JPH0479501A - Expansion truss antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a presence of a play at pin joints, to attain stable structure for an N-angular pyramid being a basic module and to facilitate acquisition of high rigidity by allowing each wire stretched between apexes of each N- angular pyramid (N=4 or 6) to cause a compression force to ribs so as to realize balance of each force. CONSTITUTION:The expansion of the antenna is implemented by driving a rotary shaft of a motor 19 and a ball screw 21 directly coupled with the shaft so as to depress a guide 13. That is, when a distance between a main hinge 14 and a synchronization hinge 17 is increased, a distance between a coupler 3a on the guide 13 and other coupler 3b is kept to be a prescribed length by a tilt member 2, then a triangle comprising three apexes is spread, an angle 6 between the rib 15 and the guide 13 is increased and a net 10 is stretched. That is, each wire stretched between apexes of each N-angular pyramid (N=4 or 6) causes a compression force to the rib 15 so as to realize balance of each force. Thus, a stable structure N-angular pyramid is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a lightweight deployable truss antenna that exhibits high storability.

[Prior Art] In recent years, the performance and reliability of space shuttles, Ariane rockets, etc. have improved, and economic advantages have been created for space utilization. In particular, large deployable antennas are indispensable for communication in mobile bodies such as ships and vehicles, and deployable truss structures for constructing these antennas have been actively developed. This is because the deployable structure method is believed to be the most economical way to construct huge antennas in space.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing a conventional example of the above-mentioned deployable truss antenna.
In the figure, (1) is a bent member that forms the triangular lattice on the lower surface of this truss antenna and can be bent at the center, (2) is the diagonal member that supports the triangular lattice on the lower surface, and (3)
) is a connector for pin-coupling the bipedal bent member (it) and the diagonal member (2), and (10) is a conductive metal net (1) that becomes the mirror surface of the unfolding truss antenna.
1) is a net fixture that supports the shape of the net I-(1,0) from when the deployable truss antenna is stored to when it is deployed.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part A surrounded by the broken line circle in FIG. ) to the combinator (
3).

Figure 10 is an enlarged view of part B surrounded by the broken line circle in Figure 8, and shows details of the central bent part of bent member (1). A rotatable hinge lever (6) consisting of a plate is attached to the base of one of the hinge levers (5), and the one hinge lever '(5) is attached in the direction of unfolding the bending member (1). The rotating spiral springs (7a) and (7b) are the hinge lever (5) and the bending member (1).
The connecting pin (7c) is the bent member (1
) is a connecting pin that connects the two together at the center.

The above structure is a tetrahedral truss because it has a structure in which a plurality of tetrahedrons made up of three bent members (1), three diagonal members (2), and four connectors (3) are connected. Also called an antenna.

FIG. 1-1 is a diagram showing the deployable truss antenna in the middle of deployment.

Next, the operation will be explained. 0. At first, the above-mentioned antenna is restrained by a holding cable (not shown) in the retracted shape, and becomes movable by cutting the holding cable with a detonator or the like in response to a command from the ground, and the above-mentioned spiral spring 3. Deployment begins by rotating the hinge lever (5) with the spring force of the spiral spring (6), and the bending member (1) is extended while rotating around the connecting pin (7C). let When the bent member (1) extends in a straight line, the rotational torque generated by the hinge lever (5) and the spiral spring (6) and the contact surface pressure on the bent surface of the bent member (1) are balanced, and the bent member (1) is bent. Element(
1) Stops movement. This is the developed shape, and the structure is connected only by a triangular lattice. A triangular lattice is basically a rigid and stable structure, and this type of structure was previously thought to be extremely rigid and suitable for deployable antenna structures.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional structure, the connection points of each member are not actually concentrated at one point, so the structure is soft and cannot even maintain its own shape. 3. In other words, a triangular lattice is rigid only when each member is connected at one point as shown in Figure 12, but in the conventional structure, this triangular lattice is rigid as shown in Figure 13. Since the link has many hinge connection points, it not only lacks rigidity but also results in an unstable link structure. In FIGS. 12 and 13, (3) is a connector that connects the basic member (8) with the lower surface of the pin joint, (8) is a basic member that forms a triangular lattice, and (9) is a connector that connects the basic member (8) with the bottom surface of the pin joint. ) is a binge joint that joins.

