FR3098651A1 - THREE-DIMENSIONAL DEPLOYMENT DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a deployment device (10) capable of being in a closed configuration or in an open configuration, characterized in that it comprises: a mandrel (11) around which at least a measuring tape (12) is intended to be in a wrapped configuration around a first Z axis in a closed configuration of the deployment device (10), a clip (13) configured to hold the at least one tape measure (12) in the closed configuration, a release device (14) of the clip (13) intended to change the deployment device (10) from the closed configuration to the open configuration in which the at least one tape measure (12) is intended to be in a configuration deployed along a second axis X tangent to the mandrel (11). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Three-Dimensional Deployment Device

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional deployment device for measuring tapes. It applies in particular to the field of space equipment for which structures must be deployed in orbit and more particularly to space equipment for satellites, such as antennas, thermal screens or solar sail. However, the invention applies to any other field requiring the three-dimensional deployment of a structure.

In the field of navigation, it may be desirable to deploy antennas under very constrained conditions. For example, a nano-satellite can include an antenna composed of several wire antennas, or monopoles, for example of length of the order of 0.5 to 1 meter and positioned on a certain perimeter. The profile of the assembly (number, dimensions, spacing of the antennas) depends on the frequencies with which one wishes to work. It is then necessary to embark on the nano-satellite the set of antennas and its support, and the set must be in the deployed position in operation. The major constraint lies in the volume available to carry the assembly since a nano-satellite can be limited, for example, to a volume of 20 cm x 20 cm x 40 cm, and must also be able to carry a solar generator. It is therefore necessary that the assembly composed of the antennas and the support be compact and advantageously of low mass. In addition, another volume constraint may impose a need to adapt an antenna in the center of the mechanism, which imposes an allocated volume of the antenna equivalent to a ring.

The majority of existing antenna solutions are based on articulated and motorized systems. Such systems are complex and involve some on-board mass. A similar solution is proposed for a solar sail, but only a two-dimensional deployment is proposed. Such a solution is not satisfactory when it is desired to deploy wire antennas in a three-dimensional configuration.

In the space domain, measuring tapes are frequently used in deployment. In the stored (or rolled up) position, tape measures are wrapped around a mandrel. The deployment of the measuring tapes is ensured autonomously by their spontaneous unwinding when the mandrel is free to rotate.

Measuring tapes are known in the space field as being flexible tapes having an arcuate section whose radius of curvature is convex on a first side and concave on a second side, these tapes being capable of passing from the state rolled up in the deployed state essentially thanks to their own elastic energy. There are different types of tape with their own properties. Monostable tapes have a natural deployed position and require maintenance in the stored position. Monostable measuring tapes therefore have a natural tendency to unfold and end up in their unrolled state. The deployment of monostable ribbons is often anarchic and uncontrolled. Bistable ribbons have two natural positions (rolled up position and extended position). Their deployment is linear and controlled.

When you want to deploy a structure from measuring tapes, the measuring tapes must ensure the maintenance of the object in the rolled-up configuration and the rigidity of the assembly during deployment and in the deployed configuration. It is known to deploy a structure two-dimensionally between two measuring tapes deployed substantially parallel to each other. However, depending on the configuration of the structure to be deployed, several measuring tapes are necessary, and the result is a complex assembly, whose size and on-board mass are penalizing for the mission to be accomplished.

Thus, in the stored configuration, the set of measuring tapes must be as compact as possible. In the deployed configuration, the best possible rigidity is sought, while ensuring the deployment of a geometry structure that can be complex. The complexity of deployment is all the more important if one wishes to be able to deploy wire type antennas in three-dimensional configuration.

The invention aims to overcome all or part of the problems mentioned above by proposing a deployment device that is simple, robust and inexpensive, reversible and reusable for a certain number of cycles, allowing the deployment of a three-dimensional structure, while being optimized in mass, compact in the rolled-up configuration and rigid in the deployed configuration.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a deployment device capable of being in the closed configuration or in the open configuration, characterized in that it comprises:

a mandrel around which at least one measuring tape is intended to be in the configuration wound around a first axis Z in the closed configuration of the deployment device,

a fastener configured to hold the at least one measuring tape in the closed configuration,

a clip release device intended to change the deployment device from the closed configuration to the open configuration in which the at least one tape measure is intended to be in a deployed configuration along a second axis X tangent to the mandrel.

Advantageously, the clip is a belt configured to wrap, at least partially, the at least one tape measure in the closed configuration and the release device is an ignition device electrically connected to the belt so as to melt the belt.

Advantageously, the deployment device according to the invention further comprises a support, and at least one spring extending along a third axis substantially parallel to the first axis Z, a first end of the at least one spring being connected to the support and a second end of the at least one spring being connected to the mandrel, and the at least one spring is configured to move the mandrel in translation along the first axis Z relative to the support.

The invention also relates to a deployable assembly comprising:

a deployment device according to the invention,

a plurality of measuring tapes, the measuring tapes being co-wound on themselves in the rolled-up configuration and each being capable of passing from the configuration wound around the first axis Z in the closed configuration of the deployment device to the configuration deployed according to a deployment axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis Z and tangent to the mandrel in the open configuration of the deployment device.

Advantageously, the deployable assembly according to the invention further comprises at least one wire antenna extending along a tape measure, the at least one wire antenna and the tape measure being co-wound on themselves in coiled configuration and the at least one wire antenna further extending along said measuring tape in the deployed configuration.

Advantageously, the at least one wire antenna extends at least partially in a plane secant to the plane containing the deployment axis of said measuring tape.

Advantageously, each measuring tape having a first side and a second side, the measuring tapes are co-wound in a wound configuration so that the first side of a measuring tape is opposite the second side of 'an adjacent tape measure, or the first side of a tape measure is opposite the first side of an adjacent tape measure, or the second side of a tape measure is opposite opposite the second side of an adjacent tape measure.

Advantageously, the deployable assembly according to the invention comprises a membrane, solid or perforated, folded between at least two adjacent measuring tapes in the closed configuration and extending between said at least two measuring tapes in the open configuration.

Advantageously, the membrane comprises at least one conductive track and/or peripheral cables and/or radial ribbons.

The invention also relates to a satellite comprising at least one deployable assembly according to the invention.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment given by way of example, description illustrated by the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a tape measure deployment device in closed configuration according to the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically represents a deployable assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 3 schematically represents another embodiment of a tape measure deployment device in open configuration according to the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically represents a deployable assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 5 schematically represents a deployable assembly with ground plane according to the invention;

FIG. 6 schematically represents the deployment of the measuring tapes and the antennas of the deployable assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 7 schematically represents a satellite comprising a deployable assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 8 schematically represents another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 schematically shows a top view of the embodiment of the invention of Figure 8.

For the sake of clarity, the same elements will bear the same references in the various figures.

The invention applies to monostable or bistable or mixed measuring tapes. The implementation of monostable measuring tapes requires a greater guiding force. Bistable tape measures are preferred for the homogeneity of their deployment. It is therefore desirable to have both a deployment torque and a homogeneous winding.

Furthermore, the invention is described in the non-limiting example of a deployment on a satellite, but it applies to any other field requiring the three-dimensional deployment of a structure.

FIG. 1 schematically represents a deployment device 10 with measuring tape(s) 12 in the closed configuration according to the invention. The deployment device 10 is shown in the closed configuration. The deployment device 10 is capable of being in the closed configuration or in the open configuration. It comprises a mandrel 11 around which at least one measuring tape 12 is intended to be in the configuration wound around a first axis Z in the closed configuration of the deployment device 10. Basically, a measuring tape 12 can be wound around of the mandrel 11, but around the mandrel 11 can just as easily wrap several measuring tapes 12, for example three, six, ten or more. In this case, the measuring tapes are co-wound, and overlap around the mandrel 11.

The deployment device 10 comprises a clip 13 configured to hold the at least one tape measure 12 in the closed configuration, and a release device 14 of the clip 13 intended to cause the deployment device 10 to pass from the closed configuration to the open configuration in which the at least one tape measure 12 is intended to be in a deployed configuration along a second axis X tangent to the mandrel 11.

As shown in Figure 1, the fastener 13 may be a belt, for example made of polymer, in particular based on imide such as polyimide, configured to wrap, at least partially, the at least one measuring tape 12 in the closed configuration and the release device 14 is an ignition device electrically connected to the belt 13 via fusible conductor wires, positioned at the end of the belt, like copper wires, so as to melt the belt 13 by circulating current in the conductor wires.

Alternatively, tether 13 may be of the hook type which retains the end of tape measure 12, and release device 14 is an actuator which moves the hook from the tape measure holding position.

In another variant, the clip 13 may itself be a portion of a measuring tape substantially longer than any other measuring tapes 12 rolled up. The portion of the longer measuring tape is wrapped around the mandrel, superimposed on the other measuring tapes 12 and keeps them in the rolled up position. A release device 14 such as a fusible link may allow this portion of the tape measure 12 to be detached, causing the tape measures 12 to be released and deployed.

