Integrated reaction wheel assembly arrays and multi-rotor chassis suitable for usage therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010991-A1
Application number	US-201414328250-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2014
Priority date	Jul 10, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of an integrated Reaction Wheel Assembly Array (RWAA) are provided, as are embodiments of a multi-rotor chassis suitable for usage within an RWAA. In one embodiment, the RWAA includes a multi-rotor chassis having a plurality of bearing locating features. A plurality of rotor assemblies is mounted to the multi-rotor chassis. Each rotor assembly includes a rotor having a rotor shaft, a spin motor coupled to the rotor and configured to drive rotation of the rotor about a spin axis, and a first spin bearing assembly disposed around an end portion of the rotor shaft. The first spin bearing pilots to one of the bearing locating features to position or locate the spin axis of the rotor assembly in a predetermined fixed spatial relationship relative to the spin axes of the other rotor assemblies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An integrated Reaction Wheel Assembly Array (RWAA), comprising:
a multi-rotor chassis comprising a plurality of bearing locating features; and a plurality of rotor assemblies mounted to the multi-rotor chassis, each rotor assembly comprising:
a rotor having a rotor shaft;
a spin motor coupled to the rotor and configured to drive rotation of the rotor about a spin axis; and
a first spin bearing assembly disposed around an end portion of the rotor shaft, the first spin bearing assembly piloting to one of the bearing locating features to place the spin axis of the rotor assembly in a predetermined spatial relationship with the spin axes of the other rotor assemblies.

2 . The integrated RWAA of claim 1 wherein the multi-rotor chassis further comprises a plurality of rotor nests formed in which the plurality of rotor assemblies are received.

3 . The integrated RWAA of claim 2 wherein each bearing locating feature is formed in a bottom central region of one of rotor nests.

4 . The integrated RWAA of claim 2 wherein the multi-rotor chassis comprises a generally pyramidal structure having a plurality of angled faces in which the plurality of rotor nests are formed.

5 . The integrated RWAA of claim 2 further comprising:
a plurality of rotor covers disposed over the plurality of rotor nests and enclosing the plurality of rotor assemblies; and
a plurality of rotor compartments containing the plurality of rotor assemblies and defined, at least in part, by the plurality of rotor covers and the plurality of rotor nests.

6 . The integrated RWAA of claim 5 wherein the plurality of rotor compartments are hermetically sealed, and wherein the multi-rotor chassis further comprises:
a chassis body; and
a common evacuation port formed in the chassis body and fluidly coupled to the plurality of rotor compartments.

7 . The integrated RWAA of claim 5 wherein the plurality of rotor assemblies each further comprise a second spin bearing assembly disposed around a second, opposing end of the rotor shaft; and wherein the plurality of rotor covers comprise a second plurality of bearing locating features to which the second spin bearing assemblies pilot.

8 . The integrated RWAA of claim 1 further comprising control electronics housed within multi-rotor chassis and electrically coupled to the spin motors included within the plurality of rotor assemblies.

9 . The integrated RWAA of claim 9 wherein the multi-rotor chassis further comprises a base structure having a cavity therein, and wherein the control electronics are housed within the cavity.

10 . The integrated RWAA of claim 1 wherein the spin axes of the plurality of rotor assemblies are positioned in an orthogonal relationship when mounted to the multi-rotor chassis.

11 . The integrated RWAA of claim 1 wherein the multi-rotor chassis comprises a monolithic chassis body in which the plurality of rotor assemblies are nested.

12 . An integrated Reaction Wheel Assembly Array (RWAA), comprising:
a multi-rotor chassis, comprising:
a chassis body; and
a plurality of rotor nests formed in the chassis body;
rotor covers sealingly coupled to the chassis body and enclosing the rotor nests; and a plurality of rotor assemblies received in the rotor nests, each the rotor assembly rotatably mounted between the multi-rotor chassis and one of the rotor covers for rotation about a spin axis.

13 . The integrated RWAA of claim 12 wherein the multi-rotor chassis further comprises bearing locating features disposed within the plurality of rotor nests, the bearing locating features positioning the spin axes in a predetermined spatial relationship when the plurality of rotor assemblies is mounted to the chassis body.

14 . The integrated RWAA of claim 13 wherein the plurality of rotor assemblies each comprise a first spin bearing assembly matingly received by one of the bearing locating features.

15 . The integrated RWAA of claim 14 wherein the plurality of rotor assemblies each comprise a second spin bearing assembly mounted to an interior portion of one of the rotor covers.

16 . The integrated RWAA of claim 13 wherein the bearing locating features are formed in bottom central regions of the plurality of rotor nests.

17 . A multi-rotor chassis for usage in conjunction with a plurality of rotor assemblies, the plurality of rotor assemblies comprising rotors supported by spin bearing assemblies and rotatable about spin axes, the multi-rotor chassis comprising:
a chassis body configured to have the plurality of rotor assemblies mounted thereto; and bearing locating features coupled to the chassis body, the bearing locating features engaging the spin bearing assemblies to position the spin axes in a predetermined spatial relationship when the plurality of rotor assemblies is mounted to the chassis body.

18 . The multi-rotor chassis of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of bearing sleeves coupled to the chassis body and defining the bearing locating features.

19 . The multi-rotor chassis of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of rotor nests formed in the chassis body, the plurality of rotor nests sized and shaped to matingly receive the plurality of rotor assemblies therein.

20 . The multi-rotor chassis of claim 19 wherein the bearing locating features are located in bottom central regions of the plurality of rotor nests.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Marshall Terence
• Buchele Paul
• Dileonardo Pietro
• Johnson Theodis

Classifications

• B64G1/283 Primary

  using reaction wheels · CPC title

• G01C19/16 Primary

  Suspensions; Bearings · CPC title