Patents by Inventor David L. Sutphin

David L. Sutphin 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: 5850989
    Abstract: A method and a system of assembling a launch vehicle vertically on an aboveground platform are presented in the present invention. The method of the present invention enables a rapid assembly of the launch vehicle; thus substantially reducing the final cost of the launch vehicle. The system of the present invention includes a plurality of specially designed tools that enable the rapid assembly of the launch vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Howard D. Trudeau, David L. Sutphin, Donald E. Damon, Ernest R. Bedegrew, Filamon T. Cabrera, Douglas B. Pereyda, Robert J. MacDonald, Daniel H. Hada, Frank C. Havens, Allan R. Tomasek, Lee O. Taylor, Larry W. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5529264
    Abstract: A launch vehicle system includes at least one primary solid fuel motor, a shroud for housing a payload and an attitude control system. The attitude control system is connected intermediate the primary solid fuel motor and the shroud. It has a circular outer wall and liquid fuel motors for exerting thrust along a longitudinal axis of the rocket system, and for controlling pitch, roll and yaw of the shroud. The attitude control system includes a support structure defining three pairs of fuel tank supporting zones, each zone having laterally extending supporting brackets connected to the outer wall. The attitude control system also includes connecting tubing for connecting outlets of sets of fuel tanks consisting of one, two and three pairs of fuel tanks to the liquid fuel motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest R. Bedegrew, Allan L. Chan, James J. Connors, Donald E. Damon, Kenneth W. Epstein, Daniel H. Hada, Robert M. Heath, Michael B. Prewitt, David L. Sutphin, Edward W. Szeto, Howard D. Trudeau, Michael J. Vogel, Michael Wong, Larry Y. Hsu, David P. Kennon, Robert J. MacDonald, Steven D. Mettler, Gene S. Ogden, Douglas B. Pereyda, Chau N. Pham