FIG. 2 schematically represents a deployable assembly 20 according to the invention. The deployable assembly 20 comprises a deployment device 10 as described in FIG. 1, and a plurality of measuring tapes 12, the measuring tapes 12 being co-wound on themselves in a rolled-up configuration and each being capable of passing from the configuration wound around the first axis Z in the closed configuration of the deployment device 10 to the configuration deployed along a deployment axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis Z and tangent to the mandrel 11 in the open configuration of the deployment device 10.

In other words, in the rolled-up configuration, the measuring tapes 12 are wound around the mandrel 11, some being superimposed on the others, forming successive layers. More specifically, each measuring tape 12 having a first face 31 and a second face 32, the measuring tapes 12 are co-wound in a rolled up configuration so that the first face 31 of a measuring tape 12 faces - opposite the second face 32 of an adjacent measuring tape 12, or the first face 31 of a measuring tape 12 is opposite the first face 31 of an adjacent measuring tape 12, or the second face 32 of a measuring tape 12 is opposite the second face 32 of an adjacent measuring tape 12. In other words, two adjacent measuring tapes 12 can be mounted face to face, back to back or in a similar way (that is to say in the same direction and a back is opposite a face).

The deployable assembly 20 represented schematically in FIG. 2 further comprises at least one wire antenna 21 extending along a measuring tape 12, the at least one wire antenna 21 and the measuring tape 12 being co-wound on themselves in the rolled-up configuration and the at least one wire antenna 21 further extending along said measuring tape 12 in the deployed configuration. Depending on the type of wire antenna 21, the antenna may also extend at least partially in a plane secant to the plane containing the axis of deployment of said measuring tape 12. In the non-limiting example of FIG. 2, the deployable assembly 20 comprises 6 measuring tapes and 6 wire antennas 21. Each of the wire antennas 21 is associated with a measuring tape 12. For each of them, a portion extends over the measuring tape 12. This portion is attached to the measuring tape. And the other wire antenna portion 21 extends in a plane different from the plane in which the measuring tapes 12 are deployed. In FIG. 2, the linear antennas 21 extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of deployment of the measuring tapes 12, that is to say substantially parallel to the first axis Z. However, according to the invention, the wire antennas 21 can also extend along an axis forming an angle with the plane of deployment of the measuring tapes 12, for example 30 or 45°. It should be noted that the invention also relates to a deployable assembly in which the number of measuring tapes and the number of wire antennas are different.

The wire antenna 21 can separate from the tape measure 12 along the tape measure 12, that is to say before its end, as shown in Figure 2. The wire antenna 21 can also remain in contact with tape measure 12 to its end. It is also possible to have a folding zone 34 between the measuring tape 12 and the wire antenna portion 21 separated from the measuring tape 12. Depending on the configurations, this folding zone 34 can also be at the end of the measuring tape - ribbon 12 deployed. This folding zone 34 has an inclination substantially equal to the half-angle between the wire antenna 21 and the axis of deployment of the measuring tape 12. For example, in the case where the wire antenna 21 extends perpendicularly in the deployed tape measure 12, the folding zone 34 forms an angle of 45° with the deployment axis.

FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically represent another embodiment of the invention, in which the deployable assembly can additionally comprise a pivot link 35 equipped with a motor element of the torsion spring 36 or blade type at the point of anchoring of the measuring tapes 12 on the mandrel 11, as shown in FIG. 8. The measuring tape 12 is shown there in the stored configuration in a solid line and in the deployed configuration in a dotted line. This pivot connection confers, for each measuring tape 12, a degree of freedom in rotation around an axis substantially perpendicular to the deployment axis of the measuring tape 12. The top of FIG. 9 represents the deployable assembly in configuration stored, that is to say in which the tape measure 12 is wound around the mandrel 11. Once the deployable assembly 20 in the deployed configuration, that is to say when each tape measure 12 is deployed the along its axis of deployment, the pivot connection at the level of each anchor point of the measuring tapes 12 makes it possible to rotate them, preferably by 10 to 20°, each around their axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis of deployment of the measuring tape 12. At the end of deployment, as shown at the bottom of FIG. 9, the release can be initiated by a pin 37 falling into a housing 38 located in the guide mandrel at the end of deployment of the tape. In other words, the measuring tape 12 passes from its configuration stored around the mandrel 11 in the deployed configuration as explained in the other embodiments. At the end of deployment, the pin 37 in contact against the guide mandrel moves towards the housing 38 which forms a reinforcement in which the pin 37 is positioned. The inclination of the tape measure 12 in the deployed position is determined by the size of the pin 37 and of the housing 38. This configuration is particularly advantageous in the case where it is necessary to have tape measures inclined with respect to the deployment plane. , for RF needs. This makes it possible to have a flat deployment first, then, in a second step, thanks to the pivots at the base of the measuring tapes, a post-deployment inclination.

