Propellant immobilizing system and method
US5284309A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 18, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/4021
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A propellant immobilizing system and method in which propellant motion in the propellant storage tanks (22) is reduced or eliminated during velocity change maneuvers to reduce disturbance torques acting upon the spacecraft (10) and improving the spacecraft attitude pointing performance. The thrusters (14, 16, 18 or 20) are fired to produce a small impulse in the direction of the desired Velocity change to begin motion of the propellant within the fuel tank in the opposite direction. After the fuel has moved within the tank to a location in which the propellant center of mass is aligned with the propellant tank (22) center of curvature in the direction of the desired velocity change, thrusters (14, 16, 18 or 20) are again fired to produce a force in the direction of the current velocity of the propellant center of mass to stop the propellant center of mass relative to the propellant tank (22). With the center mass of the propellant now aligned with the propellant tank center of curvature in the direction of the desired velocity change, the thrusters (14, 16, 18 or 20) are again fired to produce the desired velocity change with the propellant center of mass now being trapped in the p…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.