As explained above, the conventional deployable truss antenna using the bent member (1) has a fundamentally unstable structure, and therefore has the fatal problem of not being able to provide the required rigidity as a deployable antenna.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a deployable truss antenna that is structurally stable and highly rigid in its deployed shape.

[Means to solve the problem]

A deployable truss antenna according to a first aspect of the present invention has a connector having a pin joint portion coupled to one end, a shaft having an extension mechanism at the other end, a main hinge coupled to the extension mechanism, and one end attached to the main hinge. Four radially extending ribs connected by pins.

a synchronous hinge fixed to the middle of the mandrel, four synchronous beams having one end radially pin-coupled to the synchronous hinge and the other end pin-coupled to each of the four ribs; The mandrels are arranged so that adjacent ones are in opposite directions, and the ribs other than the rib that becomes the free end of the deployable truss antenna are connected with connectors in opposite directions, and the mandrels are oriented in opposite directions. A plurality of frames formed by connecting connectors with diagonal members, between the connectors on the mandrels in which the mandrels are oriented in the same direction, between the other ends of the ribs that are the free ends of the deployable truss antenna, and the deployable members. A wire stretched between each of the truss antennas when the truss antenna is deployed, a conductive metal net that becomes a mirror surface part of the deployable truss antenna, a net fixture that fixes the net on the mandrel, and the deployable truss antenna. An adjustment nut is attached to adjust the shape of the mirror surface.

A deployable truss antenna according to a second aspect of the present invention has a connector having a pin joint at one end, a shaft having an extension mechanism at the other end, a main hinge coupled to the extension mechanism, and a main hinge having one end connected to the main hinge. Four radially extending ribs connected by pins.

A synchronous hinge fixed in the middle of said mandrel, one end of which is 1
Four synchronization beams are radially pin-coupled to the synchronization hinge, and the other ends are pin-coupled to the four ribs, respectively, and the shafts are arranged such that adjacent ones are opposite in direction. The ribs other than the ribs that are arranged and become the free ends of the deployable truss antenna are connected using connectors in opposite directions:
and a plurality of frames formed by connecting connectors on mandrels facing oppositely to each other with diagonal members, a rib serving as a free end of the deployable truss antenna, between the connectors on the mandrels having the same orientation of the mandrels, and a rib serving as a free end of the deployable truss antenna. A wire stretched between the other ends and between each other when the deployable truss antenna is deployed; one end is connected to the lower side number extension mechanism, and the other end is connected to the lower side number 4.
An auxiliary wire connected to the center of each wire in the square; a conductive metal net that forms the mirror surface of the deployable truss antenna; a net fixture for fixing the net on the mandrel; and the deployable truss antenna. An adjustment nut is attached to adjust the shape of the mirror surface.

[Effect]

In the first invention of this invention, N (N is 4 or 6)
The wires stretched between the vertices that make up the pyramid create a compressive force on the ribs, achieving an equilibrium state of force, so the looseness of the pin-connected parts disappears, and the N-pyramid, which is the basic module, It becomes a stable structure, making it easy to obtain high rigidity, and furthermore, since each of the N-pyramids develops in synchronization, the reliability of deployment increases.

In the second invention of this invention, N (N is 4 or 6)
The wires stretched between the vertices that make up the pyramid create a compressive force on the ribs, achieving an equilibrium state of force, so the looseness of the pin-connected parts disappears, and the N-pyramid, which is the basic module, It becomes a stable structure, making it easy to obtain high rigidity, and furthermore, since each of the N pyramids shown in - is expanded in synchronization, the reliability of expansion is increased. In addition, the auxiliary wire prevents the wire from wobbling and bulging from the time when the deployable truss antenna is stored until the time when the deployable truss antenna is fully deployed, thereby preventing damage to the members due to the wire.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a quadrangular pyramidal deployable truss antenna at the time of deployment, showing an embodiment of the first invention of the present invention, (2)
The connector on the two side (3a) and the connector on the bottom side (3b)
, (3c) are diagonal members that are connected by pin connection.

(3a) and (3b) are connectors that have a negative binge joint.

(3c) is a connector having the other end of the rib which becomes the free end of the deployable truss antenna; (10) is a conductive metal net (11) which becomes the mirror surface part of the deployable truss antenna.
(1, 2) are adjustment nuts that adjust the specular shape of the deployable truss antenna when the deployable truss antenna is deployed. (13) is a mandrel (13) with a connector (3) attached to its tip, and adjacent mandrels (13) are arranged with their axes opposite to each other. (14) is the mandrel (13)
The main hinge (15) is connected to the extension mechanism (20) at the other end, and the main hinge (15) is radially pin-connected to the main hinge (14) at one end and connected to the connector (3a) on the mandrel (13).
) and is pin-coupled to a connector (3b) mounted on an adjacent reversely oriented mandrel (13).

Further, the rib serving as the free end of the deployable truss antenna is connected to a connector (3c). (16) is the above mandrel (1
The connector (3a) attached to the tip of the (3)
b) A wire attached between the connectors (3c) arranged at the free ends of the deployable truss antenna, and set to be bowed when the deployable truss antenna is deployed. (17) is a synchronous hinge fixed in the middle of the mandrel (13), (1, 8) is pin-coupled to the synchronous hinge (17), and the other end is pin-coupled to the rib (1-5) Showing synchronous beams.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of section C in Figure 1, where (19) is the motor fixed inside the extension mechanism (20), (20)
is an extension mechanism consisting of a motor (19), a ball screw (21), and a nut (22), and (21) is a motor (
(19) is a ball screw that is directly connected to the rotating shaft, (22) is a nut that is tightly fitted to the ball screw (21), and is connected to the shaft (13).
) is fixed at the end.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the deployable truss antenna according to the first aspect of the present invention in the middle of deployment. θ indicates the angle formed between the shaft (13) and the rib (15), and is set to be around 90° when unfolded.

The deployment operation of the deployable truss antenna configured as described above will be described below.

The deployable truss antenna of this invention has a mandrel (13
) on connector 1 e.g. (3a) and -1-centering rod (13)
Another connector 2, for example (3
The triangle with three vertices at b) is collapsed, and the angle θ between the rib (15) and the stem (13) shown in FIG. 2 is zero. Deployment is performed by rotating the rotation shaft of the motor (19) and a ball screw (21) directly connected to the rotation shaft, pushing down the nut (22) and the shaft (13) that rotates the nut (22). When the distance between the main hinge (14) and the synchronizing hinge (17) increases, the distance between the connector (3a) on the shaft (13) and the connector (3b) with -1- distribution increases with the diagonal member (2). ) is kept at a constant length, and the distance to the upper-distributed connector (3b) is kept at a constant length by the diagonal member (2), so the triangle consisting of the three vertices, lx, expands. , the angle 0 formed between the rib (15) and the mandrel (13) increases, and with this movement, the net (10) attached by the net fixture (11) at the connector (3)'2 increases.
) is also stretched following the mandrel (13). -
15) and the mandrel (13) increases, the upper-distributed connector (3b) and - another end provided at the other end pin-coupled to the main hinge (14). The distance between the connectors, for example (3C), also increases. When the angle 0 approaches 90', the wire (
16) is stretched. The wire (16) continues to be stretched until the angle θ becomes 90''.The stretched wire (16) presses the connector (3) toward the rib (15), eliminating play in the bottle joint. The deployable truss antenna has a highly rigid structure.In addition, each motor (19) is controlled by an external controller (not shown).
stops rotating and maintains the energized state in holding mode, and has holding power.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a quadrangular pyramidal deployable truss antenna at the time of deployment, showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and (2) shows a connector (3a) on the upper surface side and a connector on the lower surface side. (3b),
This is a diagonal member that connects (3c) with a pin connection. (3
a), (3b) are connectors with binge joints (3C
) is a connector having the other end of the rib which becomes the free end of the deployable truss antenna, (10) is a conductive metal net (11) which becomes the mirror surface part of the deployable truss antenna described in 1. A net fixture (12) supports and fixes the shape of the net (10) until it is deployed, and (12) is an adjustment nut that adjusts the mirror shape of the deployable truss antenna when it is deployed. (13) is a mandrel (with connector (3) attached to its tip)
In 13), adjacent mandrels (13) are arranged with mutually opposite axial directions. (14) is a main hinge that is connected to an extension mechanism (20) attached to the other end of the mandrel (13); (15) is a main hinge that has one end radially connected to the main hinge (14) with a pin and is attached to the mandrel (13); The connector (3a) is oriented in the opposite direction, and is pin-coupled to the connector (3b) mounted on the adjacent mandrel (13) in the opposite direction.

