Spacecraft actuator wheel with integrated battery and fuel storage
AssigneeNovawurks, Inc.
InventorTALBOT JAEGER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved spacecraft actuator wheel is provided which can be operated as a momentum wheel, a reaction wheel or a gimbal. The actuator wheel has a central cavity. One or more battery modules are located within the actuator wheel's central cavity. The battery modules supply power to one or more electronic components affixed to the actuator wheel or mounted on the spacecraft frame via an electrical harness. In addition, the actuator wheel's central cavity is pressurizeable for storing spacecraft propellant which can be controllably diverted to the spacecraft's thrusters through conduits and flow valves.
Claims17
A spacecraft comprising:
- a spacecraft frame;
- one or more electronic components;
- an actuator wheel mounted on said spacecraft frame wherein said wheel is rotatable relative to said spacecraft frame;
- one or more battery modules affixed to said actuator wheel so as to be rotatable with the rotation of said actuator wheel;
- and
- an electrical harness connecting said one or more electronic components and said one or more battery modules for supplying power from said battery modules to said electronic components.
A spacecraft comprising:
- a spacecraft frame;
- one or more thrusters mounted on said spacecraft frame;
- an actuator wheel having a pressurizeable central cavity mounted on said spacecraft frame wherein said actuator wheel is rotatable relative to said spacecraft frame;
- spacecraft propellant within said central cavity;
- one or more fluid conduits connecting said central cavity and said one or more thrusters;
- one or more valves for controllably allowing or restricting flow of fuel from said central cavity to said thrusters.
A spacecraft comprising:
- a spacecraft frame;
- one or more thrusters mounted on said spacecraft frame;
- an actuator wheel having a pressurizeable central cavity mounted on said spacecraft frame wherein said wheel is rotatable relative to said spacecraft frame;
- spacecraft propellant within said central cavity;
- one or more fluid conduits connecting said central cavity and said one or more thrusters;
- one or more valves for controllably allowing or restricting flow of fuel from said central cavity to said thrusters;
- one or more electronic components;
- one or more battery modules positioned with said actuator wheel's central cavity so as to be rotatable with the rotation of said actuator wheel;
- and
- an electrical harness connecting said one or more electronic components and said one or more battery modules for supplying power from said battery modules to said electronic components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.