The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 09, 1993
Applicant:
Inventors:
Kevin M Ford, Georgetown, TX (US);
Terence J Marshall, Glendale, AZ (US);
Assignee:
Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
244165 ; 74-512 ;
Abstract
An improved reaction wheel assembly and method is provided whereby a reaction wheel assembly contains a safing mechanism for securing the assembly. A rotor shaft assembly and bearings are provided whereby a reaction wheel assembly selectively may be either safe or operational, and the safing assembly provides for application of stabilizing force longitudinally along the axis of rotation of a rotor shaft. Further, a method of providing momentum stabilization to a vehicle using this apparatus is provided. A safing mechanism for releasably securing a reaction wheel rotor assembly of a satellite during launch is disclosed.