RASSOR DRUM SCOOP Assembly

Last crawled date: 1 year, 11 months ago

EDIT:
A simpler transmission has been designed for my second entry here:
https://grabcad.com/library/rassor-contra-rotating-single-arm-configuration-1.
Such transmission could be used here as well and it would simplify the current design.

Total mass (drum + scoops + auxiliaries)..3,3 kg
Maximum diameter.....................................450 mm
Maximum length..........................................340 mm
Maximum volume of regolith captured....34 liters per drum
Fill ratio..........................................................100% (potentially)

Scoops are made out of carbon fiber, the drum is built from aluminum honeycomb panels or similar lightweight and stiff construction (density of around 160 g/cm^3).

Brief description of how it works.

LOADING OPERATION.
When the scoops are rotating in the x+ direction the regolite is lifted from the ground and loaded into the drum through the upper opening.
A one way clutch is inserted between the drum and the scoops and, when loading, does not transmit any torque to the drum.
The parasitic torque between the drum and the scoops, which is due to the friction of the regolite moving with the scoops during loading, is contrasted by the spring loaded spheres that keep the drum fixed to the RASSOR arm with the opening upwards.

UNLOADING:
The scoops are made to rotate in the x- direction.
The one way clutch is now engaged transmitting torque from the scoops to the drum, the torque applied disengage the spring loaded balls and make the drum rotate together with the scoops.
After a 180 degrees rotation along x- the drum opening faces downwards letting the material contained inside fall to the ground.
An additional 180 degrees rotation along x- makes the drum return to its original position, the spring loaded spheres are now engaged again fixing the drum to the RASSOR arm.

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For more details about the construction and the functioning please take a look at the files provided here.
A printable set of pdf drawins is provided as well.