JP2008168760A - Two-dimensional low gravity environment simulator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a two-dimensional low gravity environment simulator, capable of easily stabilizing a posture of a test piece, and obtaining a good two-dimensional low gravity environment to the test piece. <P>SOLUTION: The two-dimensional low gravity environment simulator comprises a base 2 wherein an upper surface is a horizontal and smooth sliding surface 1, and a moving truck 10 capable of traveling in all directions on the sliding surface 1. A low viscous lubricant 3 is applied on the sliding surface 1. The moving truck 10 is rotatably provided with a plurality of traveling balls 13 on a supporting plate 11 for placing the test piece. By adopting the traveling truck 10, the posture of the test piece is stabilized. Friction force generating between the sliding surface 1 and the traveling truck 10 is made to be very small, so that a good two-dimensional low gravity environment to the test piece A is obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulator used to simulate a two-dimensional low-gravity environment in the development of equipment used in a low-gravity environment such as outer space and the surface of an asteroid and its vicinity. It is.

  In the development of equipment used in a low-gravity environment such as outer space, it is actually operated in an artificially obtained low-gravity environment to verify physical characteristics and the like. Generally, as means for artificially obtaining a low-gravity environment, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, rocket ballistic flight, aircraft free fall, fall tower, and the like are well known.

  By the way, the above-mentioned means for obtaining a low-gravity environment has a problem that although a three-dimensional low-gravity environment is obtained, large equipment and a large amount of money are required, and the time for obtaining the low-gravity environment is short. Therefore, if the target device generates a force in one direction by separating or releasing an object, for example, a low-gravity environment only in that direction, that is, a two-dimensional low-gravity If an environment is obtained, various characteristics can be substantially verified.

Therefore, as a device for simulating a two-dimensional low-gravity environment, as shown in FIG. 2, a base 102 in which a large number of injection holes 101 are regularly arranged on the upper surface and a specimen (equipment) A are placed. The support plate 103 is used to inject air from each of the injection holes 101 of the base 102 to slightly lift the specimen A together with the support plate 103, or a suspension cable having a sufficient length as shown in FIG. There was one that suspended the specimen A at 110. In these simulators, by allowing the specimen A to move freely in the horizontal direction, a horizontal (two-dimensional) low-gravity environment can be simulated.
“Second Edition, Aerospace Engineering Handbook” Maruzen, September 30, 1992, p. 1081

  However, in the conventional two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulator as described above, in the case where the specimen is levitated with air, it is very difficult to position the specimen with respect to the support plate, and the center of gravity of the specimen is slightly shifted. In this case, there is a problem that the support plate comes into contact with the base and the frictional force is increased, so that a good two-dimensional low-gravity environment cannot be obtained.

  Also, in the case where the specimen is suspended by the suspension rope, if the swinging angle α of the suspension rope increases, the lateral acceleration increases and the state of two-dimensional low gravity collapses. Limited to specimens with small force (movement amount / reaction force). In addition, if the center of gravity of the specimen is biased, it will be difficult to match the direction of force generation and the direction of vibration, and a good two-dimensional low-gravity environment will not be obtained, and the specimen will be easy to rotate. Therefore, there is a problem that it is very difficult to stabilize the posture of the specimen.

  Thus, in the conventional two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulator, it is difficult to stabilize the posture of the specimen, and there is a problem that a good two-dimensional low-gravity environment may not be obtained. The problem was to solve the problem.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described conventional problems, and it is easy to stabilize the posture of the specimen, and to obtain a good two-dimensional low-gravity environment with respect to the specimen. The purpose is to provide a two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device that can be used.

  The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device of the present invention includes a base having a flat and smooth sliding surface on the upper surface, and a movable carriage that can travel in all directions on the sliding surface. A low-viscosity lubricant is applied to the sliding surface. The moving carriage has a configuration in which a plurality of traveling balls are rotatably provided on a support plate for mounting a specimen, and the above configuration is a means for solving the conventional problems.

