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US4164339A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Environmental protection system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-11-25
•
Granted: 1979-08-14
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Expires: 1997-11-25
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Abstract

Abstract Sheets of metal foil superalloy heat-resisting metal foil, aluminized mylar or other thermal insulators are superposed one upon the other and deployed over the surface to be protected. A "dead space" thermal insulation such as a vacuum or simply a high resistance physical separation, is provided between surfaces. Physical separation between surfaces may be effected by flaps, integral to the insulator material, which are actuated by an aerodynamic or forced airstream or by the static energy stored in uncoiled flaps. Deployment is effected, only when needed, either by automatic or manually controlled reels which dispense the insulating material.

Inventors

  • 👤 Carl O. McClenny

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 12:58
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/52; B64G1/58

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 60 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a spacecraft surface from a hostile environment, comprising: a. a spacecraft exterior surface to be protected; b. a layer of insulating material adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; and, c. means for deploying said insulating material between said spacecraft surface to be protected and said hostile environment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 60 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a spacecraft surface from a hostile environment, comprising: a. a spacecraft exterior surface to be protected; b. a layer of insulating material adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; and, c. means for deploying said insulating material between said spacecraft surface to be protected and said hostile environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 86 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a surface from a hostile environment, comprising: a. a layer of insulating material adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; b. deployment means for deploying said insulating material between said surface to be protected and said hostile environment; and, c. aerodynamically-operated flap separation means integral with said insulating material in such manner that said separation means is adapted to be displaced from the plane of said insulating material when said insulating material is unrolled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 86 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a surface from a hostile environment, comprising: a. a layer of insulating material adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; b. deployment means for deploying said insulating material between said surface to be protected and said hostile environment; and, c. aerodynamically-operated flap separation means integral with said insulating material in such manner that said separation means is adapted to be displaced from the plane of said insulating material when said insulating material is unrolled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 87 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a surface from a hostile environment comprising: a. a layer of insulating material adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; b. deployment means for deploying said insulating material between said surface to be protected and said hostile environment; and, c. prestressed, self-actuating coil separation means integral with said insulating material in such manner that said separation means is adapted to be displaced from the plane of said insulating material when said insulating material is unrolled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 87 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a surface from a hostile environment comprising: a. a layer of insulating material adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; b. deployment means for deploying said insulating material between said surface to be protected and said hostile environment; and, c. prestressed, self-actuating coil separation means integral with said insulating material in such manner that said separation means is adapted to be displaced from the plane of said insulating material when said insulating material is unrolled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 105 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a surface from a hostile environment, comprising: a. a plurality of superposed layers of insulating material having their peripheral edges bonded together and adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; b. deployment means for deploying said insulating material between said surface to be protected and said hostile environment; and, c. prestressed, self-actuating coil separation means integral with and disposed between said layers of insulating material in such a manner that said self-actuating coil separation means is adapted to be displaced from the plane of said insulating material when said insulating material is unrolled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 105 words
An environmental protection system for protecting a surface from a hostile environment, comprising: a. a plurality of superposed layers of insulating material having their peripheral edges bonded together and adapted to be rolled up in a compact roll when not in use; b. deployment means for deploying said insulating material between said surface to be protected and said hostile environment; and, c. prestressed, self-actuating coil separation means integral with and disposed between said layers of insulating material in such a manner that said self-actuating coil separation means is adapted to be displaced from the plane of said insulating material when said insulating material is unrolled.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1265071A Cited
US2774421A Cited
US2328263A Cited
US2540331A Cited
US2874612A Cited
US3152548A Cited
US3176933A Cited
US3184187A Cited
US3289974A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-08-13 1983-02-12 1983-08-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-08-13 1987-02-12 1987-08-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-08-13 1991-02-12 1991-08-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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