Alternatively, in the case where the deployable assembly 20 is fixed to the body of a satellite provided with rails with which the measuring tapes 12 could be in contact in the deployed configuration, the deployable assembly can comprise a raising system making it possible to avoid interference of the measuring tapes with the rails during their deployment.

The deployable assembly 20 may also comprise a membrane 22 folded between at least two adjacent measuring tapes 12 in the closed configuration and extending between said at least two measuring tapes 12 in the open configuration. In FIG. 2, the deployable assembly 20 is in the deployed configuration and the membrane 22 extends between the measuring tapes 12. More precisely, the membrane 22 extends in pieces between two adjacent measuring tapes 12 and the portions of membrane can be electrically interconnected, depending on the functionalities envisaged for the membrane 22. The membrane 22 can be solid, that is to say without openings, or openwork. It may or may not be loaded with metallic elements for RF or other needs depending on the application.

FIG. 3 schematically represents another embodiment of a tape measure deployment device 10 in an open configuration according to the invention. The deployment device 10 further comprises a support 15, and at least one spring 16 extending along a third axis substantially parallel to the first axis Z. A first end 17 of the at least one spring 16 is connected to the support 15 and a second end 18 of at least one spring 16 is connected to the mandrel 11, and the at least one spring 16 is configured to move the mandrel 11 in translation along the first axis Z relative to the support 15. Advantageously, but not necessarily, the device for deployment 10 comprises 2, 3 or 4 springs, arranged equidistantly around the diameter of the mandrel 11, to allow better translation of the mandrel 11 relative to the support 15. This configuration of the deployment device 10 makes it possible to offset the mandrel 11 relative to the support 15. This results in an offset, in other words an elevation, of the deployable assembly 20 relative to the support 15, that is to say relative to the body of the satellite. As explained previously, this allows the measuring tapes to deploy without conflict with the rails present on the body of the satellite where the deployable assembly is fixed.

This configuration with spring offset can include a clip 13 as detailed above. Alternatively, the support 15 can also act as a belt. In this case, the release of the measuring tapes 12 takes place simultaneously with the offset of the mandrel 11.

In other words, the invention covers a deployment device with an independent measuring tape holding system allowing the set of measuring tapes to be released without deploying the measuring tapes and a so-called common deployment device allowing the measuring tapes to be released. ribbons and simultaneous deployment.

In addition, this configuration can also additionally comprise a pivot connection at the level of the anchoring point of each measuring tape 12, as explained above, making it possible to offset the measuring tapes 12 further with respect to the body of the satellite or, in a more generally, with respect to the support structure on which the deployable assembly 20 is positioned.

FIG. 4 schematically represents a deployable assembly 20 according to the invention, in which the membrane 22 is perforated. The membrane 22 does not extend between all of the measuring tapes 12 deployed, but only at the level of a portion of the measuring tape. This portion may be towards the end of the deployed tape measure, at the level of the center of the deployed tape measure or close to the deployment device 10.

The membrane 22 can be, for example, of filled fiberglass, filled silicone carbon or metallized polyimide.

FIG. 5 schematically represents a deployable assembly 20 with ground plane according to the invention. The ground plane is made of metal wires or grids with some spacing. These wires, or grids, are typically arranged on the membrane 22 (not shown here). The wires, or grids, forming a ground plane, are, like the membrane, folded between two adjacent measuring tapes in the rolled-up configuration of the deployable assembly 20 and extend between the two adjacent measuring tapes in the configuration deployed, while being continuously connected to each other at the level of the measuring tapes. The deployable assembly 20 may comprise at least one conductive track 41 and/or peripheral cables 42 and/or radial strips 43, and/or a flexible printed circuit. The deployable assembly 20 can be equipped with coaxial cables. These cables are routed along 12 meter tapes and connect the antenna with the satellite.

FIG. 6 schematically represents the deployment of the measuring tapes 12 and the antennas 21 of the deployable assembly 20 according to the invention. The release device 14 of the clip 13 releases the clip holding the tape measures 12 (here six tape measures are shown by way of example) and changes the deployment device 10 from the closed configuration to the open configuration. in which the six measuring tapes 12 are released and extend in the deployed configuration along their deployment axis tangent to the mandrel 11. This deployment is symbolized by the arrows 1 in solid lines. The wire antennas 21, also six in number by way of example, are each associated with a tape measure 12. In the rolled-up configuration, each wire antenna 21 is folded along its associated tape measure 12 and is thus co- wound around the mandrel 11. When the measuring tapes 12 are deployed, the wire antennas 21 are in turn also released and are deployed along their axis of deployment. This deployment is symbolized by the arrows 2 in dotted lines. Here, by way of example, the wire antennas 21 deploy along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of deployment of the measuring tapes 12, but as described previously, their axis of deployment can form an angle different from 90° with the deployment axis of the tape measure 12 associated with the wire antenna 21.

