Robert R Hart

US Patent:

7512466, Mar 31, 2009

Filed:

Jun 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/170837

Inventors:

Robert J. Hart - Glendale AZ, US
Mason A. Peck - Ithaca NY, US

Assignee:

Honeywell International Inc. - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B60L 9/00
B60L 11/00

US Classification:

701 22, 701 36, 701 13, 180 71, 180 652, 244165, 318139

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.