Difficulties with conventional ball bearings and bearing lubricants in cryogenic environments has prompted the development of magnetic suspension for spacecraft infrared sensor applications. This paper examines the problem associated with conventional ball bearings used in conjunction with infrared sensor platforms and presents characteristics of magnetic bearings that make them an attractive alternative. Conventional gimbal ball bearings used in the cryogenic environment required of some infrared sensor platforms, are the source of several error sources seen by the sensor's precision pointing control system. Among these are runout errors and nonuniform, unpredictable drag torques that vary over time and operating temperature. Magnetic suspension is a viable alternative for gimbal bearings used in conjunction with cryogenic systems. Bearings with the low runout errors, low, uniform drag torques over time and temperature, high reliability over long lifetimes with no debris generation are feasible without stressing present technology. Tests performed on other magnetic bearing systems have validated these projections. In addition, these systems provide a good thermal interface between the bearing surfaces, and good high frequency isolation.
Cryogenic magnetic gimbal bearing
Magnetisches Kardanlager fuer den Einsatz im Weltraum, bei tiefen Temperaturen
1987
6 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 2 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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