Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G5/00—Ground equipment for vehicles, e.g. starting towers, fuelling arrangements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/40—Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
  • B64G1/402—Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for refueling propellants, in particular cryogenic thrusters, with a launcher enabling the separation of the filling piping to be effected during take-off of the launcher.
• Such a refueling device can fill propellant cryogenic propellants and this up to the moment of takeoff.
• This constraint causes a certain number of technical difficulties since the rupture of the pipe connecting the ground to the launcher must be effective at the time of launch, and this without modifying the trajectory of the launcher or interfering with the equipment remaining on the ground or embarked on the cryogenic stage or other stages of the launcher.
• cryogenic arms equipped with valve plates are used.
• These flange / ground link plate plates allow the various filling and pressurization operations required for launch checks and preparations. It is a board plate and a floor plate equipped with valves or valves to close the hydraulic and pneumatic edge and ground (filling and bleeding / degassing).
• These independent plates are mechanically linked in the production phase and mounted together on the launcher in the integration phase. They are mechanically and permanently disconnected during the final launch timeline that comes shortly before the operation check potentially leading to an aborted shot.
• This unlocking between the ground and edge plates is effected by means of unlocking cylinders which comprise two parts made movable with each other when the cylinder is pressurized.
• Such a change of the edge / ground link includes the replacement of the valve plates and is accompanied by a complete reconfiguration of the propellant circuits including a drain, which takes a lot of time (about a week).
• the release operation of the cryogenic arms during launch is delicate; if the arm is retracted a little too late, without unbalancing the launcher, there is a risk of damage to the filling device both at ground level and at the level of the installations on the launcher.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a thruster refueling device of a launcher making it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and in particular to provide the possibility of reconnection in the event of aborted firing.
• the refueling device is characterized in that it comprises:
• a ground module comprising at least one ground channel intended to be connected, upstream to a source of fluid, a ground valve connected to the ground channel downstream of the latter, and a ground plate equipped with a ground passage connected to said gate ground,
• an edge module comprising at least one edge channel intended to be connected, downstream, to the thruster tanks, an edge valve connected to the upstream edge channel of the latter, and an edge plate equipped with an edge passage connected to said valve; edge, - a hydraulic coupling system between the edge module and the ground module allowing the communication fluid between the ground passage and the edge passage and a first annular enclosure located between the edge plate and the ground plate " around the system of hydraulic coupling and the depression of which allows the plate edge and the ground plate to be maintained in a connected position.
• This solution also has the additional advantage of allowing, in addition, to maintain the connection between the edge module and the ground module by extremely simple and reliable means.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrammatic views in longitudinal section showing the principle of refueling device according to the invention during three successive phases
• FIG. 4 is a general perspective view from the side of an embodiment of the refueling device according to the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view from above of the refueling device of FIG. 4, with part of the parts bursting,
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view along a horizontal plane of the refueling device from direction VI of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 7 is a sectional view along a transverse vertical plane of the fueling device from the direction VII of Figure 4, at the base plate "
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view along a transverse vertical plane of the feed device from the direction VIII of FIG. 4, at the edge plate, and
• FIG. 9 is a sectional view along an axial vertical plane of the feeding device from the direction IX of Figure 4, in front of a locking finger.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 schematically illustrating the principle of the invention with a refueling device 10 comprising a ground module 20, right in the figures, and an edge module 30, left on the FIGS.
• the ground modules 20 and the edge 30 are in position connected to each other and the refueling circuit is open to allow the fluid supply of the tanks.
• the ground module 20 comprises, from upstream to downstream in the direction of the arrows representing the flow of the refueling fluid, a ground valve
• the ground control 24 is shown in the form of a cylinder with a piston 24a slidably movable in a cylinder 24b delimiting two chambers: a front chamber 24c connected to the ground channel
• the rear chamber 24d also comprises return means (here a coil spring 24) allowing the return of the piston 24a in a rear position which corresponds to a closed position of the edge valve 36 ( Figures 2 and 3) when the gas pressure decreases in the rear chamber 24d.
• return means here a coil spring 24
• the floor plate 26 surrounds the front portion of the cylinder 24b of the piston 24a by delimiting the floor passage 28 in the extension of the front chamber 24c.
