Lightweight passive attenuator for spacecraft
A lightweight passive attenuator ( 1 ) for spacecraft includes two omega cross-section rings ( 2 ), placed symmetrically and defining a gap therebetween, and being the main load path of the light passive attenuator ( 1 ). A plurality of damper elements ( 3 ) are placed in the gap defined between the two omega cross-section rings ( 2 ), and not in the main load path of the light passive attenuator ( 1 ), such that the omega cross-section rings ( 2 ) and the damper elements ( 3 ) are assembled at their ends by attachment elements. The omega cross-section rings ( 2 ) have a protruding central part ( 5 ) with a plurality of holes ( 6 ) for connection with adjacent structures ( 7, 8 ) of the spacecraft.
1. A lightweight passive attenuator for spacecraft, comprising:
two metallic omega cross-section rings, placed symmetrically and defining a gap therebetween, the two omega cross-section rings being a main load path of the lightweight passive attenuator, and
a plurality of damper elements placed in the gap defined between the two omega cross-section rings and out of the main load path of the lightweight passive attenuator,
wherein the omega cross-section rings and the damper elements are assembled at ends by attachment means, and the omega cross-section rings have a protruding central part with a plurality of holes for connection with adjacent structures of the spacecraft;
wherein the damper elements comprise aluminum and vulcanized elastomer.
2. The lightweight passive attenuator for spacecraft, according to claim 1 , comprising 36 of the damper elements of approximately 10°.
3. The lightweight passive attenuator for spacecraft, according to claim 1 , wherein the omega cross-section rings and the damper elements are assembled by bolts.
4. A lightweight passive attenuator for spacecraft, comprising:
two metallic omega cross-section rings, placed symmetrically and defining a gap therebetween, the two omega cross-section rings being a main load path of the lightweight passive attenuator; and
a plurality of damper elements placed in the gap defined between the two omega cross-section rings and out of the main load path of the lightweight passive attenuator;
wherein the omega cross-section rings and the damper elements are assembled at ends by attachment means, and the omega cross-section rings have a protruding central part with a plurality of holes for connection with adjacent structures of the spacecraft; and
wherein parts of the omega cross-section rings that connect the ends to the protruding central parts have a variable thickness with a thinner central portion, and the thickness at their ends is less than the thickness at the protruding central parts.
5. A lightweight passive attenuator for spacecraft, comprising:
two metallic omega cross-section rings, placed symmetrically and defining a gap therebetween, the two omega cross-section rings being a main load path of the lightweight passive attenuator; and
a plurality of damper elements placed in the gap defined between the two omega cross-section rings and out of the main load path of the lightweight passive attenuator;
wherein the omega cross-section rings and the damper elements are assembled at ends by attachment means, and the omega cross-section rings have a protruding central part with a plurality of holes for connection with adjacent structures of the spacecraft; and
wherein one of the omega cross-section rings has at least two venting holes.