Further, the rib serving as the free end of the deployable truss antenna is connected to a connector (3c). (16) is the above mandrel (1
The connector (3a) attached to the tip of the (3)
b) wires attached to each other, connectors (3c) arranged at the free ends of said deployable truss antenna, and to said mandrel (13), set to be pulled when said deployable truss antenna is deployed; It is something that (1
7) is a synchronous hinge fixed in the middle of the axle (13);
(1, 8) is pin-coupled to the synchronous hinge (17),
A synchronizing beam is shown with its other end pinned onto a rib (15).

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the fourth drawing section, (19) is the motor fixed inside the extension mechanism (20), (20)
are motor (1, 9), ball screw (21),
An extension mechanism consisting of a nut (22), (21) a ball screw directly connected to the rotating shaft of the motor (19), (22)
is a nut that engages with the ball screw (21), and the mandrel (
13).

Auxiliary wire (16) connected to the center part
23) assists the wire (16) in the 1st deployment and storage operations.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the deployable truss antenna according to the second aspect of the present invention in the middle of deployment. θ indicates the angle formed between the shaft (13) and the rib (15), and is set to be around 90' when unfolded.

The deployment operation of the deployable truss antenna configured as described in Section 2 will be explained below.

The deployable truss antenna of this invention has a mandrel (13
) on the connector 9 (3a) and the rib (1
5) Another connector 9 connected to the other end, for example, the triangle whose three vertices are (3b) is collapsed, and the angle θ between the rib (15) and the stem (13) shown in Fig. 5 is zero. It has become. At this time, the wire (16) is converged to approximately the center of the lower quadrangular pyramid by the auxiliary wire (23). For deployment, the rotating shaft of the motor (19) and the ball screw (21) directly connected to the rotating shaft rotate, and the nut (22) and the nut (22) rotate.
) by pressing down on the rotating mandrel (13). As the distance between the main hinge (14) and the synchronizing hinge (17) increases, the connector (3a) on the axle (13)
The distance between the and the other connector (3b) is maintained at a constant length by the diagonal member (2), and furthermore, the distance between the two pairs of connectors (3b) is maintained at a constant length by the diagonal member (2). The triangle formed by the three vertices expands and the rib (15)
The angle θ formed by the mandrel (13) increases, and with this movement, the net (10) attached by the net fixture (11) on the connector (3) also follows the mandrel (13) and is stretched. Ru. Also, the angle θ between the rib (15) and the shaft (13)
As the amount increases, the wire (16) gains tension and becomes stretched. Angle θ between the rib (15) and the shaft (13)
As the distance increases, the distance between the other connector (3b) and another connector, such as (3c), which is provided at one end pin-coupled to the main hinge (14), also increases. When the angle θ approaches 90°, the connector is at the free end of the upper surface side.

The wire (16) between the connector (3a) and the connector (3c) at the lower free end is stretched. The above wire (
16) continues to be stretched until the angle θ reaches 90°. During the unfolding operation, the wire (16) continues to be focused approximately at the center within the lower quadrangle by the auxiliary wire (23).

