Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – With fuel system details
Reexamination Certificate
2005-05-31
2011-11-22
Michener, Joshua (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
With fuel system details
C137S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
08061659
ABSTRACT:
Using at least one pressure sensor in an emptying pipe or a feed pipe between emptying valves at the outlets from tanks and feed valves for feeding nozzles, to detect the pressure waves that result form opening and closing a feed valve, and then following operation of said valve, detecting the damping or disappearance of the pressure waves, indicating that the transition between the liquid propellant component and the pressurization gas is going past said pressure sensor, and thus that the tank is completely empty. This detection of complete emptying is a step in a method of managing propellant that makes it possible to allocate the remaining propellant to a residual lifetime for the satellite in orbit and/or to re-orbiting or de-orbiting the satellite.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4923152 (1990-05-01), Barkats
patent: 5027597 (1991-07-01), Soeffker et al.
patent: 5064153 (1991-11-01), Gindre et al.
patent: 5071093 (1991-12-01), Perdu
patent: 5284309 (1994-02-01), Salvatore et al.
patent: 5880356 (1999-03-01), Delepierre-Massue et al.
patent: 2177510 (1987-01-01), None
patent: 2001082249 (1999-09-01), None
Astrium SAS
Michener Joshua
O'Hara Brian M
Patzik, Frank & Samotny Ltd.
LandOfFree
Method for detecting complete draining of a propellant tank... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for detecting complete draining of a propellant tank..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for detecting complete draining of a propellant tank... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-4255284