US3685770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dampers for spinning bodies
Assignee: British Aircraft Corp Ltd
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Filing: 1971-03-03
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1991-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A damper for damping nutational movements of a spinning spacecraft, the damper comprising an outer body which is mounted eccentrically on a spinning part of the spacecraft, and a gyro flywheel rotated at high-speed in the body to provide a reaction member. The gyro flywheel is gimbal-mounted in the outer body for relative tilting in any direction, and is enclosed in an inner casing containing damping liquid by which relative tilting movements between the outer body and the flywheel are damped. In another arrangement the flywheel comprises a quantity of free liquid contained in an inner annular housing journalled in the outer body and motor-driven at high rotational speed. The liquid is rotated by the frictional drag of the inner housing in the form of an annular liquid flywheel which has a self-damping action on tilting movements of the outer body and inner housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen William Tonkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:28
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/24; B64G1/28; B64G1/283; B64G1/281; B64G1/285; B64G1/38; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1229; Y10T74/1257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A nutation damper for mounting in a spinning spacecraft which comprises an outer body adapted to be mounted fixedly on a spinning part of the spacecraft, a gyro flywheel mounted in the outer body for rotation about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of spin, means for effecting high-speed rotation of the flywheel in and relatively to the outer body and in the angular direction opposite to the direction of spin, the flywheel mounting being constructed and arranged to permit relative tilting movements in any direction between the outer body and the rotating flywheel, and damping means for damping such relative tilting movements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A nutation damper for mounting in a spinning spacecraft which comprises an outer body adapted to be mounted fixedly on a spinning part of the spacecraft, a gyro flywheel mounted in the outer body for rotation about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of spin, means for effecting high-speed rotation of the flywheel in and relatively to the outer body and in the angular direction opposite to the direction of spin, the flywheel mounting being constructed and arranged to permit relative tilting movements in any direction between the outer body and the rotating flywheel, and damping means for damping such relative tilting movements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A nutation damper as claimed in claim 1 in which the flywheel is rigid and is surrounded by an inner housing mounted in the outer body by means of a mounting which prevents relative tilting movements between the housing and the outer body, and in which the housing contains a quantity of damping liquid which damps relative tilting movements between the flywheel and the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A nutation damper as claimed in claim 2 in which the flywheel is tiltably mounted by means of a universal joint mounting on a hub journalled in the outer body, and the inner housing is fixed to the hub for rotation therewith, and which includes motor means acting between the outer body and the hub to effect the high-speed rotation of the flywheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A nutation damper as claimed in claim 3 in which the uNiversal joint mounting comprises a gimbal mounting having a gimbal ring mounted to rotate with the flywheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nutation damper as claimed in claim 4 in which the inner housing comprises a hermetically-sealed casing containing an inert atmosphere in addition to the liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A nutation damper as claimed in claim 1 in which the flywheel comprises a quantity of free liquid contained in the annular interior of an inner housing journalled in the outer body coaxially with the said axis parallel to the axis of spin, and which includes motor means acting between the outer body and the inner housing for effecting the high-speed rotation of the inner housing, the free liquid in the housing forming an annulus which is rotated at high-speed by the frictional drag of the rotating housing and its volume being less than the total volume of the interior of the housing so that the rotating annulus of liquid which comprises the gyro flywheel has a self-damping action on tilting movements of the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A nutation damper as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer body comprises a hermetically-sealed casing containing an inert atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
The combination of a spacecraft having an axis of spin, and a nutation damper mounted on the spacecraft, the nutation damper comprising an outer body fixedly mounted on a spun part of the spacecraft, a gyro flywheel mounted in the outer body for rotation about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of spin, means for effecting high-speed rotation of the flywheel in and relatively to the outer body and in the angular direction opposite to the direction of spin, the flywheel mounting being constructed and arranged to permit relative tilting movements in any direction between the outer body and the rotating flywheel, and damping means for damping such relative tilting movements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
The combination of a spacecraft having an axis of spin, and a nutation damper mounted on the spacecraft, the nutation damper comprising an outer body fixedly mounted on a spun part of the spacecraft, a gyro flywheel mounted in the outer body for rotation about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of spin, means for effecting high-speed rotation of the flywheel in and relatively to the outer body and in the angular direction opposite to the direction of spin, the flywheel mounting being constructed and arranged to permit relative tilting movements in any direction between the outer body and the rotating flywheel, and damping means for damping such relative tilting movements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination claimed in claim 8, in which the outer body of the damper is mounted eccentrically to the axis of spin of the spacecraft, with the axis of rotation of the flywheel spaced from the axis of spin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination claimed in claim 8 in which the flywheel is rigid and is surrounded by an inner housing mounted in the outer body by means of a mounting which prevents relative tilting movements between the housing and the outer body, and in which the housing contains a quantity of damping liquid which damps relative tilting movements between the flywheel and the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination claimed in claim 10 in which the flywheel is tiltably mounted by means of a universal joint mounting on a hub journalled in the outer body, and the inner housing is fixed to the hub for rotation therewith, and which includes motor means acting between the outer body and the hub to effect the high-speed rotation of the flywheel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination claimed in claim 11 in which the universal joint mounting comprises a gimbal mounting having a gimbal ring mounted to rotate with the flywheel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
A combination claimed in claim 8 in which the flywheel comprises a quantity of free liquid contained in the annular interior of an inner housing journalled in the outer body coaxially with the said axis parallel to the axis of spin, and which includes motor means acting between the outer body and the inner housing for effecting the high-speed rotation of the inner housing, the free liquid in the housing forming an annulus which is rotated at high-speed by the frictional drag of the rotating housing and its volume being less than the total volume of the interior of the housing so that the rotating annulus of liquid which comprises the gyro flywheel has a self-damping action on tilting movements of the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |