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Passive propellant systemThe system utilizes a spherical tank structure A separated into two equal volume compartments by a flat bulkhead B. Each compartment has four similar gallery channel legs located in the principal vehicle axes, ensuring that bulk propellant will contact at least one gallery leg during vehicle maneuvers. The forward compartment gallery channel legs collect propellant and feed it into the aft compartment through communication screens which protrude into the aft compartment. The propellant is then collected by the screened gallery channels in the aft compartment and supplied to the propellant outlet. The invention resides in the independent gallery assembly and screen structure by means of which propellant flow from forward to aft compartments is maintained. Liquid surface tension of the liquid on the screens is used to control liquid flow. The system provides gas-free propellants in low or zero-g environments regardless of axial accelerations and propellant orientation in bulk regions of the vessel.
Document ID
19780019233
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Patent Application
Authors
Hess, D. A.
(McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. St. Louis, Mo., United States)
Regnier, W. W.
(McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Mo., United States)
Jacobs, V. L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 3, 2013
Publication Date
July 11, 1978
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
Patent Application Number: US-PATENT-APPL-SN-923758
Patent Number: NASA-CASE-MFS-23642-2
Accession Number
78N27176
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
NASA-CASE-MFS-23642-2
Patent Application
US-PATENT-APPL-SN-923758
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