Electromechanical integrated reaction momentum flywheel structure based on air bearing
By replacing ball bearings with air bearings and optimizing the reaction flywheel structure, the bottleneck problem of traditional flywheels in high-precision, long-life, and low-power aerospace missions has been solved, achieving improved flywheel performance with high reliability and low power consumption.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202610204844.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-28
AI Technical Summary
Traditional reaction flywheels suffer from problems such as insufficient motor torque, inability of couplings to meet high-precision control, and increased power consumption due to ball bearing wear and lubrication in high-precision, long-life, and low-power aerospace missions.
By replacing ball bearings with air bearings, and through integrated design and hydrostatic air bearing technology, the system space layout is optimized, more powerful drive components are configured, mechanical contact wear is reduced, and rotational resistance is lowered.
It achieves high reliability, long life and low power consumption flywheel performance, improves torque output capability and angular momentum capacity, and ensures the accuracy and stability of spacecraft attitude control.
Smart Images
Figure CN121929353A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of spacecraft attitude control equipment, specifically relating to an electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air bearing. Background Technology
[0002] The reaction momentum flywheel is the core actuator of the attitude control system for spacecraft such as satellites and space stations. Its performance directly determines the accuracy and reliability of the spacecraft's on-orbit orientation, attitude stabilization, and maneuvering missions. Therefore, the reaction momentum flywheel must meet the following key technical requirements: high angular momentum capacity, a wide speed range and high control accuracy, extremely small dynamic imbalance, extremely low starting friction torque and extremely long lifespan, and extremely low steady-state power consumption. These stringent requirements place extremely high demands on the flywheel structure design.
[0003] Currently, most reaction flywheels adopt a classic structure combining readily available high-precision servo motors, couplings, and ball bearings. While this structure is technically mature, it still faces several key bottlenecks in practical aerospace applications: First, due to size and weight limitations, large-size motors cannot be installed, resulting in often insufficient motor output torque. Second, the type of coupling cannot meet the requirements of high-precision control; flexible couplings will cause hysteresis, while rigid couplings will generate significant radial loads if assembly and machining accuracy are inadequate. Third, ball bearings are contact bearings, and prolonged high-speed operation will cause wear, requiring proper lubrication to extend their lifespan. However, adding more lubricating grease will increase the bearing's operating resistance, thereby increasing the motor's power consumption.
[0004] The aforementioned problems have limited the application of traditional reaction flywheels in aerospace missions requiring higher precision, longer lifespan, and lower power consumption. To address this, the applicant has developed a beneficial design, and the technical solution described below was developed in this context. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a highly reliable, long-life, low-power, and high-precision electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on air bearings, so as to better meet the increasingly stringent technical requirements of modern spacecraft for attitude control actuators and ensure the reliable execution of space missions throughout the entire process.
[0006] The objective of this invention is achieved by providing an electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air-bearing bearing, comprising a structural base, a rotating shaft, a porous air-bearing bearing, a motor rotor magnetic ring, a motor stator coil, an encoder magnetic ring, an encoder reading head, a bearing pressure ring, a flywheel, and a housing. The structural base includes a bottom base with a narrowed upper section forming a sleeve portion, and a bearing mounting port formed at the upper opening of the sleeve portion. The rotating shaft includes a flange located in the middle, a magnetic ring mounting journal located below the flange, and a bearing mounting journal located above the flange. The bearing mounting journal passes through the central hole of the porous air-bearing bearing. The magnetic ring mounting journal extends downward through the sleeve portion of the structural base into the seat cavity of the bottom base. The motor rotor magnetic ring is tightly fitted onto the magnetic ring mounting journal at a position corresponding to the sleeve portion. The motor stator coil is embedded between the sleeve portion and the motor rotor magnetic ring, forming a uniform gap with the motor rotor magnetic ring. The encoder magnetic ring is tightly fitted inside the seat cavity of the base and onto the lower end of the magnetic ring mounting journal. The encoder reading head is fitted onto the outside of the encoder magnetic ring and fixed to the base via a fixed ring fixing plate. A uniform gap is formed between the encoder reading head and the encoder magnetic ring. The lower end of the porous air bearing abuts against the bearing mounting port. The bearing pressure ring has a bearing positioning port formed in the middle of its upper end face. This bearing positioning port abuts against the upper end of the porous air bearing. The lower end opening of the bearing pressure ring is fixed to the base, axially positioning and pressing the porous air bearing. The porous air bearing, the structural base, and the bearing pressure ring together form an air cavity for storing compressed air. The base has a compressed air inlet at the bottom of the seat cavity that communicates with the air cavity. The flywheel is mounted on the outside of the bearing pressure ring. The upper end face of the flywheel is connected and fixed to the upper end of the bearing mounting journal. The outer shell covers the outside of the flywheel and is connected and fixed to the bearing pressure ring.
[0007] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the structural base has a bearing support step formed on the end face of the bearing mounting port. The bearing support step supports the lower end of the porous air bearing. A lower bearing seal ring is provided between the lower end of the porous air bearing and the bearing support step. A positioning step is formed on the upper end of the porous air bearing. A bearing abutment step is formed at the bearing positioning port of the bearing corresponding to the positioning step. The bearing abutment step and the positioning step abut against each other. An upper bearing seal ring is also provided on the abutment surface.
[0008] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the bearing pressure ring has a flange at its lower end opening, the flange protruding from the flywheel, and the flange is fixed to the upper surface of the base by screws. A pressure ring sealing ring is also provided between the flange and the base. The lower end opening of the housing extends to the flange and is also connected and fixed to the outer circumferential side of the flange by screws.
[0009] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the flywheel has a flywheel hole at the center position of its upper end face corresponding to the center through hole of the rotating shaft, and the flywheel is connected and fixed to the upper end face of the bearing mounting journal by screws around the flywheel hole.
[0010] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the fixed ring fixing plate is configured as a ring, and its inner ring has a folded edge facing the bottom base. The folded edge extends into the central hole of the bottom base for positioning concentricity.
[0011] The present invention, due to the adoption of the above-mentioned structure, has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art: By integrating the design and applying the hydrostatic air bearing, the system spatial layout and motor structure are optimized, allowing for the configuration of more powerful or more efficient drive components under the same or smaller volume and weight constraints, thereby improving the system's torque output capability and angular momentum capacity, and enhancing the overall performance of the flywheel; furthermore, the application of hydrostatic air bearing technology makes the high-speed rotation of the flywheel smoother and more stable; replacing the traditional ball bearing with the air bearing provides support for the flywheel rotor, fundamentally eliminating wear caused by mechanical contact, and significantly reducing rotational resistance and starting friction torque, so as to achieve both extremely high operating life and extremely low steady-state power consumption. Attached Figure Description
[0012] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the present invention; Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of the present invention.
[0013] In the diagram: 1. Structural base, 11. Bottom base, 111. Compressed air inlet, 12. Sleeve section, 13. Bearing mounting port, 131. Bearing support step; 2. Rotary shaft, 21. Flange, 22. Magnetic ring mounting journal, 23. Bearing mounting journal; 3. Porous air bearing, 31. Positioning step, 32. Lower bearing seal, 33. Upper bearing seal; 4. Motor rotor magnetic ring; 5. Motor stator coil; 6. Encoder magnetic ring; 7. Encoder reading head, 71. Stator ring fixing plate, 711. Flanged edge; 8. Bearing pressure ring, 81. Bearing positioning port, 811. Bearing abutment step, 82. Flanged edge, 83. Pressure ring seal; 9. Flywheel, 91. Flywheel hole; 10. Housing; 100. Air chamber. Detailed Implementation
[0014] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the description of the embodiments is not a limitation on the technical solution. Any formal but not substantive changes made based on the concept of the present invention should be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0015] In the following description, all directional (or orientational) concepts involving up, down, left, right, and up refer to the position of the figure being described, and are intended to facilitate public understanding. Therefore, they should not be construed as a special limitation on the technical solution provided by this invention.
