Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
  • H01Q3/02—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
  • H01Q3/08—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
  • H01Q1/125—Means for positioning
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
  • H01Q1/18—Means for stabilising antennas on an unstable platform
  • H01Q1/185—Means for stabilising antennas on an unstable platform by electronic means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for orienting a mobile element, of the type comprising: a frame comprising a first external surface; an element movable relative to the frame, said movable element comprising a second external surface disposed vis-à-vis the first outer surface; at least three joints connected to the second outer surface of the movable member; and at least two linear actuators, each of said linear actuators comprising a body and a rod movable within said body, a first end of the stem of each of said linear actuators being connected to one of said three joints, the body of each said linear actuators being rotatably mounted on the frame.
• the invention is particularly applicable to airborne radars of guided projectiles.
• the invention can be used more generally in optronic and radar applications, as well as in any field requiring the angular orientation of a mobile element.
• Airborne radars have an antenna supported by a tray. Said plate is rotatable in three degrees of freedom, in order to orient the antenna in all possible angular directions.
• the object of the present invention is to propose a device for orienting a mobile element with several degrees of freedom, a high and precise dynamic, as well as a fairly large angular displacement.
• the object of the invention is an orientation device of the aforementioned type, in which two of the linear actuators are linear thru-rod motors, and a second end of the rod of each of said thru-rod linear motors is suitable. to move within a cavity in the frame and opening on the first outer surface.
• a linear motor is an asynchronous electric motor whose "rotor” has been “unwound", so that instead of producing a torque, it produces a linear force along its length by installing an electromagnetic field displacement.
• linear thru-rod motor indicates that the motor comprises a body and a rod movable in translation inside the body, each of the two ends of the rod being located outside the body.
• the orientation device comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or according to all the possible technical combinations:
• One of the three joints connected to the second outer surface is also connected to a mast secured to the frame and extending between the first and second outer surfaces;
• the device comprises three linear actuators, each of said linear actuators comprising a body and a rod movable inside said body, a first end of the rod of each of said linear actuators being connected to one of the three articulations connected to the second one; outer surface, the body of each of said linear actuators being rotatably mounted on the frame;
• All linear actuators are linear motors through rod, and a second end of the rod of each linear motor through rod is able to move within a cavity in the frame and opening on the first surface external ;
• the bodies of the at least two linear actuators are connected to the frame by means of cardan joints;
• the device comprises means for moving the rods relative to the body as a function of a desired tilting of the second outer surface of the movable member relative to the first outer surface of the frame;
• the mobile element is an antenna plate.
• the invention further relates to an observation device, in particular to an airborne radar, comprising an orientation device as described above; an antenna of said observation device, in particular of said airborne radar, being supported by the antenna plate, the moving means being connected to said antenna in order to move the rods relative to the bodies as a function of a desired tilting of said antenna relative to the first outer surface of the frame.
• the invention further relates to a projectile comprising an observation device, in particular an airborne radar, as described above.
• an observation device in particular an airborne radar
• FIG. 1 is a partial view, in perspective, of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view, in perspective, of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an element of the device of FIG. 2;
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views of the device of Figure 2, front, in two different configurations.
• the orientation device 10 shown in Figure 1 is an airborne radar device, intended to equip the front of a guided projectile (not shown).
• the device 10 comprises a frame 12 integral with the guided projectile.
• the frame 12 comprises a first outer surface 14 substantially disposed in a plane (Y, Z).
• the device 10 further comprises an antenna plate 16.
• the plate 16 supports a radar antenna 17 of the airborne radar equipped with the device 10.
• the antenna plate 16 has substantially the shape of a flat cylinder with a circular base.
• the base of the cylinder is polygonal, for example square.
• the antenna plate 16 comprises a second outer surface 18, having substantially the shape of a disk and located opposite the antenna 17, vis-à-vis the first outer surface 14 of the frame 12.
• the second outer surface 18 is substantially disposed in a plane (Y, Z).
• the device 10 further comprises a mast 20, arranged in the direction X.
• a first end of the mast 20 is fixed to the outer surface 14 of the frame 12.
• a second end of the mast 20 is connected to the surface 18 of the antenna plate 16, by means of a first articulation 22.
• the first articulation 22 comprises three degrees of freedom in rotation and is for example of the ball joint type.
• the mast 20 and the first articulation 22 are located on an axis 24 parallel to X. Said axis 24 passes through a center of the disk formed by the surface 18 of the antenna plate 16.
• the device 10 further comprises two linear actuators 26, 28.
• Each of the linear actuators 26, 28 comprises a body 30, 32, as well as a rod 34, 36 movable inside said body 30, 32.
• the two actuators linear 26, 28 are arranged along X, symmetrically with respect to a plane (X, Z) passing through the axis 24. A non-symmetrical arrangement is also possible.
• the bodies 30, 32 are connected to the frame 12 by links 38, 40 of the universal joint type.
• the bodies 30, 32 are partially arranged inside cavities 42, 44 formed in the frame 12 and opening on the first external surface 14.
• a first end of each of the rods 34, 36 is connected to the surface 18 of the antenna plate 16, via second and third joints 46, 48.
• the second and third joints 46, 48 comprise three degrees of freedom. rotation and are for example of the ball joint type.
• the linear actuators 26, 28 are linear thru rod motors. More specifically, a second end 50, 52 of each of the rods 34, 36 is able to move outside the body 30, 32, in a space 54 located inside the frame 12.
• the through-rod linear motors are linear servomotors comprising a body in the form of a fixed stator with a 3-phase coil and a rod in the form of a precision tube containing permanent magnets.
• Such linear servomotors commercially available, allow a very important dynamic of the antenna plate 16.
• Figure 2 schematically shows an orientation device 60, similar to the device 10 of Figure 1 and also intended to equip the front of a guided projectile.
• the elements common to the devices 10, 60 are hereinafter referred to by the same reference numerals.
• an orthonormal base X, Y, Z
• a main axis of the guided projectile being parallel to the X direction.
• the device 60 comprises a frame 12 integral with the guided projectile.
• the frame 12 comprises a first outer surface 14 substantially disposed in a plane (Y, Z).
• the device 60 further comprises an antenna plate 16, shown in dotted lines.
• the plate 16 supports a radar antenna (not shown) of the airborne radar equipped with the device 60. Said antenna is similar to the antenna 17 of FIG.
• the antenna plate 16 comprises a second external surface 18 situated opposite the antenna and facing the first external surface 14 of the frame 12.
• the second external surface 18 has substantially the shape of a disc centered on an axis 24 parallel to X.
• the device 60 further comprises three linear actuators 62, 64, 66.
• Each of the linear actuators 62, 64, 66 comprises a body 68, 70, 72, and a rod 74, 76, 78 movable inside said body 68, 70, 72.
• the bodies 68, 70, 72 are connected to the frame 12 by links 80, 82, 84 of the universal joint type.
• a first end of the rods 74, 76, 78 is connected to the surface 18 of the antenna plate 16, by means of three joints 86, 88, 90 of the ball joint type.
• the three articulations 86, 88, 90 form an equilateral triangle centered on the axis 24.
• Such an arrangement makes it possible to balance the antenna plate 16.
• other arrangements are also possible.
• the rods of the three linear actuators 62, 64, 66 are arranged parallel to X.
• two hinges 86 and 90 respectively corresponding to the first and third actuators 62 and 66 are aligned parallel to Y.
• the bodies 68, 70, 72 are disposed between the first outer surface 14 of the frame 12 and the second outer surface 18 of the antenna plate 16; the joints 80, 82, 84 of the universal joint type are disposed at one end of the bodies 68, 70, 72.
• the linear actuators 62, 64, 66 are linear thru-rod motors.
• a second end 92, 94, 96 of each of the rods 74, 76, 78 is able to move inside a cavity 98, 100, 102, formed in the frame 12 and opening on the first outer surface 14.
• the devices 10 and 60 further comprise a control module for the linear actuators.
