Search Patents
  • Rocket engine thrust chamber, injector, and turbopump
    Patent number: 10527003
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various technologies pertinent to rocket engines, including injector, thrust chamber, and electrical turbopump devices that may be combined to provide a highly efficient rocket engine and methods of manufacturing such devices, such as additive manufacturing. The use of additive manufacturing techniques allows for injectors and thrust chambers with complex geometries that provide for more efficient engine operation, including, for example, thrust chambers with varying surface roughness within cooling passages thereof and injectors with multiple annular plenums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Beck, Lachlan Jesse Matchett, Peter William Edward Barlow
  • Jettisonable battery systems for powering electrical turbopumps for launch vehicle rocket engine systems
    Patent number: 11408374
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various technologies pertinent to jettisonable battery systems for use in rocket engine-based launch vehicles. Such systems may feature battery units that are configured to be used to power one or more electric turbopumps that may be used to supply fuel to a rocket engine or engines. One or more of the battery units may be jettisoned during flight in order to reduce weight and as they are depleted. In some implementations, the battery units may be connected in parallel with the turbopump(s), with a depleted battery unit being electrically disconnected from the parallel circuit and jettisoned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Rocket Labs USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Beck, Naomi Altman, Jarrod William Burton, Shaun Keith O'Donnell
  • Rocket engine turbopump with coolant passage in impeller central hub
    Patent number: 11022073
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various technologies pertinent to rocket engines, including injector, thrust chamber, and electrical turbopump devices that may be combined to provide a more efficient rocket engine. The electrical turbopump impeller includes a coolant bypass port fluidically connected with a coolant passage that passes through the impeller central hub and allows some of the propellant that is acted on by the impeller to bypass the impeller outlet and instead be flowed into the electrical turbopump housing so that the diverted propellant may be used to cool the various components housed within the housing such as the electric motor bearings, stator, rotor, and electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Beck, Lachlan Jesse Matchett, Peter William Edward Barlow
  • Jettisonable battery systems for powering electrical turbopumps for launch vehicle rocket engine systems
    Patent number: 11408373
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various technologies pertinent to jettisonable battery systems for use in rocket engine-based launch vehicles. Such systems may feature batteries that are configured to be used to power one or more electric turbopumps that may be used to supply fuel to a rocket engine or engines. One or more of the batteries may be jettisoned during flight in order to reduce weight and as they are depleted. In some implementations, a depleted battery may remain electrically connected with the turbopump(s) while a new battery is electrically connected with the turbopump(s). The depleted battery may then be electrically disconnected from the turbopump and jettisoned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Rocket Labs USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Beck, Naomi Altman, Jarrod William Burton, Shaun Keith O'Donnell
  • Rocket engine turbopump with coolant passage in impeller central hub
    Patent number: 11408375
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various technologies pertinent to rocket engines, including injector, thrust chamber, and electrical turbopump devices that may be combined to provide a more efficient rocket engine. The electrical turbopump impeller includes a coolant bypass port fluidically connected with a coolant passage that passes through the impeller central hub and allows some of the propellant that is acted on by the impeller to bypass the impeller outlet and instead be flowed into the electrical turbopump housing so that the diverted propellant may be used to cool the various components housed within the housing such as the electric motor bearings, stator, rotor, and electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Rocket Labs USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Beck, Lachlan Jesse Matchett, Peter William Edward Barlow
  • Turbopump, thrust chamber, and injector with distribution system and a circular array of support columns to flow liquid from the distribution system into a combustion chamber
    Patent number: 11415082
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various technologies pertinent to rocket engines, including injector, thrust chamber, and electrical turbopump devices that may be combined to provide a more efficient rocket engine. The thrust chamber may be coupled with an injector having a circular array of support columns supporting a distribution system. Liquid may be flowed from the distribution system, through the support columns, and into a combustion chamber of the thrust chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Rocket Labs USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Beck, Lachlan Jesse Matchett, Peter William Edward Barlow
  • Viscous liquid monopropellant
    Patent number: 9970740
    Abstract: This invention relates to the construction of a rocket motor and fuel system thereof and, in particular to a new and useful Viscous Liquid Monopropellant (VLM) rocket motor containing a liquid propellant that is pumped into the combustion chamber, atomized and then ignited. The atomization step significantly increases the surface area of the propellant, delivering faster burn rates and smoother combustion. VLM is a non-Newtonian fluid containing both oxidizers and fuels. These monopropellants are comprised of a variety of liquid and solid components, mixed together to form a homogenous fluid, although heterogeneous in composition. The solid constituents are retained within the liquid phase by dispersion, suspension, bonding or chemical emulsification techniques, so as when a motive force is applied to the propellant, all the constituents are also transported, and held in correct proportion while doing so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Beck, Adam Michael Berry
  • Satellite deployer with externally adjustable payload restraint
    Patent number: 11794928
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser and method of using same are disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser as disclosed herein includes a dispenser body defining an interior cavity to accommodate a payload; and a plurality of externally adjustable restraints positioned within the interior cavity and configured to be extended further into the interior cavity by actuation of a manual interface external to the interior cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
  • Satellite deployer with composite guide rail
    Patent number: 11814194
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser is disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser as disclosed herein includes a dispenser body defining an interior cavity configured to receive a payload; and a composite guide rail comprising a groove configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the composite guide rail having an orientation that substantially aligns a longitudinal axis of the groove with an ejection axis of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
  • Satellite deployer with composite guide rail
    Patent number: 11148830
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser is disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser as disclosed herein includes a dispenser body defining an interior cavity configured to receive a payload; and a composite guide rail comprising a groove configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the composite guide rail having an orientation that substantially aligns a longitudinal axis of the groove with an ejection axis of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
  • Satellite deployer with externally adjustable payload restraint
    Patent number: 11059609
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser and method of using same are disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser as disclosed herein includes a dispenser body defining an interior cavity to accommodate a payload; and a plurality of externally adjustable restraints positioned within the interior cavity and configured to be extended further into the interior cavity by actuation of a manual interface external to the interior cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
  • Satellite deployer door with clutch bearing
    Patent number: 11066192
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser door assembly is disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser door assembly as disclosed herein includes a dispenser door having a hinge pin; and a one way clutch bearing within which the hinge pin is free to rotate in a first rotational direction associated with a transition from a closed position of the dispenser door to an open position of the dispenser door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
  • Satellite deployer door release mechanism
    Patent number: 10940960
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser door release mechanism is disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite door dispenser as disclosed herein includes a wire or cable having a first end configured to be secured in a structure comprising or coupled to a dispenser body of a satellite dispenser and a second end configured to be secured in a structure comprising or coupled to a dispenser door of the satellite dispenser; and a pyrotechnic cutter configured to receive the wire or cable in a position to cut the wire or cable upon firing of the pyrotechnic cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
  • Satellite deployer door release mechanism
    Patent number: 10981679
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser door release mechanism is disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite door dispenser as disclosed herein includes a wire or cable having a first end configured to be secured in a structure comprising or coupled to a dispenser body of a satellite dispenser and a second end configured to be secured in a structure comprising or coupled to a dispenser door of the satellite dispenser; and a pyrotechnic cutter configured to receive the wire or cable in a position to cut the wire or cable upon firing of the pyrotechnic cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
Narrow Results

Filter by US Classification