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Safety System For Remove a Rider From a Vehicle by Deploying a Parachute
Methods and apparatus for reducing the velocity of a rider in or on an open cockpit vehicle when the rider is thrown from the vehicle.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7918420 | System and methods for simultaneous momentum dumping and orbit control The present system and methods enable simultaneous momentum dumping and orbit control of a spacecraft, such as a geostationary satellite. Control equations according to the present system and methods generate accurate station-keeping commands quickly and efficiently... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7407131 | Method for creating an aeronautic sound shield having gas distributors arranged on the engines, wings, and nose of an aircraft The present invention blocks and/or attenuates the upstream travel of acoustic disturbances or sound waves from a flight vehicle or components of a flight vehicle traveling at subsonic speed using a local injection of a high molecular weight gas. Additional benefit ... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7370834 | Apparatus and methods for in-space satellite operations Apparatus and methods for performing satellite proximity operations such as inspection, recovery and life extension of a target satellite through operation of a “Satellite Inspection Recovery and Extension” (“SIRE”) spacecraft which can be operated in the fo... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7343228 | Transient cancellation technique for spacecraft solar wing stepping A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of solar panels of a spacecraft is described. The method comprises the steps of providing a first step command to a first solar panel, and providing a second step command to a second solar panel at a time of a trans... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7281367 | Steerable, intermittently operable rocket propulsion system A propulsion system including an extinguishable rocket motor and an incorporated maneuver control system. The rocket motor may be of the solid fuel type. One or more proportional axial thrust valves in communication with a pressure vessel or motor case containing a ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7276140 | Plasma accelerating apparatus for semiconductor substrate processing and plasma processing system having the same A plasma accelerating apparatus and a plasma processing system having the same are provided. The apparatus includes a circular channel comprising an inner wall, an outer wall, and an end wall connected to an end of the inner wall and the outer wall to form an outlet... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7260456 | Pixel-frequency slews and filters for star data measurements A method and apparatus for reducing centroiding error of a star sensor having a plurality of pixels is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of computing a star sensor angular slew rate of ω pixels per star sensor integration period τ, collecting star sensor d... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7241103 | Method and system for adjusting a position of an object According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for adjusting a position of an object to compensate for tilt includes providing a rotatable base supporting an object and directing the object relative to the base such that the position of the object is... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7185848 | Mass transfer system for stabilizing an airship and other vehicles subject to pitch and roll moments The invention relates to a mechanism to control the pitch and/or roll and/or center of gravity of a vehicle. The first embodiment is a track-based mass transfer system in which pathways are positioned along or radially terminate at a central horizontal plane of the ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7185857 | Thrust vector actuation control system and method A thrust vector actuation control system and method is configured to allow self-testing of the entire actuation system and/or its individual system components. The control system also provides real-time, continuous monitoring of actuation system status, and allows s... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7177550 | On-axis laser receiver wavelength demultiplexer with integral immersion lensed detectors The present invention is directed to a laser communication receiver for wireless optical communication. A laser communication receiver includes a diffractive optical element to permit detectors at different spatial locations to detect different wavelengths of the op... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7166825 | Solar calibration device and method A solar calibration device for a remote sensor having a housing having a deployable door at one portion of the housing and an aperture at another portion of the housing is provided. Disposed in the housing is a solar diffuser for receiving solar irradiance when the ... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7156348 | Platform and system for propellant tank storage and transfer in space A platform for storage and transfer of propellant tanks in space includes frames configured to releasably support plural propellant tanks in storage positions, and transfer mechanisms configured to transfer propellant tanks to and from the storage positions. The pla... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7142931 | Control system with controlled dead zone A method of operating a control device having a setpoint value, an error signal, and a control output is disclosed. The error signal is representative of a difference between a controlled variable and the setpoint value, the control output operable to affect the con... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7133815 | Method and system for balancing thrust demands In the control of spacecraft, thrusters must generate a commanded force or torque that is computed from the control algorithms in order to maintain a certain attitude or orbit. In general, there is an infinite number of solutions as to how the thrusters are fired in... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7118075 | System and method for attitude control and station keeping A system and method for supplying thrust to a structure, such as a satellite or spacecraft, for the purposes of station keeping and attitude control of the structure in low-gravity (orbital) and zero-gravity environments. The system includes devices for emitting ene... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7115881 | Positioning and motion control by electrons, ions, and neutrals in electric fields This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control by rapid-response motorless linear motion, angular deflection, and continuous rotational motion utilizing the force due to electrons, ions, and/or neutrals. Thus forces and torqu... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7113851 | Practical orbit raising system and method for geosynchronous satellites A practical orbit raising method and system wherein a satellite quickly escapes the Van Allen radiation belts and payload mass and mission life are maximized. A satellite is launched that contains high thrust chemical propulsion thrusters, high specific impulse elec... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7093800 | Method of operating a satellite for end-of-life maneuvers A method for operating a satellite (10, 34) so that a predetermined amount of propellant is left to perform end-of-life maneuvers is provided. A first pressure differential is established between a first propellant tank (74) and a second propellant tan... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7076341 | Autonomous manoeuvring for spinning spacecraft An inventive autonomous active manoeuvring method and system 1 for spinning spacecraft is provided having a capability to enhance the AOCMS performance of passive spinning satellites and to fulfil the emerging autonomy requirements applicable to new generatio... