Rotating Habitation Module With Radial Seals For Artificial Gravity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Extended exposure to zero-gravity environments in space stations leads to detrimental health effects such as muscle and bone degeneration, necessitating the creation of artificial gravity environments to ensure crew health and comfort.

Innovation Solution

A habitation module comprising a stationary structure and a rotating structure that slides onto the stationary structure, creating artificial gravity through centrifugal force within gravity chambers, with radial seals ensuring an air-tight connection and allowing pressurization of the interior for crew safety and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rotating structure is used to create artificial gravity, then crew health is improved, but the structural complexity and sealing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrew healthVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The habitation module is divided into a stationary structure and a rotating structure that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The rotating structure includes separate gravity chambers connected by a central corridor, allowing modular construction and reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining artificial gravity benefits for crew health

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Radial seals are introduced as intermediary components at the connection points between the rotating and stationary structures. These seals create air-tight junctures without requiring complex welding or fastening systems, simplifying the overall structural design while maintaining pressure integrity for crew health

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If radial seals are installed to maintain pressurization, then crew comfort is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrew comfortVSAvoidseal precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Radial seals utilize flexible sealing elements that can accommodate minor manufacturing tolerances and structural deformations. The flexible nature of these seals allows them to maintain air-tight connections between rotating and stationary structures without requiring extremely precise manufacturing, thereby improving crew comfort through reliable pressurization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The radial seal design incorporates compression elements and adjustable positioning mechanisms that compensate for manufacturing variations before the structure is fully pressurized. This pre-compensation approach ensures reliable sealing performance without demanding ultra-high manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Strength

If the rotating structure is designed as a unitary body, then structural strength is improved, but the ease of assembly decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

While the rotating structure itself is designed as a unitary body for strength, the entire habitation module is segmented into the rotating structure and stationary structure. This allows the strong unitary rotating component to be manufactured separately and then assembled to the stationary structure through radial seals, combining the benefits of structural strength with ease of assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 habitation module effectively provides a healthy artificial gravity environment for crew members to engage in activities, reducing muscle and bone degeneration risks while maintaining a pressurized and comfortable living space without the need for specialized suits.

Implementation Method 1

The rotating structure is driven to rotate about an axis in relation to the stationary structure to create artificial gravity within each of the gravity chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS10207826B2Artificial gravity system with a unibody rotating structure that rotates about a stationary structure

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A habitation module that provides an artificial gravity environment. In one embodiment, the habitation module includes a stationary structure and a rotating structure that rotates about an axis in relation to the stationary structure. The rotating structure includes a cylindrical body that is substantially hollow and closed at both ends, where the ends represent gravity chambers of the habitation module. There are center openings in the cylindrical body that are coaxially aligned on opposing sides of the cylindrical body along an axis of rotation. First and second hub members are permanently affixed to the cylindrical body on the opposing sides of the cylindrical body about the center openings. Radial seals that span gaps between the rotating structure and the stationary structure.