Thus, the invention relating to the deployable assembly 20 of a three-dimensional structure is based on a double concomitant deployment. The measuring tapes 12 and the wire antennas 21 are co-wound around the mandrel 11 and held by a clip 13 in the rolled-up configuration. When the deployment device 10 opens, that is to say when the fastener 13 is released, the measuring tapes 12 extend, each along its deployment axis. This is a first deployment in two dimensions. Concomitantly, the wire antennas 21, due to the deployment of the measuring tapes 12, are also released and extend, each according to its axis of deployment. This is a second deployment according to a third dimension. This results in a three-dimensional structure.

The invention offers numerous advantages since the deployable assembly 20 is completely passive with the exception of the release device 14. In other words, only the release device 14 requires action. Subsequent deployments are done autonomously, by the own spontaneous unwinding of the measuring tapes 12 which then allows the release of the wire antennas 21. By design, the deployable assembly is reversible and reusable as many times as desired. The measuring tapes 12 ensure the compatible stiffness of the specifications linked to the antennas.

FIG. 7 schematically represents a satellite 60 comprising a deployable assembly 20 according to the invention. A single deployable assembly 20 is represented in FIG. 7. A satellite 60 can comprise several of them, on different sides of the satellite or on the same side depending on the space available. In FIG. 7, the deployable assembly 20 is shown in the rolled-up configuration, with the measuring tapes 12 and the wire antennas 21 co-wound around the mandrel 11.

Claims (10)

Deployment device (10) capable of being in the closed configuration or in the open configuration, characterized in that it comprises:

1. a mandrel (11) around which at least one measuring tape (12) is intended to be in the configuration wound around a first axis Z in the closed configuration of the deployment device (10),
2. a clip (13) configured to hold the at least one measuring tape (12) in the closed configuration,
3. a release device (14) of the tether (13) for changing the deployment device (10) from the closed configuration to the open configuration in which the at least one measuring tape (12) is intended to be in a configuration deployed along a second axis X tangent to the mandrel (11).

Deployment device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the clip (13) is a belt configured to wrap, at least partially, the at least one measuring tape (12) in the closed configuration and in that the release device (14) is an ignition device electrically connected to the belt (13) so as to melt the belt (13). Deployment device (10) according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a support (15), and at least one spring (16) extending along a third axis substantially parallel to the first Z axis, a first end (17) of the at least one spring (16) being connected to the support (15) and a second end (18) of the at least one spring (16) being connected to the mandrel (11), and in that that the at least one spring (16) is configured to move the mandrel (11) in translation along the first axis Z relative to the support (15). Deployable assembly (20) comprising:

1. a deployment device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
2. a plurality of measuring tapes (12), the measuring tapes (12) being co-wound on themselves in a rolled-up configuration and each being adapted to pass from the configuration wound around the first axis Z into a closed configuration of the deployment device (10) in the deployed configuration along a deployment axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis Z and tangent to the mandrel (11) in the open configuration of the deployment device (10).

A deployable assembly (20) according to claim 4, further comprising at least one wire antenna (21) extending along a tape measure (12), the at least one wire antenna (21) and the tape measure (12) being co-wound on themselves in the rolled-up configuration and the at least one wire antenna (21) further extending along said measuring tape (12) in the deployed configuration. A deployable assembly (20) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one wire antenna (21) extends at least partially in a plane secant to the plane containing the axis of deployment of said measuring tape (12). A deployable assembly (20) according to claim 5 or 6, each tape measure (12) having a first side (31) and a second side (32), the tape measures (12) being co-wound in a wound configuration so that the first face (31) of a measuring tape (12) is opposite the second face (32) of an adjacent measuring tape (12), or the first face (31) of a tape measure (12) faces the first side (31) of an adjacent tape measure (12), or the second side (32) of a tape measure (12) faces vis-à-vis the second face (32) of an adjacent measuring tape (12). Deployable assembly (20) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising a membrane (22), solid or perforated, folded between at least two adjacent measuring tapes (12) in closed configuration and extending between the said at least two measuring tapes (12) in an open configuration. Deployable assembly (20) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the membrane (22) comprises at least one conductive track (41) and/or peripheral cables (42) and/or radial strips (43). Satellite (60) comprising at least one deployable assembly (20) according to any one of claims 4 to 9.