• a module 1 for controlling the actuators 62, 64, 66 of the device 60 is shown schematically in FIG.
• the module 1 10 typically comprises a program memory in which is stored a program 1 12 implementing different steps of an algorithm.
• the module 1 10 is able to communicate with the antenna 17 supported by the antenna plate 16. Moreover, the module 1 10 is able to trigger the setting in motion of the actuators 62, 64, 66, that is to say to say the displacement of the rods 74, 76, 78 relative to the bodies 68, 70, 72.
• Figure 4 shows the device 60 in the same configuration as in Figure 2, the antenna plate 16 and the antenna 17 being disposed in a plane (Y, Z).
• the module 1 10 receives information from the antenna 17; from this information, the module 1 10 calculates instructions for a reorientation in the space of the antenna plate 16.
• the reorientation can lead to any angular position of the antenna plate 16 relative to the directions Y and Z.
• the reorientation consists of a tilting of the antenna plate 16 at an angle a in a plane (X, Y) -
• the program 1 12 controls a displacement of the rod 74 of the first actuator 62 towards the inside of the frame 12, as well as a displacement of the rod 78 of the third actuator 66 towards the outside of the frame 12, so as to effect such a tilting of the antenna plate 16.
• such a displacement of the rods 74, 78 causes the bodies 68, 72 to tilt relative to the outer surface 14 of the frame 12.
• An allowed maximum angle of tilt of the antenna plate 16 corresponds in particular to a maximum stroke of the rods in the bodies of the actuators.
• the maximum angle ⁇ is reached when the end 96 of the rod 78 of the third actuator 66 reaches one end of the body 72, located at the outer surface 14 of the frame 12.
• the reorientation of the antenna plate 16 does not require displacement of the rod 76 of the second actuator 64. Said rod 76 retains its position in the X direction.
• the device 10 of FIG. similarly, the mast 20 replacing the second actuator 64.
• the reorientation can however lead the three rods 74, 76, 78 to change position simultaneously.
• the program 1 12 makes it possible to reach all possible combinations of the rod / body positions for the actuators 26, 28 of FIG. 1 or 62, 64, 66 of FIG. 2, within the limit of the stroke of each rod at the inside each actuator body.
• Two rods can move simultaneously in the same direction, for example towards the inside of the frame 12, or in opposite directions.
• thru rod motors as actuators allows the second end of the rods to move within the frame 12, and not only outside. The amplitude of the possible deflection of the antenna is thus increased compared to actuators with non-through rods, such as cylinders.
• the thru-rod motors provide a very high dynamics of the antenna plate 16.
• such a device has a self-inertial behavior; in other words, following a tilting of the antenna plate 16 as described above, the position of said antenna plate is substantially preserved independently of the movement of a projectile which is integral with the frame 12.
• the rods of the linear motors are, with friction close, free to slide inside the body of the engine fixed on the frame. In the known devices of the prior art, the friction between the body and the rod of the actuators is much greater.
• the movement of the frame does not affect the movement of the rods, so that of the antenna plate.
• the main direction X of said projectile is generally substantially horizontal.
• the gravity therefore applies to the rods 34, 36 or 74, 76, 78 substantially transversely and does not lead to their sliding in the bodies 30, 32 or 68, 70, 72.
• the bodies of the actuators are located outside the frame 12, as in Figure 2, or partially or totally located inside the frame 12, as in Figure 1. It is thus possible to position the surface 18 of the antenna plate at greater or lesser distance from the outer surface 14 of the frame.
• two of the linear actuators 62, 64, 66 are linear thru-rod motors and the third linear actuator is another type of actuator, for example a jack.
• the device comprises a mast and at least three linear actuators, or at least four linear actuators.
• the linear actuators are arranged regularly around the axis 24 to balance the antenna plate.

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• Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
• Details Of Aerials (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-10-29 FR FR1402446A patent/FR3028099B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-10-08 WO PCT/EP2015/073262 patent/WO2016066395A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2015-10-08 EP EP15778281.4A patent/EP3213370A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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