• the edge module 30 comprises, from upstream to downstream in the direction of the arrows representing the flow of the supply fluid (from right to left in the figures), an edge plate 32 delimiting a passage 34 which is, in FIGS. and 2, in the extension of the floor passage 28, the edge valve 36 and an edge channel 38 connected to the cryogenic tanks.
• the edge valve 36 is shown in the form of a valve 36a or a valve capable of closing the edge passage 34, a portion of which forms the seat 36b of the edge valve 36, an O-ring 36c makes it possible to perfect the seal between the valve 36a and the seat 36b when the edge valve 36 is in the closed position ( Figure 3).
• Returning means (here a helical spring 36d) allow the return of the edge valve 36 in the closed position in which the edge passage 34 is no longer in fluid communication with the floor passage 28 ( Figure 3).
• the opening / closing command of the solenoid valve 21 is independent of the opening / closing control of the edge valve 36.
• this embodiment variant provides as a difference with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3, that the floor valve 21 is housed in the front chamber 24c and is also controlled by the ground control 24.
• the ground valve 21 comprises an annular valve 21a mounted integrally around the piston rod 24g and an annular seat 21b mounted on the inner face of the wall of the cylinder 24b, behind the valve 21a, A o-ring 21c allows to perfect the seal between the valve 21a and the seat 21b when
• the solenoid valve 21 is in the closed position (FIGS. 2A and 3A).
• the opening control of the edge valve 36 causes the control to open the solenoid valve 21, and the closing control of the edge valve 36 causes closing control of the solenoid valve 21.
• FIGS. 1 and 1A show the case where the opening 24f opens into the rear part of the rear chamber 24d while the helical spring 24 bears on the piston head 24e while being housed in the front part. of the rear chamber 24d, but this arrangement can be reversed (opening 24f which opens into the front part of the rear chamber 24d and coil spring 24 housed in the rear part of the rear chamber 24d). It is also possible to use two openings which open respectively into the front part and into the rear part of the rear chamber 24d and which are capable of delivering gases under different pressures, whereby the piston head 24e can be advanced or retracted. and the piston rod 24g,
• the ground control 24 is reduced to the cylinder 24b delimiting a chamber A single, pistonless, connected to the ground channel 22.
• it is the pressure of the penetrating fluid through the ground channel that moves the valve 36a and open the valve edge 36.
• the solenoid valve (not shown) is located upstream of the hydraulic coupling system 40.
• the edge valve 36 is placed further downstream of the hydraulic coupling system 40: thus the solenoid valves 21 and edge 36 each have their own order.
• the ground module 20 and the edge module 30 are connected to each other by a hydraulic coupling system 40 which comprises an annular seal 40a allowing a seal between the ground module 20 and the edge module 30 (between the edge plate 32 and the floor plate 26).
• a first annular enclosure 50 capable of being depressed, surrounds the hydraulic coupling system 40.
• this first annular enclosure 50 extends between the floor plate 26 and the edge plate 32 (respectively on the right and on the left in FIGS. 1 to 3).
• the first annular enclosure 50 is bounded in the outer radial direction by a first annular bellows 52 surrounding the hydraulic coupling system 40 and whose ends bear tightly against the edge plate 32 and the floor plate 26.
• the floor plate has an opening 54 opening into said first enclosure 50 and capable of being connected to means of depression (not shown).
• the ground plate 26 and the connected edge plate 32 are maintained by "suction effect", which makes it possible to keep the ground module 20 and the edge module 30 connected together (see FIGS. 1 and 2, IA and IB, and IC) .
• the gas pressure has been increased in the first annular enclosure 50, by gas injection through the opening 54, so that the modules 20 and edge 30 are then disconnected and become separable from each other, for example when the elevation of the launcher.
• This increase of the gas pressure in the first annular enclosure 50 can be a setting to atmospheric pressure or a setting overpressure (pressure above atmospheric pressure).
• it can be understood that, thanks to the invention, it is very simply possible, by a simple difference in negative pressure between the first annular enclosure 50 and the outside, to maintain a connection between the ground modules 20 and the edge 30, this connection being open by varying the pressure in the first annular enclosure 50 (at atmospheric pressure or at a higher pressure).
• FIGS. 4 to 9 which more precisely represent an embodiment of the refueling device 10.
• the reference signs already used previously are used to designate the parts of the refueling device already mentioned. .
