A device for storing and delivering lubricating oil on orbit for spacecraft

Abstract

A kind of device for storing and conveying lubricating oil of spacecraft in orbit, comprising: metal film box, spring guide sleeve, compression spring, spring guide rod, conical sealing assembly, stainless steel metal hard tube, double-pass ball valve, oil storage tank shell, shell panel, shell bottom plate, ball valve mounting support, bottom plate, when double-pass ball valve is opened, it can be realized that lubricating oil in metal film box is conveyed along stainless steel metal hard tube;When double-pass ball valve is closed, it realizes that lubricating oil in metal film box is stored in orbit for a long time. Through the device for storing and conveying lubricating oil in orbit of the application, not only the smooth conveying of lubricating oil required for regular maintenance of spacecraft moving parts can be solved, but also the long-term reliable sealed storage of lubricating oil in orbit can be realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for storing and transporting lubricating oil in orbit for spacecraft, belonging to the field of on-orbit lubricating oil transport technology for spacecraft. Background Technology

[0002] The device for storing and transporting lubricating oil in orbit is an important component for replenishing lubricating oil in orbit for moving parts of spacecraft, and also a key component for storing lubricating oil in orbit for spacecraft.

[0003] As spacecraft operate in orbit, the lubricating oil at the interfaces of their moving parts continuously evaporates, leading to a deterioration in the lubrication condition of these parts. This, in turn, affects their on-orbit lifespan and ultimately causes lubrication failure. Therefore, to achieve regular on-orbit maintenance of the moving parts of long-life spacecraft, it is necessary to replenish lubricating oil at the contact interfaces of these parts to compensate for the evaporation of lubricating oil, thereby improving the lubrication condition of the moving parts and extending the on-orbit lifespan of long-life spacecraft.

[0004] Long-life (≥12 years) and highly reliable spacecraft such as space stations need to ensure stable and reliable operation in orbit for a long time. Inevitably, the lubrication of the contact interface of their moving parts will deteriorate due to the evaporation of lubricating oil. In order to achieve regular on-orbit maintenance and life extension of such spacecraft, it is necessary to compensate for the evaporation of lubricating oil at the interface of the moving parts of the spacecraft.

[0005] There is an urgent need to design a sealing device for the on-orbit storage and transportation of lubricating oil for spacecraft, so as to realize the on-orbit storage and transportation of lubricating oil for spacecraft. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem solved by this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and propose a device for storing and transporting lubricating oil in orbit for spacecraft. When the lubrication state of the contact interface of the moving parts of the spacecraft deteriorates due to the evaporation of lubricating oil, the lubricating oil stored in the metal diaphragm box can be transported to the oiling device simply by opening and closing the double-way ball valve. This realizes the delivery and storage of the lubricating oil required to replenish the interface of the moving parts, ultimately compensating for the amount of lubricating oil evaporation, improving the lubrication state, and realizing the periodic maintenance of the lubrication state of the moving parts and extending their service life.

[0007] The technical solution of this invention is:

[0008] A device for storing and transporting lubricating oil in orbit for spacecraft includes: a conical sealing assembly, an oil storage tank assembly, and a front-end stainless steel rigid tube;

[0009] The front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe is connected to the oil storage tank assembly, and a conical sealing assembly is used to seal the front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe and the oil storage tank assembly.

[0010] The oil storage tank assembly includes: an oil storage tank shell, a spring guide sleeve, a shell bottom plate, a compression spring, a spring guide rod, a metal diaphragm box, and a shell panel;

[0011] One end of the spring guide sleeve is fixedly connected to the bottom plate of the housing, and the other end of the spring guide sleeve is fitted outside one end of the compression spring. The other end of the compression spring rests against one end of the metal diaphragm box, and a spring guide rod is installed on the end face of one end of the metal diaphragm box.

[0012] The spring guide rod serves to guide the compression spring;

[0013] The metal diaphragm box is filled with lubricating oil; a housing panel is fixedly installed at the other end of the metal diaphragm box; the housing panel has a through hole, and one end of the front stainless steel metal tube is connected to the inside of the metal diaphragm box through the through hole; the connection between the metal diaphragm box and the front stainless steel metal tube is sealed with a conical sealing component.

[0014] The oil storage tank shell is fitted over a metal diaphragm box and a compression spring;

[0015] The bottom plate and the front plate of the oil storage tank are fixedly connected to both ends of the tank shell.

