초록 ▼

A liquid-propellant tank for a spacecraft is symmetric about a longitudinal axis, and has a transverse partition (15) and a truncated conical partition (16), which divide the interior of the tank into a remote chamber (20), a proximate peripheral chamber (21) and a proximate axial chamber (22). Comm

A liquid-propellant tank for a spacecraft is symmetric about a longitudinal axis, and has a transverse partition (15) and a truncated conical partition (16), which divide the interior of the tank into a remote chamber (20), a proximate peripheral chamber (21) and a proximate axial chamber (22). Communication between the remote chamber (20) and the proximate peripheral chamber (21) is provided by a port structure (23), and communication between the proximate peripheral chamber (21) and the proximate axial chamber (22) is provided by a port structure (24). As liquid propellant is withdrawn from the tank, pressurant gas in the remote chamber (20) causes liquid propellant to pass from the remote chamber (20) into the proximate peripheral chamber (21) to replace liquid propellant thereby forced from the proximate peripheral chamber (21) into the proximate axial chamber (22), which replaces the liquid propellant withdrawn from the tank. Emptying of the three chambers in sequence limits the extent of migration of liquid propellant within the tank, thereby minimizing the effects of liquid-propellant migration on attitude stability of the spacecraft.

대표청구항 ▼

A liquid management system for a spacecraft, said system comprising: (a) a tank; (b) partitions dividing said tank into at least three interior chambers; and (c) port structures interconnecting said interior chambers of said tank, said port structures being configured and being positioned adjacent a

A liquid management system for a spacecraft, said system comprising: (a) a tank; (b) partitions dividing said tank into at least three interior chambers; and (c) port structures interconnecting said interior chambers of said tank, said port structures being configured and being positioned adjacent an interior surface of said tank so that said interior chambers can be emptied of liquid in sequence under substantially all conditions of acceleration.