Patents by Inventor John K. Lin

John K. Lin 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).

  • Cryogenic propellant depot and deployable sunshield
    Patent number: 8196869
    Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: United Launch Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Cliff E. Willey, John K. Lin, Mohamed M. Ragab, Michael W. Dew
  • CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT DEPOT AND DEPLOYABLE SUNSHIELD
    Publication number: 20120091281
    Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Cliff E. Willey, John K. Lin, Mohamed M. Ragab, Michael W. Dew
  • CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT DEPOT AND DEPLOYABLE SUNSHIELD
    Publication number: 20100187365
    Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Cliff E. Willey, John K. Lin, Mohamed M. Ragab, Michael W. Dew
  • Method of linear actuation by inflation and apparatus therefor
    Patent number: 6508036
    Abstract: A method and lightweight apparatus (100) that provide linear actuation effected by the controlled inflation of a deployable tube (120) permits the deploying end (125) of the tube (120) to be guided out in a linear motion by a yoke (140) that constrains the inflated portion of the tube (120) immediately behind it A means for imparting resistance to deployment facilitates a smooth actuation by controlling both the rate and the directionality of deployment, and by maintaining a uniform internal pressure in the tube being deployed. A frame assembly (180) at the deploying end (125) of the tube (120) can be configured to interface with a variety of components to be linearly deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: ILC Dover, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Cadogan, John K. Folke, John K. Lin, Charles R. Sandy