SPACEHAB, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100089918 | CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORTING COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS - A reusable container which provides flame and thermal protection for shipping hazardous materials such as cylinders containing compressed gas has a flame resistant reinforced outer shell having a bottom section hingedly coupled to a top section. A first inner layer of thermal insulating material is fitted into the top and bottom sections of the outer shell. An optional second inner layer of shock absorbing material with thermal insulating properties is fitted next to the first inner layer and configured to contact and conform to surface sections of the compressed gas cylinder. An interior liner comprised of a durable liner constructed of fabric or molded heat-resistant plastic. | 04-15-2010 |
20090294657 | DRIVING A MASS SPECTROMETER ION TRAP OR MASS FILTER - A radio frequency (RF) drive system and method for driving the ion trap or mass filter of a mass spectrometer has a programmable RF frequency source coupled to a RF gain stage. The RF gain stage is transformer coupled to a tank circuit formed with the ion trap or mass filter. The power of the RF gain stage driving the ion trap or mass filter is measured using a sensing circuit and a power circuit. A feedback value is generated by the power circuit that is used to adjust the RF frequency source. The frequency of the RF frequency source is adjusted until the power of the RF gain stage is at a minimum level. The frequency value setting the minimum power is used to operate the RF drive system at the resonance frequency of the tank circuit formed with the transformer secondary inductance and the ion trap or mass filter capacitance. Driving a mass spectrometer mass selection element this way results in the lower power consumption, an inherently filtered clean drive signal, smaller size, and reduced electromagnetic emissions. | 12-03-2009 |
20090166476 | Thruster system - Enhanced translational thrusting is provided by reaction engines configured to permit translational thrusting off or through the center of gravity of a spacecraft or other vehicle. Among other applications, this approach is useful for a Satellite Life Extension System (SLES) that provides maintenance services to orbiting satellites. By attaching to the satellite and conducting maneuvers to maintain its operational orbit and attitude, the SLES increases the working lifetime of the satellite. Since the engines of the SLES are redundant, the failure of a single engine will not jeopardize the overall success of the mission. | 07-02-2009 |
20090146054 | END CAP VOLTAGE CONTROL OF ION TRAPS - An ion trap for a mass spectrometer has a conductive central electrode with an aperture extending from a first open end to a second open end. A conductive first electrode end cap is disposed proximate to the first open end thereby forming a first intrinsic capacitance between the first end cap and the central electrode. A conductive second electrode end cap is disposed proximate to the second open end thereby forming a second intrinsic capacitance between the second end cap and the central electrode. A first circuit couples the second end cap to a reference potential. A signal source generating an AC trap signal is coupled to the central electrode. An excitation signal is impressed on the second end cap in response to a voltage division of the trap signal by the first intrinsic capacitance and the first circuit. | 06-11-2009 |