JP2003072699A - Experiment sample device for space - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance efficiency of recovery work of sample holders after finishing experiments in space. SOLUTION: The experiment sample device for space comprises the tabular sample holders 3A and 3B comprised by attaching a plurality of samples 1 to surfaces, and a holding structure 4 having storage parts 9 and 11 which can be stored in states fixing and holding the sample holders 3A and 3B and pushed in and drawn out in a fore and aft direction from a front face F side. Chevron plate springs 19 are attached so that they are protrusively energized horizontally inward in end part positions of fore and aft direction depth sides of right and left inward faces of the storage parts 9 and 11 of the holding structure 4. Recessed parts 22 for fitting in chevron top parts of the plate springs 19 are correspondingly provided in sample holder 3A and 3B sides. After finishing experiments, the sample holders 3A and 3B are drawn out from the storage parts 9 and 11 of the holding structure 4, and only the sample holders 3A and 3B are sent to earth leaving the holding structure 4 behind.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an outer space experimental sample device used for examining the influence of various materials as an experimental sample on these materials in outer space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a plan to construct a space station as a permanent and multipurpose manned facility in an orbit around the earth and perform various experiments and researches with a service module and an experiment module connected to the space station. It is being advanced.

As one of the experiments carried out by the above service module, various metals, films, sheets, etc. are exposed to outer space as experimental samples for a long period of time, for example, one year, two years, three years, and these periods In order to bring back to the ground the state of deterioration of various materials due to the effect of the material from atomic oxygen, radiation, ultraviolet rays, etc., or to use as a test sample several kinds that capture debris floating in outer space, After experiments in space for a long time, they are brought back to the ground to check the debris capture status.

The conventional experimental sample apparatus used for such an experiment is capable of folding and unfolding a sample holder to which a large number of experimental samples composed of various materials and various debris capturing parts as described above are attached. It is held in a box-shaped holding structure and is used by attaching it to a service module. The holding structure is folded and launched in a state where the sample holder is stored, and the holding structure is unfolded in an orbit around the earth to sample. The experiment is performed with the sample surface of the holder exposed to outer space. For example, when using three devices, one is for one year and the other is for two years. 1 of 3
One year after one year, another one after two years, another one after three years, and the remaining one after three years to the earth, one year, two years, By analyzing each sample, we will investigate how the deterioration status of materials will change in three years.

[0005]

However, in the conventional experimental sample device for the same purpose, since the sample holder and the holding structure are manufactured as an integral structure, it is originally intended for analysis after the end of the space experiment. Has a problem in that it is necessary to collect unnecessary holding structures even though only experimental samples are required. In the space experiment, the launch weight and the recovered weight are limited, or the launch cost is determined by the weight, and in the case of the conventional experimental sample device that has no choice but to recover the holding structure,
This is one of the weak points in space experiments where the recovered weight is large and the weight limit is severe.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to efficiently collect a portion that needs to be collected and analyzed.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a sample holder in which a plurality of experimental samples are flatly mounted, and a storage portion for storing the sample holder so that the sample holder can be inserted and removed in the front-rear direction. And a holding structure provided with the above-mentioned holding structure separately, and is always biased inward in the left-right direction at a required position on at least one side of the rails on both the left and right sides of the storage section provided in the holding structure. The above-mentioned locking member is assembled, and a locking portion for locking the locking member is provided at a required position on at least one of the left and right end surfaces of the sample holder.

When the sample holder is inserted and stored in the storage part of the holding structure, the sample holder is fixed because the storage part side locking member is locked to the sample holder side locking part. Is retained. After the end of the experiment, the sample holder can be pulled out from the storage part, so that it is possible to collect only the sample holder while leaving the holding structure.

Further, the engaging member is assembled at the rear end of the holding structure accommodating portion in the front-rear direction, so that when the sample holder is pulled out a little forward, it is fixed by the engaging member. Since the holding power is lost, the sample holder can be pulled out easily.

Further, since the engaging member is a mountain-shaped leaf spring and the engaging portion is a recess, a reliable function can be obtained with a simple structure.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 (a), (b), and (c) to FIG. 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which various samples 1 are mounted on a surface to be exposed to outer space in a plane. And a holding structure 4 having plate-shaped sample holders 3A and 3B and storage portions 9 and 11 that can be stored while the sample holders 3A and 3B are fixedly held and can be inserted and removed from the front side F in the front-rear direction. The experimental sample device consists of and.