[0016] The conical seal assembly includes: a ferrule nut, a front ferrule, and a rear ferrule;

[0017] One end of the front stainless steel metal rigid tube is inserted into the conical interface inside the metal diaphragm box. The outer wall of the conical interface inside the metal diaphragm box is threadedly connected to the ferrule nut. A front ferrule and a rear ferrule are provided between the conical interface inside the metal diaphragm box and the ferrule nut.

[0018] Both the front and rear ferrules are wedge-shaped ferrule structures. The preload generated by the threaded connection between the inner conical interface of the metal diaphragm box and the ferrule nut causes metal plastic deformation between the outer conical surface of the front ferrule and the inner conical interface of the metal diaphragm box, forming a sealing ring with a width greater than or equal to 0.5 mm on the contact surface.

[0019] The ferrule nut, front ferrule, and rear ferrule are all made of 316 stainless steel.

[0020] Preferably, it also includes: a two-way ball valve;

[0021] A two-way ball valve is connected to the front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe. The two-way ball valve is used to control the opening and closing of the flow path inside the front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe.

[0022] Preferably, it also includes: a rear-end stainless steel rigid tube;

[0023] The outlet of the two-way ball valve is connected to a stainless steel hard metal pipe at the rear end, and a conical sealing assembly is used to seal the two-way ball valve and the stainless steel hard metal pipe at the rear end.

[0024] Preferably, it also includes: a base plate and a ball valve support;

[0025] The oil storage tank assembly is connected to the lower surface of the base plate, and the lower surface of the ball valve support is connected to the upper surface of the base plate.

[0026] The compression spring is made of stainless steel wire.

[0027] The base plate of the housing, the spring guide rod, and the spring guide sleeve are all made of aluminum alloy.

[0028] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are:

[0029] The device provided by this invention can reliably and stably achieve long-term on-orbit storage and effective delivery of lubricating oil, ensuring that the lubricating oil required by moving parts in orbit is compensated. When the lubrication condition of a spacecraft's moving parts deteriorates or requires periodic maintenance, opening the double-way ball valve allows the delivery of lubricating oil stored in the metal diaphragm box. When the double-way ball valve is closed, the lubricating oil in the metal diaphragm box is reliably sealed and can be stored in orbit for an extended period. Therefore, this device is a key component for improving the lubrication condition of long-life spacecraft moving parts, delivering lubricating oil to the contact surfaces of moving parts at opportune times to compensate for long-term on-orbit evaporation losses, thereby laying the foundation for achieving periodic maintenance and life extension of spacecraft. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external shape of the on-orbit storage and transportation lubricating oil device provided by the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the on-orbit storage and transportation lubricating oil device provided by the present invention.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the oil storage tank assembly provided by the present invention.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the conical sealing assembly provided by the present invention.

[0034] Illustration:

[0035] 1—Conical sealing assembly; 2—Stainless steel metal rigid pipe; 3—Ball valve mounting bracket; 4—Base plate; 5—Oil storage tank assembly; 6—Stainless steel metal rigid pipe; 7—Double-way ball valve; 101—Oil application device interface; 102—Ball valve H-shaped shaft interface; 103—Ball valve bracket M5 mounting screw; 104—Base plate M5 mounting screw; 105—Shell base plate M3 mounting screw; 106—Shell panel M3 mounting screw; 201—Oil storage tank shell; 202—Spring guide sleeve; 203—Shell base plate; 204—Compression spring; 205—Spring guide rod; 206—Metal diaphragm box; 207—Shell panel; 301—Metal diaphragm box inner conical surface interface; 302—Compression nut; 303—Stainless steel metal rigid pipe; 304—Rear compression sleeve; 305—Front compression sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a sealing device for storing and transporting lubricating oil in orbit for spacecraft, comprising: a conical sealing assembly 1, a rear stainless steel metal rigid pipe 2, a ball valve support 3, a base plate 4, an oil storage tank assembly 5, a front stainless steel metal rigid pipe 6, and a two-way ball valve 7.

[0038] The front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe 6 is connected to the oil storage tank assembly 5, and the front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe 6 and the oil storage tank assembly 5 are sealed by a conical sealing assembly 1.

[0039] The oil storage tank assembly 5 includes: an oil storage tank shell 201, a spring guide sleeve 202, a shell bottom plate 203, a compression spring 204, a spring guide rod 205, a metal diaphragm box 206, and a shell panel 207;

[0040] One end of the spring guide sleeve 202 is fixedly connected to the housing base plate 203, and the other end of the spring guide sleeve 202 is fitted outside one end of the compression spring 204. The other end of the compression spring 204 abuts against one end of the metal diaphragm box 206. A spring guide rod 205 is installed on the end face of one end of the metal diaphragm box 206.

[0041] The spring guide rod 205 serves to guide the compression spring 204;

[0042] Lubricating oil is added to the metal diaphragm box 206; a housing panel 207 is fixedly installed at the other end of the metal diaphragm box 206; the housing panel 207 has a through hole, and one end of the front stainless steel metal hard tube 6 is connected to the inside of the metal diaphragm box 206 through the through hole; the connection between the metal diaphragm box 206 and the front stainless steel metal hard tube 6 is sealed by a conical sealing component 1.

[0043] The oil storage tank shell 201 is fitted outside the metal diaphragm box 206 and the compression spring 204;

[0044] The bottom plate 203 and the front plate 207 of the oil storage tank shell 201 are fixedly connected to both ends.

[0045] The installation of the oil storage tank assembly begins with adding lubricating oil to the metal diaphragm box while it is in a free state. Then, the metal diaphragm box is fixed to the shell panel and connected to the stainless steel rigid pipe, and a reliable seal is achieved through a conical sealing assembly. The spring guide sleeve is then fixed to the shell base plate with screws, and the spring is placed in the spring guide sleeve. Finally, the shell base plate is fixed to the oil storage tank shell with screws to complete the installation of the oil storage tank assembly.

[0046] Reliable sealing of the conical sealing assembly requires proper installation of the relevant parts. The conical sealing assembly 1 includes: a ferrule nut 302, a front ferrule 305, and a rear ferrule 304. One end of the front stainless steel metal rigid tube (6) is inserted into the conical interface 301 inside the metal diaphragm box. The outer wall of the conical interface 301 inside the metal diaphragm box is threadedly connected to the ferrule nut 302. The front ferrule 305 and the rear ferrule 304 are provided between the conical interface 301 inside the metal diaphragm box and the ferrule nut 302.

[0047] Both the front ferrule 305 and the rear ferrule 304 are wedge-shaped ferrule structures. The pre-tightening force generated by the threaded connection between the inner conical interface 301 of the metal diaphragm box and the ferrule nut 302 causes metal plastic deformation between the outer conical surface of the front ferrule 305 and the inner conical interface 301 of the metal diaphragm box, forming a sealing ring with a width greater than or equal to 0.5 mm on the contact surface.

[0048] The ferrule nut 302, front ferrule 305, and rear ferrule 304 are all made of 316 stainless steel. The tightening torque of the ferrule nut is controlled by the number of rotations: after manually tightening the ferrule nut, tighten it another 1.25 turns. The installation sequence of the ferrule nut, front ferrule, and rear ferrule is as follows: Figure 4 As shown.

[0049] A two-way ball valve 7 is connected to the front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe 6. The two-way ball valve 7 is used to control the opening and closing of the flow path inside the front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe 6.

[0050] The outlet of the double-way ball valve 7 is connected to the rear stainless steel metal hard pipe 2, and the double-way ball valve 7 and the rear stainless steel metal hard pipe 2 are sealed by a conical sealing assembly 1.

[0051] The oil storage tank assembly 5 is connected to the lower surface of the base plate 4 and fixed with 6 M5 screws 104; the lower surface of the ball valve support 3 is connected to the upper surface of the base plate 4 and fixed with 3 M5 screws 103.

[0052] The double-way ball valve 7 is installed on the ball valve support 3. The double-way ball valve 7 can be opened and closed by rotating the "H-shaped shaft" 102 of the ball valve interface ±90°. The double-way ball valve 7 is connected to one end of the stainless steel metal rigid pipe 2. The connection is sealed by a conical sealing component 1 to achieve a reliable seal. The other end of the stainless steel metal rigid pipe 2 has a sealing component interface, which can be further connected to the oiling device to evenly apply the lubricating oil delivered by this device to the contact interface of the spacecraft's moving parts through the oiling device (not shown in the figure). This compensates for the loss of lubricating oil due to long-term on-orbit evaporation at the contact interface, thereby improving its lubrication condition and realizing on-orbit maintenance and life extension of the moving parts.

[0053] Since the spring, spring guide rod, spring guide sleeve, and housing base plate need to be in long-term contact with the rail, in order to avoid the risk of cold welding between parts on the rail, different parts materials are selected to prevent cold welding. Among them, the compression spring 204 is made of stainless steel wire, while the housing base plate 203, spring guide rod 205, and spring guide sleeve 202 are all made of aluminum alloy. This avoids the risk of cold welding between the spring and related parts on the rail.

