New Spacedev patent

[spacy600]

What do you think of this new patent.<br />Will it make space access cheaper?<br />http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=pat&pub=20060213181<br /><br />Thanks

 

[docm]

Sounds like they're patenting a new, high powered hybrid fuel & combustion system. Cheaper? Who Knows? If it's powerful enough to reduce the cost/mass then possibly yes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[space_dreamer]

Perhaps they worked out a way of getting an Isp of 600+ from a safe cheap hybrid rocket system! ;-)

 

[barrykirk]

That link went to the US patent office, but I couldn't see any details on the patent other than who owns it.

 

[spacy600]

1 copy application #<br />2 click on publication #<br />3 new window will open<br />4 paste application # in correct box<br />5 click submit<br />6 note tabs, click on published documents<br />7 read and enjoy

 

[barrykirk]

Thanks spacy600. That procedure worked. I only had time to skim the patent before my lunch hour was finished. So, I will go back and re-read it in more detail.<br /><br />One thing they mentioned is that they think they can get more ISP than from solids. I was under the impression that hybrids had a lower ISP than solids.<br /><br />If they can outperform the ISP of solids with 99% fuel mass utilization than this is a very exciting patent indeed.<br /><br />Since the fuel doesn't need to be pumped and the oxidizer is extremely dense, it would seem to me that thrust to weight could be extremely high for this technology.<br /><br />There might not be any reason to ever use solids again, unless they are cheaper.<br /><br />But, this technology may be easier than solids to reload the engine with fuel and oxidizer and re-use it.<br /><br />Wow!!!!<br /><br />I'm a big fan of LOX/RP-1 because it has the potential to be much cheaper than solids to reload and re-use it.<br /><br />I had dismissed hybrids because I had perceived them to have a low ISP. But if this is no longer the case then<br />wow!!!

 

[docm]

Improved bulkhead area, multiple cryo oxydizer tanks, high SI etc. <br /><br />Looks like a hot rod to me <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

That patent wasn't all that exciting, I found figure 5b to be the most interesting part and it was just a chart of ISP vs Fuel/oxidizer ratio for different oxidizers. <br /><br />There was something about how tanks can be connected and also a part talking about reducing mass fraction with cryogenic N2O (including a typo suggesting denser fuels require BIGGER tanks). Nothing in it was especially revolutionary in any way though.<br /><br />Their fuel chart showed that LOX was a great oxidizer, getting ISPs in the 300's, but only in a limited F/O range. Now an exciting patent would be if they used both N2O and LOX for oxidizer and changed their ratios through the burn to optimize ISP.<br />

 

[barrykirk]

Yes that chart was absolutly great.<br /><br />The nice part was that it showed NO2 as having a decent ISP though. Better than most solid rockets out there.<br /><br />Sounds to me that it's a possibility that hybrids might replace solids some day.

 

[oker59]

i couldn't possibly find all the links - science and technology is soooo busy these days; a revolution can be just around the corner.<br /><br />But, I recall a new rocket engine design which burns any liquid fuel hotter by two or three times, so combine that with this new Poway(I'm a former poway titan!), plus maybe carbon nanotube construction, and god knows what else(more advanced and less weighty electronics), space tourism for the money, and I think private industry can indeed get us spread around the solar system for starters.<br /><br />Although, watch out, these center for responsible nanotechnology guys don't want anybody outside of their closed world system(nobody off the planet earth for fear of somebody developing nanotechnologies out of their jurisdiction.)