to the mass, volume, and power budget of Cube Satellites (CubeSats) to meet the propulsion needs of the small satellite (˜5 to ˜500 kg) constellations and larger satellite buses.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03H 1/00 - Use of plasma to produce a reactive propulsive thrust
• B64G 1/40 - Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
• H05H 1/46 - Generating plasma using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy

Abstract

The invention provides a plasma production and control device that may be used in propulsion (e.g., satellite propulsion) and/or industrial applications. The plasma production system comprises a unidirectional magnetic field.

IPC Classes  ?

• H05H 1/00 - Generating plasmaHandling plasma
• H05H 1/10 - Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fieldsArrangements for heating plasma using applied magnetic fields only
• H05H 1/24 - Generating plasma

Goods & Services

(1) Manufacturing services for others in the field of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers in the nature of rocket boosters, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers; assembly of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers.

Goods & Services

(1) Manufacturing services for others in the field of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers in the nature of rocket boosters, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers; assembly of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers.

Goods & Services

Test stands for machines, namely, for compressors, heat exchangers, pumps, fluid pumps, turbopumps, hydrazine thrusters, bipropellant thrusters, power-augmented catalytic thrusters, turbomolecular pumps; transmission and propulsion couplings for machines and replacement components therefor; test stands for engines for fixed or mobile installations, other than for land vehicles, specifically, gas turbine engines, thermal, electrothermal, jet, nuclear, combined propulsion and rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles, ion thrusters, electric propulsors, plasma rockets, and arcjets; thrusters for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles; ion thrusters for machinery; plasma thrusters for machinery; machine parts, namely, arc jets; replacement parts of foregoing appliances, devices, mechanisms and test stands; machines and machine tools, machines for repairing and producing parts for use in aircraft and spacecraft propulsion systems, namely, jet engines, pulse-jet engines, ramjet engines, rocket propulsion craft; bipropellant thrusters; hydrazine thrusters; power-augmented catalytic thrusters; ion thrusters; electric thrusters; plasma thrusters; propulsion systems for aeronautical and space vehicles, as well as their components and spare parts included in this class, including engines, pumps, turbines, jet engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods, thrust reversers, engine air intake, blower casing, exhaust cones; all types of motors and engines for fixed or mobile installations, specifically gas turbine engines, thermal engines, electrothermal engines, jet engines, nuclear engines, combined propulsion engines, rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles; centrifugal water separators and bootstrap monopropellant gas generator pressurization systems comprised of gas thrusters, pumps and valves for space travel. Providing service contracts for plasma-related products. Construction, installation, assembly, repair and maintenance of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers; satellite and space vehicle orbital services for manned and unmanned spaceflights, namely, maintenance, circularization, transfers, stationkeeping, inclination changes, plane changes, node changes and altitude changes (term too vague in the opinion of the International Bureau (Rule 13(2)(b) of the Common Regulations)). Design and development of firmware, hardware and computer hardware in the field of plasma-generation; design and development of software in the field of plasma-generation; hardware consulting services in the field of plasma-generation hardware; providing services, namely, collision avoidance maneuvers, end-of-life maneuvers, phasing, re-phasing and constellation phasing, interplanetary trajectories, thrust vectoring for non-Keplerian maneuvers, differential thrust for non-Keplerian maneuvers, orbit insertion maneuvers, frozen orbit maneuvers, repeating ground track maneuvers, repeat coverage maneuvers, parking orbit maneuvers, rendezvous operations, formation flight and interstellar trajectories (term too vague in the opinion of the International Bureau (Rule 13(2)(b) of the Common Regulations)).

