Spacecraft attitude control system with reaction wheel bearing protection
US5248118A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 1992 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/366
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spacecraft includes an attitude control system using one or more reaction wheels, the speed of which from time to time lie near and pass through zero angular velocity. When operated for extended periods of time at low speeds, the lubrication films are not distributed uniformly on the wheel bearings, leading to reduced lifetime. Reliability is maintained by a threshold comparator coupled to compare wheel speed with a lower limit value, for operating a torquer associated with the spacecraft body when the wheel speed drops below the lower limit, in a manner which tends to raise the wheel speed. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the lower limit is integrated with a wheel overspeed unloading.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.