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. 19, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2006
John W. Behrens, Torrance, CA (US);
Frank O. Chandler, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Jeffrey J. Cronick, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Alfredo Lopez, Los Angeles, CA (US);
John W. Behrens, Torrance, CA (US);
Frank O. Chandler, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Jeffrey J. Cronick, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Alfredo Lopez, Los Angeles, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A cryocooler is located on a spacecraft bus, such as a bus box, separate from the cryogenic propellant tanks disposed on a separable and distinct propellant cartridge system spacecraft docked to the spacecraft bus. In operation, propellant may be continuously pumped from the tanks through the cryocooler cold heat exchanger and then back to the tanks on the separable propellant cartridge system spacecraft through temporarily couplable lines. After the propellant tanks are depleted, the propellant cartridge system is then undocked from the bus and typically discarded. A new propellant cartridge system spacecraft comprising a full set of tanks may then be docked to the bus and the cryocooler supply/return lines coupled. The remote cryocooler may function as part of a larger space depot for spacecraft resupply, although it is not limited to such applications.