Goods & Services

(1) Test stands for machines, namely, for compressors, heat exchangers, pumps, fluid pumps, turbopumps, hydrazine thrusters, bipropellant thrusters, power-augmented catalytic thrusters, turbomolecular pumps; transmission and propulsion couplings for machines and replacement components therefor; test stands for engines for fixed or mobile installations, other than for land vehicles, specifically, gas turbine engines, thermal, electrothermal, jet, nuclear, combined propulsion and rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles, ion thrusters, electric propulsors, plasma rockets, and arcjets, thrusters for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles, ion thrusters for machinery, plasma thrusters for machinery, machine parts, namely, arc jets, replacement parts of foregoing appliances, devices, mechanisms and test stands namely, compressors, heat exchangers, pumps, fluid pumps, turbopumps, hydrazine thrusters, bipropellant thrusters, power-augmented catalytic thrusters, turbomolecular pumps; bipropellant thrusters for machines; hydrazine thrusters for machines; power-augmented catalytic thrusters for machines; ion thrusters for machines; electric thrusters for machines; plasma thrusters for machines; propulsion systems comprised of engine thrusters, propellant and electronic tanks and propellant management systems for aeronautical and space vehicles, as well as their components and spare parts namely engines, pumps, turbines, jet engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods, thrust reversers, engine air intake, blower casing, exhaust cones; all types of motors and engines for fixed or mobile installations, specifically gas turbine engines, thermal engines, electrothermal engines, jet engines, nuclear engines, combined propulsion engines, rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles; centrifugal water separators and bootstrap monopropellant gas generator pressurization systems comprised of gas thrusters, pumps and valves for space travel (1) Construction, installation, assembly, repair and maintenance of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers (2) Design and development of firmware, hardware and computer hardware in the field of plasma-generation; design and development of software in the field of plasma-generation; computer hardware consulting services in the field of plasma-generation hardware.

Goods & Services

(1) Test stands for machines, namely, for compressors, heat exchangers, pumps, fluid pumps, turbopumps, hydrazine thrusters, bipropellant thrusters, power-augmented catalytic thrusters, turbomolecular pumps; transmission and propulsion couplings for machines and replacement components therefor; test stands for engines for fixed or mobile installations, other than for land vehicles, specifically, gas turbine engines, thermal, electrothermal, jet, nuclear, combined propulsion and rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles, ion thrusters, electric propulsors, plasma rockets, and arcjets, thrusters for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles, ion thrusters for machinery, plasma thrusters for machinery, machine parts, namely, arc jets, replacement parts of foregoing appliances, devices, mechanisms and test stands namely, compressors, heat exchangers, pumps, fluid pumps, turbopumps, hydrazine thrusters, bipropellant thrusters, power-augmented catalytic thrusters, turbomolecular pumps; bipropellant thrusters for machines; hydrazine thrusters for machines; power-augmented catalytic thrusters for machines; ion thrusters for machines; electric thrusters for machines; plasma thrusters for machines; propulsion systems comprised of engine thrusters, propellant and electronic tanks and propellant management systems for aeronautical and space vehicles, as well as their components and spare parts namely engines, pumps, turbines, jet engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods, thrust reversers, engine air intake, blower casing, exhaust cones; all types of motors and engines for fixed or mobile installations, specifically gas turbine engines, thermal engines, electrothermal engines, jet engines, nuclear engines, combined propulsion engines, rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles; centrifugal water separators and bootstrap monopropellant gas generator pressurization systems comprised of gas thrusters, pumps and valves for space travel (1) Construction, installation, assembly, repair and maintenance of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers (2) Design and development of firmware, hardware and computer hardware in the field of plasma-generation; design and development of software in the field of plasma-generation; computer hardware consulting services in the field of plasma-generation hardware

Goods & Services

Electric thrusters for machines; plasma thrusters for machines; propulsion systems comprised of engine thrusters, propellant and electronic tanks and propellant management systems for aeronautical and space vehicles, as well as their components and spare parts included in this class, namely, engines, pumps, turbines, jet engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods, thrust reversers, engine air intake, blower casing, exhaust cones; all types of motors and engines for fixed or mobile installations, specifically gas turbine engines, thermal engines, electrothermal engines, jet engines, nuclear engines, combined propulsion engines, rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles

Goods & Services

electric thrusters for machines; plasma thrusters for machines; propulsion systems comprised of engine thrusters, propellant and electronic tanks and propellant management systems for aeronautical and space vehicles, as well as their components and spare parts included in this class, namely, engines, pumps, turbines, jet engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods, thrust reversers, engine air intake, blower casing, exhaust cones; all types of motors and engines for fixed or mobile installations, specifically gas turbine engines, thermal engines, electrothermal engines, jet engines, nuclear engines, combined propulsion engines, rocket propulsion engines, cryogenic rocket engines, rocket engines for satellite launchers and for ballistic and tactical missiles

Goods & Services

Construction, installation, assembly, repair and maintenance of aeronautical and space vehicles, space launchers, aircraft and parts thereof, namely, propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles, motors and engines, thruster units, aircraft engine pods and thrust reversers Design and development of firmware, hardware and computer hardware in the field of plasma-generation; design and development of software in the field of plasma-generation; computer hardware consulting services in the field of plasma-generation hardware