Patents by Inventor John M. Thole

John M. Thole 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).

  • Patent number: 5217188
    Abstract: A family of modular solid-propellant launch vehicles and a related launch facility for placing a wide range of payloads in earth orbit at greatly reduced costs compared to present day launch systems. The basic family of modular solid-propellant launch vehicles is constructed from only two sizes of modular solid-propellant rocket motors, a large rocket motor and a small rocket motor. The modular rocket motors are clustered and stacked in various configurations to form the family of launch vehicles. The physical and performance characteristics of the two solid-propellant rocket motors, including weight, vacuum specific impulse and action time, were tailored to maximize the payload capabilities of each member of the launch vehicle family without exceeding predetermined maximum and staging dynamic pressure limits and maximum acceleration limits. The universal launch facility utilizes a steel canister that is sized to hold the maximum diameter and length launch vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Thole, Michael S. Kelly