Fluid Rotary Joint for Gimbals in Electric Propulsion Thrusters

A gimbal for a propulsion system, the gimbal comprising:

• a first rotary joint defining a first axis of rotation, the first rotary joint comprising:
• a first channel guide configured to be disposed coaxial with a first shaft,
• a first bellows operably coupled to a first member on a first end and a first component on a second end, the first bellows fluidly coupling the first member to the first component, the first bellows being configured to extend along a first arc shaped path about the first shaft between a first position and a second position;
• a second rotary joint defining a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation being perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, the second rotary joint comprising:
• a second channel guide configured to be disposed coaxial with a second shaft, and
• a second bellows operably coupled to a second member on a third end and a second component on a fourth end, the second member being fluidly coupled to the first component, the second bellows fluidly coupling the second member to the second component, the second bellows being configured to extend along a second arc shaped path about the second shaft between a third position and a fourth position.

An electric thruster system comprising:

• a fuel source;
• at least one thruster;
• and
• a gimbal coupled to the at least one thruster, the gimbal having a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation having first bellows configured to having at least one end moving along a first arc shaped path, the second axis of rotation having a second bellows configured to having at least one end moving along a second arc shaped path, the first bellows being fluidly coupled between the fuel source and the second bellows, the second bellows being fluidly coupled between the first bellows and the at least one thruster.