JP2000059122A - Expansion type planar structure device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the occupation area at the time of the storage and to secure wide area at the time of the expansion by expanding a planar structure in two dimensions by coupling lanar panels spirally as a whole and folding mutually adjacent coupling parts repeatedly and alternately outward and inward. SOLUTION: This structure can be expanded without touching a fixed wall or a planar panel 1' which is already expanded halfway by expanding planar panels 1' by releasing a tied belt 3 and sequentially opening hinges 2 which are folded successively and alternately outward and inward from a part close to the fixed wall 4 with springs incorporated in the hinges 2 or by driving motors built in the hinges 2. A cable 5 can always be wired through the hinges 2, so that no unnecessary load is imposed at the time of the expansion and the storage by slackening the cable 5 nearby the hinges 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a deployable flat structure device which can be deployed and stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a conventional deployable array antenna device mounted on a satellite, wherein 1 is a flat antenna panel constituting an array antenna, 2 is a hinge, 3 is a tie belt, and 4 is a fixed wall. . In FIG. 1, each planar antenna panel needs to be square or rectangular. FIG. 1A shows the antenna device after deployment, and FIG.
FIG. 1B shows a state in the middle of deployment, and FIG. 1C shows a stored state before the deployment.

In order to operate this apparatus, the tie belt 3 shown in FIG. 1C is released, and the tie belt 3 is started to be deployed by a spring or a motor mounted on a hinge to form the shape shown in FIG. The process ends in the form of a). That is, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 can save the occupied space in the form of (c) during transportation by a rocket or the like, and can restore the original size at the intended place. When a motor is used, it can be housed by rotating in the reverse direction to the time of deployment. There is also a solar cell panel in which a solar cell is arranged on the panel surface instead of the antenna, but is structurally the same as the deployable array antenna device.

[0004]

In FIG. 1, the direction in which the flat antenna panel 1 is developed is one-dimensional, and can be extended only in the length direction. Therefore, when not only the length but also the width is required, the width of the planar antenna panel 1 must be increased. However, the width of the flat antenna panel 1 cannot be increased beyond the width of a rocket or the like at the time of transportation, and there is a limit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an unfolded planar structure device which spreads two-dimensionally not only in the length direction but also in the width direction when unfolded, while maintaining the feature that the occupied space during storage is small. is there.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exploded flat structure apparatus comprising: a plurality of flat panels connected to each other; In addition to being a spiral type, it is characterized in that bending of adjacent joints is alternately repeated in mountain folds and valley folds. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the unfolded planar structure device according to the first aspect, wherein the shape of the flat panel is a square. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the unfolded planar structure device according to the first aspect, wherein the shape of the flat panel is a square and a triangle obtained by dividing the square by a diagonal line. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the deployable planar structure device according to the second or third aspect, wherein a planar antenna is disposed on the flat panel. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the developed planar structure device according to the second or third aspect, wherein a solar cell element is disposed on the flat panel. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an unfolded planar structure apparatus according to the second or third aspect, wherein two sets of the two-dimensionally structured flat panel are formed by connecting the plurality of flat panels to each other. Are characterized in that the directions of the spirals in the planar structure are opposite to each other. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a small planar structure is obtained at the time of deployment, although it is small at the time of storage.

[0007]

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 'is a square flat panel constituting a flat structure,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a hinge, 3 denotes a tie belt, 4 denotes a fixed wall, and 5 denotes a power supply or high-frequency signal cable. 2A shows a deployed state, FIGS. 2B, 2C and 2D show a deployed state, and FIG. 2E shows a stored state before the deployed state. In the folding of the hinge 2, the mountain fold and the valley fold are alternately connected.

In order to operate this device, the tie belt 3 shown in FIG. 2E is released, and the springs charged in the hinge 2 are sequentially released from a position near the fixed wall 4 or the hinge 2 is released.
2 (a) by sequentially driving the motors prepared in the step (a) and opening the flat panel 1 'in order from the side closer to the fixed wall 4 without contacting the fixed wall 4 or the flat panel 1' already developed during the development. ) Can be set to the expanded state. Since the cable 5 can always be routed through the hinge 2, the cable 5 in the vicinity of the hinge 2 is not bent so that an unnecessary load is not applied when the cable 5 is deployed and stored.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
1 'is a square flat panel constituting a plane structure, 1 "is a triangular flat panel obtained by dividing a square by a diagonal line, 2 is a hinge, 3 is a tie belt, 4 is a fixed wall, 5 is a power supply or high frequency signal cable. 3 (a) shows the developed state, and FIGS. 30 (b), (c) and (d) show the state during the development.
FIG. 3E shows the stored state before deployment. Note that hinge 2
For the folding of the fold, the mountain fold and the valley fold are connected alternately.

In order to operate this device, the tie belt 3 shown in FIG. 3E is released, and the flat panels 1 ', 1 "are opened in order from the one closer to the fixed wall 4 by a spring or a motor provided in the hinge 2. 3 without contacting the fixed wall 4 or the already developed flat panels 1 ′, 1 ″ during the development.
(A) can be set to the expanded state. Cable 5
Can always be wired through the hinge 2 part.
By giving the cable 5 in the vicinity a bend, unnecessary load is not applied when the cable is deployed and stored. Furthermore, since the cable 5 in the housed state exists only on one plane of the pillar surface formed by laminating the flat panels 1 'and 1 ", holding or repair becomes easy.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
This is a case where a plane antenna is arranged on a flat panel. 6
Indicates a planar antenna element. The planar antenna element has the same metal film thickness as the printed wiring, and does not affect the deployment and storage of the panel. As a result, it is possible to form a deployable array antenna that is small when stored and has a large aperture after deployment.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
This is a case where a solar cell is arranged on a flat panel. Reference numeral 7 denotes a solar cell element. The solar cell element is in the form of a thin substrate, and does not affect the deployment and storage of the panel even if it is disposed on the flat panel 1 ', 1 ". As a result, the solar cell element is small when stored and has a large opening after deployment. A developed solar cell panel can be formed.

FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
The two sets of unfolded planar structures A and B have different spiral directions, which are opposite to each other, and are arranged side by side. By adopting this shape, the center of gravity of the deployable plane structure can be placed in the vertical direction from the fixed point of the deployable plane structure on the fixed wall, and the structure is more resistant to disturbances received by the deployable plane structure. It can be.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the occupied space can be saved at the time of transportation, and a two-dimensional planar structure can be developed at a necessary place to secure a large area. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the flat panel is formed in a square shape, it is possible to configure the unfolded flat structure device using only a single shape panel, which reduces the cost in terms of design and the manufacturing cost. Can be reduced. Further, even in the stored state after being superimposed, there is no distinction between the vertical and horizontal directions, which is excellent in terms of handling. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the flat panel is composed of squares and triangles, it is possible to store the panel smoothly and reasonably, and to ensure a smooth deployment operation when deploying. it can. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the planar antenna is arranged on the flat panel, a large antenna area can be secured when necessary. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the solar cell elements are arranged on the flat panel, a large solar electric element area can be secured when necessary. According to the invention according to claim 6, two sets of the flat structure constituted by connecting a plurality of flat panels to each other are set as two sets, and the spiral directions of the two sets of the flat structures are opposite to each other. The position of the center of gravity of the planar structure can be placed in a direction perpendicular to the fixed point of the deployable planar structure on the fixed wall, so that the structure can be made more resistant to disturbance received by the deployable planar structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration diagram of a conventional deployable array antenna device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Flat panel, 1 '... Square flat panel, 1 "... Triangle flat panel, 2 ... Hinge, 3 ... Tie belt, 4 ... Fixed wall, 5 ... Cable, 6 ... Flat antenna element, 7 ... Solar cell element.

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a planar structure formed by connecting a plurality of flat panels to each other, the flat panels are connected in a spiral shape as a whole, and adjacent connecting portions are alternately bent by mountain folds and valley folds. An unfolded planar structure device characterized by repeating. 2. The unfolded planar structure device according to claim 1, wherein the flat panel has a square shape. 3. The unfolded planar structure device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the flat panel comprises a square and a triangle obtained by dividing the square by a diagonal line. 4. The developed planar structure device according to claim 2, wherein a planar antenna is arranged on the flat panel. 5. The developed flat structure device according to claim 2, wherein a solar cell element is arranged on the flat panel. 6. The unfolded planar structure device according to claim 2, wherein two sets of planar structures constituted by connecting the plurality of flat panels to each other are formed, and the direction of the spiral of the two sets of planar structures is set. Are arranged in opposite directions to each other.