Stabilization system for a freely rotatable platform
OwnerRoss C. Woodinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stabilization system for space platforms, satellites and the like. One arrangement for demonstration purposes incorporates a frame and a pair of motor/flywheel units which are pivotably mounted to the frame. These units are retained in positions of alignment with the frame axis and energized briefly to develop a torque for rotating the frame. Retraction of a retaining pin permits the units to pivot by 90 degrees, immediately generating precession forces which abruptly stop the frame at the desired angular orientation.
Claims21
Apparatus for controlling the orientation of a body about a selected directional axis comprising:
- a frame which is rotatable about said selected axis;
- a plurality of gyroscopic units pivotably mounted to said frame for rotation about respective pivot axes which are orthogonal to said selected axis, each unit including at least one rotatable disk and a motor coupled to selectively drive said disk in rotation about a central axis of said unit;
- means for orienting the units with their central axes generally aligned with said selected axis;
- means for subsequently energizing said motors to drive said disks in like-direction rotation about said selected axis, thereby applying torque in the opposite direction to said frame to develop rotation of said frame in said opposite direction about said selected axis;
- and
- means for simultaneously pivoting said units in opposite directions about their respective pivot axes while said disks are rotating, thereby developing opposing precessional forces from the interaction of the gyroscopic inertia of said units to stop further rotation of said frame.
A balanced inertial guidance system for selectively controlling the orientation of a body with respect to three mutually orthogonal axes comprising:
- three sets of apparatus, each of said sets being oriented to control the orientation of said body about a corresponding different one of said three orthogonal axes;
- each set comprising:
- a frame which is rotatable about its corresponding axis;
- a plurality of gyroscopic units pivotably mounted to said frame for rotation about respective pivot axes which are orthogonal to said corresponding axis, each unit including at least one rotatable disk and a motor coupled to selectively drive said disk in rotation about a central axis of said unit;
- means for orienting the units with their central axes generally aligned with said corresponding axis;
- means for subsequently energizing said motors to drive said disks in like-direction rotation about said corresponding axis, thereby applying torque in the opposite direction to said frame to develop rotation of said frame in said opposite direction about said corresponding axis;
- and
- means for simultaneously pivoting said units in opposite directions about their respective pivot axes while said disks are rotating, thereby developing opposing precessional forces from the interaction of the gyroscopic inertia of said units to stop further rotation of said frame;
- a control unit coupled to a power supply and to each of said three sets of apparatus for providing electrical power to operate the apparatus;
- a plurality of sensors corresponding respectively to said three orthogonal axes and individually coupled to sense deviation of orientation of the body from a corresponding axis;
- and
- means coupling said sensors to said control unit to initiate correction of the orientation of said body with respect to a particular axis upon detection of deviation of the body from said axis.
A method of controlling the orientation of a body about a selected directional axis, wherein said body includes a frame which is rotatable about said selected axis and a plurality of gyroscopic units pivotably mounted to said frame for rotation about respective pivot axes which are orthogonal to said selected axis, each unit including at least one rotatable disk and a motor coupled to selectively drive said disk in rotation about a central axis of said unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- orienting the units with their central axes generally aligned with said selected axis;
- subsequently energizing said motors to drive said disks in like-direction rotation about said selected axis, thereby applying torque in the opposite direction to said frame to develop rotation of said frame in said opposite direction about said selected axis;
- and
- thereafter pivoting said units simultaneously in opposite directions about their respective pivot axes while said disks are rotating, thereby developing opposing precessional forces from the interaction of the gyroscopic inertia of said units to stop further rotation of said frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.