The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2019
Filed:
Nov. 14, 2018
Vector Launch Inc., Tucson, AZ (US);
Brian James Riskas, Nipomo, CA (US);
Robert Duane Hill, Huntsville, AL (US);
Emerald James Adair, Vail, AZ (US);
Kerry Michael Kugler, Rigby, ID (US);
Richard William Dalgarno, Laramie, WY (US);
Mark Edward Bishop, Annapolis, MD (US);
Robert Stewart Skillen, Morganton, NC (US);
Vector Launch Inc., Tucson, AZ (US);
Abstract
Various enhanced rocket fairings and associated mechanisms are discussed herein for split fairings with two fairing halves. In some implementations, electrically-actuated base clamps are included to deploy the rocket fairing by applying a spring force between a corresponding fairing half and a payload adapter, which directs movement of the fairing halves upwards and away from the payload adapter until release of the fairing halves. In other implementations, electrically-actuated fairing mechanisms are included to hold together a first fairing half and a second fairing half, and separate the first fairing half from the second fairing half using a spring force. In further implementations, one fairing half includes a tab feature configured to overlap a second fairing half. The tab feature can deform inward under a pressure differential between an exterior and a payload envelope to reduce a gap between the two fairing halves.