PAYLOAD DISPENSER

Abstract

A payload dispenser for a launch vehicle includes a plurality of panels. At least one panel includes a payload mounted onto the panel. The panels are attachable to each other to thereby form a self-supporting dispenser.

Claims

1. A payload dispenser for a launch vehicle, characterized in that the dispenser comprises a plurality of panels, wherein at least one panel comprises at least one payload mounted onto the panel, wherein the panels are attachable to each other forming a self-supporting dispenser.

2. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each panel comprises at least one payload.

3. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein at least one panel is free from payload.

4. The payload dispenser according claim 1, wherein the payload is a satellite.

5. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the payload dispenser has an extension in a longitudinal direction (X) and in a radial direction (R), wherein each panel comprises attachment means in the longitudinal direction (X) being attachable to neighboring panels.

6. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the payload dispenser is delimited in the radial direction (R) by the panels forming an envelope surface, wherein the panels are attachable to each other in an interface running in the longitudinal direction (X).

7. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means are arranged to lock in position with relation to each other to allow for the self-supporting dispenser.

8. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the payload dispenser is delimited in a lateral (Y) direction by the panels, wherein each panel has an unbroken extension in the longitudinal direction.

9. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein at least one panel comprises panel portions attached to each other forming the panel.

10. The payload dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the panel portions are connected to each other in the longitudinal direction (X) and/or the lateral direction (Y).

11. The payload dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the panel portions are fixedly attached to each other.

12. The payload dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the panel portions are fixedly attached to each other.

13. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the payload is mounted onto the panel before assembly of the dispenser.

14. The payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser is a primary load bearing structure.

15. A method for assembly of a payload dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of a. mounting at least one payload onto one panel, b. attaching the panels to each other via longitudinally extending attachment means, c. locking the attachment means in position to hinder movement between the panels forming a self-supporting dispenser.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises the step of mounting at least one payload onto each panel before assembly of the panels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] The disclosure will be described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

[0041] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of a payload dispenser;

[0042] FIG. 2a schematically shows a side view of a panel and payloads before assembly;

[0043] FIG. 2b schematically shows a side view of a panel and payloads after assembly;

[0044] FIG. 2c schematically shows a front view of a panel and payloads;

[0045] FIG. 3 schematically shows a front view of two panels attached to each other;

[0046] FIG. 4a schematically shows a side view of a panel and a payload before assembly;

[0047] FIG. 4b schematically shows a side view of a panel and a payload after assembly;

[0048] FIG. 4c schematically shows a front view of a panel and a payload;

[0049] FIG. 5 schematically shows a front view of two panels attached to each other;

[0050] FIG. 6 schematically shows a front view of three panels attached to each other;

[0051] FIG. 7 schematically shows a side view of an assembled payload dispenser;

[0052] FIG. 8 schematically shows a flow chart of a method for assembly of the payload dispenser;

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0053] Various aspects of the disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings to illustrate and not to limit the disclosure, wherein like designations denote like elements, and variations of the described aspects are not restricted to the specifically shown embodiments, but are applicable on other variations of the disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of a payload dispenser 1 for a launch vehicle. The dispenser 1 comprises a panel 2 and a payload 3. The dispenser 1 comprises a plurality of panels 2 wherein at least one panel 2 comprises at least one payload 3 mounted onto the panel 2. FIG. 1 shows that the panels 2 are attachable to each other via attachment means 4 forming a self-supporting dispenser 1. FIG. 1 shows six panels 2 attached to each other. However, any plurality of panels 2 is possible but with a minimum of 3 panels in order to form a dispenser 1.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows that each panel 2 comprises at least one payload 3. According to another example shown in FIG. 6, one of the panels 2 in the dispenser 1 can be without any payload 3 while other panels 2 carry payload. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2a-2b and 6, at least one panel 2 comprises a plurality of payloads 3.

[0056] According to one example, the payload 3 is a satellite.

[0057] In FIGS. 1-8, the payload dispenser 1 has an extension in a longitudinal direction X and in a radial direction R. Each panel 2 comprises attachment means in the longitudinal direction X being attachable to neighbouring panels 2.

[0058] The payload dispenser 1 is delimited in the radial direction R by the panels 2 forming an envelope surface and the panels 2 are attachable to each other in an interface running in the longitudinal direction X.

[0059] The attachment means 4 are arranged to lock in position with relation to each other to allow for the self-supporting dispenser 1.

[0060] The dispenser 1 is a primary load bearing structure that can carry one or more payloads. The payload can be arranged to be separated from the dispenser in a controlled manner via separation means. For this to happen, the payload dispenser comprises additional equipment connecting the separation means (not shown) to a control device (not shown). The control device is arranged to control the separation means to separate and eject the payload at a certain point in time and in a pre-determined direction.

