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.

Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 2026

Filed:

Dec. 19, 2023
Applicant:

Interlune Corporation, Estes Park, CO (US);

Inventors:

Gary Lai, Seattle, WA (US);

Harrison H. Schmitt, Albuquerque, NM (US);

Assignee:

Interlune Corporation, Seattle, WA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21C 51/00 (2006.01); B64G 4/00 (2006.01); C01B 23/00 (2006.01); F25J 1/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
E21C 51/00 (2013.01); B64G 4/00 (2013.01); C01B 23/0042 (2013.01); C01B 2210/0031 (2013.01); F25J 1/0007 (2013.01);
Abstract

A mobile mining platform for operation on a lunar surface can excavate and deposit regolith into a mill. The mill can agitate at least a portion of the excavated regolith to release volatile gases from the portion of the excavated regolith, without heat being applied to the portion of the excavated regolith. A refinery can perform molecular separation of the released volatile gases. In some embodiments, pressure in the mill can be increased through introduction of a diluent gas into the mill, to improve the efficiency of pumping the released volatile gases from the mill to the refinery. In some embodiments, volatile liquids stored on the platform and/or generated by the refinery can be used to cool the released volatile gases prior to molecular separation of the released volatile gases. In some embodiments, the mill can separate and collect regolith material of different sizes for different uses.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Lai, Gary. (2026). Lunar regolith processing system for mining and beneficiation (U.S. Patent No. 12729625). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://idiyas.com/patent/badge/12729625

Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile

Loading…