The stretched wire (16) connects the connector (3) with the rib (1
5) Since the pin is pressed to the side, there is no looseness at the pin joint.
The deployable truss antenna has a highly rigid structure, and the antenna is not damaged by the wire (16) from the time of storage to the completion of deployment. Further, each motor (19) is controlled by an external controller (not shown) to stop its rotation [and then maintains the energized state in a holding mode to exert a holding force.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described below, in the first aspect of the present invention, the wire stretched between the vertices of the N (N is 4 or 6) pyramid generates compressive force on the ribs and achieves a force equilibrium state. Because of this, the looseness of the pin-connected parts disappears, and the N-pyramid, which is the basic module, has a stable structure, making it easy to obtain high rigidity.Furthermore, since each of the N-pyramids expands in synchronization, the reliability of deployment is improved. This has the effect of making it more direct.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary wire is used from the time when the deployable truss antenna is stored until the time when the deployable truss antenna is fully deployed, thereby preventing the wire from wobbling and bulging, thereby preventing damage to the member due to the wire.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of the deployable truss antenna after deployment in an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the shape of the deployable truss antenna in the middle of deployment in the embodiment of the first invention of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a deployable truss antenna in an embodiment of the second invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the member joint part in the embodiment of the second invention of the present invention,
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the state before implementation of the second invention of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a diagram of the developed shape of the conventional example, FIG. 9 is a diagram of the developed shape of the conventional example, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of the conventional example. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the mechanism of the bent member of the triangular lattice in the conventional example, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the shape of the conventional example in the middle of unfolding, and FIG. It is a diagram of a physical model of a triangular lattice that has been conventionally considered. In the figure, (1) is a bent member. (2) is a diagonal member, (3) is a connector, (4) is a web, (
5) is the hinge lever, (6) is the spiral spring, (7) is the coupling pin, (8) is the basic member, (9) is the adjustment nut, (1
, 0) is the net, (], i) is the net fixture, (1
2) is the adjustment nut [・(13) is the mandrel, (14) is the main hinge, (1, 5) is the rib, (1, 6) is the wire, (17) is the synchronous hinge, (18) is the synchronous beam (
19) is the motor, (20) is the extension mechanism, (2],)
is a ball screw, (22) is a nut, and (23) is an auxiliary cable. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A mandrel coupled to a connector having a pin joint at one end and an extension mechanism consisting of a motor, a ball screw, and a nut at the other end; a main hinge coupled to the extension mechanism; one end connected to the main hinge; N (N is 4 or 6) ribs that are radially pin-coupled and expandable in directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the mandrel, a synchronous hinge fixed in the middle of the mandrel, one end of which is N synchronization beams are radially pin-coupled to the synchronization hinge, and the other ends are pin-coupled to the N ribs, respectively, and the shafts are arranged so that adjacent ones are in opposite directions. A plurality of frames are formed by connecting the connectors of the mandrels facing oppositely to each other with diagonal members to the ribs other than the rib which becomes the free end of the deployable truss antenna. between the connectors, and between the other end of the rib serving as the free end of the deployable truss antenna and the connectors,
Wires that are stretched between the deployable truss antennas when the deployable truss antenna is deployed, a conductive metal net that forms the mirror surface portion of the deployable truss antenna, and a net fixture that fixes the net on the mandrel. and an adjustment nut for adjusting the mirror shape of the deployable truss antenna. (2) A mandrel coupled to a connector having a pin joint at one end and an extension mechanism consisting of a motor, a ball screw, and a nut at the other end, a main hinge coupled to the extension mechanism, one end radially extending from the main hinge. N (N is 4 or 6) ribs that are pin-coupled to the mandrel and expandable in directions perpendicular to the axial direction of the mandrel, a synchronization hinge fixed in the middle of the mandrel, one end of which is connected to the mandrel; N synchronizing beams are radially pin-coupled to the hinge, and the other ends are pin-coupled to the N ribs, respectively, and the spindles are arranged so that adjacent ones are oriented in opposite directions. ribs other than the ribs that serve as the free ends of the deployable truss antenna, and a plurality of frames formed by connecting connectors of mandrels that are oriented in opposite directions to each other with diagonal members, and connections on the mandrels in which the mandrels are oriented in the same direction. a wire that is provided between the connectors and between the other ends of the ribs serving as the free ends of the deployable truss antenna and the connectors, and is stretched between the connectors when the deployable truss antenna is deployed; and the deployable truss antenna. a conductive metallic net forming a mirror surface portion of the antenna, a net fixing tool for fixing the net on the mandrel, an adjustment nut for adjusting the mirror surface shape of the deployable truss antenna, and one end of which is connected to the extension mechanism. A deployable truss antenna comprising: an auxiliary wire that is connected to the wire, the other end of which is connected to the center of the wire, and an auxiliary wire that extends between the wires.