Patents Assigned to Stratolaunch, LLC
  • Patent number: 11815049
    Abstract: A swirl preburner that includes a first core defining a first swirl chamber having a first swirl chamber first end and a first swirl chamber second end, the first swirl chamber comprising a first diameter at the first swirl chamber first end and a second smaller diameter at the first swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the first diameter; and a second core defining a second swirl chamber having a second swirl chamber first end and a second swirl chamber second end, the second swirl chamber comprising a third diameter at the second swirl chamber first end and a fourth smaller diameter at the second swirl chamber second end that is smaller than the third diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the third diameter and larger than the fourth smaller diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Stratolaunch, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffery Tyler Thornburg
  • Patent number: 11565835
    Abstract: A joint that is separable by detonating a detonating cord within an expanding tube. The joint is held together with a set of bolts. Each bolt is retained on one side of the joint with a lever. The expanding tube is retained under an arm of each lever. When the detonating cord is activated, the tube expands and exerts a force against an arm of each lever, thereby breaking the set of bolts, and allowing the joint to separate. In one example, the separable joint is used to retain a payload fairing on a launch vehicle so that the fairing can be jettisoned during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Stratolaunch, LLC
    Inventors: Erich K. Weinberg, Michael Zack Eckblad
  • Patent number: 11378040
    Abstract: A swirl preburner having a first swirl core defining a first swirl chamber having a first swirl chamber first end and a first swirl chamber second end. The swirl preburner further includes a second swirl core defining a second swirl chamber having a second swirl chamber first end and a second swirl chamber second end. The swirl preburner also includes a mixing element defining a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber surrounding a portion of the first and second chamber at least including the first chamber second end and the second chamber second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Stratolaunch, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffery Tyler Thornburg