Patents by Inventor Alexander D. Smith
Alexander D. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11009297Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in aerospace vehicles includes a plurality of core-bearing radiator panels having at least one heat pipe embedded therein. The portion of the heat pipe embedded in each panel is fluidically coupled to the portions of the heat pipe in the other core-bearing radiator panels.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: WORLDVU SATELLITES LIMITEDInventors: Alexander D. Smith, Armen Askijian, Daniel W. Field, James Grossman
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Patent number: 10793297Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in a satellite and other aerospace applications includes a container having a heat-pipe working fluid disposed in a first chamber and a Phase Change Material (PCM) disposed in a second chamber that substantially surrounds the first chamber. The first chamber contains a wick for transporting the heat-pipe working fluid. The exterior of the first chamber has fins, etc., that extend into the PCM for heat spreading and increased interface area.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: WORLDVU SATELLITES LIMITEDInventors: Alexander D. Smith, Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman
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Patent number: 10486837Abstract: A payload dispenser and a method for populating same with satellites is disclosed. The payload dispenser comprises a shell. A plurality of rail assemblies are each configured to receive plural satellites. The satellite laden rail assemblies are then coupled to the shell.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: WORLDVU SATELLITES LIMITEDInventors: Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman, Alexander D. Smith
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Patent number: 10392135Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in satellites includes a solid radiator panel with a plurality of heat pipes attached to a surface thereof. In addition to their heat transporting capability, the heat pipes strengthen the radiator panel to which they are coupled. In some embodiments, the heat pipes are structurally modified to increase their area moment of inertia.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: WorldVu Satellites LimitedInventors: Alexander D. Smith, Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman
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Publication number: 20180134416Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in a satellite and other aerospace applications includes a container having a heat-pipe working fluid disposed in a first chamber and a Phase Change Material (PCM) disposed in a second chamber that substantially surrounds the first chamber. The first chamber contains a wick for transporting the heat-pipe working fluid. The exterior of the first chamber has fins, etc., that extend into the PCM for heat spreading and increased interface area.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2018Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Alexander D. Smith, Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman
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Patent number: 9908643Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in aerospace vehicles includes a first passive thermal panel having at least one internal resident heat pipe, wherein the first passive thermal panel is further configured to provide an embedded interface between a portion of the resident heat pipe and at least one heat pipe extending from a neighboring passive thermal panel. The embedded interface is facilitated via an internal channel that is adjacent to the internal resident heat pipe. The channel is dimensioned and arranged to receive a portion of a heat pipe extending from a passive thermal panel that will be situated adjacent to the first passive thermal panel. The embedded interface is also facilitated by an arrangement that imparts a compressive force to the non-resident heat pipe that urges it against the resident heat pipe.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: WorldVu Satellites LimitedInventors: Alexander D. Smith, Armen Askijian, Daniel W. Field, James Grossman
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Patent number: 9745083Abstract: A method for thermally stabilizing a communication satellite in orbit around the Earth relies on the discrete rotational symmetry of the pattern of antenna beams of the satellite. Exploiting the symmetry, the orientation of the satellite is changed from time to time by rotating the satellite through a symmetry angle of the rotational symmetry. Because of the symmetry, the beam pattern is unchanged after the rotation; but, because the rotation angle is less than 360°, a different side of the satellite is exposed to sunlight. The use of different thermal radiators and thermal shields on different sides of the satellite means that the thermal budget of the satellite is different after the rotation. By judiciously applying rotations as needed, as the orbit's orientation relative to the Sun evolves in time, it is possible to achieve effective control on the thermal budget of the satellite.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: WORLDVU SATELLITES LIMITEDInventors: Alexander D. Smith, Armen Askijian, Daniel W. Field, James Grossman
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Patent number: 9718566Abstract: A stackable satellite includes a satellite frame and at least one vertical pillar attached to the frame. The vertical pillar has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is coupled to the lower end of the vertical pillar of the satellite above and the lower end is coupled to the upper end of the vertical pillar of the satellite below. The vertical pillar receives substantially all of the vertical load of the stackable satellite and any other satellites stacked above. Use of such vertical pillars removes the need for a dispenser or substantially lightens the dispenser mass to allow substantially more satellites to be carried in a payload.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: WorldVu Satellites LimitedInventors: Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman, Alexander D. Smith
