Thruster Mounting Structure With Rotational Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Satellites and spacecraft propelled by chemical rocket systems are inefficient in terms of propellant use, leaving limited mass for payloads, while electric propulsion systems offer high efficiency but low thrust, making them unsuitable for immediate thrust applications.

Innovation Solution

A thruster mounting structure with multiple rotational joints allows for flexible orientation and positioning of electric thrusters, enabling efficient thruster vectoring for station keeping and orbit raising maneuvers, allowing for independent control of orbit parameters like altitude, inclination, and eccentricity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If electric propulsion systems are used, then propellant efficiency and specific impulse are improved, but thrust magnitude deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepropellant efficiencyVSAvoidthrust magnitude

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The thruster mounting structure employs multiple rotational joints that enable dynamic repositioning of the thruster assembly, allowing the system to adapt its orientation and position during operation to optimize performance despite low thrust magnitude

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds spatial dimensions through multiple rotational joints, enabling the thruster to operate in three-dimensional space with independent control of orientation angles, thereby compensating for low thrust through optimized vectoring in multiple directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Force

If chemical rocket propulsion systems are used, then thrust magnitude is improved, but propellant efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrust magnitudeVSAvoidpropellant efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The thruster mounting structure with multiple rotational joints provides multi-functionality, enabling the same electric thruster assembly to perform various maneuvers (station keeping, orbit raising, attitude control) that traditionally required different propulsion systems, thereby achieving high propellant efficiency across diverse operational requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If fixed thruster mounting is used, then device complexity is reduced, but mission adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structure complexityVSAvoidmission operation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one with multiple rotational joints, each capable of independent rotation to reposition the thruster assembly in three-dimensional space, enabling adaptation to various mission requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thruster mounting structure is segmented into multiple independently controllable rotational joints, allowing each joint to be controlled separately to achieve complex positioning and orientation maneuvers required for different mission phases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11661213B2Maneuvering system for earth orbiting satellites with electric thrusters

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods are described herein for mounting a thruster onto a vehicle. A thruster mounting structure may comprise a first, second, and third rotational joint, a boom, and thruster pallet, and a thruster attached to the thruster pallet. The first rotational joint may be attached to the vehicle and configured to rotate in a first axis. The first rotational joint may be connected to the boom and configured to pivot the boom about the first axis. The boom may be connected to the second rotational joint, which is connected to the third rotational joint and configured to rotate the third rotational joint in the first axis. The third rotational joint may be connected to the thruster pallet and configured to pivot the thruster pallet in a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.