[0054] The lubricating oil delivery is controlled by a two-way ball valve. The ball valve's switching interface is an H-shaped shaft, which can be connected to a transmission device to deliver the lubricating oil from the metal diaphragm box. The entire device operates on the following principle: a spring at the bottom of the metal diaphragm box continuously provides a certain compressive force. When the two-way ball valve is closed, the lubricating oil is sealed inside the metal diaphragm box. When the two-way ball valve is opened via the transmission device, the lubricating oil stored inside the metal diaphragm box is discharged through a stainless steel rigid pipe under the compression of the spring. Ultimately, this achieves on-orbit storage and delivery of the lubricating oil from the metal diaphragm box.

[0055] Example

[0056] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the oil storage tank assembly 5 is connected to the lower surface of the base plate 4 and fixed with 6 M5 screws 104; the lower surface of the ball valve support 3 is connected to the upper surface of the base plate 4 and fixed with 3 M5 screws 103.

[0057] Furthermore, the double-way ball valve 7 is installed on the ball valve support 3. The ball valve 7 can be opened and closed by rotating ±90° through the "H-shaped shaft" 102 of the ball valve interface. The ball valve 7 is connected to one end of the stainless steel metal rigid pipe 2. The connection is reliably sealed by a conical sealing component 1. The other end of the stainless steel metal rigid pipe 2 has a sealing component interface, which can be further connected to the oiling device to evenly apply the lubricating oil delivered by this device to the contact interface of the spacecraft's moving parts through the oiling device (not shown in the figure). This compensates for the loss of lubricating oil due to long-term on-orbit evaporation at the contact interface, thereby improving its lubrication condition and enabling on-orbit maintenance and life extension of the moving parts. The stainless steel metal rigid pipe connects the metal diaphragm box of the oil storage tank assembly and the double-way ball valve. The connection surface is sealed by a conical sealing component to ensure reliable sealing under a pressure of 0.2MPa. Three stainless steel metal rigid pipes connect the double-way ball valve and the oiling device, and the connection is sealed by a conical sealing component.

[0058] like Figure 3 As shown, the spring guide sleeve 202 is connected to the housing base plate 203 and fixed with four M3 screws 103. Then, the compression spring 204 is placed in the spring guide sleeve 202. Lubricating oil is added to the metal diaphragm box 206, and then the metal diaphragm box 206 is connected to the housing panel 207 and fixed with four M3 screws 106. Then, the metal diaphragm box 206 is connected to one end of the stainless steel metal rigid tube 6, and the connection part is reliably sealed with a conical sealing component 1.

[0059] Furthermore, a spring guide rod 205 is placed at the bottom of the metal diaphragm box 206, a spring 204 is fitted into the spring guide rod 205, and the spring guide sleeve 202 and the bottom plate 203 of the housing are connected to the housing 201 and fixed by eight M5 screws 105, so that the bottom of the metal diaphragm box 206 is continuously subjected to a compressive force.

[0060] Furthermore, the other end of the stainless steel metal rigid pipe 6 is connected to the lower end of the double-way ball valve 7, and the connection is reliably sealed by the conical sealing assembly 1.

[0061] like Figure 4 As shown, the conical sealing assembly 1 includes: a ferrule nut 302, a front ferrule 305, and a rear ferrule 304. By axially tightening the ferrule nut 302, an axial force is applied to the front ferrule 305 and the rear ferrule 304, causing metal plastic deformation between the outer conical surface of the front ferrule 305 and the inner conical surface interface 301 of the metal diaphragm box, forming a sealing ring with a width ≥ 0.5 mm on the contact surface, ensuring reliable sealing of the connection part under the corresponding internal pressure. The axial force of the ferrule nut 302 is controlled by the number of rotations of the ferrule nut 302. The ferrule nut 302 is tightened by hand, and then rotated 1.25 turns with a wrench to achieve reliable axial force pre-tightening of the conical sealing assembly 1.

