Michael B Diverde, 60Granite Falls, WA

6357698, Mar 19, 2002

Feb 2, 2000

09/496965

Michael B. DiVerde - Rancho Santa Margarita CA
Kenneth Norman Telford - Huntington Beach CA

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

B64G 122

244158R

A dispenser apparatus and method which includes a blended dispenser shell having a lower portion and a pair of integrally formed upper support portions defining two distinct support areas on which a pair of spacecrafts can be supported in a side-by-side configuration. The upper support portions are further disposed within an envelope defined by a lower edge of the lower portion of the dispenser shell. In one alternative embodiment a pair of adapter shells are disposed on the upper support portions to enable interfacing with a standardized interface ring of each spacecraft. The embodiments of the dispenser are each formed from a graphite epoxy material by conventional construction processes and significantly reduce the overall weight of the dispenser, as compared with dispensers which support a pair of spacecrafts in a vertical configuration. The dispenser of the present invention further reduces the overall cost associated with supporting a pair of spacecrafts and reduces the amount of orbital debris which would otherwise be produced with dispensers which support a pair of spacecrafts in a vertical configuration.

6416018, Jul 9, 2002

Mar 22, 1999

09/273844

Michael B. DiVerde - Rancho Santa Margarita CA
Kenneth N. Telford - Huntington Beach CA
George J. Budris - Huntington Beach CA
Christopher M. Gil - Huntington Beach CA
John F. Steinmeyer - Orange CA

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

B64G 110

2441371, 244158 R, 244161

A satellite dispenser adapted to be coupled to a launch vehicle. The dispenser includes a single-piece, integrally formed tubular shell for supporting a plurality of independent satellites thereon. The tubular shell is significantly lighter than multi-piece dispenser shells that require a connecting ring for coupling the post portion and base portion of the shell together. The single piece shell also significantly reduces the cost and simplifies the manufacture of the dispenser shell. The dispenser shell, in certain preferred embodiments, includes a tapered post portion which enables satellites being carried on the upper portion of the post portion to extend further into a fairing disposed over the satellites and dispenser shell during flight, thus making more efficient use of the envelope defined by the interior area of the fairing. A frusto-conical base portion integrally formed with the post portion enables the load supported by the dispenser shell to be evenly distributed throughout the base portion. The single-piece design also significantly improves the bending stress resistance of the dispenser and its overall structural rigidity.

6138951, Oct 31, 2000

Aug 10, 1998

9/131475

George J. Budris - Huntington Beach CA
Peter A. McGrath - Tustin CA
Tony L. Toulouse - Irvine CA
Richard J. Catalano - Fountain Valley CA
Michael B. Diverde - Rancho Santa Margarita CA

McDonnell Douglas Corporation - Seal Beach CA

B64G 100
B64G 122
F42B 1258

244158R

A dispensing system for releasing a number of spacecraft from a launch vehicle. The dispensing system includes a base support structure securely fastened to a launch vehicle and a number of stacked frame assemblies. Each frame assembly includes a number of substantially parallel load bearing elongated post elements and a shear load transferring structure. The post elements are so arranged and spaced so as to define a geometry having a centerline. Each post element has a first end portion and a second end portion. Each first end portion is connected to either another frame assembly or the base support structure of the launch vehicle. The post elements support a number of spacecraft. The spacecraft are supported between adjacent post elements. The shear load transferring structure is connected to the post elements for transferring shear loads between the post elements. The dispensing system also includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced stabilizers connected to desired locations on the post elements to increase the buckling capability of the dispensing system.