Centrifugal space propellant storage and transfer depot
First Claim
1. A centrifugal propellant depot positioned in outer space for storing and transferring liquid propellants to and from transfer space vehicles which are adapted to transport liquid propellants to the depot for storage or to receive the liquid propellants stored in the depot and comprising:
- a plurality of contra-rotatable torus-shaped hollow storage tanks adapted to receive liquid oxidizer and fuel propellants;
transport rail means transversely bridging the hollow storage tanks;
central docking hub means coupled to the rail means and adapted to securably receive a space vehicle in the central portion of the transport rail means and to assist in transporting the space vehicle outwardly to a transfer position for establishing communication between the storage tanks and the space vehicle for transfer of said oxidizer and fuel therebetween;
docking cage means operatively coupled to said central docking hub means and to the transport rail means for receiving the space vehicle and to releasably connect the space vehicle when placed in the transfer position to a predetermined storage tank for controllably transferring of said oxidizer and fuel therebetween; and
counterbalancing mass means coupled to the transport rail means for variable deployment therealong as required to counterbalance the movement of the transfer vehicle means and the secured space vehicle radially on the transport rail means and the transfer of said oxidizer and fuel between the space vehicle and a storage tank.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A centrifugal propellant depot positioned in outer space for storing and transferring cryogenic liquid propellants to and from transfer space vehicles which are adapted to transport cryogenic liquid propellants to the depot to receive the liquid propellants stored in the depot. The depot includes a plurality of contra-rotatable torus-shaped hollow storage tanks adapted to receive cryogenic liquid oxygen and hydrogen propellants that are carried in gas/liquid phase separation by rotational gravity. Transport rail members transversely bridge the storage tanks. A central docking hub is coupled to the transport rail members and disposed centrally of the rotating storage tanks. The docking hub may receive a transfer space vehicle on either of two opposing sides of the hub for transfer, via a transfer vehicle coupled to the rail members, outwardly to the storage tanks. The space vehicle may be flipped from an inwardly reclining position for draining of the liquid propellant into a storage tank outwardly to a position for receiving liquid propellant from a storage tank. A radially movable counterweight is also coupled to the rail members for movement as the space vehicle is carried by the transfer vehicle and transfer of liquid propellant is accomplished to ensure that the center of gravity of the depot is maintained at the central docking hub for gyroscopic stability. The counterweight includes an encapsulated hydrogen absorber, such as Lanthanum-Nickel 5 to sore waste hydrogen for further use. The rotating storage tanks of the depot are provided with variable interior baffles to ensure that the liquid propellant contained therein rotates at the same rotational speed as the storage tanks. Solar panels are attached to the depot to provide electricity.
70 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A centrifugal propellant depot positioned in outer space for storing and transferring liquid propellants to and from transfer space vehicles which are adapted to transport liquid propellants to the depot for storage or to receive the liquid propellants stored in the depot and comprising:
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a plurality of contra-rotatable torus-shaped hollow storage tanks adapted to receive liquid oxidizer and fuel propellants; transport rail means transversely bridging the hollow storage tanks; central docking hub means coupled to the rail means and adapted to securably receive a space vehicle in the central portion of the transport rail means and to assist in transporting the space vehicle outwardly to a transfer position for establishing communication between the storage tanks and the space vehicle for transfer of said oxidizer and fuel therebetween; docking cage means operatively coupled to said central docking hub means and to the transport rail means for receiving the space vehicle and to releasably connect the space vehicle when placed in the transfer position to a predetermined storage tank for controllably transferring of said oxidizer and fuel therebetween; and counterbalancing mass means coupled to the transport rail means for variable deployment therealong as required to counterbalance the movement of the transfer vehicle means and the secured space vehicle radially on the transport rail means and the transfer of said oxidizer and fuel between the space vehicle and a storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A centrifugal propellant depot positioned in outer space for storing and transferring liquid propellants to and from space transfer vehicles which are adapted to transport cryogenic liquid propellants to the depot for storage or to receive the liquid propellants stored in the depot and comprising:
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a plurality of concentrically arranged rotating torus-shaped hollow storage tanks adapted to receive cryogenic liquid oxidizer and fuel propellants; transport rail means transversely bridging the storage tanks; central docking hub means coupled to the rail means and adapted to securably receive a space vehicle; docking hub vehicle means operatively coupled to the central docking hub means and to the transport rail means for receiving the space vehicle and to transfer it to a position for transfer of liquid propellant between the space vehicle and a predetermined storage tank; and counterbalancing mass means coupled to the transport rail means for variable deployment therealong as required to counterbalance the movement of the docking cage means and secured space vehicle to a transfer position and resultant transfer of propellant therebetween, the counterbalancing means including hydrogen absorbing means for releasably storing waste hydrogen for further use. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification