Patents by Inventor Robert E. Coltrin

Robert E. Coltrin 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: 3973745
    Abstract: A spin-stabilized vehicle comprising a body and three deployable panels. The inner ends of the panels are attached to the vehicle body at points equidistant from each other. Furthermore, the panel surfaces are covered with photovoltaic or solar cells. During transport and ascent of the vehicle, the panels are stowed in packages supported on the body of the vehicle. The packages are controllably deployed radially of the body in the presence of centrifugal force which in effect removes the panels from the packages. When deployed, the panels extend radially from the body of the vehicle. The use of three panels results in a relatively small ripple of the power supplied by the cells as the vehicle rotates thereby providing a relatively high efficiency of cell utilization. In addition, the utilization of panels which radiate radially from the body of the vehicle with storage boxes at the outer panel ends increases the spin moment of inertia improving the stability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Coltrin, Thomas C. Eakins, John E. McIntyre