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. 10, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2009
John W. Behrens, Torrance, CA (US);
Frank O. Chandler, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Jeffrey J. Cronick, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
John W. Behrens, Torrance, CA (US);
Frank O. Chandler, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Jeffrey J. Cronick, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A propellant depot () includes a utility box (') that has space flight equipment. A propellant cartridge adaptor () is coupled to the utility box (′) and to an exchangeable propellant cartridge system (). The propellant depot () also includes a docking adaptor () for coupling to an approaching spacecraft (). A controller () controls the transfer of propellant from within the exchangeable propellant cartridge system () to the spacecraft (). A method of providing propellant to a spacecraft in space includes launching an orbital propellant depot () into space. The spacecraft is docked to the orbital propellant depot () in space. Propellant is transferred to the spacecraft. The spacecraft is separated from the orbital propellant depot ().