[0061] FIG. 2a schematically shows a side view of a panel and payloads before assembly.

[0062] FIG. 2b schematically shows a side view of a panel and payloads after assembly. FIGS. 2a and 2b shows that the payload 3 is mounted onto the panel 2 before assembly of the dispenser 1.

[0063] FIG. 2c schematically shows a front view of a panel and payloads according to FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0064] FIG. 3 schematically shows a front view of two panels attached to each other. FIG. 3 shows that the payload dispenser 1 is delimited in a lateral direction Y by the panels 2. In FIG. 3, each panel 2 has an unbroken extension in the longitudinal direction. However, as can be seen in FIG. 7, the panels 2 can be made from panel portions 5a, 5b.

[0065] FIG. 4a schematically shows a side view of a panel and a payload before assembly, FIG. 4b schematically shows a side view of a panel and a payload after assembly and FIG. 4c schematically shows a front view of a panel 2 and a payload 3. FIGS. 4a-4c shows the same as FIGS. 2a-2c but with the difference that only one payload 3 is mounted onto the panel 2.

[0066] FIG. 5 schematically shows a front view of two panels 2 attached to each other. One panel 2 is identical to what is shown in FIGS. 2a-2c and one panel is identical to what is shown in FIGS. 4a-4c. FIG. 5 thus only shows an example of that panels 2 with different amount of payloads can be combined. FIG. 6 schematically shows a front view of three panels 2 attached to each other, and in addition to the two panels 2 in FIG. 5, there is also a third panel attached to the other two without any payload to further broaden the example of the possibility to attach differently equipped panels to each other.

[0067] FIG. 7 schematically shows a side view of an assembled payload dispenser. FIG. 7 shows that at least one panel 2 comprises panel portions 5a, 5b attached to each other forming the panel 2. In FIG. 7 the panel portions 5a, 5b are connected to each other in the longitudinal direction X and in the lateral direction Y. The panels are attached to each other via the longitudinally extending attachment means 4 and the panel portions 5a, 5b are fixedly attached to each other along the laterally extending attachment means 6. The attachment means 4, 6 are positioned in the envelope surface of the dispenser, which means that the lateral extension refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction but along the envelope surface. In FIG. 7 the dispenser is cylindrical, but different shapes are possible. However, common for all shapes are that the attachment means 4, 6 are positioned in the envelope surface of the dispenser 1. When the panels 2 are viewed separately as in FIGS. 2a-2c and 4a-4c, or attached to each other but in a flat state as in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, then the lateral direction Y is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction as in Cartesian coordinates.

[0068] FIG. 8 schematically shows a flow chart of a method for assembly of the payload dispenser.

[0069] Box 801 relates to the step of mounting at least one payload 3 onto one panel 2. The step of mounting the at least one payload 3 onto one panel is advantageously done before assembly of the panels 2.

[0070] Box 802 relates to the step of attaching the panels 2 to each other via longitudinally extending attachment means 4.

[0071] Box 803 relates to the step of locking the attachment means 4 in position to hinder movement between the panels 2 forming a self-supporting dispenser 1.

[0072] As described above, the panels 2 can be made from panel portions 5a, 5b and the panel portions are connected to each other via laterally extending attachment means 6. The panels 2 are attached to each other via the longitudinally extending attachment means 4. The method steps in connection to Boxes 802 and 803 can then be described as follows:

[0073] Box 802 relates to the step of attaching the panels 2 to each other via longitudinally extending attachment means 4. According to one example, the panel portions 5a, 5b are attached to each other via the laterally extending attachment means 6 before the panels 2 are attached to each other via the longitudinally extending attachment means 4. According to another example, panel portions 5a, 5b are attached to each other via the longitudinally extending attachment means 4 forming dispenser portions and the panel portions, i.e. the panel portions 5a, 5b are then attached to each other via the laterally extending attachment means 6. In the latter example the dispenser can be built in sections where the dispenser portions are positioned on top of each other in the height direction, i.e. the longitudinal direction.

[0074] Box 803 relates to the step of locking the attachment means 4, 6 in position to hinder movement between the panels 2 forming the self-supporting dispenser 1.

[0075] It will be appreciated that the above description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims. Furthermore, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the teachings of the present disclosure, but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims. Reference signs mentioned in the claims should not be seen as limiting the extent of the matter protected by the claims, and their sole function is to make claims easier to understand.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0076] 1. payload dispenser [0077] 2. panel [0078] 3. payload [0079] 4. longitudinal attachment means [0080] 5a and 5b. panel portions [0081] 6. lateral attachment means