Virgin Galactic was granted a patent for a compact valve system

{
  "signal_id": "b98f11a6-1a73-5a3a-bae5-07e483660b67",
  "signal_type": "patents-company",
  "signal_subtype": "patentGrant",
  "detected_at": "2026-09-17T19:46:37+00:00",
  "company": {
    "name": "Virgin Galactic",
    "domain": "virgingalactic.com"
  },
  "data": {
    "cpc": [
      {
        "code": "F16K 11/22"
      },
      {
        "code": "F16K 27/0263"
      },
      {
        "code": "F16K 31/1221"
      }
    ],
    "tags": [
      "Intellectual Property",
      "Research & Development",
      "Engineering",
      "Machinery"
    ],
    "detail": "In July 2026 Virgin Galactic patented a space-efficient fluid-control assembly for managing flow within chambers and connected fluid systems.",
    "summary": "Virgin Galactic was granted a patent for a compact valve system",
    "event_at": "2026-07-14",
    "inventors": [
      {
        "name": "Anthony Gemmill",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": true,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-gemmill-95545b4"
      },
      {
        "name": "Chris Grainger",
        "status": "unresolved",
        "is_primary": false
      },
      {
        "name": "Luke Colby",
        "status": "resolved",
        "is_primary": false,
        "linkedin_url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-colby-72006b19"
      }
    ],
    "event_kind": "grant_date",
    "grant_date": "2026-07-14",
    "source_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12680617",
    "cpc_primary": {
      "code": "F16K 11/22"
    },
    "patent_title": "Compact valve system",
    "patent_number": "US12680617",
    "uspto_assignee": "VIRGIN GALACTIC HOLDINGS, INC.",
    "patent_abstract": "The disclosed technology provides compact valve systems. A disclosed valve system may comprise: (1) a housing comprising apertures to permit a fluid connection between a chamber the housing is positioned within and a cavity of the housing; (2) a secondary valve positioned concentrically outside the housing; and (3) a primary valve comprising a valve seat positioned concentrically within the cavity. When the secondary valve is in a closed position the secondary valve may cover the apertures to block the fluid connection between the chamber and the cavity. When the primary valve is in a closed position and the secondary valve is in an open position, a first axial direction-facing surface of the valve seat may be positioned in a second axial direction from the apertures, thus blocking a fluid connection between the chamber and a fluid routing structure positioned in the second axial direction from the valve seat.",
    "precision_class": "structural",
    "invention_explanation": "A small valve that uses nested inner and outer shutoffs to control fluid flow through openings in its housing.",
    "technologies_mentioned": [
      "fluid control",
      "valve systems",
      "mechanical engineering"
    ]
  }
}

curl https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/signals/b98f11a6-1a73-5a3a-bae5-07e483660b67 \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY"

curl -X POST https://signals.autobound.ai/v1/companies/enrich \
  -H "X-API-KEY: $AUTOBOUND_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"domain":"virgingalactic.com","limit":20}'