US3825211A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser rocket
Assignee: PHASER TELEPROPULSION Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-19
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1992-06-19
Abstract
Abstract This space vehicle carries a vaporizable propellant and energy is transmitted to the vehicle while in space by a laser beam originating on the ground or some other body or satellite. The space vehicle has replaceable propellant tanks and propellant flow from them through a transparent tube on the focal axis of a parabolic cylindrical reflector. A high energy laser beam concentrated by the reflector heats the propellant which then travels through a swivel to a rocket nozzle aligned with the vehicle center of mass. The reflector and tube form an energy gathering assembly that is mounted for pivoting about an axis transverse to the vehicle axis for maintaining alignment with a remote laser station. Several incremental operations of the laser rocket can sequentially boost it to more energetic orbits and eventually to escape velocities. Such a vehicle can be conveniently used as a ''''tug'''' for other space vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 M Minovitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:40
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/40; B64G1/409; B64G1/401; B64G1/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A space vehicle comprising: a structural frame defining a vehicle axis; propellant tank means mounted in the frame adjacent the forward end of the space vehicle for containing a vaporizable propellant; a rocket nozzle at the rearward end of the frame and aligned substantially in line with the vehicle center of mass; energy gathering assembly means for receiving laser beam radiation; means for mounting the energy gathering assembly for pivoting about an axis transverse to the vehicle axis and adjacent an input portion of the rocket nozzle; and means for conveying propellant from the tank means to the energy gathering assembly; said energy gathering assembly comprising: a laser beam reflector in the general form of a parabolic cylinder having its focal axis transverse to the pivot axis of the energy gathering assembly; a radiation absorption conduit extending along the focal axis of the radiation reflector; means for injecting propellant for flow along the length of the conduit; and swivel means for conveying propellant from the end of the conduit to the input portion of the rocket nozzle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A space vehicle comprising: a structural frame defining a vehicle axis; propellant tank means mounted in the frame adjacent the forward end of the space vehicle for containing a vaporizable propellant; a rocket nozzle at the rearward end of the frame and aligned substantially in line with the vehicle center of mass; energy gathering assembly means for receiving laser beam radiation; means for mounting the energy gathering assembly for pivoting about an axis transverse to the vehicle axis and adjacent an input portion of the rocket nozzle; and means for conveying propellant from the tank means to the energy gathering assembly; said energy gathering assembly comprising: a laser beam reflector in the general form of a parabolic cylinder having its focal axis transverse to the pivot axis of the energy gathering assembly; a radiation absorption conduit extending along the focal axis of the radiation reflector; means for injecting propellant for flow along the length of the conduit; and swivel means for conveying propellant from the end of the conduit to the input portion of the rocket nozzle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for rolling the space vehicle for maintaining the pivot axis of the energy gathering assembly in a predetermined orientation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the energy gathering assembly for pivoting comprises a pivot on the structural frame and a guide track between the radiation reflector and the structural frame, said energy gathering assembly further comprising means for counterbalancing The radiation reflector for maintaining the center of mass of the energy gathering assembly substantially on a line between the rocket nozzle and the center of mass of the space vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein the energy gathering assembly comprises a conduit for conveying propellant from the pivot axis along the reverse side of the radiation reflector to the input of the radiation absorption conduit; and further comprising means for recirculating a portion of the propellant from the output of the absorption conduit to the input thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 1 further comprising means at the forward end of the frame for temporarily latching the space vehicle to a second space vehicle for propulsion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing access to the propellant tank means for removal and replacement thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein the radiation absorption conduit comprises a tube substantially completely transparent to radiation of a selected wave length and means for cooling the walls of the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 7 wherein the means for injecting propellant further comprises means for injecting refractory particles into a portion of the propellant stream through the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A space vehicle as defined in claim 7 wherein the means for cooling the walls of the tube includes a boundary layer of propellant adjacent the interior walls and means for recirculating at least a portion of the boundary layer to the input of the absorption conduit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of propelling a space vehicle comprising the steps of directing a high energy laser radiation beam from a generating station into space; reflectively concentrating the radiation beam on a space vehicle; passing a propellant through the concentrated radiation beam for direct absorption of radiation by the propellant, thereby heating the propellant; and ejecting the propellant from the space vehicle in a direction for propulsion thereof.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of propelling a space vehicle comprising the steps of directing a high energy laser radiation beam from a generating station into space; reflectively concentrating the radiation beam on a space vehicle; passing a propellant through the concentrated radiation beam for direct absorption of radiation by the propellant, thereby heating the propellant; and ejecting the propellant from the space vehicle in a direction for propulsion thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 10 comprising the additional step of injecting refractory particles in the propellant stream before passing it through the concentrated radiation beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 10 further comprising the step of mixing a resonant energy absorbing vapor with the propellant prior to passing the propellant through the concentrated radiation beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the step of reflectively concentrating comprises pivoting a parabolic cylindrical radiation reflector about a pivot axis normal to a line between the space vehicle and the generating station for maintaining the focal axis of the reflector normal to the line between the space vehicle and the generating station.
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) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |