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:
Feb. 25, 2020
Filed:
Mar. 12, 2018
Applicant:
United Launch Alliance, L.l.c., Centennial, CO (US);
Inventors:
Brendan M. Coyne, Aurora, CO (US);
James Lampariello, Newcastle, WA (US);
Daniel A. Wehrwein, Aurora, CO (US);
Assignee:
United Launch Alliance, L.L.C., Centennial, CO (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G 1/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/62 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G 1/002 (2013.01); B64G 1/62 (2013.01);
Abstract
A method for preserving and recovering the main engine of the first stage of a multistage launch vehicle involves utilizing a portion of a first stage propellant tank together with a parachute and a deployed buoyancy device to float the engine in a body of water until the engine can be recovered. Controlled explosions remove portions of the propellant tank to permit it to stabilize the position of the engine relative to the water following splash down.