Control moment gyroscopes including torsionally-stiff spoked rotors and methods for the manufacture thereof
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsPorter Davis, Theodis Johnson, Carlos J. Stevens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) are provided, as are embodiments of a method for fabricating CMGs. In one embodiment, a CMG includes a stator housing, an inner gimbal assembly (IGA), and a torque motor coupled to the stator housing and configured to rotate the IGA about a gimbal axis to selectively generate a desired output torque during operation of the CMG. The IGA includes, in turn, an IGA support structure rotatably coupled to the stator housing, a monolithic CMG rotor rotatably mounted to the IGA support structure, and a spin motor coupled to the IGA support structure and configured to rotate the monolithic CMG rotor about a spin axis.
Claims19
A control moment gyroscope (CMG), comprising:
- a stator housing;
- an inner gimbal assembly (IGA), comprising:
- an IGA support structure rotatably coupled to the stator housing;
- a monolithic CMG rotor rotatably mounted to the IGA support structure;
- and
- a spin motor coupled to the IGA support structure and configured to rotate the monolithic CMG rotor about a spin axis;
- and
- a torque motor coupled to the stator housing and configured to rotate the IGA support structure about a gimbal axis to selectively generate a desired output torque during operation of the CMG;
- wherein the monolithic CMG rotor comprises a rotor rim, a rotor shaft, and a plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes integrally joined to the rotor rim and the rotor shaft as a single piece;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes is joined to the rotor shaft at a first spoke-shaft joinder interface and at a second spoke-shaft joinder interface, the first spoke-shaft joinder interface located closer to a first end of the rotor shaft than to the gimbal axis, and the second spoke-shaft joinder interface located closer to a second opposing end of the rotor shaft than to the gimbal axis.
A control moment gyroscope (CMG), comprising:
- a stator housing;
- an inner gimbal assembly (IGA), comprising:
- an IGA support structure rotatably coupled to the stator housing;
- a CMG rotor rotatably mounted to the IGA support structure for rotation about a spin axis, the CMG rotor comprising:
- a rotor shaft;
- a rotor rim;
- and
- a plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes joining the rotor shaft to the rotor rim, each of the plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes increasing gradually in axial height when moving radially inward toward the spin axis, each of the plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes further having an average axial height at least twice a chordal thickness thereof;
- a spin motor coupled to the IGA support structure and configured to rotate the monolithic CMG rotor about the spin axis;
- and
- a torque motor coupled to the stator housing and configured to rotate the IGA support structure about a gimbal axis to selectively generate a desired output torque during operation of the CMG.
An inner gimbal assembly (IGA) configured to be installed within a control moment gyroscope (CMG) having a stator housing, the IGA comprising:
- an IGA support structure configured to be rotatably coupled to the stator housing when the IGA is installed within the CMG;
- a monolithic CMG rotor rotatably mounted to the IGA support structure for rotation about a spin axis, the monolithic CMG rotor comprising:
- a rotor shaft;
- a rotor rim;
- and
- a plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes joining the rotor shaft to the rotor rim;
- wherein each of the plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes increases gradually in axial height when moving radially inward toward the spin axis;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of torsionally-stiff radial spokes has an average axial height at least twice a chordal thickness thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.