Space Habitat Mounting Flange and Bracket for Airtight Bladder Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Space habitats face significant safety concerns due to air leaks and uneven stress distribution across the bladder, particularly at the core and bladder interface, which can lead to structural failure and compromise the airtight environment.
Innovation Solution
A mounting flange and bracket system that securely couples the bladder to the cylindrical core, featuring a lip, apertures for bolts, and a clamping ring to distribute pressure evenly and maintain an airtight seal, while interfacing with the soft goods layer and core to prevent separation and leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bladder is directly coupled to the core, then the structure is simple, but air leaks occur at the interface and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A mounting flange is introduced as an intermediary component between the bladder and the core. The flange includes a mounting surface that interfaces with the core and a sealing surface that interfaces with the bladder, creating a controlled transition zone that prevents air leaks while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is divided into separate functional components: the mounting flange (with lip and mounting surface), the bracket (with engagement features), and the sealing elements. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together as a unified system.
2Force
If heavy loads are applied inside the space habitat, then the structural capacity is increased, but uneven stress distribution causes bladder stress and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting flange features a lip with a specific geometry that concentrates and redirects localized forces. The engagement features of the bracket are strategically positioned to distribute loads across multiple contact points on the flange, preventing stress concentration at any single point on the bladder interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting flange acts as a force distribution intermediary, receiving concentrated loads from the core mounting surface and redistributing them through its structural geometry to the bracket engagement points, thereby protecting the bladder from direct stress exposure.
3Reliability
If the bladder is secured to the core, then air leaks are prevented, but the stress concentration at the interface may cause structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing surface of the mounting flange is designed with specific local geometric features that create an effective seal at the bladder interface while the overall flange structure maintains strength to handle structural loads. The lip geometry provides both sealing contact and structural reinforcement.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and systems are described for a mounting flange and bracket for a space habitat. The bracket system couples a bladder of a space habitat to a cylindrical core. The bracket system includes a soft goods layer configured to cover the bladder of the space habitat. The bracket system includes a mounting flange configured to couple at an end of the cylindrical core. The mounting flange includes a lip extending around the mounting flange. The bracket system includes a bracket configured to connect the soft goods layer to the mounting flange. The bracket has a first end and a second end. The first end includes a pin configured to couple to the soft goods layer. The second end includes a protrusion configured to latch to the lip of the mounting flange. In some variations, a cap is configured to be coupled to the outer side of the mounting flange.