Granted Patent B2

US 12,630,313 · App. 18/913,593 · Granted May 19, 2026

Inventors: Weidong Song (Woodinville, WA); Kutter Kupke (Renton, WA); Alexander Twaites (Seattle, WA)

Assignee: Blue Origin Manufacturing, LLC

B64G1/58B64G1/62F02K9/64F02K9/972F05D2230/31

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . An actively cooled structure for a re-entry vehicle comprising:

a non-permeable inner layer forming a predetermined shape of the structure, the non-permeable inner layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface defining an interior space;

a plurality of walls extending generally orthogonal to the non-permeable inner layer from the second surface, each of the plurality of walls comprising an outermost surface;

a permeable layer disposed between each set of adjacent walls of the plurality of walls, the permeable layer spaced a distance from the second surface of the non-permeable inner layer, the outermost surface of each of the adjacent walls and an outermost surface of the permeable layer defining a circumference of an outer surface of the structure; and

a plurality of cooling channels formed between the permeable layer, the non-permeable inner layer, and by a set of adjacent walls of the plurality of walls, the plurality of cooling channels configured to transport a fluid.

2 . The actively cooled structure of claim 1 , wherein the non-permeable inner layer, the plurality of walls, and the permeable layers comprise the same material.

3 . The actively cooled structure of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the permeable layer is configured to be permeated by the fluid.

4 . The actively cooled structure of claim 1 , wherein a density of the permeable layer increases from a portion of the permeable layer enclosing each cooling channel to the outermost surface of the permeable layer.

5 . The actively cooled structure of claim 4 , wherein a first portion of each permeable layer is permeable to the fluid at a first rate and a second portion of each permeable layer is permeable to the fluid at a second rate.

6 . The actively cooled structure of claim 1 , wherein the non-permeable inner layer, the plurality of walls, and the permeable layer are formed using a single material.

7 . The actively cooled structure of claim 1 , wherein the non-permeable inner layer and the plurality of walls are integral.

8 . The actively cooled structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls are stiffeners.

9 . An actively cooled structure for a re-entry vehicle comprising:

a non-permeable inner layer forming a predetermined shape of the structure, the non-permeable inner layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface defining an interior space;

a plurality of walls extending generally orthogonal to the non-permeable inner layer from the second surface;

a plurality of permeable layers alternating with the plurality of walls in a circumferential direction, the plurality of permeable layers and the plurality of walls forming an externally-facing surface of the actively cooled structure; and

a plurality of cooling channels formed between a permeable layer of the plurality of permeable layers, the non-permeable inner layer, and by a set of adjacent walls of the plurality of walls, the plurality of cooling channels configured to transport a fluid.

10 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein the externally-facing surface of the actively cooled structure is an outer surface of the actively cooled structure.

11 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein a first wall and a second, adjacent wall of the plurality of walls each comprise a first side and a second side extending generally orthogonal to the non-permeable inner layer, and wherein a permeable layer of the plurality of permeable layers is in contact with the first side of the first wall and the second side of the second, adjacent wall.

12 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of permeable layers alternate with the plurality of walls in the circumferential direction along an entire perimeter of the externally-facing surface of the actively cooled structure.

13 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein the non-permeable inner layer, the plurality of walls, and the plurality of permeable layers comprise the same material.

14 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of at least one permeable layer of the plurality of permeable layers is configured to be permeated by the fluid.

15 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein a density of at least one permeable layer of the plurality of permeable layers increases from a portion of the permeable layer enclosing each cooling channel to a portion of the permeable the layer forming the externally-facing surface of the actively cooled structure.

16 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein a first portion of each permeable layer of the plurality of permeable layers is permeable to a fluid at a first rate and a second portion of each permeable layer of the plurality of permeable layers is permeable to the fluid at a second rate.

17 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein the non-permeable inner layer, the plurality of walls, and the plurality of permeable layers are formed using a single material.

18 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein the non-permeable inner layer and the plurality of walls are integral.

19 . The actively cooled structure of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of walls are stiffeners.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)