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:
Mar. 17, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 23, 2005
Thomas C. Taylor, Las Cruces, NM (US);
Walter P. Kistler, Redmond, WA (US);
Robert A. Citron, Mill Creek, WA (US);
Thomas C. Taylor, Las Cruces, NM (US);
Walter P. Kistler, Redmond, WA (US);
Robert A. Citron, Mill Creek, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A transportation node system orbits a celestial body. The node system includes a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body. The truss stores payloads. The node system also includes tether tips, each attached to one end of the truss via a tether so that each tether tip can extend from the truss and retract to the truss for transfer of payloads. The tether runs through the length of the truss and connects to each tether tip, each tether tip being capable of engaging payloads. The node further includes at least one tether cable reel that reels in and reels out the tether so the tether tips can extend from and retract to the truss.