Patents by Inventor Jerome K. Fuller

Jerome K. Fuller 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).

  • Publication number: 20130031888
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a multi-fuel hybrid rocket motor. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for producing a multi-fuel hybrid motor. The method can include forming a body, where the body includes one or more intake ports; one or more exit nozzles; one or more channels connecting the one or more intake ports with the one or more exit nozzles; and a plurality of cavities comprising segment walls in communication with the one or more channels. The method also includes depositing a propellant fuel within the plurality of cavities, wherein at least a portion of the propellant fuel is exposed to the one or more channels and wherein the propellant fuel has a higher burn consumption rate than the segment walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jerome K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20130032667
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for a self-deploying vehicle drag device. In one embodiment, a drag device for a vehicle can be provided. The drag device can include a chute body, wherein the chute body is connected to the vehicle. The drag device can also include at least one collapsible member mounted to the chute body, wherein the at least one collapsible member and chute body are maintained in respective compressed configurations until deployed. Furthermore, the drag device can include at least one device adapted to release the chute body from the vehicle, wherein the chute body and the at least one collapsible member are deployed in expanded configurations with respect to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian S. Hardy, Jerome K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20120285016
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket motor is manufactured by photopolymerizing the solid fuel grain in a stereolithography method, wherein fuel grains in a plastic matrix are deposited in layers for building a solid fuel rocket body in three dimensions for improved performance and for a compact design,
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: Jerome K. Fuller
  • Patent number: 8225507
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket motor is manufactured by photopolymerizing the solid fuel grain in a stereolithography method, wherein fuel grains in a plastic matrix are deposited in layers for building a solid fuel rocket body in three dimensions for improved performance and for a compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20120109425
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for sensing flight direction of a spacecraft. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for determining flight direction of a spacecraft. The method includes providing at least one imaging detector associated with a spacecraft; imaging at least a portion of a celestial body onto the at least one imaging detector; acquiring, by the at least one imaging detector, sequential images of at least a portion of the celestial body; and determining the spacecraft flight direction relative to the celestial body based at least in part on processing the sequential images, wherein the processing is performed by one or more computer processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Siegfried W. Janson, Jerome K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20100281850
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket motor is manufactured by photopolymerizing the solid fuel grain in a stereolithography method, wherein fuel grains in a plastic matrix are deposited in layers for building a solid fuel rocket body in three dimensions for improved performance and for a compact design, the hybrid rocket motor including buried radial channels for defining a desired burn profile including the oxidizer to fuel burn ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Jerome K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20090217642
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket motor is manufactured by photopolymerizing the solid fuel grain in a stereolithography method, wherein fuel grains in a plastic matrix are deposited in layers for building a solid fuel rocket body in three dimensions for improved performance and for a compact design, the hybrid rocket motor including radial channels for defining a desired burn profile including the oxidizer to fuel burn ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Jerome K. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20090217525
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket motor is manufactured by photopolymerizing the solid fuel grain in a stereolithography method, wherein fuel grains in a plastic matrix are deposited in layers for building a solid fuel rocket body in three dimensions for improved performance and for a compact design,
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Jerome K. Fuller