Center of gravity measurement for launch vehicles
AssigneeBlue Origin, LLC
InventorsJason Mark Patterson, Dustin P. Roark, Brian Hrywnak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods disclosed herein are for determining a pre-launch center of gravity (CG) of at least one component of a launch vehicle which may be subject to shifts or changes in CG after launch. The systems and methods may include a tool with an adapter base which may be configured to attach to the component and may include counterweights or segmented weights. The tool may be hoisted with the component for first CG measurements and may be hoisted independently of the component for second CG measurements. The first and second CG measurements may be used to determine the CG of the component of the launch vehicle.
Claims20
A system used for a center of gravity (CG) measurement, the system comprising:
- an adapter base comprising a first side and a second side, the first side to associate with at least one component of a launch vehicle;
- and
- a tool associated with the second side of the adapter base and to be associated with one or more counterweights, wherein the tool is adapted to be hoisted with the component for first CG measurements and is adapted to be hoisted independent of the component for second CG measurements, and wherein a CG measurement for the at least one component is based in part on a difference between the first CG measurements and the second CG measurements.
A tool to be associated with at least one component of a launch vehicle, the tool adapted to comprise one or more counterweights or segmented weights thereon and adapted to be hoisted or weighed in a stabilized position with the at least one component and with the one or more counterweights or segmented weights attached thereon, wherein the stabilized position is to allow at least one operation to be performed on the at least one component of the launch vehicle.
A method for a center of gravity (CG) measurement for at least one component of a launch vehicle, the method comprising:
- associating an adapter base with the at least one component on a first side of the adapter base;
- associating a tool with a second side of the adapter base;
- allowing one or more counterweights to be associated with the tool;
- allowing the tool to be hoisted with the at least one component for first CG measurements and independent of the at least one component for second CG measurements;
- and
- determining the CG measurement for the at least one component based in part on a difference between the first CG measurements and the second CG measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.