[0016] See Figure 1 and combined Figure 2 , Figure 3 This invention relates to an electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air bearing, comprising a structural base 1, a rotating shaft 2, a porous air bearing 3, a motor rotor magnetic ring 4, a motor stator coil 5, an encoder magnetic ring 6, an encoder reading head 7, a bearing pressure ring 8, a flywheel 9, and a housing 10. The structural base 1 is located at the bottom of the entire structure and serves as a load-bearing and supporting element. The structural base 1 includes a bottom base 11, the upper side of which is narrowed to form a sleeve portion 12, and a bearing mounting port 13 is formed at the upper end opening of the sleeve portion 12. The rotating shaft 2 penetrates the entire structure and serves as the rotation center. The rotating shaft 2 includes a flange 21 located in the middle, a magnetic ring mounting journal 22 located below the flange 21, and a bearing mounting journal 23 located above the flange 21. The bearing mounting journal 23 passes through the central hole of the porous air bearing 3, and the magnetic ring mounting journal 22 extends downward through the sleeve portion 12 of the structural base 1 into the seat cavity of the bottom base 11. The motor rotor magnetic ring 4 is tightly fitted onto the magnetic ring mounting journal 22 at a position corresponding to the sleeve portion 12. The motor stator coil 5 is embedded and fixed between the sleeve portion 12 and the motor rotor magnetic ring 4. The motor stator coil 5 and the sleeve portion 12 are fixed as a whole and form a uniform gap with the motor rotor magnetic ring 4 to form electromagnetic drive and ensure stable and efficient motor operation. The encoder magnetic ring 6 is tightly fitted onto the lower end of the magnetic ring mounting journal 22 in the seat cavity of the base 11. The encoder reading head 7 is sleeved on the outside of the encoder magnetic ring 6 and fixed to the base 11 by the fixed ring fixing plate 71. The fixed ring fixing plate 71 is ring-shaped, and its inner ring faces the base 11 and forms a folded edge 711. The folded edge 711 extends into the central hole of the base 11 to position concentricity, so that a uniform gap is formed between the encoder reading head 7 and the encoder magnetic ring 6, ensuring high-precision detection and feedback of the control system. The folded edge 711 also presses the motor stator coil 5.
[0017] The lower end of the porous air-bearing bearing 3 abuts against the bearing mounting port 13. The bearing retaining ring 8 has a bearing positioning port 81 formed in the middle of its upper end face. This bearing positioning port 81 abuts against the upper end of the porous air-bearing bearing 3. The lower end opening of the bearing retaining ring 8 is fixed to the base 11, axially positioning and pressing the porous air-bearing bearing 3 to prevent axial movement. Specifically, the structural base 1 has a bearing support step 131 formed on the end face of the bearing mounting port 13, which supports the lower end of the porous air-bearing bearing 3. A lower bearing seal ring 32 is provided between the lower end of the porous air-bearing bearing 3 and the bearing support step 131. The porous air-bearing bearing 3 has a positioning step 31 at its upper end. The bearing retaining ring 8 has a bearing abutment step 811 at the bearing positioning port 81 corresponding to the positioning step 32. The bearing abutment step 811 and the positioning step 31 abut against each other, and a bearing upper sealing ring 33 is also provided on the contact surface. The flywheel 9 is covered on the outside of the bearing retaining ring 8. The center of the upper end face of the flywheel 9 forms a flywheel hole 91 corresponding to the center through hole of the rotating shaft 2. The flywheel 9 is connected and fixed to the upper end face of the bearing mounting journal 23 by screws around the flywheel hole 91. The outer shell 10 is used to cover the entire motion mechanism. It is covered on the outside of the flywheel 9 and is connected and fixed to the bearing retaining ring 8. Furthermore, the bearing pressure ring 8 has a flange 82 formed at its lower opening, protruding from the flywheel 9. This flange 82 is fixed to the upper surface of the base 11 by screws. A pressure ring sealing ring 83 is also provided between the flange 82 and the base 11. The lower opening of the outer casing 10 extends to the flange 82 and is also fixed to the outer circumference of the flange 82 by screws. The lower bearing sealing ring 32, the upper bearing sealing ring 33, and the pressure ring sealing ring 83 cooperate to form an air chamber 100, independent of the external space, for storing compressed air, between the porous air bearing 3, the structural base 1, and the bearing pressure ring 8. The base 11 has a compressed air inlet 111 at the bottom of the chamber, communicating with the air chamber 100.
[0018] Furthermore, by improving the machining accuracy of the shaft 2, flywheel 9, and porous air bearing 3, uniform and extremely small gaps can be formed between the shaft 2 and flywheel 9 and the porous air bearing 3, respectively. In this embodiment, the extremely small gaps can reach the submicron level, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the flywheel 9 during operation.
[0019] During operation, an external compressed air source first sends compressed air into the air chamber 100 through the compressed air inlet 111. Then, the compressed air is output to the outer surface of the bearing, i.e., to the upper and lower end faces and circumferential side faces of the bearing, through the porous air bearing 3. This forms a uniformly thick air film in the extremely small gaps between the porous air bearing 3 and the rotating shaft 2, and between the porous air bearing 3 and the flywheel 9, thereby suspending the entire rotating shaft 2 and the flywheel 9. When the motor is running, the flywheel 9 will start to run in a state of near-zero resistance.