[0062] The working principle of this invention is as follows: Since the connection part is sealed by a conical sealing assembly, when the ball valve is closed, the lubricating oil in the metal diaphragm box is reliably sealed between the ball valve and the metal diaphragm box for a long time, realizing the long-term reliable on-orbit storage of lubricating oil; when the "H-shaped shaft" of the ball valve interface is rotated 90°, the ball valve is opened, and the lubricating oil in the metal diaphragm box is transported along the stainless steel metal hard pipe and through the double-way ball valve by the action of the compression spring at the bottom. It then reaches the contact interface of the spacecraft's moving parts through the subsequent wiping device, ultimately compensating for the amount of lubricating oil that evaporates during long-term on-orbit operation, thereby improving its lubrication condition and realizing the periodic on-orbit maintenance and life extension of the moving parts.

[0063] The contents not described in detail in this specification are common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for on-orbit storage and delivery of lubricating oil in spacecraft, characterized in that, include: Conical sealing assembly (1), oil storage tank assembly (5) and front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe (6); The front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe (6) is connected to the oil storage tank assembly (5), and the front-end stainless steel metal rigid pipe (6) and the oil storage tank assembly (5) are sealed by a conical sealing assembly (1). The oil storage tank assembly (5) includes: an oil storage tank shell (201), a spring guide sleeve (202), a shell bottom plate (203), a compression spring (204), a spring guide rod (205), a metal diaphragm box (206), and a shell panel (207). One end of the spring guide sleeve (202) is fixedly connected to the bottom plate (203) of the housing, and the other end of the spring guide sleeve (202) is fitted outside one end of the compression spring (204). The other end of the compression spring (204) rests against one end of the metal diaphragm box (206). A spring guide rod (205) is installed on the end face of one end of the metal diaphragm box (206). The spring guide rod (205) serves to guide the compression spring (204); The metal diaphragm box (206) is filled with lubricating oil; a housing panel (207) is fixedly installed at the other end of the metal diaphragm box (206); the housing panel (207) has a through hole, and one end of the front stainless steel metal hard tube (6) is connected to the inside of the metal diaphragm box (206) through the through hole; the connection between the metal diaphragm box (206) and the front stainless steel metal hard tube (6) is sealed by a conical sealing component (1); The oil storage tank shell (201) is fitted over the metal diaphragm box (206) and compression spring (204); The bottom plate (203) and the front plate (207) of the oil storage tank shell (201) are fixedly connected at both ends. The conical sealing assembly (1) includes: a ferrule nut (302), a front ferrule (305), and a rear ferrule (304); One end of the front stainless steel metal hard tube (6) is inserted into the inner conical interface (301) of the metal diaphragm box. The outer wall of the inner conical interface (301) of the metal diaphragm box is threadedly connected to the ferrule nut (302). A front ferrule (305) and a rear ferrule (304) are provided between the inner conical interface (301) of the metal diaphragm box and the ferrule nut (302). Both the front ferrule (305) and the rear ferrule (304) are wedge-shaped ferrule structures. The preload generated by the threaded connection between the inner conical interface (301) of the metal diaphragm box and the ferrule nut (302) causes metal plastic deformation between the outer conical surface of the front ferrule (305) and the inner conical interface (301) of the metal diaphragm box, forming a sealing ring with a width greater than or equal to 0.5 mm on the contact surface.

2. The device for on-orbit storage and transportation of lubricating oil in spacecraft according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ferrule nut (302), the front ferrule (305), and the rear ferrule (304) are all made of 316 stainless steel.

3. A device for on-orbit storage and delivery of lubricating oil for spacecraft according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Also includes: Two-way ball valve (7); A two-way ball valve (7) is connected to the front stainless steel metal hard pipe (6). The two-way ball valve (7) is used to control the opening and closing of the flow path inside the front stainless steel metal hard pipe (6).

4. A device for on-orbit storage and transportation of lubricating oil for spacecraft according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: Rear stainless steel metal rigid tube (2); The outlet of the double-way ball valve (7) is connected to the rear stainless steel metal hard pipe (2), and the double-way ball valve (7) and the rear stainless steel metal hard pipe (2) are sealed by a conical sealing assembly (1).

5. A device for on-orbit storage and delivery of lubricating oil for spacecraft according to claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: Base plate (4) and ball valve support (3); The oil storage tank assembly (5) is connected to the lower surface of the base plate (4), and the lower surface of the ball valve support (3) is connected to the upper surface of the base plate (4).

6. A device for on-orbit storage and delivery of lubricating oil for spacecraft according to claim 5, characterized in that, The compression spring (204) is made of stainless steel wire.

7. A device for on-orbit storage and delivery of lubricating oil for spacecraft according to claim 6, characterized in that, The base plate (203), spring guide rod (205) and spring guide sleeve (202) are all made of aluminum alloy.

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