Momentum exchange assemblies and inner gimbal assemblies for use in control moment gyroscopes
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorJane Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inner gimbal assembly is provided for use in a control moment gyroscope assembly and of the type that includes a stator housing and a spin motor disposed within the stator housing and on a shaft. The inner gimbal assembly comprises a first spin bearing mounted to the shaft, and a bearing cartridge substantially surrounding the first spin bearing, the bearing cartridge having a first end partially defining a first end cavity, a second end partially defining a first intermediary cavity, and a bearing cartridge channel providing flow communication between the first end cavity and the first intermediary cavity.
Claims20
A momentum exchange assembly, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- and
- an inner gimbal assembly disposed within the outer housing, the inner gimbal assembly including:
- a stator housing;
- a rotor assembly disposed at least partially within the stator housing, the rotor assembly including a shaft and an inertial element fixedly coupled to the shaft;
- a first spin bearing mounted to a first end of the shaft;
- a bearing cartridge surrounding the first spin bearing, the bearing cartridge having a first end, a second end, and a bearing cartridge channel extending from the first end of the bearing cartridge to the second end of the bearing cartridge;
- and
- a spin motor disposed within the stator housing and around the shaft, the spin motor including a spin motor rotor and a spin motor stator, the spin motor rotor coupled to the rotor assembly, and the spin motor stator disposed around a portion of the spin motor rotor and coupled to the stator housing,
- wherein:
- a first end cavity is partially defined by the first end of the bearing cartridge,
- a first intermediary cavity is defined by a first portion of an outer surface of the spin motor, a first portion of a surface of the rotor assembly, and the second end of the bearing cartridge, and
- the bearing cartridge channel provides flow communication between the first end cavity and the first intermediary cavity.
A momentum exchange assembly, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- and
- an inner gimbal assembly disposed within the outer housing, the inner gimbal assembly including:
- a stator housing;
- a rotor assembly disposed at least partially within the stator housing, the rotor assembly including a shaft and an inertial element fixedly coupled to the shaft;
- a spin bearing mounted to a first end of the shaft;
- a bearing cartridge surrounding the spin bearing, the bearing cartridge having a first end and a second end;
- and
- a spin motor disposed within the stator housing and around the shaft, the spin motor including a spin motor rotor and a spin motor stator, the spin motor rotor including an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring coupled to the shaft, the outer ring coupled to the inertial element, and the spin motor stator disposed in an annular gap between the inner ring and the outer ring and coupled to the stator housing,
- wherein:
- a first end cavity is partially defined by the first end of the bearing cartridge,
- the shaft includes a first shaft channel extending through the shaft,
- a first intermediary cavity is defined by a first portion of an outer surface of the spin motor and a first portion of a surface of the rotor assembly, and
- the first shaft channel provides flow communication between the first end cavity and the first intermediary cavity.
An inner gimbal assembly for use in a control moment gyroscope assembly and of the type that includes a stator housing and a spin motor disposed within the stator housing and on a shaft, the inner gimbal assembly comprising:
- a first spin bearing mounted to the shaft;
- and
- a bearing cartridge substantially surrounding the first spin bearing, the bearing cartridge having a first end partially defining a first end cavity, a second end partially defining a first intermediary cavity, and a bearing cartridge channel providing flow communication between the first end cavity and the first intermediary cavity,
- wherein the inner gimbal assembly is disposed within an outer housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.