More specifically, the holding structure 4 comprises a first frame 5 and a second frame 6 which are so-called frame frames having a square planar shape, and a flat cover casing 7, and the first frame 5 is It has a cavity with a wide (thickness) structure that is open only on the front side in the front-rear direction (arrow Y direction), and a partition wall 8 extending in the front-rear direction is provided at the center of the cavity in the left-right direction (arrow X direction). In the interior, two rectangular sample holder storage portions 9 on the left and right sides are defined and formed, and the sample holder 3A having a relatively thick thickness can be inserted and removed from the front side in each of the storage portions 9 on the left and right sides to be stored. In addition, the second frame 6 has a cavity portion of a narrow width (thickness) structure (about half of that of the first frame 5) which is open only on the front side in the front-rear direction, and is provided in the center portion in the left-right direction of the cavity portion. By providing a partition wall 10 extending in the front-back direction Two rectangular sample holder storage portions 11 on the left and right sides are formed in a compartment to store the sample holder 3B having a relatively thin thickness in each of the storage portions 11 on the left and right sides, and a folded storage state described later. The cover plate 2 is attached to the surface which is the outer surface of the.
The second frame 6 and the cover casing 7 are attached to one end of the first frame 5 in the left-right direction so as to be openable and closable by the hinges 12, and the first frame 5 is sandwiched from the front and back sides as shown in FIG. Like the second frame 6
By overlapping the cover casing 7 with the cover casing 7, the end bracket 13 of the first frame 5, the end bracket 14 of the second frame 6 and the cover casing 7 which are overlapped with each other in this state can be formed. By inserting the fixing pin 16 into the end bracket 15, the holding structure 4 can be folded and stored at the time of launching, and as shown in FIGS. On the other hand, when the second frame 6 and the cover casing 7 are opened and the holding structure 4 is expanded, the fixing pins 17 are inserted into the end brackets 14 of the second frame 6 and the end brackets 15 of the cover casing 7 to circulate. It is designed so that the deployed state in orbit can be obtained.

The left and right side portions 5a of the first frame 5 are also provided.
A rail groove 18 extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the inner side surface of the partition wall 8 and the left and right side surfaces of the partition wall 8, and the front and rear direction end portions of the left and right side surfaces of the partition wall 8 are located at the rear end positions in FIG. As shown in an enlarged view, a mountain-shaped leaf spring 19 is attached as a locking portion that is constantly urged to project inward in the left-right direction. Further, rail grooves 18 similar to those of the first frame 5 are formed on the inner side surfaces of the left and right side portions 6a of the second frame 6 and the left and right side surfaces of the partition wall 10, and the front and rear sides of the left and right side surfaces of the partition wall 10 are formed. A mountain-shaped leaf spring 19 as a locking portion similar to that shown in FIG. 1C is attached to the end portion on the far side in the direction.

On the other hand, the sample holders 3A, 3B
Is the size of the storage parts 9 and 11, as shown in FIG.
It has a planar shape and thickness made according to the thickness dimension, and a number of various samples 1 are attached to the surface side that is the exposed surface to outer space, and a handle at one end in the longitudinal direction that is the longitudinal direction. 20 is attached, and guide rails 21 having a required length for engaging with the rail grooves 18 of the first frame 5 and the second frame 6 are provided on the left and right end surfaces of the sample holders 3A and 3B. A recess for fitting the mountain tops of the leaf springs 19 into the positions of the guide rails 21 which are attached at required intervals in the front-rear direction and correspond to the leaf springs 19 assembled to the partition walls 8 and 10. 22 is provided as a locking portion.

In FIG. 1 (a) and FIG. 2, 23
Shows a handle used when opening and closing the holding structure 4.

At the time of launching from the ground to outer space, the first frame 5, the second frame 6 and the cover casing 7 are folded and stored as shown in FIG. The sample holders 3A and 3B corresponding to the respective storage portions 11 of the frame 6 are inserted and held. At this time, when the sample holders 3A and 3B are inserted to the inner sides of the storage sections 9 and 11, the mountain tops of the leaf springs 9 assembled at the end portions of the partition walls 8 and 10 in the front-rear direction are attached to the sample holders 3. Although it fits into the recess 22 provided in the guide rail 21 near the tip end of the insertion side, the sample holders 3A and 3B cannot be fixed only by the fitting input of the leaf springs 19 in the ground space. Is the first
An appropriate fixing means such as a tether wire is used so that the frame 5 and the second frame 6 cannot be removed from the storage part 9 and the storage part 11 of the second frame 6.

