JP2002516805A - Composite / combination members and deployment method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Constitution) At least two extensible and rollable components (2), each of which can be reversibly formed into a rolled state and a stretched state. 2a). The extensible and rollable components (2a) are arranged such that, when unfolded, they move from a rolled state to an extended state, such components being able to be joined / merged or joined / merged by themselves. Thus, the composite / combination member is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a composite / combination member and a deployment method.

[0002]

[Prior art]

In WO-A-88 / 08620 and WO-A-97 / 35706-these numbers can be used instead of the description in this specification-they can be reversibly formed into a wound state and an extended state. An extensible and windable composite / combination member is disclosed. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of such a member 1.
The partially wound state is shown as 1a and the partially extended state is shown as 1b.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the extended state, such members typically have a circular or substantially circular cross section. In that case, a circular or nearly circular cross-section is effective in supporting or carrying anisotropic loads, but is particularly effective in supporting or carrying isotropic loads. is not. Furthermore, in the transition region between the rolled state and the extended state, the material of the member requires a considerable amount of bending, which limits the rigidity of the material that can be used to form the member. In addition, a large strain is applied to the member in the process of expanding from the wound state to the extended state and vice versa.

[0004]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, each is reversibly formed into a rolled state and an extended state, and is arranged from the rolled state to the extended state when unfolded. In the composite / combination member composed of windable components, the above-mentioned extensible and windable components may be formed by being joined or united by themselves, or may be formed by being joined and united. The above-mentioned composite / combination member is provided.

[0005] Such composite / combination members can have shapes other than circular in cross-section, so that when properly aligned, the composite / combination member has a correspondingly extensible and rolled cross-section. The isotropic load that can be supported or supported is larger than when the removable member is in the extended state. In this case, the extensible and windable individual components themselves need not be circular in cross section. This conversely means that in the transition region between the rolled state and the extended state, a relatively small amount of bending is required for the material of the member. That is, this means that a more rigid material can be used to form the member, and also that the member is involved in the process of expanding from a rolled state to an extended state and vice versa. This means that the distortion is smaller.

The extensible and rollable components are preferably arranged to be self-coupling or self-coupling at or along each edge. .

The extensible and rollable components are provided with coupling / coalescing means at each edge so that they are extensible when deployed from a rolled state to an extended state. The components that can be wound are combined and united.

[0008] The coupling / coalescing means described above comprises the complementary part of the chuck, such that the adjacent edge of the component is expandable and rollable when deployed from the rolled state to the extended state. The parts are chucked together.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a drive mechanism for driving at least one of the above-described composite / combination member and the extendable and windable component from a wound state to an extended state. Is provided.

[0010] The drive mechanism may comprise one worm gear, and at least one of the extendable and windable components described above has one rack that fits with the worm gear. You may have.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least two extensible and rollable, each of which can be reversibly formed into a rolled state and an expanded state, comprising the following two steps: A method is provided for forming a composite / combined member composed of components:-expanding the extensible and rollable component from a rolled state to an extended state; and-extensible. And combining the rollable components to form a composite / combined member. The extendable and rollable components may be automatically joined and united when deployed from the rolled state to the extended state.

The extensible and windable components are arranged so that they can be deployed in unison from two or more winding coils, wherein the extensible and windable components are: Depending on the state of extension, they may be reversibly or permanently combined / merged, thus forming a composite / combined member.

[0013] The extensible and rollable components may be combined by means including, but not limited to, the following: ie, along the edge of said portion Chuck fastener mounting portion, arrangement of protrusions, cavities or holes inside said portion so as to lock said portions together when extended, or provision of a separate locking device such as a clip or rivet, or Use of means such as welding or adhesive bonding to make a permanent connection with the part.

The drive means described above may be unidirectional or reversible such that the composite / combination member is both extended and retracted by the means. Such means may include, but are not limited to: arranging the rotating drum in the winding coil, friction driving against a portion of the extended portion, or gearing. Arrangement of protrusions, cavities or holes on the surface of said parts, which can fit together to form extension or retraction means.

The means for forming the composite / combination member by combining and combining the extensible and windable components is characterized in that the extensible and windable component constituting the composite / combination member is extended. The extensible and windable components may be provided along a line segment moved from a contact point where the tangentially natural contact is made so that a radial strain is applied when in the state.

