Patents by Inventor James J. Connors

James J. Connors 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: 5816539
    Abstract: An orbital assist module and an interstage for a launch vehicle. The orbital assist module includes a cylindrical outer wall and a support structure secured to an inner surface of the cylindrical outer wall. The support structure defines a plurality of fuel tank supporting zones, at least one of the zones supporting a fuel tank by means of securing formations. A plurality of nozzles are connected to the fuel tanks by means of fuel lines and a plurality of valves are mounted in the fuel lines. The interstage comprises a cylinder having a leading and a trailing end and an explosive connector at the leading end for connecting the interstage to a trailing end of a launch vehicle motor. A connecting bracket is secured to the trailing end of the cylinder for connecting a second launch vehicle motor to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Allan L. Chan, James J. Connors, Kenneth W. Epstein, Robert M. Heath, Gene Spencer Ogden, Michael B. Prewitt, Michael Wong, Edward W. Szeto, David P. Kennon, Michael J. Vogel, Larry Y. Hsu, Daniel H. Hada, Douglas B. Pereyda, Robert J. MacDonald
  • 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