On the other hand, when an experiment is carried out in the space station service module that has been launched and is in orbit around the earth, the first frame 5 as shown in FIGS.
On the other hand, the second frame 6 and the cover casing 7 are opened to expand the entire holding structure 4, and each sample 1 is set and used in such a state that it is exposed to outer space. In this case, on the orbit around the earth, gravity and vibration as on the ground do not act, so that the leaf spring 19 on the side of the holding structure 4 in the recess 22 of the guide rail 21 of the sample holder 3A, 3B.
The sample holders 3A and 3B can be securely fixed and held only by the fitting input.

In the above state, when the experiment for a predetermined period is completed, the holding structure 4 is left and the sample holder 3
Try to collect only A and 3B. In this case, the sample holders 3A and 3B can release the fitting of the leaf spring 19 into the recess 22 with a small force when the grip 20 is grasped and pulled forward. At this time, the leaf spring 19 is attached to each of the storage parts 9,
Since it is assembled at the rear end position of 11,
As indicated by the chain double-dashed line in (a), when the sample holders 3A and 3B are pulled out a little forward, the fixed holding force by the leaf spring 19 disappears, so that the guide rail 21 slides in the rail groove 18 thereafter. The sample holders 3A and 3B can be easily pulled out from the storage portion 9 of the first frame 5 and the storage portion 11 of the second frame 6.

As a result, only the sample holders 3A and 3B separated from the holding structure 4 can be collected on the ground, so that the sample holders 3A and 3B can be collected together with the holding structure 4 as compared with the case of collecting them together. The weight can be significantly reduced, which is advantageous.

4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention, one sample holder 3
Instead of using one leaf spring 19 for A or 3B, FIG. 4 shows one sample holder 3A or 3A.
When the recesses 22 are provided at the front end and the rear end of one of the left and right side end surfaces of B, and the leaf springs 19 are engaged with the recesses 22, respectively, FIG. Recesses 22 are provided symmetrically at the rear end portions of the left and right end faces of the two sample holders 3A and 3B, and the leaf springs 1 are provided in the recesses 22.
9 shows a case in which 9 are engaged with each other.

In the case of the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
The fixed holding force of the sample holders 3A and 3B can be further increased.

In the above embodiment, the locking member for fixing and holding the sample holders 3A and 3B is as follows.
Although the case where the mountain-shaped plate spring 19 is adopted so that a reliable function can be obtained with a simple structure is shown, a small protrusion that is biased by the spring may be used, and other aspects of the present invention are also possible. Of course, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0024]

As described above, according to the experimental sample apparatus for outer space of the present invention, the sample holder in which a plurality of experimental samples are flatly mounted and the sample holder are housed so as to be removable in the front-rear direction. A holding structure provided with a storage portion is separately provided, and is constantly biased inward in the left-right direction to a required position on at least one side of the rail portions on both left and right sides of the storage portion provided in the holding structure. The locking member for locking the locking member is provided at a required position on at least one of the left and right end surfaces of the sample holder. Since it is possible to pull out the completed sample holder from the holding structure and collect only the sample holder on the ground, it is advantageous in terms of recovery weight and the recovery work is effective. It can be performed well, and by setting the assembly position of the locking member to the end of the holding structure housing in the front-rear direction, it locks when the sample holder is pulled out from the housing a little. Since the fixing force of the member can be released, the sample holder can be easily pulled out from the storage part. Furthermore, the mountain-shaped leaf spring is used as the locking member and the locking part is a recess, which ensures a simple structure. It exhibits excellent effects such as obtaining various functions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an experimental sample device for outer space according to the present invention, where (a) is a front view of a holding structure in a developed state, and (b) is an AA direction of (a). Arrow view,
FIG. 3C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion B of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a folded storage state of a holding structure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a sample holder used in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a sample holder showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a sample holder showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 sample 3A, 3B sample holder 4 holding structure 9,11 Storage 18 Rail groove (rail section) 19 Leaf spring (locking member) 22 Recessed part (locking part)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sample holder having a plurality of experimental samples mounted on a plane and a holding structure having a storage section for storing the sample holder so that the sample holder can be inserted and removed in the front-rear direction. At least one required side of the rails on both the left and right sides of the storage section provided in the holding structure is fitted with a locking member that is constantly biased inward in the left-right direction, and further, the left and right ends of the sample holder. An experimental sample device for outer space, which has a structure in which a locking portion for locking the locking member is provided at a required position on at least one surface of the surface. 2. The experimental sample device for outer space according to claim 1, wherein the engaging member is assembled at the rear end of the holding structure housing. 3. The experimental sample apparatus for outer space according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is a mountain-shaped leaf spring, and the locking portion is a recess.