Patents by Inventor Gregory G. Spanjers

Gregory G. Spanjers 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).

  • Methods to actively protect spacecraft from damage due to collision with ions
    Patent number: 7934685
    Abstract: A technique whereby one or more conducting plates electrically-biased negatively with respect to a spacecraft's electrical potential and insulated from the spacecraft surface are located around the spacecraft surface whereby contaminant ions in a plasma surrounding the spacecraft are accelerated through an electric potential, caused to collide with the conductive surface, neutralized through collisions with surface atoms, and then reflected away from the spacecraft as neutral atoms or molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Gregory G. Spanjers
  • Dual-mode chemical-electric thrusters for spacecraft
    Patent number: 7703273
    Abstract: Spacecraft thrusters capable of dual-mode operation, and a method of applying propulsion to a spacecraft using a dual-mode thruster are provided. In one embodiment, the thrusters of the current invention can operate as a chemical motor to provide high thrust and low propellant exhaust velocity to achieve fast maneuverability, or as an electric propulsion thruster to provide low thrust and high exhaust velocity to perform maneuvers with a minimal amount of propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventors: Gregory G. Spanjers, Kevin Mahaffy, Ronald A. Spores, David White, Michael Dulligan, Marcy Dulligan, legal representative, Hieu Nguyen
  • Approaches to actively protect spacecraft from damage due to collisions with ions
    Patent number: 7637461
    Abstract: A method whereby one or more conducting plates electrically-biased negatively with respect to a spacecraft's electrical potential and insulated from the spacecraft surface are located around the spacecraft surface whereby contaminant ions in a plasma surrounding the spacecraft are attracted to and accelerated through the conducting plates electric potential, caused to collide with the conductive surface, neutralized through collisions with surface atoms, and then reflected away from the spacecraft as neutral atoms or molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Gregory G. Spanjers
  • Dual-mode chemical-electric thrusters for spacecraft
    Publication number: 20090139206
    Abstract: Spacecraft thrusters capable of dual-mode operation, and a method of applying s propulsion to a spacecraft using a dual-mode thruster are provided. In one embodiment, the thrusters of the current invention can operate as a chemical motor to provide high thrust and low propellant exhaust velocity to achieve fast maneuverability, or as an electric propulsion thruster to provide low thrust and high exhaust velocity to perform maneuvers with a minimal amount of propellant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory G. Spanjers, Kevin Mahaffy, Ronald A. Spores, David White, Michael Dulligan, Hieu Nguyen
  • Description of methods to increase propellant throughput in a micro pulsed plasma thruster
    Patent number: 6769241
    Abstract: Propellant modules for Micro Pulsed Plasma Thrusters, and techniques for bundling propellant modules and for using a two-stage discharge process to increase MicroPPT propellant throughput, and decrease the output voltage required from the power-processing unit are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: W. E. Research LLC
    Inventors: Gregory G. Spanjers, John Schilling, David White
  • Description of methods to increase propellant throughput in a micro pulsed plasma thruster
    Publication number: 20030033797
    Abstract: Propellant modules for Micro Pulsed Plasma Thrusters, and techniques for bundling propellant modules and for using a two-stage discharge process to increase MicroPPT propellant throughput, and decrease the output voltage required from the power-processing unit are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory G. Spanjers, John Schilling, David White
  • Micro-pulsed plasma thruster having coaxial cable segment propellant modules
    Patent number: 6269629
    Abstract: A single energy storage capacitor is used to apply electrical energy to selected propellant modules, each module generating thrust in a desired direction by the high voltage induced vaporization of the copolymer spacer material in a conventional coaxial cable within the selected module. A lightweight, low cost, and EMI free thruster is thus provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Gregory G. Spanjers
  • Pulsed plasma thruster with electric switch enabling use of a solid electrically conductive propellant
    Patent number: 6153976
    Abstract: An energy storage capacitor after being charged, is discharged across an electrically conductive solid propellant by means of a movable electrode contacting the propellant, and the resulting direct ohmic heating of the face of the propellant results in impulse producing vaporization thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Gregory G. Spanjers