Attachment assembly between a rotating structure and a stationary structure for a habitation module
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRaju Dharmaraj
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A habitation module that provides an artificial gravity environment. In one embodiment, the habitation module includes a rotating structure configured to rotate about an axis in relation to a stationary structure, and attachment assemblies configured to rotatably couple the rotating structure to the stationary structure. The attachment assemblies comprise bearings installed coaxially between a cylindrical housing of the rotating structure and a cylindrical body member of the stationary structure, and dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member. The attachment assemblies further comprise a static seal assembly that includes an end cap movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
Claims20
An attachment assembly of a habitation module configured to attach a rotating structure to a stationary structure, wherein the stationary structure has a cylindrical body member, and the rotating structure has a cylindrical housing that slides over the cylindrical body member, the attachment assembly comprising:
- bearings installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member;
- dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member;
- and
- a static seal assembly having an end cap attached to an interior end of the cylindrical body member that faces toward an interior of the habitation module;
- the end cap is configured to physically link the rotating structure to the stationary structure to prevent rotation of the rotating structure, and to seal around the interior end of the cylindrical body member and around an interior end of the cylindrical housing to prevent escape of air from the interior of the habitation module.
A habitation module comprising:
- a rotating structure configured to rotate about an axis in relation to a stationary structure to create artificial gravity within at least one gravity chamber of the rotating structure;
- and
- attachment assemblies configured to rotatably couple the rotating structure to the stationary structure;
- wherein the attachment assemblies each comprise:
- bearings installed coaxially between a cylindrical housing of the rotating structure and a cylindrical body member of the stationary structure;
- dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member;
- and
- a static seal assembly that includes an end cap movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- wherein in the locked position, the end cap is configured to contact an interior end of the cylindrical body member that faces toward an interior of the habitation module and an interior end of the cylindrical housing to prevent escape of air from the interior of the habitation module;
- wherein in the unlocked position, the end cap is configured to disengage from the interior end of the cylindrical housing.
A habitation module comprising:
- a stationary structure including cylindrical body members that are spaced apart and aligned coaxially;
- a rotating structure including cylindrical housings that are aligned coaxially, wherein the cylindrical body members of the stationary structure fit within openings of the cylindrical housings;
- and
- an attachment assembly configured to attach a cylindrical body member of the stationary structure to a cylindrical housing of the rotating structure;
- wherein the attachment assembly includes:
- tapered roller bearings installed coaxially between the cylindrical body member and the cylindrical housing;
- dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member to span a radial gap between the cylindrical body member and the cylindrical housing;
- and
- a static seal assembly comprising:
- an end cap;
- first annular face seals;
- second annular face seals having a larger diameter than the first annular face seals;
- inner fasteners configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical body member with the first annular face seals compressed between the end cap and an interior end of the cylindrical body member that faces toward an interior of the habitation module;
- and
- outer fasteners configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical housing with the second annular face seals compressed between the end cap and an interior end of the cylindrical housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.