Patents by Inventor Howard Martin Jones

Howard Martin Jones 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: 6969030
    Abstract: The present invention provides a docking mechanism that is capable of interfacing with Apogee Boost Motors (ABM) including Liquid Apogee Motors (LAM) of the satellite being captured to allow a servicing spacecraft to dock with a satellite that has no special docking features. The docking mechanism includes a compliant probe with spring-loaded fingers at its tip which is inserted into the LAM by the approach motion of the servicer spacecraft. When the probe tip has passed beyond the throat of the LAM the finger extend to trap the LAM on the probe thus achieving capture. The rigidization stage of docking is achieved by retracting the probe to pull the two spacecraft together. The docking mechanism includes abutment pads which interface with the launcher interface ring of the client spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Macdonald Dettwiler Space and Associates Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Martin Jones, Pat Malaviarachchi, Andrew Charles MacKenzie Allen, Mariano Ficocelli, Geoffrey William Frederick Sprawson