Elastic Reaction Flywheel Support Frame for Vibration and Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current reaction flywheel support frames in spacecraft attitude control systems suffer from uncontrollable unbalanced vibration and high zero-crossing friction torque, leading to reduced service life and accuracy, and are often heavy and difficult to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

An inverted U-shaped elastic support frame with a center hole is used, where the motor is fixedly installed and the rotor is driven by a motor shaft inserted into the center hole, acting as the main bearing structure to absorb vibrations and reduce weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If mechanical bearing is used to support the reaction flywheel, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but uncontrollable unbalanced vibration and large zero-crossing friction torque occur, affecting service life and control accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidcontrol accuracy and service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical bearing support system with a magnetic bearing system that uses magnetic fields for support and stabilization. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact, thereby eliminating zero-crossing friction torque and mechanical vibration, while improving control accuracy and service life through non-contact magnetic field interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental support parameter from mechanical contact to magnetic field interaction. By transitioning from physical bearing surfaces to magnetic field-based support, the system achieves elimination of friction and mechanical vibration, while enabling precise control through magnetic field parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If piezoelectric materials are added to the supporting unit for vibration isolation, then vibration is reduced, but the weight and volume of the satellite are greatly increased and manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoidsatellite weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces piezoelectric vibration isolation materials with a magnetic bearing system that provides inherent vibration isolation through non-contact magnetic support. This substitution eliminates the need for additional piezoelectric materials, thereby reducing satellite weight and volume while maintaining vibration reduction through magnetic field stabilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic bearing system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, eliminates vibration, and enables precise control without requiring separate vibration isolation components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional piezoelectric materials, reducing overall system weight and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a rigid edge area is fixed on the shell as a bearing to limit the movement of the revolving mass, then vibration is reduced, but the normal rotation of the reaction flywheel rotor is affected

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoidrotor rotation smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the rigid edge bearing structure with a magnetic bearing system that uses magnetic fields to support the rotor. This substitution eliminates mechanical constraints that affect rotation smoothness while providing vibration reduction through non-contact magnetic support, allowing free and smooth rotor rotation without mechanical interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design effectively reduces vibration and overall weight while simplifying manufacturing, enhancing the stability and longevity of the reaction flywheel and spacecraft attitude control systems.

Implementation Method 1

The support frame is an elastic support frame. Therefore, the support frame is a shock absorption design, which effectively reduce the vibration produced in the working process of the motor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3730411B1A support frame of reaction flywheel
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 HUNAN LANYUE MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL TECH CO LTD
  • EP3730411B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3730411B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention discloses a support frame of reaction flywheel, which can not only reduce the vibration, but also reduce the overall weight of the support frame of the reaction flywheel, and the manufacture is relatively easy. Reaction flywheel includes: a base (1), a support frame (2), a motor (3), a rotor (4), a control assembly (6). The control assembly (6) for controlling the speed of the motor is mounted on the base. The support frame (2) is installed above the base. The support frame is an inverted U-shaped elastic support frame. The motor is installed in a hollow space in the support frame. The top of the support frame is provided with a center hole. The motor (3) is fixedly installed on the support frame and there is a space between the motor and the base. The motor shaft is inserted into the center hole, the rotor (4) is fixedly installed on the motor shaft, and the motor drives the rotor to rotate.