JPH04297105A - Extension parabolic antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a deployable parabolic antenna that has a simplified deployment mechanism and extension mechanism, thereby making it possible to achieve a high degree of weight reduction, improved reliability, and high storability.

0002

[Prior Art] FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show the above-mentioned deployable antenna as described in the journal "Large Space Syst".
EMS Technology'' (1981), in which 1 is a hoop, 2 is a wire supporting the hoop, 3 is an extending mast, 4 is a mesh mirror surface, 14 is the wire that supports the mesh. Figure 10 shows the stored state and Figure 11 (
a), (b) and FIGS. 12(a), (b) are diagrams showing the development in progress.

The conventional deployable parabolic antenna is constructed as described above, and the extendable mast 3, which is restrained by a locking mechanism when retracted (not shown in FIG. 9), is released from the restraint and extended by a command from the ground. Start. The hoop 1 is then similarly deployed and is supported by a wire 2 extending from the mast. The mesh mirror surface 4 maintains its shape as an antenna mirror surface due to the hoop 1 and the wire 14 that supports the mesh.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional deployable antennas are constructed as described above, so if they become larger in the future, the shape cannot be maintained unless the number of wires supporting the mesh is increased. In addition, it is necessary to take care to ensure that the wires do not get tangled and to apply tension, and larger hoops require multiple hoop expansion mechanisms, as well as mast extension mechanisms, etc. , there were issues such as the various deployment mechanisms becoming more complex.

[0005] This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by simplifying the mast extension, deployment, and positioning mechanism, it reduces costs, improves reliability, reduces weight, and improves orientation. The purpose is to obtain a deployable antenna with high precision.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The deployable antenna according to the present invention expands by injecting gas, maintains its shape, supports a plurality of hoops supporting a mesh mirror surface via wires, and supplies power. The mast that supports the sub-reflector is extended by converting the rotational force of the motor into an extension force using wires and pulleys, and is positioned by a guide.

[0007] Furthermore, a mast that is extended by an air bag and positioned by a guide is used as the mast that supports the power feeding section or the sub-reflector.

[0008]

[Operation] The deployable antenna according to the present invention deploys by injecting gas and uses multiple hoops that maintain their shape, eliminating wires that support the mesh mirror surface, and making the hoop deployment mechanism very simple. In addition, the mast that supports the power feeding part or the sub-reflector can be a very simple mast that extends by converting the rotational force of the motor into an extension force using a wire and a pulley, and is positioned by a guide. can do. As a result, even if the antenna becomes larger, it is possible to obtain a deployable antenna that is extremely simple, highly reliable, has high pointing accuracy, and is easy to store.

[0009] Furthermore, the mast that supports the power feeding section or the sub-reflector can be a very simple mast that is extended by an air bag and positioned by a guide. As a result, even if the antenna becomes larger, it is possible to obtain a deployable antenna that is extremely simple, highly reliable, has high directivity accuracy, and is easy to store.

0010

[Example] Example 1. An embodiment of this invention will be described below. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the state after deployment, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the mast starting to extend from the stowed state, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the antenna in the middle of deployment, with the hoop also beginning to deploy at the same time as the mast. , FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the extension mast, and FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the positioning guide. In the figure, 1 is a plurality of hoops that expand and maintain their shape by injecting gas, 2 is a wire that supports the hoops, and 3 is a support structure for a power feeding part or a sub-reflector. 4 is a mirror mesh that forms a mirror surface of the antenna; 5 is a center hub that supports a part of the mirror mesh and the extendable mast; 6 is an extendable mast that supplies extension energy for the extendable mast; 7 is the motor 6 and the extension mast 3
8 is a pulley that determines the degree of freedom of the wire 7, and 9 is a guide that positions 3. In the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts.

In the deployable antenna according to the present invention, the extendable mast 3 and the hoop 1 are held by a holding mechanism (not shown) when stored. In response to the command, the locking mechanism of the extension mast is first released, and the motor 6 starts rotating, winding the wire 7 through the pulley 8.
The tension in the wire 7 causes the extension mast 3 to begin to extend as shown in FIG. When the extensible mast 3 has been extended to a certain extent, the holding mechanism (not shown) is released by a command, the hoop 1 is unrestrained, and gas is supplied to each mast 1 from a gas source (not shown). A valve not shown in the diagram to be injected is opened by command,
Gas flows into the hoop 1, the hoop 1 starts to unfold, and the mirror mesh 4 attached to the hoop 1 also starts to unfold. The expansion of the hoop is carried out by the pressure of the gas in which the gas is injected. Hoop 1 unfolds by itself,
As the hoop widens and the extensible mast 3 extends, it is pulled upwardly via the wire 2. When the extending mast 3 is fully extended, the mast 3 is locked in the extended state by a locking mechanism not shown in the drawings, and at the same time, the gas injection valve not shown in the drawings is also closed. The extension mast 3 is
As shown in FIG. 4, guides 9 consisting of tapered and fitted portions attached to the outside of the upper end and the inside of the lower end of the mast are used to position the mast between the lower and upper stages in the final stage of extension. A detailed view of the guide 9 portion of the mast 3 after extension is shown in FIG. In addition, when each hoop 1 is expanded to a predetermined size, the injection of gas is stopped and a valve not shown in the figure is closed to seal the gas inside the hoop 1, thereby adjusting its shape. be maintained. This leads to the unfolded state as shown in FIG.

Example 2. In the first embodiment, the motor 6 rotates, winds the wire 7 through the pulley 8, and winds the wire 7 through the pulley 8.
Although the mast 3 is extended by the tension of , in this embodiment, a similar operation can be expected by the extension force of the airbag 10 as shown in FIG. A detailed view of the positioning guide 9 in this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0013]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it produces the following effects.

[0014] By using a plurality of hoops that expand and maintain their shape by injecting gas and maintaining a mirror mesh, mirror support wires are eliminated, and the simple unfolding mechanism provides high storage performance. By using an extension mechanism consisting of a motor, wire, and pulley to extend the mast, and positioning using a guide, the extension mechanism is lightweight, highly reliable, and has high positional accuracy. As a deployable antenna, it has the following effects: high storage capacity, high reliability, high pointing accuracy, weight reduction, cost reduction, etc.

[0015] Furthermore, by extending the mast using an air bag and positioning it using a guide, the extension mechanism can be made lightweight, highly reliable, and have high positional accuracy. Reliability, high pointing accuracy,
This has the effect of reducing weight and cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an expanded state of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which an extendable mast according to an embodiment of the present invention has started to extend.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hoop according to an embodiment of the present invention and an extension mast in the middle of extension.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a mast in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the mast positioning guide in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a mast in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a mast positioning guide in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a different embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a developed state of a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a storage state of a conventional embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional embodiment in progress.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional embodiment in progress.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Hoop 2 Hoop support wire 3 Mast 4 Mesh mirror surface 5 Center hub 6 Motor 7. Mast extension wire 8 Pulley 9 Guide 10 Airbag 11 Sub-reflector 12 Feeder 13 Truss 14 Mesh support wire

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A plurality of hoops that are deployed and maintain their shape; a mast that is deployed before the hoops and supports a sub-reflector or a power supply unit after deployment; one end is fixed to the hoop, and the other end is fixed to the hoop; A wire that is fixed to the mast and supports the hoop, a motor that extends the mast, a wire and pulley that converts the rotational force of the motor into extension force of the mast, a guide that positions the mast, and the hoop. A deployable parabolic antenna characterized by comprising a mesh mirror surface supported by. 2. A plurality of hoops that are deployed and maintain their shape; a mast that is deployed before the hoops and supports a sub-reflector or a power supply unit after deployment; one end is fixed to the hoop, and the other end is fixed to the hoop; The deployable type is fixed to the mast and includes a wire that supports the hoop, an airbag that extends the mast, a guide that positions the mast, and a mesh mirror surface that is supported by the hoop. parabolic antenna.