PAYLOAD EJECTION SYSTEM

摘要

There is disclosed a Payload Ejection System (PES) able to store any set of payloads for launch and eject that set of payloads at a controlled speed with a low tumble rate while accommodating any offset centre of mass within a restricted volume. The need for ballasting or balancing is eliminated thus freeing up the design space for these payloads. Insensitivity to centre of mass location is enabled by the use of a deployment hinge assembly arrangement which uses two or more non-parallel folding hinge arrangements that allow for linear motion of the output link in one direction while restricting the motion all other directions. One embodiment of the current PES concept uses four (4) hinge panel assemblies, selected to provide optimal stiffness around the entire mechanism. The stiffness of the PES is integral to managing offset centre-of-mass locations by allowing the mechanism to translate the effective force vector to the center of mass location.

主权项

1. A system for hosting and controllably ejecting a payload from a host spacecraft, comprising:
a payload ejection mechanism attached to the host spacecraft, said payload ejection mechanism including a base plate attached to said host spacecraft and a payload release plate; a payload assembly releasibly attached to said payload release plate, a payload being attachable to said payload assembly; and said payload ejection mechanism being configured to eject said payload assembly away from said host spacecraft such that forces acting upon said payload assembly are substantially equal across the interface between said payload assembly and said payload release plate at a moment of release of payload assembly from said payload ejection mechanism regardless of a location of a payload center of mass of the payload with respect to a geometric center of said payload ejection mechanism.