Patents by Inventor Mark Lee Bright

Mark Lee Bright 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).

  • Friction stir welded bladder fuel tank
    Patent number: 8079126
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a rolling bladder propellant tank assembly includes providing a pair of half-domes comprising a nanophase metallic material and a bladder formed of a ductile metallic material. A bladder support ring extends from at least one of the pair of half-domes. The pair of half-domes are positioned together to form a cavity therein with a portion of the bladder trapped between the pair of half-domes adjacent to the bladder support ring, wherein the bladder is positioned within the cavity. A seal is formed between the pair of half-domes and the bladder by friction stir welding. A friction stir welding pin used to form the seal is aligned with the bladder support ring during the friction stir welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford C. Bampton, Mark Lee Bright
  • Friction stir welded bladder fuel tank
    Publication number: 20090188109
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a rolling bladder propellant tank assembly includes providing a pair of half-domes comprising a nanophase metallic material and a bladder formed of a ductile metallic material. A bladder support ring extends from at least one of the pair of half-domes. The pair of half-domes are positioned together to form a cavity therein with a portion of the bladder trapped between the pair of half-domes adjacent to the bladder support ring, wherein the bladder is positioned within the cavity. A seal is formed between the pair of half-domes and the bladder by friction stir welding. A friction stir welding pin used to form the seal is aligned with the bladder support ring during the friction stir welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford C. Bampton, Mark Lee Bright