Patents by Inventor Donald Wayne DENHAM

Donald Wayne DENHAM 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: 11939087
    Abstract: An autonomous compliance controlled generic mooring station includes a pair of mooring systems connected to each other. The pair of mooring systems includes a pair of mooring interfaces, allowing the pair of mooring systems to change between a mooring state and a release state. One of the pair of mooring interfaces includes an electropermanent magnet and the other one of the pair of mooring interfaces includes a ferromagnetic plate. The electropermanent magnet and the ferromagnetic plate are configured to connect the pair of mooring systems together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donald Wayne Denham
  • Patent number: 11828325
    Abstract: A lattice system for structures includes a lattice joint housing and a plurality of structural joints. Each of the plurality of structural joints have a side entry slot for insertion of keyed features on a mating lattice member. Each of the plurality of structural joints are configured to facilitate rotation of the mating lattice member, semi-permanently holding the mating lattice member in place with an electro-permanent magnetic (EPM) retaining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Zempel, Donald Wayne Denham
  • Publication number: 20230286677
    Abstract: An autonomous compliance controlled generic mooring station includes a pair of mooring systems connected to each other. The pair of mooring systems includes a pair of mooring interfaces, allowing the pair of mooring systems to change between a mooring state and a release state. One of the pair of mooring interfaces includes an electropermanent magnet and the other one of the pair of mooring interfaces includes a ferromagnetic plate. The electropermanent magnet and the ferromagnetic plate are configured to connect the pair of mooring systems together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Donald Wayne DENHAM
  • Patent number: 11749438
    Abstract: An electromagnetic mooring system (MMS) that includes a first object and a second object, at least one of which includes an electronic coupler configured to connect the first object with the second object. The electronic coupler comprises a pair of magnets, at least one of which is an electro permanent magnet (EPM), having a flux path. When the electronic coupler is in the ON states, the flux path moves towards the first or second object transferring heat from the first or second object to the second or first object, and when the electronic coupler is in the OFF state, the flux paths moves towards the EPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald Wayne Denham, John Patrick McHale
  • Publication number: 20230108618
    Abstract: A payload-bus kinematic interface system includes one or more kinematic devices. Each kinematic device includes a first contacting surface and a second contacting surface. The first contacting surface kinematically interfaces with the second contacting surface, passing loads or forces to the second contacting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Wayne DENHAM, Timothy P. WOODARD
  • Patent number: 11380468
    Abstract: An electro-permanent magnet (EPM) for an electromagnetic mooring system (EMS) includes a low coercivity magnet surrounded by a reversible coil, and one or more high coercivity magnets surrounding the low coercivity magnet and the reversible coil. The reversible coil switches polarity of the low coercivity magnet to null the stronger, one or more high coercivity magnets. The nulling of the stronger, one or more high coercivity magnets allows for the EMS to connect and disconnect to an adjacent apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donald Wayne Denham
  • Publication number: 20220024610
    Abstract: Tram systems for space vehicles are disclosed. When the space vehicle is a nested ring cell, for example, the structural ring portion of the design may be mostly or completely passive and contain conducting parts, such as electrical steel. The moving trams may use field coils instead of magnets to generate the magnetic flux to propel the tram. Additional coils on the tram may steer the magnetic flux to generate the forward or reverse thrust forces. These coils may also add the overall motive flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Donald Wayne DENHAM
  • Publication number: 20210172466
    Abstract: A lattice system for structures includes a lattice joint housing and a plurality of structural joints. Each of the plurality of structural joints have a side entry slot for insertion of keyed features on a mating lattice member. Each of the plurality of structural joints are configured to facilitate rotation of the mating lattice member, semi-permanently holding the mating lattice member in place with an electro-permanent magnetic (EPM) retaining device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Christian ZEMPEL, Donald Wayne DENHAM
  • Publication number: 20190385774
    Abstract: An electromagnetic mooring system (MMS) that includes a first object and a second object, at least one of which includes an electronic coupler configured to connect the first object with the second object. The electronic coupler comprises a pair of magnets, at least one of which is an electro permanent magnet (EPM), having a flux path. When the electronic coupler is in the ON states, the flux path moves towards the first or second object transferring heat from the first or second object to the second or first object, and when the electronic coupler is in the OFF state, the flux paths moves towards the EPM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Donald Wayne DENHAM, John Patrick MCHALE
  • Publication number: 20190385772
    Abstract: An electro-permanent magnet (EPM) for an electromagnetic mooring system (EMS) includes a low coercivity magnet surrounded by a reversible coil, and one or more high coercivity magnets surrounding the low coercivity magnet and the reversible coil. The reversible coil switches polarity of the low coercivity magnet to null the stronger, one or more high coercivity magnets. The nulling of the stronger, one or more high coercivity magnets allows for the EMS to connect and disconnect to an adjacent apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Donald Wayne DENHAM