  The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device of the present invention has a very low frictional force between the sliding surface and the traveling carriage due to the interaction between the low-viscosity lubricant applied to the running surface of the base and the traveling balls of the traveling carriage. When a force is generated in one direction due to the operation of the specimen, the specimen freely moves with the moving carriage by the reaction force. That is, for the specimen, a two-dimensional low-gravity environment is obtained in the horizontal direction, which is the direction of force generation.

  The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device of the present invention can stabilize the posture of the specimen without being influenced by the magnitude of the force generated by the specimen and the position of the center of gravity of the specimen, The frictional force generated between them can be made extremely small, and a low-gravity environment in the horizontal direction with respect to the specimen, that is, a two-dimensional low-gravity environment can be favorably obtained.

  The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device of the present invention includes a base having a flat and smooth sliding surface on the upper surface, and a movable carriage that can run in all directions on the sliding surface. Lubricant is applied. In addition, the movable carriage is provided with a plurality of traveling balls, for example, about three or four (the number is not particularly limited) on a support plate for placing a specimen.

  In this way, the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device is relatively simple in structure and easy to realize downsizing and cost reduction. By adopting, it is easy to stabilize the posture of the specimen, and it is also easy to make the direction of the force generated in the specimen coincide with the horizontal direction.

  In addition, the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device can extremely reduce the friction force generated between the sliding surface and the moving carriage due to the interaction between the low-viscosity lubricant and the traveling ball. An accurate and good two-dimensional low-gravity environment will be provided. At this time, since the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device employs a traveling ball for the moving carriage, the contact area of the moving carriage with respect to the sliding surface is minimized, and the frictional force is further reduced. A better two-dimensional low-gravity environment can be obtained.

  Furthermore, the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device can also form the upper surface of the base itself into a horizontal and smooth sliding surface, but as a configuration to obtain a smoother sliding surface with a simpler configuration, the base is By using a sliding plate that forms a sliding surface, especially by using a hard plate such as a glass plate, a metal plate, and a marble stone plate with a smooth surface and a uniform thickness. Further, the frictional force between the sliding surface and the moving carriage can be further reduced, and a better two-dimensional low-gravity environment can be obtained.

  Further, in the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device, as a more preferred embodiment, the mobile carriage has a plurality of legs on the lower surface of the support plate, and a part of the running ball is exposed downward on each leg. In this case, the mass of the moving carriage with respect to a two-dimensional low-gravity environment can be obtained by adopting a honeycomb plate as a support plate to reduce the weight of the moving carriage. In addition, the use of metal traveling balls further reduces the frictional force between the sliding surface and the moving carriage, resulting in a better two-dimensional low-gravity environment. Can be obtained.

  Furthermore, the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulator of the present invention can be applied to a two-dimensional low-gravity environment test method particularly for a specimen that generates a force in one direction or one rotation direction. At this time, the posture of the specimen is the horizontal direction in the direction in which force is generated or the direction around the axis. According to the low-gravity environment test method using the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulator, the test can be performed very easily and accurately at a low cost, and can be repeatedly performed. Combined with the three-dimensional low-gravity environment test by the free fall of the aircraft and the drop tower, accurate verification is possible even if the number of three-dimensional low-gravity environment tests is reduced. Useful for.

  Next, an embodiment of the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device of the present invention will be described more specifically based on the drawings.

  The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (a) includes a base 2 having an upper surface that is a horizontal and smooth sliding surface 1, and a movable carriage 10 that can travel on the sliding surface 1 in all directions. 1 is coated with a low-viscosity lubricant 3.

  The base 2 in the illustrated example is an optical surface plate that is used, for example, for arrangement of optical equipment, etc., and is provided with a horizontal adjustment mechanism 4 at a plurality of positions on the lower side, and its upper surface is adjusted to an accurate horizontal state. Can be maintained. Moreover, the base plate 2 in the illustrated example has a sliding plate 5 superposed on the upper side, whereby the upper surface is a horizontal and smooth sliding surface 1, and in particular, a glass plate having a smooth surface is used as the sliding plate 5. Thus, the frictional force with the moving carriage 10 is made smaller.

