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. 17, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2003
Johnnie Paul Engelhardt, West Columbia, TX (US);
Scott David Ritterhouse, La Porte, TX (US);
Muniz Engineering, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A payload deployment system is described that includes an external shell or tube within which an internal cargo unit is placed. The internal cargo unit encapsulates one or more payloads and seals the external shell or tube. Payloads are deployed in a two step process. The first step involves ejecting the internal cargo unit from the external shell or tube. The second step involves separating the internal cargo unit into two or more pieces in a controlled and, possibly, time-sequenced manner so as to deploy one or more payloads housed within the internal cargo unit. The internal cargo unit is ejected from the external shell or tube by a first separation device and the internal cargo unit is separated by a second separation device. Illustrative separation devices include, but are not limited to, pyrotechnic and clamp-and-spring devices. Additional payloads may be fixedly attached to an inner surface of the external shell or tube in such a manner that they remain in place even after the internal cargo unit is ejected and the associated payloads are deployed.