• This embodiment comprises two parallel veins for supplying or emptying fluid, for example making it possible simultaneously to fill the cryogenic tanks with different propellants (chemical nature and / or different physical state), in particular a liquid propellant and a propellant. gaseous, for example on one side of the liquid oxygen and in parallel with the gaseous oxygen.
• propellants chemical nature and / or different physical state
• gaseous for example on one side of the liquid oxygen and in parallel with the gaseous oxygen.
• the ground module 20 comprises a first ground channel 22i intended to be connected, upstream (right in the figures), to a first fluid source, a first ground valve 24i connected to the first ground channel 22i downstream of the latter, a second channel 2 Basement 22 intended to be connected, upstream, to a second source of fluid and a second floor 24 February valve connected to the second ground channel 222 downstream of the latter, the floor plate 26 being provided with a first passage floor 28i connected to said first floor valve 24i and a second floor passage 28 2 connected to the second floor valve 24 2 ,
• the edge module 30 comprises a first edge channel 38i intended to be connected, upstream, to a first reservoir, a first edge valve 36i connected to the first edge channel 38i upstream of the latter, a second edge channel 382 intended to be connected; , upstream, to a second reservoir and a second edge valve 36 2 connected to the second edge channel 38 2 upstream of the latter, the edge plate 32 being equipped with a first 34i edge passage connected to said first edge valve 36i and a second edge passage 34 2 connected to the second edge valve 36 2 , - the hydraulic coupling system 40 allows the communication of fluid on the one hand between the first pass floor 28i and the first edge passage 34i and secondly between the second floor passage 28 2 and the second edge passage 34 2 .
• the two parallel fluid supply veins are coaxial.
• the first floor passage 28i and the second floor passage 28 2 on the one hand and the first edge passage 34i and the second edge passage 34 2 on the other hand are coaxial with each other on the at least one section of said passages 28i, 28 2 , 34i, 34 2 .
• the first ground assembly formed by the first ground channel 22i and the first ground valve 24i is situated parallel to the second ground assembly formed by the second ground channel 22 2 and the second ground valve 24 2 .
• This first ground assembly is mounted on the ground plate 26 at a first location forming the opening of the first ground passage 28i which is rectilinear to its output.
• This second ground assembly is mounted on the ground plate 26 at a second location forming the opening of the second floor passage 28 2 which has, successively in the extension of one another, a first portion 28 2 has rectilinear parallel to the X axis and the second ground channel 22 2 , a second portion 282b rectilinear substantially parallel to the Y axis which extends at almost right angle from the first portion 28 2 a towards the first floor passage 28i and a third portion 28 2 c annular extending to the outlet of the second passage 282 and ground which surrounds the downstream portion of the first ground portion 28i (see Figure 7),
• the first edge assembly formed by the first edge channel 38i and the first edge valve 36i is located parallel to the side of the second edge assembly formed by the second edge channel 382. and the second edge valve 36 2 .
• This first edge assembly is mounted on the edge plate 32 at a first location forming the opening of the first edge passage 34i which is rectilinear to its exit.
• This second edge assembly is mounted on the edge plate 32 at a second location forming the opening of the second passage edge 34 2 which has, successively in the extension of one another, a first portion 342a parallel straight in the X axis and the second edge channel 38 2, a second straight portion 34 b 2 substantially parallel to the Y axis which extends at an almost straight angle from the first portion 34 2 a towards the first edge passage 34i and a third portion 34 2 c annular extending to the exit of the second passage edge 34 2 and which surrounds the downstream portion of the first edge passage 34i (see Figure 7).
• a filter 35 is disposed inside the first edge passage 34i which is intended more particularly for the passage of a liquid, and this in order to avoid contaminating the downstream fluid vein with particles.
• thy valves (24i ground first valve, the second floor 24 February valve 36i edge first valve and second valve board 362) are ball valves.
• other types of valves such as flap valves can be envisaged.
• the hydraulic coupling system 40 thus essentially comprises the annular flange 33 of the edge plate 32, the central annular cover 37 and the projecting annular portion 27 of the floor plate 26.
• the outer annular faces of the flange annular 33 and the central annular cover 37 are provided with an annular seal.
• a first annular enclosure 50 defined radially on the outside by the first annular bellows 52 surrounds the hydraulic coupling system 40.
• the opening 54 of the ground plate is in the axial extension (according to FIG. X axis) of the first annular enclosure 50 and allows, by connection with vacuum means (eg a pump) to place the first annular enclosure 50 in depression.
• vacuum means eg a pump
• the end walls of the first bellows annular 52 which are covered with an annular seal are "glued" to the facing faces of the ground plates 26 and edge 32, which creates a suction-type connection.
• the refueling device 10 of FIGS. 5 to 9 further comprises a second annular enclosure 60 able to be placed under an overpressure, situated between the edge plate 32 and the ground plate 26, around the hydraulic coupling system 40 and around which find the first annular enclosure 50.
• This second annular enclosure 60 is delimited radially on the outside by a second annular bellows 62 (see FIGS. 4 to 6) which surrounds the hydraulic coupling system 40 and which is surrounded by the first annular bellows 52.
• the second annular enclosure 60 is pressurized by a dedicated supply (conduit 63 in Figure 6) which allows the introduction of a neutral gas overpressure through an opening of the ground plate 26; thus, dangerous products are prevented from entering the depressed area.
• the overpressure hold of the second annular enclosure 60 does not compromise the holding in the connected position between the ground module 20 and the edge module 30 because the first annular enclosure 50 is outside the second annular enclosure 60 and has a sufficient size so that the depression inside the first annular enclosure maintains the coupling between the edge module 30 and the ground module 20.
• the overpressure of the second annular enclosure 60 allows, if necessary, to condition the hydraulic coupling system 40, namely by adding an anti-icing system in the form of a gas sweep (dry air or nitrogen ) external to the first bellows 52 (duct 64 in Figure 6) to prevent the formation of ice, especially in the contact zone between the first bellows 52 and the edge plate 32.
• the refueling device 10 of Figures 5 to 9 further comprises, between the edge plate 32 and the ground plate 26, a mechanical locking system 70 adapted to open during or before the elevation of the launcher.
• the mechanical locking system 70 comprises, on either side of the first annular enclosure 50, a release fork 72 whose lower end 72a bears on the edge plate 32 in the connected position, at the level of a receiving portion 39 on which bears the lower end 72a by complementary shape, while the upper end 72b of Ia release fork 72 is pivotally mounted about a soil axis 29 integral with the ground plate 26 of so that a rotation of the release fork 72 about the soil axis 29 causes a spacing between the ground plate 26 and the edge plate 32 or a cracking point on the structure to which the edge plate 32 is attached (up to at the moment when the lower end 72a leaves the receiving portion 39) and vice versa
• the drop fork 72 is provided, between its lower end 72a and its upper end 72b, a hole for attaching a sling whose other end is fixed to the ground. In this way, during the elevation of the launcher, the ground module 20 is thus retained and separated from the edge module which is integral with the launcher.
• the mechanical locking system 70 further comprises, on either side of the first annular enclosure 50, a locking pin 74 (see FIG. 9) movable in rotation around the ground axis 29 between an open position (no shown) which does not hold together the floor plate 26 and the edge plate 32 and a closed position (FIGS. 4 and 6) in which the floor plate 26 and the edge plate 32 are held together by the fact that the housing 74b delimited the upper end 74a of the locking finger 74 receives an edge axis 31 integral with the edge plate 32.
• the mechanical locking system 70 further comprises a connecting shaft 76 connecting the lower ends 74c of the locking fingers 74 and on which is mounted (with articulation) the free end of the rod 78a of the piston of a control cylinder 78 for actuating the opening or closing of the locking fingers 74.
• the cylinder 78b of the control cylinder 78 e it is mounted at the rear of the floor plate 26 by means of a V-shaped jack support 80 mounted at right angles to the rear of the floor plate 26.
• the control of the jack 78 releases the edge pins 31 out of the locking fingers 74 and thus allows the separation between the ground module 20 and the edge module 30 during the elevation of the launcher.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
• Actuator (AREA)
• Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
• Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
• Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)
• Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

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• 2009
  • 2009-03-30 FR FR0951958A patent/FR2943626B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-03-26 US US13/262,113 patent/US8991444B2/en active Active
  • 2010-03-26 WO PCT/FR2010/050557 patent/WO2010112736A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2010-03-26 JP JP2012502739A patent/JP5706872B2/ja active Active
  • 2010-03-26 EP EP10715987.3A patent/EP2414242B1/fr active Active
  • 2010-03-26 RU RU2011140789/11A patent/RU2527584C2/ru active
  • 2010-03-26 CN CN2010800153755A patent/CN102387964A/zh active Pending

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