US3601338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for controlling the attitude of a satellite
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1968-11-14
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1988-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An attitude-control apparatus for a satellite includes a main rod extending from the satellite body and having a weight at the outermost end thereof, and a rotatable damping rod supported on the satellite body. Damping control is effected by detecting the deflection of the satellite body from the standard direction in an inertial space thereby to vibrate the damping rod in the direction opposite to that of the deflection.
Inventors
- 👤 Masamichi Shigehara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:25
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/24; B64G1/38; B64G1/244; B64G1/32; B64G1/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for controlling the attitude of a satellite comprising: a satellite body (11); a main rod (12) fixedly coupled to and extending from the satellite body (11) and provided with a weight at the outermost end thereof to control the attitude of the satellite body using the gravity gradient torque; a damping rod (13) extending from the main rod (12) and movably connected thereto; an actuating means (41) coupled to said damping rod (13) for moving said damping rod (13) relative to said main rod (12); a damper (14) interposed between the main rod (12) and the damping rod (13); an attitude-detector means (34) for detecting the deflection angles of said satellite body (11) and of the main rod (12) from the standard direction in the inertial space independent of the position of said damping rod (13); and control means (36, 37, 38, 39) responsive to the output of said attitude-detector means (34) for driving said actuating means (41) to control said damping rod (13) to cause said damping rod (13) to rotate in a direction opposite to that which said satellite body (11) vibrates.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for controlling the attitude of a satellite comprising: a satellite body (11); a main rod (12) fixedly coupled to and extending from the satellite body (11) and provided with a weight at the outermost end thereof to control the attitude of the satellite body using the gravity gradient torque; a damping rod (13) extending from the main rod (12) and movably connected thereto; an actuating means (41) coupled to said damping rod (13) for moving said damping rod (13) relative to said main rod (12); a damper (14) interposed between the main rod (12) and the damping rod (13); an attitude-detector means (34) for detecting the deflection angles of said satellite body (11) and of the main rod (12) from the standard direction in the inertial space independent of the position of said damping rod (13); and control means (36, 37, 38, 39) responsive to the output of said attitude-detector means (34) for driving said actuating means (41) to control said damping rod (13) to cause said damping rod (13) to rotate in a direction opposite to that which said satellite body (11) vibrates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: means (36) for changing the sign and gain of electrical outputs from said attitude detector (34) which correspond to the angles of deflection; and a servocontrol means (37, 38, 39) for driving said actuating means (41) so as to rotate said damping rod (13) in said direction opposite to that in which said satellite body (11) vibrates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said attitude detector (34) includes a horizon sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said attitude detector (34) includes a sun sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3282532A
Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |