EP2715863B1 - Rotary coupler for non-contact transmission of an electrical signal and vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a military wheeled vehicle with a signal generator for VHF signals in the military VHF range from 30 to 80 MHz and an antenna connected to the signal generator.

Use can find the invention on military vehicles, which have a chassis and a rotatable relative to the chassis tower. For communication with a command center or other vehicles, such vehicles are typically equipped with a radio which is connected to an antenna. Among other things, the radio serves as a signal generator for the radio signals radiated via the antenna.

In order to allow the widest possible radiation range and thus the antenna is not in the directional range or shooting range of a main weapon, the antenna is arranged in such a vehicle usually at an elevated position on the tower. The usually not remotely controlled radio, however, is mainly in crew-free or remote-controlled armored towers in the field of the chassis, especially within a crew room, so that a connection of the radio with the antenna is required, which allows a rotation of the tower relative to the chassis.

For transmitting high-frequency electrical signals between two mutually rotatable components, it is generally known to use a rotary coupling, which is arranged in the region of a rotation axis of the components. In a vehicle of the type described above, it is with regard to However, a rotary joint required that in the area of the axis of rotation a space for performing optical components, eg. B. a periscope is kept.

A capacitive rotary joint with a stationary stator electrode and a rotor electrode which can be rotated relative to the stator electrode and which are arranged around a cylindrical free space is known, for example, from US Pat DE 197 08 035 A1 known. In this rotary joint, the rotor electrode consists of a single circular ring portion, while the stator electrode is designed as a circumferential ring line.

From the EP 0 019 510 A1 For example, a rotary joint for contactless transmission of an electrical signal with a stator electrode and a capacitive coupled to the stator electrode, rotatable relative to the stator electrode rotor electrode is known, wherein the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode is segmented.

Another rotary joint is for example from the document " Microwave Slip Ring for Internal Communications in Turreted Vehicles ", Robert E. Askew, RCA Review, vol. 47, no. 4, 1 December 1896, pages 644-654 , known.

When using this rotary joint in a vehicle of the aforementioned type, however, it is possible for large dimensions of a given clearance, that the stator electrode has a circumference which is of the order of the wavelength range of the signal to be transmitted. It has proven to be disadvantageous that line-theoretical effects occur that worsen the transmission behavior of the rotary joint, so that the transmission is possible only in a narrow, narrowband wavelength range.

The object of the invention is to enable the broadband transmission of electrical signals via a rotary joint.

In a military wheeled vehicle of the type mentioned, this object is solved by the features of claim 1.

The stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode is subdivided into electrode segments. The stator and / or the rotor electrode are thus constructed in multiple segments. The dimensions of the segments may be selected to be small in relation to the wavelength range of the transmitted signal, so that wavelength-dependent transmission effects are reduced. Thus, a broadband transmission of electrical signals via the rotary joint can be made possible.

Preferably, the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode is arranged around a cylindrical free space, in particular a passage for mechanical, optical and / or electrical components, so that further components can be arranged in the region of the free space. The free space may preferably be configured such that an optical, in particular glass-optical, channel of a viewing device is arranged in it.

In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode is segmented in such a way that there is no closed circulation around the free space along the electrode. As a result, a flow of current around the free space can be prevented. The circulation along the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode may be interrupted, so that there is no conductive connection along the stator electrode or the rotor electrode around the free space. In this way, line theory Effects such as reflection by the stator and / or the rotor electrode can be reduced.

In order to suppress wavelength-dependent effects, it is also advantageous if the segments of the stator electrode are insulated from one another and / or if the segments of the rotor electrode are insulated from one another. Due to the insulation of the segments, a current flow between the segments of the stator electrode or between the segments of the rotor electrode can be prevented.

Preferably, the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode has an annular shape, whereby a free space is created in the region of the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode.

By the invention, the free spaces can have a large diameter. For the passage of components through the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if the length, in particular the circumference, of the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode is greater than 0.5 m, in particular greater than 0.8 m , preferably greater than 1 m.

According to the invention, the segments of the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode are formed as circular ring segments. As a result, the segments of the stator electrode and / or rotor electrode can be arranged along an annular course.

For the transmission of signals with a short wavelength, it is advantageous if the length of the segments of the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode is less than 1 m, in particular less than 0.8 m, preferably less than 0.5 m is. According to the invention, it is therefore provided that the length of the segments of the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode is less than 0.5 m. In this way, it can be ensured that the length of the segments is less than one quarter of the wavelength of a VHF signal to be transmitted, so that wavelength-dependent effects can be reduced.

Also advantageous is an embodiment in which the stator electrode and the rotor electrode are segmented analogously, so that line-theoretical effects are likewise reduced in the stator electrode and the rotor electrode.

It is particularly advantageous if the stator electrode and the rotor electrode have the same number of segments, in particular two segments. This makes it possible to use a similar interconnection both on the side of the stator and on the side of the rotor. Preferably, the stator and the rotor electrode are separated in half, so that the complexity of the interconnection can be kept low.

It has also proven to be advantageous if the segments of the stator electrode are identical and / or the segments of the rotor electrode are formed identically. In this way, the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode may be composed of similar segments, whereby the manufacture of the rotary joint is simplified.

According to a constructive embodiment, the stator electrode and the rotor electrode are segmented in such a way that, in a zero position, a segment of the stator electrode faces in each case a segment of the rotor electrode. With regard to the capacitive coupling of the stator and the rotor electrode, it has also proven to be advantageous if an air gap is arranged between the stator and the rotor electrode. The air gap may isolate the stator electrode from the rotor electrode. Alternatively, a solid, liquid or gaseous insulator, in particular Teflon, can be arranged between the electrodes.

The rotor electrode may be rotatable relative to the stator electrode about a rotation axis. In this case, it is advantageous if the rotor electrode is at a distance from the stator electrode in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor electrode. The electric field lines in the region between the rotor electrode and the stator electrode may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

Furthermore, the rotor electrode may be spaced from the stator electrode in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor electrode. Here, the field lines between the rotor electrode and the stator electrode may be substantially perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation.

In one possible embodiment, the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode has a folded cross section. By a folded cross-section of the stator and / or the rotor electrode stray capacitances can be avoided. In particular, the stator electrode may have a U-shaped cross-section so that it can embrace the rotor electrode with the open side of the "U" or vice versa.

The stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode can also be designed as conductor tracks arranged on a printed circuit board.

Moreover, the rotary joint can have devices for interconnecting the segments of the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode. In this context, it has proven to be advantageous if the segments of the stator are connected in parallel and / or if the segments of the rotor electrode are connected in parallel. Through the parallel connection of the segments, the same signal can be transmitted across all segments. A weak signal can be supplied to the individual segments of the stator electrode or of the rotor electrode, which together give a stronger signal as a whole signal.

It is particularly advantageous if the segments of the stator electrode are connected to a device for splitting a signal onto the segments and if the segments of the rotor electrode are connected to a device for combining the signal from the segments. Furthermore, the segments of the rotor electrode may be connected to a device for splitting a signal onto the segments, and the segments of the stator electrode may be connected to a device for combining the signal from the segments.

As a device for splitting the signal, a so-called combiner can be used, by means of which a signal of a predetermined amplitude can be split into a plurality of signals of reduced amplitude. Also for merging the signal, a combiner can be used, in which case several weaker signals can be combined to form a stronger signal. For the production of the coupling, it is advantageous if the device for splitting the signal and the device for combining the signal are identical, so that the number of required components is reduced.

According to a structural embodiment, it is provided that the segments of the stator electrode and the rotor electrode are each connected to the device for splitting the signal or the device for combining the signal by means of a tap arranged in particular in the middle of the segment.

Also advantageous is an embodiment with a housing surrounding the stator electrode and / or rotor electrode, which has openings. Through the openings in the housing, parasitic capacitances existing between the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode and the housing can be reduced. Furthermore, the housing may be formed of a non-conductive material.

Alternatively, the housing may be formed of an electrically conductive material. In this case, however, it may be necessary to arrange the stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode as far as possible from an inner side of the housing in order to reduce unwanted capacitive coupling between the electrodes and the housing. The housing may have a stator part enclosing the stator electrode and a rotor part enclosing the rotor electrode. Preferably, the stator part and the rotor part are electrically connected to one another, so that an additional conductive connection, in particular a ground connection, can be produced via the housing. For electrical connection of the stator and the rotor part, the housing may have a slip ring transformer.

The invention relates to a vehicle having a signal generator for VHF signals in the military VHF range of 30 to 80 MHz and an antenna connected to the signal generator.

The stator electrode and / or the rotor electrode of the rotary joint is divided into segments, the dimensions of which may be selected to be small in relation to the wavelength range of the transmitted signal, so that wavelength-dependent transmission effects are reduced. Thus, a broadband transmission of electrical signals from the signal generator via the rotary joint to the antenna can be made possible.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the antenna is arranged opposite the signal generator on a turret. By a rotatable antenna, the transmission and reception range of the antenna can be influenced. The arrangement of the antenna on a turret can be reduced by the antenna interference of viewing devices and weapons of the turret.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the signal generator is a radio, in particular an analog radio, preferably in the VHF range. By means of a radio, the crew of the vehicle can communicate with other vehicles and / or an operations center.

According to a constructive embodiment, the signal generator generates a signal in the frequency range from 30 to 300 MHz, in particular from 30 to 100 MHz, according to the invention in the military VHF range of 30 to 80 MHz. The signal can have a power of up to 100 W, preferably from the range of 10 W to 100 W.

In addition to the advantageous embodiments described above, the advantageous embodiments described in connection with the rotary coupling according to the invention can also be used in the vehicle according to the invention.

The vehicle may also have a viewing device. This can be arranged on the tower. The optical channel of the sighting device can run through the free space of the rotary joint.

Fig. 1

in einer Seitenansicht ein militärisches Fahrzeug;

Fig. 2

in einer Draufsicht eine Drehkupplung;

Fig. 3

in einer Schnittdarstellung die Drehkupplung aus der Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

in einer Schnittdarstellung senkrecht zur Drehachse des Rotors den Rotor der Drehkupplung aus der Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

in einer Schnittdarstellung vertikal zu der Drehachse des Rotors den Stator der Drehkupplung aus der Fig. 3; und

Fig. 6

ein Blockschaltbild der Drehkupplung aus der Fig. 3.

Further advantages and details of the invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to an embodiment. In these shows:

Fig. 1

in a side view a military vehicle;

Fig. 2

in a plan view, a rotary joint;

Fig. 3

in a sectional view of the rotary coupling of the Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

in a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor, the rotor of the rotary coupling from the Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

in a sectional view vertical to the axis of rotation of the rotor, the stator of the rotary coupling of the Fig. 3 ; and

Fig. 6

a block diagram of the rotary coupling of the Fig. 3 ,

In the Fig. 1 a vehicle 1 is shown, which is designed as a military wheeled vehicle. The vehicle 1 has a chassis designed as a tub 2 with wheels 3 and a turret 5.

Within the tub 2 of the military vehicle 1, a crew room 4 is arranged, in which arranged as a radio 31 signal generator arranged is. On the basis of the radio device 31, the crew of the vehicle 1 can make contact with a command center. The radio 31 generates a signal in the military VHF frequency range of 30 to 80 MHz, in particular with a power of 40W.

In the area of the roof of the tub 2, the tower 5 is rotatably mounted about a turntable 8 about a rotation axis D opposite the tub 2. The tower 5 carries a weapon 6, which is directable in elevation. In the region of the upper end of the tower 5, an antenna 7 is further arranged, which is connected to the radio device 31. For clarity, this compound is in the Fig. 1 not shown. In order to enable the transmission of analog radio signals from the radio 31 to the antenna 7 rotatable relative to the radio, a capacitive rotary coupling 9 is provided in the area between the tower 5 and the trough 2, which is arranged in the region of the axis of rotation D of the tower 5 is. According to the invention, the rotary joint 9 has a segmented stator electrode 21 and a segmented rotor electrode 11, whereby the transmission of broadband signals via the rotary joint 9 can be made possible.

The following is based on the Fig. 2-6 on the segmentation of the electrodes 11, 21 and further details of the rotary joint are discussed:
The rotary coupling 9 consists essentially of a stator 20 and a rotatable about the rotational axis D relative to the stator rotor 10. While the stator 20 in the in the Fig. 1 Vehicle 1 is arranged on the trough 2, the rotor 10 is connected to the tower 5. Due to the analog configuration of stator 20 and rotor 10, however, the rotary joint 9 could also be arranged in the reverse manner on the vehicle.

As the plan view of the rotor 10 in the Fig. 2 can be seen, the rotary joint 9 is of annular shape and extends around a cylindrical space F. The space F extends along the axis of rotation D and can be used to arrange other components or for passing mechanical, electrical and / or optical components through the rotary coupling be used. At the in Fig. 1 1, a viewing device 40, for example a periscope, is arranged on the tower 5, wherein the glass-optical channel from the viewing device 40 to the vehicle interior runs through the free space F of the rotary coupling 9. The region of the rotation axis D is thus available for the glass-optical channel.

The stator 20 has a stator electrode 21 which is capacitively coupled to the rotor electrode 11 arranged on the rotor. As the sectional view along in the Fig. 2 shown section line III-III in the Fig. 3 can be seen, the cross section of the stator electrode 21 is formed folded in a U-shape in order to obtain the largest possible surface for the coupling of the electrodes. The rotor electrode 11, however, has a rectangular cross-section, which engages in the region of the opening of the "U" in the stator 21. The stator electrode 21 is thus spaced from the rotor electrode 11 both in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation D and in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation D. Between the electrodes 11, 21 there is an air gap; Alternatively, to isolate the electrodes 11, 21, a solid or liquid insulator, for. As Teflon, or a gaseous medium between the electrodes 11, 21 are introduced.

The stator 20 further has a metallic housing 25 which encloses the stator electrode 21 as well as parts of the rotor 10, in particular the rotor electrode 11. If the housing 25 and the electrodes 11, 21 are not at the same potential, there is between the respective electrode 11, 21 and the housing a parasitic capacitance. In order to reduce this parasitic capacitance, 25 openings can be arranged in the housing.

Optionally, a counter pole of the VHF signal, in particular a mass, can be guided via the housing 25 of the rotary coupling 9 from the stator 20 to the rotor 10, so that no further capacitive transmission path is required except for the capacitive transmission path described above for the VHF signal. For this purpose, the housing 25 can have a stator part and a rotor part, between which there is an electrically good conductive connection, which can be produced for example via a contacting slip ring track. In this case, however, it is necessary to arrange the rotor electrode 11 and the stator electrode 21 as far as possible from the inside of the enclosing housing 25 in order to minimize parasitic capacitances.

In the area behind the electrodes 11, 21 a plurality of taps 13 are arranged both on the stator 20 and on the rotor 10, which are contacted with the respective electrode 11, 21 via a feed line 14, 24.

In order to obtain a free space F with the largest possible diameter, the circumference of the stator electrode 21 and / or the rotor electrode 11 in the exemplary embodiment is greater than 0.5 m, in particular greater than 0.8 m, preferably greater than 1 m. Since the circumference of the rotor electrode 11 and the stator electrode 21 is thus on the order of the wavelength of the transmitted signals, special provisions are made in the rotary joint 9 to reduce wavelength-dependent damping effects: Both the rotor electrode 11 and the stator electrode 21 are formed segmented, so the magnitude of the individual segments 12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2 is less than one quarter of the wavelength of the transmitted signals.

The representations in the 4 and 5 show a section through the rotary joint 9 along in the Fig. 3 designated SS, wherein the rotor electrode 10 and the stator electrode 20 are shown separated from each other. The rotor electrode 11 is like the Fig. 4 can be seen, divided into two segments 12.1, 12.2, which are identical. The segments 12.1, 12.2 of the rotor electrode 11 have, in particular, the same length and are arranged in the manner of circular ring segments around the free space F running around.

The segments 12.1, 12.2 are isolated from each other, so that between the segments 12.1, 12.2 separation points, which cause a galvanic separation of the segments 12.1, 12.2. By isolating the segments 12.1, 12.2 from each other, there is no closed circulation of conductive material along the rotor electrode 11 around the clearance F. For contacting the segments 12.1, 12.2, a tap 13.1, 13.2 is provided in each case in the middle of the segments 12.1, 12.2.

Analogous to the rotor electrode 11 is in the Fig. 5 Stator electrode 21 shown divided into segments: The stator electrode 21 is also half separated into two segments 22.1, 22.2, which are identical. The segments 22.1, 22.2 of the stator 21 are formed so that they are in the in the 4 and 5 exactly opposite shown zero position. In this zero position, the right-hand segment 12.2 of the rotor electrode 11 is capacitively coupled to the right-hand segment 22.2 of the stator electrode 21; the left segment 12.1 of the rotor electrode 11 in the illustration is capacitively coupled to the left segment 22.1 of the stator electrode. In the exemplary embodiment, the length of the segments 22.1, 22.2 of the stator electrode 21 and / or the segments 12.1, 12.2 of the rotor electrode 11 is less than 1 m, in particular less than 0.8 m, preferably less than 0.5 m.

Based on Fig. 6 the interconnection of the segments 12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2 will be explained below:
The radio device 31 is connected to a device 30.1 for splitting the signal generated by the radio device, which separates the signal generated by the radio device 31 into two signals of half amplitude, via separate leads 32 and 33 to the segments 22.1, 22.2 of the stator 21st be directed. The supply line 32 is connected via the tap 23.1 with the segment 22.1 of the stator 21. The other supply line 33 is connected via a further tap 23.2 with the segment 22.2 of the stator 21. The two segments 22.1, 22.2 of the stator electrode 21 are thus connected in parallel and transmit substantially identical information. In order to obtain the galvanic isolation of the individual segments 12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2 of the electrodes 11, 21, even in the connected state, the device 30.1 is designed such that the terminals which are connected to the leads 32, 33 are insulated from each other ,

The segments 22.1, 22.1 of the stator electrode 21 are capacitively coupled to the segments 12.1, 12.2 of the rotor electrode 11, which are connected via the supply lines 34 and 35 to a device 30.2 for combining the signals. Such a device 30.2 is referred to as a combiner and is usually formed reversible, so that a plurality of individual signals can be combined in one direction and in the opposite direction, a signal can be split into a plurality of individual signals. The rotor-side combiner 30.2 carries the two transmitted via the rotary coupling 9 signals together and forwards the resulting total signal to the antenna 7. Conversely, a signal received by the antenna 7 can be split by means of the combiner 30.2 and fed via the leads 34 and 35, the rotor segments 12.1, 12.2, the stator segments 22.1, 22.2, the leads 32 and 33 to the combiner 30.1. The stator-side combiner 30.1 merges the signals and forwards them to the radio device 31, which operates in this receiving direction as a signal receiver.

In a development of the exemplary embodiment, the electrodes 11, 21 of the rotary joint can also have more than two segments 12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2. In this case, it is necessary to design the combiners 30.1, 30.2 in such a way that they can split up or combine the corresponding number of individual signals.

The rotary coupling 9 described above has a stator electrode 21 and a rotor electrode 11, which are divided into segments 12.1, 12.2 and 22.1, 22.2. The dimensions of the segments 12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2 can be selected to be small in relation to the wavelength range of the transmitted signal, so that wavelength-dependent transmission effects are reduced. Thus, a broadband transmission of high-frequency electrical signals, in particular a VHF signal, are made possible via the rotary joint 9. By means of the described rotary transformer, powers of up to at least 100 W can be transmitted.

Reference number :

1

vehicle

2

tub

3

wheel

4

flight deck

5

turret

6

weapon

7

antenna

8th

slewing ring

9

rotary joint

10

rotor

11

rotor electrode

12.1, 12.2

segment

13.1, 13.2

tap

14.1, 14.2

supply

20

stator

21

stator electrode

22.1, 22.2

segment

23.1, 23.2

tap

24.1, 24.2

supply

25

casing

30.1, 30.2

Assemblers

31

radio set

32-35

supply

40

vision device

D

axis of rotation

S

intersection

Claims (12)

1. Military wheeled vehicle having a signal generator (31) for VHF signals in the military VHF band from 30 to 80 MHz and an antenna (7) which is connected to the signal generator (31),
   characterized
   in that the signal generator (31) and the antenna (7) are connected, by means of a rotary coupling (9) for contact-free transmission of a VHF signal in the military VHF band from 30 to 80 MHz, to a stator electrode (21) and a rotor electrode (11) which is capacitively coupled to the stator electrode (21) and can rotate with respect to the stator electrode (21), wherein the stator electrode (21) and/or the rotor electrode (11) are/is segmented, wherein the segments (22.1, 22.2) of the stator electrode (22) and/or the segments (12.1, 12.2) of the rotor electrode (11) are embodied as circular ring segments, and wherein the length of the segments (22.1, 22.2) of the stator electrode (21) and/or of the segments (12.1, 12.2) of the rotor electrode (11) is less than 0.5 m.
2. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stator electrode (21) and/or the rotor electrode (11) are/is arranged around a cylindrical free space (F), in particular a feedthrough for mechanical, optical and/or electrical components.
3. Military wheeled vehicle according to Claim 2, characterized in that the stator electrode (21) and/or the rotor electrode (11) are/is segmented in such a way that closed circulation around the free space (F) is not provided along the electrode (11, 21).
4. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the segments (22.1, 22.2) of the stator electrode (21) are insulated from one another, and/or in that the segments (12.1, 12.2) of the rotor electrode (11) are insulated from one another.
5. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stator electrode (21) and/or the rotor electrode (11) have/has a circular-ring-shaped profile.
6. Military wheeled vehicle according to Claim 5, characterized in that the circumference of the stator electrode (21) and/or of the rotor electrode (11) is greater than 0.5 m, in particular greater than 0.8 m, preferably greater than 1 m.
7. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stator electrode (21) and the rotor electrode (11) have the same number of segments (12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2), in particular two segments (12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2).
8. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the segments (22.1, 22.2) of the stator electrode (21) are connected in parallel, and/or in that the segments (12.1, 12.2) of the rotor electrode (11) are connected in parallel.
9. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the segments (22.1, 22.2) of the stator electrode (21) are connected to a device (30.1) for splitting a signal between the segments (22.1, 22.2), and in that the segments (12.1, 12.2) of the rotor electrode (11) are connected to a device (30.2) for combining the signals of the segments (12.1, 12.2), and/or vice versa.
10. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the segments (22.1, 22.2) of the stator electrode (21) and the segments (12.1, 12.2) of the rotor electrode (11) are each connected, by means of a tap (13.1, 13.2, 23.1, 23.2) arranged in the centre of the segment (12.1, 12.2, 22.1, 22.2), to the device (30.1) for splitting the signal or the device (30.2) for combining the signal.
11. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna (7) is arranged opposite the signal generator (31) of a turret (5).
12. Military wheeled vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal generator (31) is a radio unit.

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