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:
Dec. 03, 2019
Filed:
Dec. 04, 2018
Vector Launch Inc., Tucson, AZ (US);
Mark Christopher Sipperley, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Colin Healey Smith, Glendale, CA (US);
Vector Launch Inc., Tucson, AZ (US);
Abstract
Various enhanced rocket engine systems are discussed herein. In one implementation, a rocket engine system includes a combustion chamber, and at least one propellant tank that holds propellant in at least a liquid state. The rocket engine system also includes a pump configured to pump liquid propellant from the at least one propellant tank through a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system and a heat exchanger. The TEG system is configured to produce electrical power for the pump based at least on a temperature differential between the liquid propellant from the at least one propellant tank and heat produced in the combustion chamber during an active state of the rocket engine. The heat exchanger is configured to receive heat from the combustion chamber and pressurize the at least one propellant tank by heating at least partially liquid propellant received from the TEG system.