Combined flywheel energy storage and attitude control apparatus for spacecraft
US6113033A · kind A · utility
18Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/283
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for storing energy and actuating the attitude of a spacecraft includes a first gimbaled flywheel assembly having a first rotor rotating in a first direction, and a second gimbaled flywheel assembly having a second rotor rotating in a second direction opposing the first direction. The first and second gimbaled flywheel assemblies are adapted to store and release energy and to actuate the attitude of the spacecraft. The apparatus includes one or more non-gimbaled counter-rotating flywheel pairs that are adapted to store and release energy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.