US3773574A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rocket propellant composition including human body generated waste materials
Assignee: Rocket Research Co
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Filing: 1967-04-13
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1987-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for utilizing and disposing of carbonaceous waste products accumulated aboard a spaceship, including human body generated wastes and other carbonaceous wastes, by processing the waste products into rocket propellants and utilizing such propellants for spaceship propulsion. The propellant compositions thus formulated are characterized by the presence of one or more fuel constituents and one or more inorganic oxidizer constituents (e.g., ammonium nitrate) in homogeneous admixture with the human body generated waste materials (e.g., human excrement).
Inventors
- 👤 R Bridgforth
- 👤 G Sutherland
- 👤 C Good
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:06
CPC Classifications
C; C06; C06B; C06B23/00; B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/40; B64G1/402; B64G1/46; C02; C02F; C02F11/00; B64G1/401; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/005; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
18 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 1, wherein said human body generated waste products include human excrement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 2, wherein said human excrement relatively comprises between about five percent and about 65 percent of the weight of the mixture; the metallic fuel relatively comprising between about 10 percent and about 40 percent of the weight of the mixture; and the oxidizer relatively comprising between about five percent and about 50 percent of the weight of the mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 2, wherein said human excrement comprises about 30 percent of the weight of the propellant mixture; the metallic fuel comprising about 20 percent of the propellant mixture; and the oxidizer comprising about 45 percent of the weight of the mixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 1, wherein said metallic fuel is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, beryllium boron, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 5, wherein said metallic fuel comprise aluminum powder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 1, wherein said inorganic oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of ammonium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, alkali metal perchlorates and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 7, wherein said inorganic oxidizer comprise ammonium nitrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The propellant mixture according to claim 2, wherein the human body generated waste products include human feces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The propellant mixture according to claim 2, wherein said human body generated waste products include human urine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 4, wherein said human excrement comprises about one-third human urine and about two-thirds human feces, by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rocket propellant mixture according to claim 4, and further including carbon particles comprising about five percent of the weight of the propellant mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A rocket propellant composition, comprising a mixture of about 20 percent aluminum, about 45 percent ammonium nitrate, about 10 percent human body generated urine, about 20 percent human body generated feces, about five percent bone black carbon and less than about one percent gellant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |