Attachment assembly between a rotating structure and a stationary structure for a habitation module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10207828-B1
Application number	US-201815940935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2018
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

A habitation module that provides an artificial gravity environment. In one embodiment, the habitation module includes a rotating structure configured to rotate about an axis in relation to a stationary structure, and attachment assemblies configured to rotatably couple the rotating structure to the stationary structure. The attachment assemblies comprise bearings installed coaxially between a cylindrical housing of the rotating structure and a cylindrical body member of the stationary structure, and dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member. The attachment assemblies further comprise a static seal assembly that includes an end cap movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment assembly of a habitation module configured to attach a rotating structure to a stationary structure, wherein the stationary structure has a cylindrical body member, and the rotating structure has a cylindrical housing that slides over the cylindrical body member, the attachment assembly comprising:
bearings installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member;
dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member; and
a static seal assembly having an end cap attached to an interior end of the cylindrical body member that faces toward an interior of the habitation module;
the end cap is configured to physically link the rotating structure to the stationary structure to prevent rotation of the rotating structure, and to seal around the interior end of the cylindrical body member and around an interior end of the cylindrical housing to prevent escape of air from the interior of the habitation module.

2. The attachment assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the end cap is configured to move axially away from the interior end of the cylindrical body member and the interior end of the cylindrical housing, and disengage from the cylindrical housing to allow for rotation of the rotating structure.

3. The attachment assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the static seal assembly further includes:
a first annular face seal;
a second annular face seal having a larger diameter than the first annular face seal; and
fasteners configured to affix the end cap to the cylindrical body member and the cylindrical housing, to compress the first annular face seal between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical body member, and to compress the second annular face seal between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical housing.

4. The attachment assembly of claim 3 wherein the fasteners comprise:
inner fasteners configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical body member; and
outer fasteners configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical housing.

5. The attachment assembly of claim 4 wherein:
the inner fasteners include stop washers that limit an amount that the inner fasteners are loosened.

6. The attachment assembly of claim 3 wherein the static seal assembly further includes:
a first annular dust seal that extends between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical body member when the end cap is moved axially; and
a second annular dust seal that extends between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical housing when the end cap is moved axially.

7. The attachment assembly of claim 3 wherein the static seal assembly further includes:
a helical spring between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical body member that is configured to apply a force to move the end cap axially away from the cylindrical body member.

8. A habitation module comprising:
a rotating structure configured to rotate about an axis in relation to a stationary structure to create artificial gravity within at least one gravity chamber of the rotating structure; and
attachment assemblies configured to rotatably couple the rotating structure to the stationary structure;
wherein the attachment assemblies each comprise:
bearings installed coaxially between a cylindrical housing of the rotating structure and a cylindrical body member of the stationary structure;
dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member; and
a static seal assembly that includes an end cap movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
wherein in the locked position, the end cap is configured to contact an interior end of the cylindrical body member that faces toward an interior of the habitation module and an interior end of the cylindrical housing to prevent escape of air from the interior of the habitation module;
wherein in the unlocked position, the end cap is configured to disengage from the interior end of the cylindrical housing.

9. The habitation module of claim 8 wherein:
in the locked position, the end cap is configured to fasten to the cylindrical body member and the cylindrical housing to prevent rotation of the rotating structure.

10. The habitation module of claim 8 wherein:
the static seal assembly further includes:
a first annular face seal;
a second annular face seal having a larger diameter than the first annular face seal;
inner fasteners configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical body member; and
outer fasteners configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical housing.

11. The habitation module of claim 10 wherein:
in the locked position:
the inner fasteners are configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical body member with the first annular face seal compressed between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical body member; and
the outer fasteners are configured to fasten the end cap to the cylindrical housing with the second annular face seal compressed between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical housing.

12. The habitation module of claim 11 wherein:
in the unlocked position:
the outer fasteners are configured to disengage from the cylindrical housing; and
the inner fasteners are configured to loosen to move the end cap axially away from the interior end of the cylindrical body member and the interior end of the cylindrical housing.

13. The habitation module of claim 12 wherein:
the inner fasteners include stop washers that limit an amount that the inner fasteners are loosened.

14. The habitation module of claim 12 wherein:
the static seal assembly further includes:
a first annular dust seal that extends between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical body member when the end cap is moved axially; and
a second annular dust seal that extends between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical housing when the end cap is moved axially.

15. The habitation module of claim 12 wherein:
the static seal assembly further includes:
a helical spring installed between the end cap and the interior end of the cylindrical body member, and configured to apply a force to move the end cap axially.

16. The habitation module of claim 8 wherein:
the bearings comprise tapered roller bearings; and
the attachment assemblies each further comprise a bearing shim and a bearing cap that sandwich the tapered roller bearings.

17. The habitation module of claim 8 wherein:
the stationary structure includes:
cylindrical body members that are coaxial; and
a splined sleeve that connects the cylindrical body members.

18. A habitation module comprising:
a stationary structure including cylindrical body members that are spaced apart and aligned coaxially;
a rotating structure including cylindrical housings that are aligned coaxially, wherein the cylindrical body members of the stationary structure fit within openings of the cylindrical housings; and
an attachment assembly configured to attach a cylindrical body member of the stationary structure to a cylindrical housing of the rotating structure;
wherein the attachment assembly includes:
tapered roller bearings installed coaxially between the cylindrical body member and the cylindrical housing;
dynamic radial seals installed coaxially between the cylindrical housing and the cylindrical body member to span a radial gap between the cylindrical body member and the cylindrical housing; and
a static seal assembly com

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Dharmaraj Raju

Classifications

• B64G1/60 Primary

  Crew or passenger accommodations · CPC title

• B64G1/12

  manned · CPC title

• B64G1/64

  Systems for coupling or separating cosmonautic vehicles or parts thereof, e.g. docking arrangements · CPC title

• F16J15/008

  with provision to put out of action at least one sealing; One sealing sealing only on standstill; Emergency or servicing sealings (F16J15/164 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64G1/46

  Arrangements or adaptations of devices for control of environment or living conditions · CPC title