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

摘要

An integrated Reaction Wheel Assembly Array (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.

主权项

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 nests; 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; anda 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; a plurality of rotor covers disposed over the plurality of rotor nests and enclosing the plurality of rotor assemblies; a plurality of sealed 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; and a common evacuation port formed in the multi-rotor chassis and fluidly coupled to each of the plurality of sealed rotor compartments.