Patents by Inventor Rick L. Howerton

Rick L. Howerton 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).

  • Solid state heat pipe heat rejection system for space power systems
    Patent number: 8859882
    Abstract: A heat rejection system includes a plurality of panel subassemblies and a solid state heat pipe flex joint. Each panel subassembly includes a fin, a solid state heat pipe manifold, a first solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold and secured to the fin, a second solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold adjacent to the first solid state heat pipe and secured to the fin. The solid state heat pipe flex joint operably connects the solid state heat pipe manifolds of two of the plurality of panel subassemblies in a hermetically sealed configuration, and is configured to permit repositioning of the two panel subassemblies relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Lu, James A. McClanahan, Joseph P. Carroll, William Determan, Patrick E. Frye, Charles Thomas Kudija, Rick L. Howerton, Kenneth John Metcalf, Andrew J. Zillmer
  • Panel assembly for a space-based power generation system
    Patent number: 8308111
    Abstract: An example space-based power generation panel arrangement includes a first reflective panel and at least one heat pipe configured to communicate thermal energy to the first reflective panel and a second reflective panel. The heat pipe is configured to hinge the first reflective panel to the second reflective panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Lu, David Wait, Brian M. Sutin, Rick L. Howerton, Kenneth John Metcalf, Marcelo Bromberg
  • PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR A SPACE-BASED POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110023484
    Abstract: An example space-based power generation panel arrangement includes a first reflective panel and at least one heat pipe configured to communicate thermal energy to the first reflective panel and a second reflective panel. The heat pipe is configured to hinge the first reflective panel to the second reflective panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi LU, David Wait, Brian M. Sutin, Rick L. Howerton, Kenneth John Metcalf, Marcelo Bromberg
  • Solid state heat pipe heat rejection system for space power systems
    Publication number: 20100078061
    Abstract: A heat rejection system includes a plurality of panel subassemblies and a solid state heat pipe flex joint. Each panel subassembly includes a fin, a solid state heat pipe manifold, a first solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold and secured to the fin, a second solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold adjacent to the first solid state heat pipe and secured to the fin. The solid state heat pipe flex joint operably connects the solid state heat pipe manifolds of two of the plurality of panel subassemblies in a hermetically sealed configuration, and is configured to permit repositioning of the two panel subassemblies relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Lu, James A. McClanahan, Joseph P. Carroll, William Determan, Patrick E. Frye, Charles Thomas Kudija, Rick L. Howerton, Kenneth John Metcalf, Andrew J. Zillmer