Mechanical counter-pressure (MCP) spacesuit designs have been a promising, but elusive alternative to historical and current gas pressurized spacesuit technology since the Apollo program. One of the important potential advantages of the approach is enhanced mobility as a result of reduced bulk and joint torques, but the literature provides essentially no quantitative joint torque data or quantitative analytical support. Decisions on the value of investment in MCP technology and on the direction of technology development are hampered by this lack of information since the perceived mobility advantages are an important factor. An experimental study of a simple mechanical counter-pressure suit (elbow) hinge joint has been performed to provide some test data and analytical background on this issue to support future evaluation of the technology potential and future development efforts.Measurements of joint torque in a simple prototype MCP elbow joint demonstrated comparable performance at modest flexure angles to a mature gas pressurized elbow joint design at approximately the same applied pressure. These results suggest that reduced spacesuit joint torques may be achievable in an MCP design. Detailed test results and analyses suggest directions for design development to achieve reduced joint torques an increase applied pressure uniformity as the joint is flexed. Further research to explore these possibilities is recommended.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Investigation of Joint Torque Characteristics for a Mechanical Counter - Pressure Spacesuit


    Additional title:

    Sae Technical Papers


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    International Conference On Environmental Systems ; 2009



    Publication date :

    2009-07-12




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English





    SPACESUIT

    POPOV ALEKSANDR FEDOROVICH | European Patent Office | 2017

    Free access

    Spacesuit Joints

    M. Milkhiker | NTIS | 1974


    Pneumatic Joint Design for Enhancing Spacesuit Flexibility

    Ikema, Kengo / Gubarevich, Anna V. / Odawara, Osamu | ASCE | 2012


    Conceptual Design of Spacesuit Hard Hip Joint

    Wang Zhen-wei / Chen Peng / Lin Dan-lan | DOAJ | 2019

    Free access