US 11,738,889 B2
Integrated satellite chassis with internal propellant tank structure
Hunjoo Kim, Pasadena, CA (US); and Andrew A. Shapiro-Scharlotta, Pasadena, CA (US)
Assigned to California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed by California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/825,720.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/821,327, filed on Mar. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0299006 A1, Sep. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. B64G 1/40 (2006.01); B64G 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/402 (2013.01) [B64G 1/10 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid propellant storage system comprising:
a fuel tank with an inner wall surface forming an internal cavity of the fuel tank wherein the internal cavity is configured to contain a liquid fuel;
a lattice structure disposed within the internal cavity, and the lattice structure thereby occupying a volume within the internal cavity, wherein the lattice structure comprises multiple interlinking members that extend across the internal cavity from one edge of the inner tank wall to another edge and the lattice structure is connected to a plurality of points on the inner wall surface of the fuel tank such that the lattice structure provides additional strength to the fuel tank and wherein the lattice structure provides additional surface area by which a slosh of the liquid fuel within the fuel tank may be reduced; and
wherein the fuel tank further comprises a propellant management device disposed in a corner of the fuel tank wherein the propellant management device allows the liquid fuel to coalesce via capillary action and allows the flow of fuel from the internal cavity of the fuel tank to a fuel line.