Spacecraft attitude control system with reaction wheel bearing protection

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5248118
SERIAL NO

07882507

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A spacecraft includes an attitude control system using one or more reaction wheels, the speed of which from time to time lie near and pass through zero angular velocity. When operated for extended periods of time at low speeds, the lubrication films are not distributed uniformly on the wheel bearings, leading to reduced lifetime. Reliability is maintained by a threshold comparator coupled to compare wheel speed with a lower limit value, for operating a torquer associated with the spacecraft body when the wheel speed drops below the lower limit, in a manner which tends to raise the wheel speed. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the lower limit is integrated with a wheel overspeed unloading.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION6801 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE BETHESDA MD 20817

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Cohen, Walter J Hightstown, NJ 2 42
Goodzeit, Neil E East Windsor, NJ 45 497
Paluszek, Michael A Lawrenceville, NJ 24 230

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