Workstation for microgravity environments
AssigneeSATED Space LLC
InventorJames Thomas Sears
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A workstation for microgravity environments is provided that prevents objects from floating around inside a spacecraft. The workstation includes a downdraft table that has a plenum chamber with an inlet and an outlet. A fan is disposed in the plenum chamber for drawing air into the plenum via the inlet, and exhausting air from the plenum via the outlet. A metal grate is disposed across the inlet, and an air resistive stack is disposed on an outer side of the metal grate. The air resistive stack includes an inner resistive layer disposed on the metal grate and an outer resistive layer disposed on the inner layer. The workstation improves a user's ability to perform many activities in a microgravity environment.
Claims24
A storage system for use in a microgravity environment, comprising:
- a cubby housing defining an interior cavity configured to receive a plurality of objects;
- an air-permeable bottom structure disposed at a lower portion of the cubby housing;
- a blower system configured to draw air from within the cubby housing through the air-permeable bottom structure;
- and
- a plenum in fluid communication with the blower system,
- wherein operation of the blower system generates airflow into the cubby housing that urges the plurality of objects toward the air-permeable bottom structure to restrain the objects from floating.
A modular downdraft workstation for a reduced-gravity environment, comprising:
- a worksurface module including a plenum and a resistive filter stack forming a worksurface;
- a fan module configured to draw air through the resistive filter stack;
- and
- an outflow diffuser module configured to distribute airflow exhausted from the fan module,
- wherein the modules are fluidly connected and physically separable to enable independent placement within a habitat.
A particulate filtration system comprising:
- a pleated filter media disposed within a filter housing;
- a plurality of movable sealing members positioned adjacent openings above the filter media;
- and
- an actuator configured to move the sealing members between an open position allowing airflow through the filter media and a closed position sealing the openings,
- wherein the sealing members prevent release of captured particulate when airflow is reduced or stopped.
A microgravity storage and filtration apparatus comprising:
- a cubby configured to receive objects and draw airflow inward;
- a downdraft airflow system coupled to the cubby;
- and
- a self-sealing particulate filter disposed downstream of the cubby,
- wherein particulates released from objects within the cubby are captured by the filter and retained when airflow is stopped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.