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7072591 | Processing of multiple wavelength signals transmitted through free space The present invention is directed to a laser communication receiver for wireless optical communication. A laser communication receiver includes a diffractive optical element to permit detectors at different spatial locations to detect different wavelengths of the op... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7059571 | Deployable spacecraft mount for electric propulsion An apparatus and method including a deployable spacecraft mount for electric propulsion is disclosed. A typical apparatus includes a spacecraft body, a deployable element having at least two basic positions including a compact stowed position and a deployed position... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7058306 | Asymmetrical laser communication transceiver configuration The present invention is directed to a laser communication transmitter and receiver for wireless optical communication. The laser communication transmitter uses a small diameter so correspondingly divergent beam to provide improved bit error rates. A laser communica... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7039476 | Control system with filtered dead zone A method of operating a control device having a setpoint value, an error signal, and a control output is disclosed. The error signal is representative of a difference between a controlled variable and the setpoint value, the control output operable to affect the con... | 05/02/2006 |
| 6990396 | Method and apparatus for reaction wheel dynamic compensation in long-duration deployment of a large reflector A method and an apparatus for controlling the attitude and momentum of a spacecraft while deploying an appendage from the spacecraft. The method comprises the steps of predicting an environmental torque the spacecraft will be subjected to during deployment of the ap... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6964154 | Axisymmetric, throttleable non-gimballed rocket engine A rocket engine assembly is provided for a vertically launched rocket vehicle. A rocket engine housing of the assembly includes two or more combustion chambers each including an outlet end defining a sonic throat area. A propellant supply for the combustion chambers... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6962310 | Inflatable satellite bus An inflatable satellite bus is claimed for use with a mission payload. The inflatable satellite bus is comprised of a core adapted to receive a mission payload. There is an expandable shell attached to the core and substantially enclosing the core. The core has an a... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6945500 | Apparatus for a geosynchronous life extension spacecraft A satellite life extension spacecraft, comprising a mechanical implement adapted for connection to a parent spacecraft, a first and second boom, a first thruster pod and a second thruster pod attached to the first and second boom, the first pod positioned relative t... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6945495 | Hydrogen powered toy rocket utilizing hydrogen from the electrolysis of water A toy rocket assemblage including a chamber containing water and an anode and cathode and a power supply for the anode and cathode to generate oxygen and hydrogen in the chamber. A plenum chamber for collecting the oxygen and hydrogen gasses. A toy rocket on a launc... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6921049 | System for counteracting a disturbance in a spacecraft A system for counteracting a disturbance in a spacecraft includes a biasing apparatus that is coupled to the spacecraft and a spacecraft controller within the spacecraft. The disturbance has a known sign, magnitude and time. The biasing apparatus controls the biasin... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6908064 | High-efficiency REA optimized stationkeeping A velocity change (ΔV) thruster is operated on a spacecraft, which unavoidably causes attitude error. A reaction wheel (RWA) corrects the attitude. At the beginning of the thruster maneuver, the total attitude control momentum required to at least correct for the ... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6901955 | Cryogenic rotary coupling, and use thereof in particular in articulated fluid feed lines, and in cryogenic propellant rocket engines The cryogenic rotary coupling comprises segments of a cryogenic line that are capable of turning relative to each other about a pivot axis of the rotary coupling. Radial retaining elements and axial retaining elements define the pivot axis of the rotary coupling. On... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6883757 | System and method for increasing the roll offset operating range for a spacecraft A method for increasing the roll offset operating range for a spacecraft using an earth sensor operating in single scan mode includes the steps of moving the spacecraft to a first roll position, which has a roll angle that will cause the earth sensor to have a desir... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6820411 | Compact, lightweight high-performance lift thruster incorporating swirl-augmented oxidizer/fuel injection, mixing and combustion An apparatus for providing propulsive power that utilizes a novel swirl generator for rapidly and efficiently atomizing, vaporizing, as necessary, and mixing a fuel into an oxidant. The swirl generator converts an oxidant flow into a turbulent, three-dimensional flo... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6695251 | Method and system for synchronized forward and Aft thrust vector control A system for controlling attitude about pitch, yaw, and roll axes and axial thrust of a body. The system comprises a main thrust generator located on an aft portion of the body and at least one reaction control system (RCS) located on a forward portion of... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6637701 | Gimbaled ion thruster arrangement for high efficiency stationkeeping An attitude control system for a spacecraft that includes a north side, a south side, an east side, a west side, an earth facing side, and an anti-earth facing side. The attitude control system includes a plurality of gimbaled thrusters interconnected wit... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6622969 | Maneuver device for artificial satellite The present invention provides a maneuver device for an artificial satellite, which causes small attitude error during maneuver and which requires a shorter period of setting time for obtaining a target attitude. The maneuver device is provided with: a feed fo... | 09/23/2003 |
| 6598385 | Two stage gas pilot valve controlling gas flow to a reaction jet nozzle A multi-stage pilot valve is disclosed for selectively supplying a working fluid to and venting from a reaction jet main stage actuation chamber. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pilot valve comprises a solenoid actuated ball and socket fla... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6585193 | Spacecraft with integrated pulsed-plasma thrusters Various ways of integrating pulsed plasma thrusters with a spacecraft. In one embodiment, pulsed plasma thrusters are mounted on inflatable struts/booms. In another embodiment, pulsed plasma thrusters are mounted within a recess formed on an exterior surf... | 07/01/2003 |
| 6581880 | Energy managed electric propulsion methods and systems for stationkeeping satellites An electric propulsion (EP) device is used to enable, a stationkeeping satellite to track a prescribed stationkeeping Earth orbit. EP propellant and electric power are throttled to vary the thrust and specific impulse of the EP device. A solar array provi... | 06/24/2003 |