One or more of the desirable ways of joining the extensible and rollable components of such a composite / combination member may be provided in the form of a hinge, wherein the hinged extensible is provided. And rollable components rotate in parallel to form a single coiled coil or, when extended, can be permanently or reversibly joined along one or more seams. Provision is made to connect hinged edges around the center so as to form a combination member.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described as an example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a composite / combination member 2 according to the present invention formed from three joined / combined components 2a. Each of these components 2a may be made and assembled according to the teachings of WO-A-88 / 08620 and WO-A-97 / 35706, or may have any other shape. These individual components 2a are joined at their margins by any suitable means.
Such means are preferably combined, but these individual components 2a
The connection is made via a raised block 2b arranged at the tangential contact line of the core component, which block 2b is shown in more detail in FIG. These blocks 2b lock each other along the transition line between the winding state and the extended state that each of the individual components 2a takes, so that each individual component 2a is When it is in the state, it is integrally locked with the chuck fastener to form the composite / combination member 2. Such raised blocks 2b may be formed in such a manner that they are mutually locked in order to prevent slippage when the tangential contact surfaces are at right angles to the extension axis.

Referring briefly to FIG. 6, the winding coil 6a is formed of the rolled-up portion 2a and is formed of a suitable support structure (not shown here). In this case, when the individual components 2a are extended, the extended portions 6b of the components 2a are united and joined together at their edges at the same time,
Thus, the arrangement is performed so as to form the composite / combination member 2.

To facilitate the extension of the individual components 2a, at least one of the individual components is provided with a set of raised blocks 4b along its center line as shown in FIG. Can be set up. Preferably, all the individual components 2a are provided with raised blocks along their respective centerlines. These raised blocks 4b form a rack into which the worm screw 4a can be screwed. For the sake of clarity, only one of the individual components 2a is shown in FIG. 4 and the others are arranged equiangularly around the worm screw, thus engaging and screwing with the worm screw. As a result, when all of the individual components 2a are extended,
The combination member is formed and produced.

By combining an arbitrary number of the individual components 2 a irrespective of the mode, a composite / combined column 2 suitable for a predetermined purpose can be produced.
Each of these components 2a is described in WO-A-88 / 08620 and WO-A-88 / 08620.
It should be noted that it may be made and assembled in accordance with the teachings of A-97 / 35706 and may be of any other suitable shape.

As shown in FIG. 5, instead of combining and merging the individual components at their edges, one or more flexible webs 5c are provided at tangential contact points, ie, at points other than the edge contact points. The components may be arranged at the edge of the component 2a in order to combine and combine the components. Such a flexible web 5c may have a chuck 5b along its free end, the other edge of the web 5c being fixed to the edge of the component 2a or such an edge. By being formed integrally with the part and thus closing the chuck, a composite / combined member 2 is formed and each individual component 2a is subjected to radial strain.

Such composite / combination members 2 are all expected to be useful in the engineering field where it is required to drive a long distance from a relatively small package. Such fields include plant inspection and maintenance, inspection and maintenance of pipelines and boreholes, removal of pipeline blockages, and the provision of one-dimensional linear actuators in robotic devices or positioning mechanisms. It is not limited to. Any number of such composite / combination members can be combined to form a spatial frame or other temporary or permanent construction desired for a given purpose.

In the above description, one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment. However, it is easy for various changes and modifications to be made to the above-described embodiment within the scope of the present invention. Will be understood.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an extendable and rollable component, each of which is reversibly formable in a rolled state and an extended state; The state is shown as a winding state and a partially extended state.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of one embodiment of a composite / combination member according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the raised block portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, showing a state where the blocks are locked to each other in the form of a chuck fastener.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of one component related to the composite / combination member of FIG. 2 and a drive mechanism for reversibly extending the component.

FIG. 5 is an end view showing a second embodiment of the composite / combination member according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of one embodiment of a composite / combined member according to the present invention formed from three wound components.

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Claims (8)

[Claims] At least two extendable and retractable windings each being reversibly formed into a rolled state and an extended state, and arranged to be in the expanded state when rolled up. In the composite / combination member composed of possible components, the above-mentioned extensible and windable component can be combined / merged or joined / merged and formed by itself. . 2. The extensible and rollable component is arranged or joined to join at or along each edge. The composite / combination member described in 1. 3. The extensible and rollable component is provided with coupling / coalescing means at each of its edges so that it is extensible when deployed from the rolled state to the extended state. 3. The composite / combination member according to claim 2, wherein said windable components are combined and united. 4. The coupling / coalescing means described above comprises a complementary part of a chuck, such that when deployed from a rolled state to an extended state, it is extensible and adjacent to the rollable component. 4. The composite / combination member according to claim 3, wherein the edges are integrally chucked. 5. The composite / combination member according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the extendable and windable components is driven from a wound state to an extended state. Combination with the drive mechanism. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises one worm gear and said at least one extendable and possible component comprises one rack mating with said worm gear. 5. The combinations described. 7. A composite comprising at least two extensible and rollable components, each of which can be reversibly formed into a rolled state and an extended state, comprising the following two steps. Method of forming the combination member:-deploying the extensible and rollable component from the rolled state to the extended state; and -A process of combining and combining extensible and windable components to form a composite / combined member. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the extensible and rollable components automatically join and merge when deployed from the rolled state to the extended state.