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EP-4735334-A2 - REACTION WHEEL FOR A SATELLITE

EP4735334A2EP 4735334 A2EP4735334 A2EP 4735334A2EP-4735334-A2

Abstract

An inertia disk for a reaction wheel assembly for a spacecraft is provided. The inertia disk includes a body that has an inner portion and a lip. The inner portion is proximate to a center of the body, and the inner portion spans from the center to the lip. The lip has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inner portion. The body of the inertia disk is at least partially made of aluminum.

Inventors

  • KUNJUR, Neeldev
  • MILLER, DREW
  • MCCRACKEN, Kyle

Assignees

  • K2 Space Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240628

Claims (20)

  1. 1. An inertia disk for a spacecraft, the inertia disk comprising: a body including an inner portion and a lip, the inner portion being proximate a center of the body such that the inner portion spans from the center to the lip, the lip having a thickness greater than a thickness of the inner portion, wherein the body is at least partially made of aluminum.
  2. 2. The inertia disk of claim 1, wherein the aluminum is aluminum 7075-T7.
  3. 3. The inertia disk of claim 1, wherein the aluminum has a melting point of less than about 1000 degrees Celsius.
  4. 4. The inertia disk of claim 1, wherein the aluminum has a melting point between about 477 degrees Celsius and about 635 degrees Celsius.
  5. 5. The inertia disk of claim 1, wherein the body is operable to rotate about the center at a rotational speed to provide a predetermined momentum storage.
  6. 6. The inertia disk of claim 5, wherein the rotational speed is less than or equal to about 4000 rotations per minute.
  7. 7. A reaction wheel assembly for a spacecraft, the reaction wheel assembly comprising: an inertia disk including: a body including an inner portion and a lip, the inner portion being proximate a center of the body such that the inner portion spans from the center to the lip, the lip having a thickness greater than a thickness of the inner portion, wherein the body is at least partially made of aluminum; an enclosure operable to receive the inertia disk.
  8. 8. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the enclosure includes a vacuum chamber.
  9. 9. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the enclosure includes a vacuum fitting operable to be coupled with a vacuum pump.
  10. 10. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the enclosure is integrated with the vacuum chamber.
  11. 11. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the enclosure is at least partially made of aluminum.
  12. 12. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the aluminum is aluminum 7075-T7.
  13. 13. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the aluminum has a melting point of less than about 1000 degrees Celsius.
  14. 14. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the aluminum has a melting point between about 477 degrees Celsius and about 635 degrees Celsius.
  15. 15. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 7, wherein the body is operable to rotate about the center at a rotational speed to provide a predetermined momentum storage.
  16. 16. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 15, wherein the rotational speed is less than or equal to about 4000 rotations per minute.
  17. 17. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 7, further including a motor driver coupled with the center of the inertia disk such that rotation of the inertia disk causes the motor driver to rotate, wherein the motor driver is coupled with a motor so that the motor driver is operable to provide between 120 watts and about 300 watts.
  18. 18. The reaction wheel assembly of claim 17, wherein the motor driver is operable to provide between about 120 watts and about 300 watts.
  19. 19. A spacecraft comprising: a motor; a reaction wheel assembly including: an inertia disk including: a body including an inner portion and a lip, the inner portion being proximate a center of the body such that the inner portion spans from the center to the lip, the lip having a thickness greater than a thickness of the inner portion, wherein the body is at least partially made of aluminum; an enclosure operable to receive the inertia disk; and a motor driver coupled with the center of the inertia disk such that rotation of the inertia disk causes the motor driver to rotate, wherein the motor driver is coupled with the motor.
  20. 20. The spacecraft of claim 19, wherein the spacecraft includes a satellite.

Description

REACTION WHEEL FOR A SATELLITE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/523,999, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on June 29, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a reaction wheel that can provide high momentum storage capability to a large satellite. In at least one example, reaction wheel can be used with a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite, and/or a geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO) satellite. BACKGROUND [0003] Conventional reaction wheels use mass optimized materials and, as a result, they are manufactured out of stainless steel, which increases material costs and reduces demisability of the reaction wheel. Additionally, conventional reaction wheels are designed to operate at relatively high operating speeds, which induces jitter on the spacecraft and reduces the service life of bearings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: [0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an environment for the reaction wheel assembly, according to the present disclosure; [0006] FIG. 2A illustrates the reaction wheel assembly in a cross-sectional view; [0007] FIG. 2B illustrates the reaction wheel assembly in a cross-sectional view; [0008] FIG. 2C illustrates the reaction wheel assembly in a cross-sectional view; [0009] FIG. 2D illustrates the reaction wheel assembly in a cross-sectional view without the top of the enclosure; [0010] FIG. 2E illustrates the reaction wheel assembly in a perspective view without the top of the enclosure; [0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrating a configuration of a motor and controller for a reaction wheel assembly; [0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a modal survey of the reaction wheel; and [0013] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating target combinations of ring height and ring diameter to achieve a target stiffness and moment of inertia. SUMMARY [0014] Aspects of the present disclosure include an inertia disk for a reaction wheel assembly for a spacecraft. The inertia disk includes a body that has an inner portion and a lip. The inner portion is proximate a center of the body such that the inner portion spans from the center to the lip. The lip has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inner portion. The body is made of aluminum. [0015] In various possible examples, the body is substantially cylindrical. [0016] In various possible examples, the body is made of aluminum 7075-T7. [0017] In various possible examples, the aluminum has a melting point of less than about 1000 degrees Celsius. In some examples, the aluminum has a melting point of less than 700 degrees Celsius. In some examples, the aluminum has a melting point between about 477 degrees Celsius and about 635 degrees Celsius. [0018] In various possible examples, the body can rotate about the center at a rotational speed to provide a predetermined momentum storage. In some examples, the rotational speed is less than or equal to about 4000 rotations per minute. In some examples, the rotational speed is less than or equal to about 3000 rotations per minute. [0019] Aspects of the present disclosure include a reaction wheel assembly for a spacecraft. The reaction wheel assembly includes an inertia disk and an enclosure. The inertia disk includes a body that has an inner portion and a lip. The inner portion is proximate a center of the body such that the inner portion spans from the center to the lip. The lip has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inner portion. The body is made of aluminum. The enclosure can receive the inertia disk. [0020] In various possible examples, the enclosure includes a vacuum chamber. In some examples, the enclosure includes a vacuum fitting that can be coupled with a vacuum pump. In some examples, the enclosure is integrated with the vacuum chamber. [0021] In various possible examples, the enclosure is made of aluminum. [0022] In various possible examples, the body is substantially cylindrical. [0023] In various possible examples, the body is made of aluminum 7075-T7. [0024] In various possible examples, the aluminum has a melting point of less than about 1000 degrees Celsius. In some examples, the aluminum has a melting point of less than 700 degrees Celsius. In some examples, the aluminum has a melting point between about 477 degrees Celsius and about 635 degrees Celsius. [0025] In various possible examples, the body can rotate about the center at a rotational speed to provide a predetermined momentum storage. In some examples, the rotational speed is less than or equal to about 4000 rotations per minute. In some examples, the rotational speed is less than or equal to about 3000 rotations per minute. [0026] In various possible examp