This disclosure provides a joint assembly that thermally isolates a warm structure, such as a payload, from a cold structure, such as a cryogenic fuel tank, in a space vehicle while maintaining structural interconnection within the joint assembly. The joint assembly includes a primary joint that is capable of separating, and a secondary joint connected to and adjacent to the primary joint. The secondary joint includes an inflatable annulus structure and one or more restraining members, where separation of the primary joint causes the inflatable annulus structure to be in compression and the one or more restraining members to be in tension.
THERMALLY ISOLATING JOINT ASSEMBLY IN A SPACE VEHICLE
2018-11-08
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS |
Thermally isolating joint assembly in a space vehicle
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