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. 31, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2005
Robert J. Hart, Glendale, AZ (US);
Mason A. Peck, Ithaca, NY (US);
Robert J. Hart, Glendale, AZ (US);
Mason A. Peck, Ithaca, NY (US);
Honeywell International Inc., Morristown, NJ (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for reaction wheel (RW) assemblies for spacecraft. The apparatus comprises a M/G coupled to an inertia wheel and a controller coupled to the M/G that, in response to commands it receives, couples power to or from an M/G of another RW assembly over a shared transfer connection (V), so that one M/G acts as a generator powering another M/G acting as a motor. The controller compares generator voltage Vto the BEMF of the motor on Vand reconfigures a multi-winding M/G or steps-up the generated voltage to maintain V>Vto maximize direct energy transfer from one RW to the other as long as possible. When Vdeclines sufficiently, the controller can couple the motor to the spacecraft power bus and/or the generator to a power dump so as to continue to provide the commanded torque if needed. Operation is automatic.