  In addition, since the thing with a smooth surface and uniform thickness is used for the sliding board 5, the horizontal sliding surface 1 is obtained in the state which superposed | polymerized this sliding board 5 on the base | substrate 2, but depending on the case, a base | substrate may be obtained. It is also possible to adjust the sliding surface 1 of the sliding plate 5 so that the sliding surface 1 is accurately leveled by operating the horizontal adjustment mechanism 4.

  Further, as the low-viscosity lubricant 3 applied to the sliding surface 1 of the sliding plate 5, for example, “CRC 5-56 (trade name)” manufactured by Kure Kogyo Co., Ltd. can be used. Thereby, in combination with the sliding plate 5 made of a glass plate, a smoother and lower friction sliding surface 1 is realized.

  As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the movable carriage 10 includes a support plate 11 on which the specimen A is placed, and leg portions 12 are provided at four corners on the lower surface of the support plate 11. Each leg 12 is provided with a running ball 13 that is rotatable. Thereby, the moving trolley | bogie 10 can move to all directions smoothly compared with the case where the caster which has a turning axis | shaft of a wheel is used, and the contact area with the sliding surface 1 is made into the minimum. Further, the movable carriage 10 may be configured such that each leg portion 12 is provided with a horizontal adjustment mechanism so that the upper surface of the support plate 11 can be adjusted horizontally.

  The material of the support plate 11 is not particularly limited. However, the support plate 11 is formed of a honeycomb plate, thereby ensuring sufficient mechanical strength, reducing the weight of the moving carriage 10, and reducing the two-dimensional low gravity. The influence of the mass of the mobile carriage 10 on the environment is made as small as possible.

  The material of the running ball 13 is not particularly limited, but a metal ball is used in order to further enhance the interaction of reducing the frictional force with the low-viscosity lubricant applied to the sliding plate 5. Each leg portion 12 is rotatably accommodated with a part thereof exposed downward, and the mobile carriage 10 can travel in all directions with a simple configuration.

  The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulator with the above configuration is used to separate and release equipment, especially objects, used in low-gravity environments (including zero-gravity environments) such as the outer space and the surface of an asteroid. An apparatus that generates a force in one direction is used as a specimen A, and the mobile carriage 10 is positioned so that the force is generated in a horizontal direction. To verify.

  At this time, since the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation apparatus uses the moving carriage 10, the specimen A can be maintained in a stable posture, and can move with the sliding surface 1 coated with the low-viscosity lubricant 3. Since the frictional force between the carriage 10 and the traveling ball 13 is very small, when the specimen A is operated, the moving carriage 10 moves freely together with the specimen A by the reaction force. That is, a low-gravity environment in the direction in which the force is generated with respect to the specimen A, that is, the horizontal direction (two-dimensional) is obtained favorably.

  In addition, the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device has a relatively simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost, and it is extremely easy to repeatedly perform experiments on various specimens. Furthermore, the specimen A is naturally applicable not only to those that generate a linear force in one direction but also those that rotate around an axis perpendicular to the sliding surface 1. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a plurality of mobile carriages 10 on the base 2 and perform experiments by mounting devices related to each other on these mobile carriages 10.

  Note that the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described details of the configuration, and the configuration can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is the side view (a) explaining one Embodiment of the two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation apparatus of this invention, the side view (b) of a mobile trolley, and the bottom view (c) of a mobile trolley. It is a side view explaining the conventional two-dimensional low gravity environment simulation apparatus. It is a side view explaining the other example of the conventional two-dimensional low gravity environment simulation apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sliding surface 2 Base 3 Low-viscosity lubricant 5 Sliding plate 10 Moving carriage 11 Support plate 12 Leg part 13 Running ball

Claims (3)

Equipped with a base with a flat and smooth sliding surface on the upper surface and a moving carriage that can run in all directions on the sliding surface. The sliding surface is coated with a low-viscosity lubricant. A two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device, wherein a plurality of traveling balls are rotatably provided on a mounting support plate. The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulation device according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a sliding plate that forms a sliding surface. The movable carriage has a plurality of legs on the lower surface of the support plate made of a honeycomb plate, and a metal traveling ball is rotatably accommodated in each leg with a part thereof exposed downward. The two-dimensional low-gravity environment simulator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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