Monolithic Attitude Control Motor Frame for Compact Thrust Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional attitude control motor systems are bulky and inefficient in packaging thrust, requiring significant vehicle volume for limited thrust output, and are expensive due to complex valve and actuation systems, making them unsuitable for vehicles with limited space.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic attitude control motor system that utilizes shared pressure vessel walls to distribute operational pressure loads, allowing for a more compact and efficient arrangement of attitude control motors, which reduces the overall structure size and enhances packaging efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional attitude control motors are used, then thrust control is achieved, but the system requires significant vehicle volume for limited thrust output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual attitude control motors into a single monolithic structure where multiple motor chambers share common pressure vessel walls. This consolidation integrates what were previously separate self-contained motors into one unified system, reducing the total volume required while maintaining the same thrust control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The monolithic pressure vessel structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the pressure containment for multiple motor chambers, provides structural support, and enables thrust vectoring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pressure vessels for each motor, significantly reducing the overall system volume.
2Productivity
If conventional attitude control motor systems are used, then thrust control is achieved, but the structure is bulky and packaging efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple motor chambers are merged into a single monolithic pressure vessel with shared walls. This consolidation reduces the number of discrete components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the ability to independently control thrust in multiple directions.
Solution Approach 2:
While the pressure vessel is monolithic, the internal structure is segmented into multiple motor chambers that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows for efficient packaging of multiple thrusters within a single compact structure, improving packaging efficiency without sacrificing control capability.
3Quantity of substance
If solid gas generators with valve systems are used, then impulse packaging is improved, but mass flow must remain constant requiring venting that wastes propellant
Solution Approach 1:
The attitude control motors use periodic pulsed operation instead of continuous flow. Each motor can be fired in discrete bursts to achieve the required attitude adjustments, allowing the propellant to be consumed only when needed rather than requiring continuous mass flow and subsequent venting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers propellant efficiency by using precise pulsed firing of individual motor chambers. Each chamber can be activated only when thrust is required, eliminating the need to vent excess propellant that would occur in continuous flow systems. The monolithic structure allows selective activation of chambers based on actual control needs.
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 monolithic system achieves higher packaging efficiency, provides greater total impulse, and effectively resolves pressurization forces during operation, making it suitable for various types of vehicles with limited space.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes shared pressure vessel walls to distribute operational pressure loads
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 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 motors is disposed in each cavity of the plurality of cavities.