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:
Mar. 18, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 18, 1994
Applicant:
Inventor:
John W Smay, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Assignee:
Hughes Electronics, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
244165 ;
Abstract
A system for providing energy storage, attitude steering, and momentum management of a spacecraft is shown using a pair of gimbaled flywheels. Two flywheels are positioned with spin axes nominally co-aligned along the spacecraft pitch axis and are spun in opposite or the same direction at differential or equal speeds to store spacecraft momentum as desired. Angular momentum can be tilted from the normal alignment with respect to the spacecraft body. This system will reduce the weight of conventional spacecraft and also reduce the cost.