NASA (RASSOR) Bucket Drum Design Challenge with Design VPR 21

grabcad

The VPR 21 design boasts several key advantages: a movable side of the scoop allows for 3-second unloading, self-cleaning, and significant electricity savings. The VPR 21 design works by connecting the bucket drum and scoops to a slightly modified arm gearbox on an existing Rassor. This setup enables the drum and scoops to rotate together or independently, but not in a counterclockwise direction unless the drum is also rotated. During bucket loading, the inner drum is positioned with its opening at the top, while the scoops rotate and fill from the bottom. As they lift, the filled scoop will unload regolith into the bucket on the top side, unjamming any larger rocks that may be present. When exiting the filling position, the lifted scoop hits the outer wall of the rotating bucket blades assembly, creating vibrations that clean loose regolith. When unloading the bucket, both the drum and scoops rotate simultaneously before stopping with the bucket opening facing downwards. Regolith begins to unload as the bucket blades assembly rotates 90 degrees, ensuring complete unloading. The VPR 21 design utilizes materials such as glued carbon fiber, welded titanium sheets, and modified 623ZZ ball bearings. The NASA (RASSOR) Bucket Drum Design Challenge calls for designing a new bucket drum system. The VPR 211 is one such design. Key specifications include: * Bucket drum mass: 4,998 kg * Bucket drum diameter: 450 mm * Bucket drum length: 300 mm * Volume of captured regolith: 24,092 l * Scoops width engaged at any given time: 147 mm * Design fill ratio: 50.5% Images accompanying the design include: 1. A picture of the bucket drum mass 2. A view showing the volume of captured regolith 3. An opened carbon fiber bucket glued with aluminum bolts 4. Welded titanium bucket blades and an anti-jamming, self-cleaning rotating scoop wall 5. An upper view and bottom unloading scenario 6. A side view connecting to transmission, separately for blades and bucket 7. An inside section view while filling the bucket 8. A section view of one of 16 modified 623ZZ ball bearings