IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,827,385
Granted Patent B2
US 11,827,385 · App. 17/648,225 · Granted Nov 28, 2023

Direct mount of secondary payload adapters to truss structure common to space vehicle payload adapter

Inventors: Thomas J. Harleman, Jr. (Maple Valley, WA); Cary D. Munger (Woodinville, WA); Karsten James (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: The Boeing Company
B64G1/641B64G1/643
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,827,385
App. No.
17/648,225
Granted
Nov 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for the direct mount of secondary payload adapters to a truss structure common to a space vehicle payload adapter are disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, a method for reacting loads into a space vehicle payload adapter comprises reacting, by more than two interstitial rings of the space vehicle payload adapter, the loads created by secondary payloads mounted onto the space vehicle payload adapter, into a truss structure of the space vehicle payload adapter. The method further comprises reacting, by struts of the truss structure, the loads to a forward ring and an aft ring of the space vehicle payload adapter. In one or more embodiments, the reacting of the loads maintains high frequency (e.g., greater than (>) thirty (30) gigahertz (GHz)) modes for the space vehicle payload adapter.

Claims (35)

1. A method for reacting loads into a space vehicle payload adapter, the method comprising:

reacting, by more than two interstitial rings of the space vehicle payload adapter, the loads created by secondary payloads mounted onto the space vehicle payload adapter, into a truss structure of the space vehicle payload adapter; and

reacting, by struts of the truss structure, the loads to a forward ring and an aft ring of the space vehicle payload adapter, wherein the struts comprise strut portions extending beyond the interstitial rings to connect to the forward and aft rings to react the loads to the forward and aft rings.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary payloads are mounted onto the space vehicle payload adapter via secondary payload adapters.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the secondary payloads are mounted onto the secondary payload adaptors via at least one of kinematic mount bolts or easy ride adapters.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the space vehicle payload adapter has an annular profile defining a circumference of the space vehicle payload adapter,

an exterior surface of the circumference of the space vehicle payload adapter comprises a surface of each of the secondary payload adapters, and

each of the secondary payload adapters are releasably attached to various different locations on at least one of the interstitial rings.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein adapter port openings of the secondary payload adapters are of different sizes.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein adapter port openings of the secondary payload adaptors comprise shapes complementary to interfaces of the secondary payloads.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the secondary payload adapters are manufactured from at least one of aluminum, titanium, or a composite material.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the space vehicle payload adapter has an annular profile defining a circumference of the space vehicle payload adapter, and

the forward and aft rings, the truss structure, and the interstitial rings are configured to support the secondary payloads mounted around an exterior surface of the circumference of the space vehicle payload adapter.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the struts are oriented at consistent angles to form alternately inverted isosceles triangle-shaped openings within the truss structure.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interstitial rings are connected to the struts via a nested joint configuration.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interstitial rings are located between the forward ring and the aft ring.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the interstitial rings is a partial interstitial ring.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the interstitial rings comprises a plurality of segments.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the segments comprises an inner portion and an outer portion.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the interstitial rings, the struts, the forward ring, or the aft ring are manufactured from at least one of aluminum, titanium, or a composite material.

16. A space vehicle payload adapter, the space vehicle payload adapter comprising:

a forward ring;

an aft ring;

a truss structure comprising a plurality of struts, wherein the struts connect the forward ring to the aft ring;

more than two interstitial rings connected to the struts, and positioned between the forward ring and the aft ring; and

a plurality of secondary payload adapters each releasably attached to at least one of the interstitial rings,

wherein the interstitial rings react loads, created by secondary payloads mounted onto the secondary payload adapters, into the truss structure, and

wherein the struts of the truss structure react the loads to the forward ring and the aft ring, the struts comprising strut portions extending beyond the interstitial rings to connect to the forward and aft rings to react the loads to the forward and aft rings.

17. The space vehicle payload adapter of claim 16 , wherein the interstitial rings are connected to the struts via a nested joint configuration.

18. The space vehicle payload adapter of claim 16 , wherein:

the space vehicle payload adapter has an annular profile defining a circumference of the space vehicle payload adapter,

an exterior surface of the circumference of the space vehicle payload adapter comprises a surface of each of the secondary payload adapters, for mounting the secondary payloads around the exterior surface of the space vehicle payload adapter, and

at least one of the interstitial rings comprises a plurality of segments.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2022
From: HARLEMAN, THOMAS J; MUNGER, CARY D.; JAMES, KARSTEN
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058767/0184 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63145331 · Feb 3, 2021
Related Publication 20220242596A1 · Aug 4, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,338,004