Monolithic Attitude Control Motor Frame for Dense Thrust Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional attitude control motors are bulky and inefficient in terms of volume-to-thrust output ratio, requiring significant vehicle space and employing expensive valve systems, while solid gas generators waste propellant due to constant mass flow and venting needs.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic attitude control motor system with shared pressure vessel walls distributes operational pressure loads across a monolithic frame, integrating multiple attitude control motors in a honeycomb structure for efficient packing and thrust generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional attitude control motors are used, then thrust control is achieved, but vehicle volume requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple attitude control motors are merged into a single monolithic pressure vessel structure, where adjacent motors share common walls. This integration reduces the total volume required compared to separate motors, as the shared walls eliminate redundant structure and allow efficient space utilization through the honeycomb arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The attitude control motors are nested within a monolithic pressure vessel frame, with each motor occupying a cavity formed by shared walls. The honeycomb structure allows motors to be tightly packed and nested together, maximizing the use of available volume while minimizing the overall space required for the thrust control system.
2Quantity of substance
If solid gas generators with valve systems are used, then impulse packaging is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expensive valve and actuation systems are extracted and eliminated from the design. The monolithic attitude control motors use a simpler ignition and thrust control mechanism without requiring complex valve systems, thereby reducing system cost while maintaining effective impulse packaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design employs simpler, more cost-effective motor units that can be ignited and expended without requiring expensive reusable valve systems. Each motor unit is designed for single-use operation, eliminating the need for costly actuation and valve components while achieving the required impulse packaging.
3Power
If solid gas generators with constant mass flow are used, then thrust control is achieved, but propellant efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The attitude control motors employ periodic pulsed ignition rather than continuous constant mass flow. Each motor is ignited in discrete pulses to provide the required thrust control, allowing the propellant to be consumed only when needed and eliminating the continuous venting that wastes propellant in constant flow systems.
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
The system achieves higher packaging efficiency, increased total impulse, and better pressurization force resolution compared to conventional systems, reducing vehicle volume requirements and costs.
Implementation Method 1
shared pressure vessel walls to distribute the operational pressure loads throughout the structure
Data Source
AI summary
A monolithic attitude control motor frame includes a monolithic structure including an outer surface of revolution and a plurality of side walls defining a plurality of cavities extending radially from the outer surface of revolution. Adjacent cavities of the plurality of cavities share a side wall or side wall portion therebetween. Each of the cavities is configured to receive an attitude control motor. A monolithic attitude control motor system includes a monolithic frame including an outer surface of revolution and a plurality of side walls defining a plurality of cavities extending radially from the outer surface of revolution. The system further includes a plurality of attitude control motors corresponding to the plurality of cavities, such that an attitude control motor of the plurality of attitude control motors is disposed in each cavity of the plurality of cavities.