Inflatable Bladder Fairing Recovery System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fairing recovery systems require instantaneous re-entry alignment, are complex and costly, and often result in parafoil tangles or improper deployment, limiting flexibility and increasing launch costs.

Innovation Solution

A fairing recovery system utilizing inflatable bladders made from robust materials like Vectran, which deploy to protect the fairing during re-entry, absorb impact forces, and reorient the fairing into a stable floating position using sequential bladder deployment or torsional resonance mechanisms, eliminating the need for mid-air catching and enhancing flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If parafoils and parachutes are used for fairing recovery, then mid-air retrieval is enabled, but instantaneous re-entry alignment is required and parafoil tangling occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrieval operationVSAvoidalignment requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the parafoil/parachute retrieval system entirely and replaces it with a water-based recovery system using inflatable bladders and floating booms, eliminating the need for mid-air alignment and retrieval operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable inflatable bladders that are deployed once for recovery and then discarded, replacing the complex reusable parafoil system with simpler, single-use components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If mid-air catching by marine vessel or aircraft is used, then fairing recovery is achieved, but schedule and location flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery efficiencyVSAvoidschedule and location flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fairing autonomously deploys inflatable bladders and self-propels or is passively drifted to recovery locations using water currents, eliminating the need for coordinated mid-air catching operations by vessels or aircraft

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inflatable bladders filled with gas or liquid to provide buoyancy and enable water-based recovery, allowing flexible scheduling and location selection without requiring precise mid-air interception

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Strength

If robust materials like Vectran are used for bladders, then impact force absorption is improved, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-inflates bladders with gas or liquid before water impact to create a cushioning effect that absorbs impact forces, reducing the need for extremely high-strength materials while still providing adequate protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of operation

If sequential bladder deployment is used for reorientation, then fairing positioning is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefairing positioningVSAvoiddeployment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dynamically deployable inflatable bladders that can be inflated in sequence or simultaneously to reorient the fairing to the desired recovery position, providing flexible positioning without complex mechanical mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system reduces launch costs by allowing for flexible recovery schedules and locations, minimizing damage, and ensuring the fairing is properly positioned for retrieval, thereby extending its reuse potential.

Implementation Method 1

the one or more inflatable bags absorb some of the forces when the fairing impacts the water to reduce or eliminate damage to the fairing when it lands in water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force absorption: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

The floating bladders are designed to float the fairing on the water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

reorient the fairing into a stable floating position using sequential bladder deployment or torsional resonance mechanisms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorsional resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS12179941B1Inflatable bladder fairing recovery system with repositioning mechanisms and method

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a launch vehicle fairing recovery system and method using inflatable bags and fairing repositioning mechanisms. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to providing a system or mechanism to flip the fairing into the proper floating position. In some embodiments, the fairing has an inner surface and an outer surface, where the outer surface is exposed to the atmosphere when the fairing is interconnected to a spacecraft, and one or more inflatable bags interconnected to the outer surface of the fairing, where when the fairing is interconnected to the spacecraft the one or more inflatable bags is empty, and after the fairing separates from the spacecraft the one or more airbags are filled with pressurized gas and/or hydraulic liquids.