Other

Don E Jaekle, Jr

R K Grove

A system for providing substantially gas-free liquid propellant to the engine(s) of a rocket or space vehicle comprises a storage tank (10) having a first opening (15) that communicates with a 'fill, drain and feed' line (17) and a second opening (18) that communicates with a 'pressurant and vent' line (20). A hollow trap (13) having a porous inlet window (22) and an exit port (21), which is aligned with the first opening (15), is positioned within the tank (10). A liner (14) having a plurality of porous windows (24) is positioned inside the trap (13), and is secured to the trap (13) circumjacent the inlet window (22) and circumjacent the exit port (21), but is elsewhere spaced apart from the interior wall of the trap (13). The inlet window (22) of the trap (13) and the porous windows (24) of the liner (14) have pores dimensioned to permit passage of liquid propellant therethrough, and to maintain a film of liquid propellant across each pore by surface tension when liquid propellant is not passing therethrough. The films of liquid propellant in the pores of the windows (22) and (24) act as a barrier to the passage of gas therethrough.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Don E Jaekle, Jr