Patent · US Expired

Integrated system for providing 3-axis attitude-control, energy-storage, and electrical power

US6454218B1 · kind B1 · utility

8Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 27, 2001
Grant dateSep 24, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 25, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/16
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An integrated system for providing 3-axis attitude-control, energy-storage, and electrical power in which two counter-rotating inertia-wheels are tandem mounted with rotational axis oriented on and parallel to the longitudinal-axis of an airframe. A horizontal- and vertical-translating support is centrally-located between the wheels and houses a common wheel-bearing mount communicating with and supporting both inward-pointing inertia-wheel shafts. The preferred embodiment further consists of two outwardly-mounted tilt wheel bearing and suspension means, each communicating with and supporting an inertia-wheel outward-pointing shaft. Taken together, these supports and their associated two-axis actuator enable both wheels to be tilted equally in opposite directions to generate a combination of pitch and yaw reaction torque. Further, an electric generator integrally mounted to each inertia-wheel, and an electric load controller connected to each electric generator enable the creation of reaction roll torque. The preferred embodiment further comprises a turbine interface integrally attached to each inertia-wheel, a turbine nozzle associated with each wheel, and a dual gas-generator inte…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.