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:
Jan. 30, 1990
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1988
Paul R Gertsch, San Diego, CA (US);
General Dynamics Corporation, Convair Division, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
An aerobrake for an orbital transfer vehicle that permits recovery of the vehicle for refurbishment and reuse after a payload has been deployed in a desired geo-synchronous earth orbit by slowing the vehicle for reentry of the vehicle to a low earth orbit for return to earth by a shuttle vehicle on the like for recovery and reuse. The aerobrake includes a flexible thermal blanket that is folded inwardly against the vehicle in a predetermined stored manner and which, after the payload is deployed, is driven to an extended position by power hinges that drive a plurality of supporting panel members that cooperate with drag links to provide a lightweight strong supporting structure for the thermal blanket.