Patents by Inventor Frank Charles Zegler
Frank Charles Zegler 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: 11970997Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for an upper stage space launch vehicle that uses gases from the propellant tanks to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other components including a generator for generation of electrical current for operating compressors and fluid pumps and for charging batteries. These components and others comprise a thermodynamic system from which system enthalpy may be leveraged by extracting and moving heat to increase the efficient use of propellant and the longevity and performance of the launch vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: United Launch Alliance, L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Charles Zegler
-
Patent number: 11846248Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for an upper stage space launch vehicle that uses gases from the propellant tanks to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other components including a generator for generation of electrical current for operating compressors and fluid pumps and for charging batteries. These components and others comprise a thermodynamic system from which system enthalpy may be leveraged by extracting and moving heat to increase the efficient use of propellant and the longevity and performance of the launch vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: United Launch Alliance, L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Charles Zegler
-
Patent number: 11261828Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for an upper stage space launch vehicle that uses gases from the propellant tanks to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other components including a generator for generation of electrical current for operating compressors and fluid pumps and for charging batteries. These components and others comprise a thermodynamic system from which system enthalpy may be leveraged by extracting and moving heat to increase the efficient use of propellant and the longevity and performance of the launch vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: United Launch Alliance, L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Charles Zegler
-
Patent number: 10717550Abstract: A system and methods are provided for combining systems of an upper stage space launch vehicle for enhancing the operation of the space vehicle. Hydrogen and oxygen already on board as propellant for the upper stage rockets is also used for other upper stage functions. Specifically, gases from the propellant tanks, instead of being dumped overboard, are used as fuel and oxidizer to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other elements including a generator for generation of electrical current, mechanical power for fluid pumps, and other uses. The exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is also used directly in one or more vehicle thrusters.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: United Launch Alliance, L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Charles Zegler
-
Patent number: 10718294Abstract: A system and methods are disclosed for an upper stage space launch vehicle that uses gases from the propellant tanks to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other components including a generator for generation of electrical current for operating compressors and fluid pumps and for charging batteries. These components and others comprise a thermodynamic system from which system enthalpy may be leveraged by extracting and moving heat to increase the efficient use of propellant and the longevity and performance of the launch vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: United Launch Alliance, L.L.C.Inventor: Frank Charles Zegler
-
Patent number: 8196868Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: United Launch Alliance, LLCInventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Mohamed R. Ragab
-
Patent number: 8196869Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: United Launch Alliance, LLCInventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Cliff E. Willey, John K. Lin, Mohamed M. Ragab, Michael W. Dew
-
Publication number: 20120091280Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Mohamed M. Ragab
-
Publication number: 20120091281Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Cliff E. Willey, John K. Lin, Mohamed M. Ragab, Michael W. Dew
-
Publication number: 20100187365Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Cliff E. Willey, John K. Lin, Mohamed M. Ragab, Michael W. Dew
-
Publication number: 20100187364Abstract: A cryogenic propellant depot and sunshield are provided for operation in earth orbit to fuel or refuel other space vehicles. The sunshield is deployed to effectively mitigate solar radiation emanating from the earth and the sun thereby providing a long term storage solution for cryogenic fluids prone to boil-off. The depot has supporting subsystems to include station keeping equipment and communication equipment so that the depot can be independently controlled. Inflatable booms are used to deploy the sunshield in a desired pattern around the depot.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Bernard Friedrich Kutter, Frank Charles Zegler, Mohamed M. Ragab
-
Patent number: 6341762Abstract: Various types of valves are disclosed, as well as the use of the same in a reaction control system for space travel vehicle applications. Multiple functions are provided by one of these valve designs by providing multiple flowpaths through the valve. An inflow and outflow tube of this multifunctional valve are fluidly interconnected with first and second chambers, respectively, within the valve. These first and second chambers are isolated from each other by a barrier assembly which may be “removed” at the desired type by a barrier rupture assembly to provide one of the noted multiple flowpaths (i.e., the inflow tube, the first chamber, the second chamber, and the outflow tube). A separate service port is fluidly interconnected with each of the first and second chambers, and a separate service valve may be disposed in each of these service ports to provide additional flowpaths for the multifunctional valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: January 29, 2002Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Michael Bruce Dean, Frank Charles Zegler
-
Patent number: 6298868Abstract: Various types of valves are disclosed, as well as the use of the same in a reaction control system for space travel vehicle applications. Multiple functions are provided by one of these valve designs by providing multiple flowpaths through the valve. An inflow and outflow tube of this multifunctional valve are fluidly interconnected with first and second chambers, respectively, within the valve. These first and second chambers are isolated from each other by a barrier assembly which may be “removed” at the desired type by a barrier rupture assembly to provide one of the noted multiple flowpaths (i.e., the inflow tube, the first chamber, the second chamber, and the outflow tube). A separate service port is fluidly interconnected with each of the first and second chambers, and a separate service valve may be disposed in each of these service ports to provide additional flowpaths for the multifunctional valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Michael Bruce Dean, Frank Charles Zegler