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Publication number: 20170036786Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in aerospace vehicles includes a first passive thermal panel having at least one internal resident heat pipe, wherein the first passive thermal panel is further configured to provide an embedded interface between a portion of the resident heat pipe and at least one heat pipe extending from a neighboring passive thermal panel. The embedded interface is facilitated via an internal channel that is adjacent to the internal resident heat pipe. The channel is dimensioned and arranged to receive a portion of a heat pipe extending from a passive thermal panel that will be situated adjacent to the first passive thermal panel. The embedded interface is also facilitated by an arrangement that imparts a compressive force to the non-resident heat pipe that urges it against the resident heat pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2015Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Alexander D. Smith, Armen Askijian, Daniel W. Field, James Grossman
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Publication number: 20160368625Abstract: A payload dispenser and a method for populating same with satellites is disclosed. The payload dispenser comprises a shell. A plurality of rail assemblies are each configured to receive plural satellites. The satellite laden rail assemblies are then coupled to the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman, Alexander D. Smith
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Publication number: 20160318636Abstract: A satellite deployment system has a plurality of releasable dispenser modules that are attached to each other with each module carrying satellites. Each dispenser module acts as an individual final stage with its own propulsion unit and deploys a subset of satellites to the appropriate altitude and orbit. Since each dispenser module can deploy its satellites far from other dispenser modules, the risk of collision among the satellites is greatly reduced, which allows a large number of satellites to be launched in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman, Alexander D. Smith
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Publication number: 20160318635Abstract: A stackable satellite includes a satellite frame and at least one vertical pillar attached to the frame. The vertical pillar has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is coupled to the lower end of the vertical pillar of the satellite above and the lower end is coupled to the upper end of the vertical pillar of the satellite below. The vertical pillar receives substantially all of the vertical load of the stackable satellite and any other satellites stacked above. Use of such vertical pillars removes the need for a dispenser or substantially lightens the dispenser mass to allow substantially more satellites to be carried in a payload.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman, Alexander D. Smith
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Publication number: 20160305714Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in aerospace vehicles includes a plurality of core-bearing radiator panels having at least one heat pipe embedded therein. The portion of the heat pipe embedded in each panel is fluidically coupled to the portions of the heat pipe in the other core-bearing radiator panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Alexander D. Smith, Armen Askijian, Daniel W. Field, James Grossman
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Patent number: 9463882Abstract: A satellite deployment system has a plurality of releasable dispenser modules that are attached to each other with each module carrying satellites. Each dispenser module acts as an individual final stage with its own propulsion unit and deploys a subset of satellites to the appropriate altitude and orbit. Since each dispenser module can deploy its satellites far from other dispenser modules, the risk of collision among the satellites is greatly reduced, which allows a large number of satellites to be launched in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: WorldVu Satellites LimitedInventors: Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman, Alexander D. Smith
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Publication number: 20160288929Abstract: A method for thermally stabilizing a communication satellite in orbit around the Earth relies on the discrete rotational symmetry of the pattern of antenna beams of the satellite. Exploiting the symmetry, the orientation of the satellite is changed from time to time by rotating the satellite through a symmetry angle of the rotational symmetry. Because of the symmetry, the beam pattern is unchanged after the rotation; but, because the rotation angle is less than 360°, a different side of the satellite is exposed to sunlight. The use of different thermal radiators and thermal shields on different sides of the satellite means that the thermal budget of the satellite is different after the rotation. By judiciously applying rotations as needed, as the orbit's orientation relative to the Sun evolves in time, it is possible to achieve effective control on the thermal budget of the satellite.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Alexander D. Smith, Armen Askijian, Daniel W. Field, James Grossman
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Publication number: 20160288926Abstract: A passive thermal system for use in satellites includes a solid radiator panel with a plurality of heat pipes attached to a surface thereof. In addition to their heat transporting capability, the heat pipes strengthen the radiator panel to which they are coupled. In some embodiments, the heat pipes are structurally modified to increase their area moment of inertia.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Alexander D. Smith, Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman
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Publication number: 20160288931Abstract: A satellite frame includes a one-piece integrated body defining a plurality of sides for attaching satellite components thereto. Use of the single integrated satellite body minimizes the amount of fasteners and alignment equipment and processes. Use of the single piece frame also allows for the maximum possible specific stiffness by greatly reducing the number of connections and structural interfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Daniel W. Field, Armen Askijian, James Grossman, Alexander D. Smith