Erich K Weinberg

US Patent:

20110302905, Dec 15, 2011

Filed:

Jun 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/815288

Inventors:

Erich K. Weinberg - Kent WA, US
Beth A. Mikulka - Seattle WA, US
Kip Carver - Mountlake Terrace WA, US

Assignee:

Blue Origin, LLC - Kent WA

International Classification:

F02K 1/80
F16J 15/16

US Classification:

60204, 277345, 277507, 60770

Abstract:

Eyeball seals for a gimbaled rocket engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a rocket body, an engine carried by and movable relative to the rocket body, and a seal assembly. The seal assembly can include a sealing surface carried by one of the rocket body and the engine, and a seal element carried by the other of the rocket body and the engine. The seal element is in contact with the sealing surface. The seal assembly can further include a cylinder and a piston slideably received in the cylinder, with one of the piston and the cylinder carrying the seal element. The cylinder includes ports that are in fluid communication with a region external to the rocket body. Accordingly, pressures external to the rocket body can force the seal element and/or the sealing surface into contact with each other.