[0020] In summary, this invention can achieve near-zero starting friction torque and extremely long service life. When combined with a high-precision control system, it can meet many of the key technical requirements for reaction momentum flywheels mentioned in the background art, thus achieving the purpose of the invention.
Claims
1. A mechatronic reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air bearing, characterized in that: The system includes a structural base (1), a rotating shaft (2), a porous air bearing (3), a motor rotor magnetic ring (4), a motor stator coil (5), an encoder magnetic ring (6), an encoder reading head (7), a bearing pressure ring (8), a flywheel (9), and a housing (10). The structural base (1) includes a base (11), the upper side of which is narrowed to form a sleeve portion (12), and a bearing mounting port (13) is formed at the upper opening of the sleeve portion (12). The rotating shaft (2) includes a flange (21) located in the middle, a magnetic ring mounting journal (22) located below the flange (21), and a bearing mounting port (23) located below the flange (21). 21) The upper bearing mounting journal (23) passes through the center hole of the porous air bearing (3). The magnetic ring mounting journal (22) extends downward through the sleeve portion (12) of the structural base (1) and into the seat cavity of the bottom base (11). The motor rotor magnetic ring (4) is tightly fitted on the magnetic ring mounting journal (22) at the position corresponding to the sleeve portion (12). The motor stator coil (5) is embedded between the sleeve portion (12) and the motor rotor magnetic ring (4) and forms a uniform gap with the motor rotor magnetic ring (4). The encoder magnetic ring (6) is located at the bottom. The base (11) is tightly fitted inside the seat cavity of the lower end of the magnetic ring mounting journal (22). The encoder reading head (7) is sleeved on the outside of the encoder magnetic ring (6) and fixed to the base (11) by the fixed ring fixing plate (71). A uniform gap is formed between the encoder reading head (7) and the encoder magnetic ring (6). The lower end of the porous air bearing (3) abuts against the bearing mounting port (13). The bearing pressure ring (8) has a bearing positioning port (81) formed in the middle of its upper end face. The bearing positioning port (81) abuts against the upper end of the porous air bearing (3). The lower end of the bearing pressure ring (8) is open. The port is fixed to the base (11) to axially position and press the porous air bearing (3). The porous air bearing (3), the structural base (1) and the bearing pressure ring (8) form an air chamber (100) for storing compressed air. The base (11) has a compressed air inlet (111) at the bottom of the seat cavity that communicates with the air chamber (100). The flywheel (9) is covered on the outside of the bearing pressure ring (8). The upper end face of the flywheel (9) is connected and fixed to the upper end of the bearing mounting journal (23). The outer shell (10) covers the outside of the flywheel (9) and is connected and fixed to the bearing pressure ring (8).
2. The electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The structural base (1) has a bearing support step (131) formed on the end face of the bearing mounting port (13). The bearing support step (131) supports the lower end of the porous air bearing (3). The porous air bearing (3) has a lower bearing seal ring (32) between the lower end and the bearing support step (131). The porous air bearing (3) has a positioning step (31) formed on the upper end. The bearing pressure ring (8) has a bearing abutment step (811) formed at the bearing positioning port (81) corresponding to the positioning step (32). The bearing abutment step (811) and the positioning step (31) abut against each other. An upper bearing seal ring (33) is also provided on the abutment surface.
3. The electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing pressure ring (8) has a flange (82) at its lower opening. The flange (82) protrudes from the flywheel (9). The flange (82) is fixed to the upper surface of the base (11) by screws. A pressure ring sealing ring (83) is also provided between the flange (82) and the base (11). The lower opening of the outer shell (10) extends to the flange (82) and is also connected and fixed to the outer side of the flange (82) by screws.
4. The electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flywheel (9) has a flywheel hole (91) at the center of its upper end face, corresponding to the center through hole of the shaft (2). The flywheel (9) is connected and fixed to the upper end face of the bearing mounting journal (23) around the flywheel hole (91) by screws.
5. The electromechanical reaction momentum flywheel structure based on an air bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed ring fixing plate (71) is formed in a ring shape, and its inner ring has a folded edge (711) facing the bottom base (11). The folded edge (711) extends into the central hole of the bottom base (11) for positioning concentricity.