Electromagnetic Linear Driver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional orbital asset repositioning requires propellant expenditure, necessitating the object to carry propellant for repositioning and subsequent maneuvers, which is inefficient and can damage sensitive payloads due to vibrations from rocket engines.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an electromagnetic accelerator with a captured armature that accelerates payloads along a long axis, parallel to the accelerator, and includes a stopper to prevent the armature from leaving, allowing for efficient propulsion without expelling propellant, suitable for microgravity and orbital applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional propellant-based orbital repositioning is used, then orbital maneuvers can be achieved, but propellant mass must be carried and vibrations damage sensitive payloads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical propellant-based propulsion system with an electromagnetic acceleration system. The electromagnetic accelerator uses electromagnetic fields to accelerate a captured armature, which in turn accelerates the payload, eliminating the need for propellant combustion and associated vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the propellant system from the orbital repositioning process. By using electromagnetic acceleration of a captured armature, the system removes the need to carry and expend propellant, thereby eliminating both the mass penalty and the harmful vibrations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If propellant is carried for repositioning, then orbital maneuvers are possible, but system mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic acceleration system replaces the propellant-based mechanical propulsion system. The electromagnetic accelerator, captured armature, and payload system achieves orbital maneuver capability without requiring propellant mass, thereby reducing total system mass while maintaining adaptability for orbital repositioning.
3Productivity
If captured armature is prevented from leaving accelerator, then acceleration efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing the armature to leave the accelerator and then returning it, the system inverts the approach by using a stopper to prevent the armature from leaving the accelerator in the first place. This ensures continuous contact and efficient energy transfer from the electromagnetic field to the payload through the armature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and vibration-free payload acceleration and repositioning in orbital maneuvers, reducing the need for propellant and minimizing damage to sensitive payloads, while being adaptable for various gravitational environments.
Implementation Method 1
An electromagnetic accelerator is configured to accelerate a captured armature along a long axis of and parallel to the electromagnetic accelerator
Implementation Method 2
A captured armature is configured to accelerate the payload
Data Source
AI summary
A system for accelerating a payload is disclosed. An accelerator is configured to accelerate a captured external armature along a long axis and interior to the captured external armature. The accelerator is parallel to the captured external armature. The captured external armature is further configured to accelerate the payload. A stopper is configured to prevent the captured external armature from leaving the internal accelerator.