Patents by Inventor Eric R. Turner

Eric R. Turner 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).

  • Active on orbit fluid propellant management and refueling systems and methods
    Patent number: 12012233
    Abstract: Chemical propellant storage and supply systems and methods for use on spacecraft are provided. The systems and methods include a fluid pump for moving chemical propellant within the system at selected pressures. This can include operating the fluid pump to supply propellant to a thruster system at a selected pressure. A fuel tank can be refilled by connecting a propellant resupply source to the system, and operating the fluid pump to move propellant from the propellant resupply source to the fuel tank. In a system with multiple fuel tanks, the fluid pump can be operated to move propellant from a donor fuel tank to a recipient fuel tank. The chemical propellant can be stored in one or more fuel tanks at a relatively low pressure. In addition, the chemical propellant is not pressurized by a gaseous pressurant while it is stored in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Gordon C. Wu, Derek Chan, Robert J. Baltrum, Jr., Eric R. Turner
  • ACTIVE ON ORBIT FLUID PROPELLANT MANAGEMENT AND REFUELING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20220355954
    Abstract: Chemical propellant storage and supply systems and methods for use on spacecraft are provided. The systems and methods include a fluid pump for moving chemical propellant within the system at selected pressures. This can include operating the fluid pump to supply propellant to a thruster system at a selected pressure. A fuel tank can be refilled by connecting a propellant resupply source to the system, and operating the fluid pump to move propellant from the propellant resupply source to the fuel tank. In a system with multiple fuel tanks, the fluid pump can be operated to move propellant from a donor fuel tank to a recipient fuel tank. The chemical propellant can be stored in one or more fuel tanks at a relatively low pressure. In addition, the chemical propellant is not pressurized by a gaseous pressurant while it is stored in the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Gordon C. Wu, Derek Chan, Robert J. Baltrum, JR., Eric R. Turner