JP2567164B2 - Deployable truss structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a deployable truss structure used for a structure constituting a space station, an antenna device constructed in outer space, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of space development, the development of a space station concept is under way. In this space base concept, various deployable truss structures including the skeleton of the space base and the support structure of the antenna are assembled on the ground in advance, then folded and accommodated and transported to outer space. A method of deploying with is considered and is being developed. An example of such a deployable truss structure is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-9869.
There is known a structure in which a plurality of deployable trusses in which a plurality of connecting rods, which are described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9 and the like, are connected in a truss in a cubic shape are combined in a desired shape. In this deployable truss structure, expandable and contractible drive members are respectively arranged on the diagonals of the cubic surfaces of the deployable trusses, and the drive members of these deployable trusses are synchronized by using a drive motor. By expanding and contracting, the entire structure is folded and unfolded.

By the way, such a deployable truss structure is reliable in weight and operation control depending on the number of connecting rods constituting the deployable truss and the number of driving means such as a folding deploying drive motor. It is determined. Therefore, in the above-described conventional deployable truss structure, it is difficult to improve the weight and the reliability of the folding deploying operation control in terms of the number of parts and the number of deployment driving motors. In addition, considering the application in the field of space development, which requires highly accurate motion control, it was not satisfactory.

Therefore, in the field of recent space development, for example, it is an urgent task to develop a deployable truss structure which enables installation of a large-diameter antenna reflector and is capable of highly accurate motion control. It is supposed to be one.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional deployable truss structure has the problems that the weight becomes relatively heavy and the operation control reliability is not satisfactory. Was there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a deployable truss structure which has a simple structure, can promote weight reduction, and can improve reliability of operation control. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in a deployable truss structure comprising a plurality of deployable trusses which can be folded and deployed freely, the deployable truss has a plurality of connecting rods radially with respect to a center rod. , A skeleton structure in which each node is combined in a foldable manner by combining the center rod into one quadrilateral shape, and is erected between nodes on a diagonal line of a connecting rod coupled to the quadrilateral shape of the skeleton structure, Freely bendable at the end
And stretchable elastic member is engaged binding to slidably provided in the center rod of the scaffold structure, the sliding member which is extendable driven freely each link coupled to said elastic member, said scaffold assembly and A wire member stretched between the sliding members in a tension structure, and the sliding member is slid relative to the center rod to extend and retract the expansion member, and the connecting rod of the frame structure is connected to the center rod. And a driving means for folding and unfolding with the center as the center.

[0008]

According to the above construction, in the deployable truss, when the sliding member slidably supported by the center rod of the frame structure is slid along the center rod by the driving means, the connecting rod moves the center rod. It is rotated and controlled as the center and is folded and deployed. As a result, the sliding member is arranged on the center rod of the frame structure, and the configuration using the minimum number of components for sliding control of this sliding member realizes a reliable folding and unfolding operation, and reduces the weight. It is possible to improve the reliability of the operation control as well as the promotion of.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A deployable truss structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a deployable truss 10 having a substantially hexagonal column shape applied to a deployable truss structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a deployed state and FIG. )
Shows a state in the middle of folding (in the middle of unfolding), and FIG. 6 (c) shows a folded state. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the deployable truss 10 is formed by combining seven pieces to form a support structure 11 for supporting the mirror surface of the antenna device, and a flexible conductive film serving as a reflective conductive film on the upper surface side thereof. 12 is as shown in FIG.
A mirror surface is formed by stretching through a support tool 13 called a stud. The supporting structures 11 combined as shown in FIG. 2 are combined so as to share the facing surfaces of the adjacent deployment trusses 10.

A center rod 14 is erected on the deployable truss 10, and a plurality of first connecting rods 1 are provided at both ends of the center rod 14.
5 is an angle that evenly divides the circumference, and is combined so as to radially project in, for example, 6 directions, and the nodes are flexibly coupled. A second connecting rod 16 is installed between the connecting rods 15 at both ends of the center rod 14 so that nodes are bendably connected, and the center rod 14 is connected in a quadrilateral shape to form a frame structure. 17 is formed. The skeleton structure 17 includes a central rod 14, a first connecting rod 1 and a second connecting rod 1 which are connected in a quadrilateral shape.
A telescopic member 18 is installed on the diagonal lines of 5 and 16, and its end is flexibly connected to a node.

The center rod 14 of the frame structure 17 is formed with a screw portion 14a, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, and a sliding member 19 constituting a so-called umbrella mechanism is formed in the screw portion 14a in the directions of arrows A and B. It is slidably screwed. The screw portion 14a is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), and the sliding member 19 is controlled to slide along the center rod 14 in conjunction with the rotational driving. Then, one ends of the six link rods 19a are linked to the sliding member 19 with a predetermined interval, and the tip ends of the link rods 19a are linked to the extension / contraction drive portion of the extension / contraction member 18. Thereby, the elastic member 18
As shown in FIG. 5, when the screw portion 14a of the center rod 14 is rotationally driven and the sliding member 19 is slid along the center rod 14, it is expanded and contracted via the link rod 19a to move the first portion.
Also, the second connecting rods 15 and 16 are folded and developed around the center rod 14.

The first wire member 20 is attached to the frame structure 17 in a substantially cross shape at both ends on a diagonal line between the adjacent second connecting rods 16. Then, one end of the second wire member 21 is attached to the intersection of the first wire member 20, and the other end of the second wire member 21 is attached to the sliding member 19 to form a tension structure. Mounted on.

In the above construction, in the unfolded truss 10 in the unfolded state shown in FIG. 1A, the drive motor (not shown) is driven to rotationally drive the screw portion 14a of the center rod 14 and the sliding member. When 19 is slid in the direction of arrow B,
The contracted elastic member 18 is expanded (see FIG. 2B). Then, in the frame structure 17, the first and second connecting rods 15 and 16 are bent and controlled about the center rod 14, and the first and second wire members 20 as shown in FIG. 1C. , 21, and the entire supporting structure 11 including the reflecting mirror mesh 12 is folded and housed therein.

In the folded truss 10 shown in FIG. 1 (c), when the screw portion 14a is reversed, the sliding member 19 is slid in the direction of arrow A, and along with this, the elastic member. 18 is contracted. Then, the elastic member 18
Is a structure in which the first and second connecting rods 15 and 16 of the frame structure 17 are inverted with respect to the center rod 14, and together with the first and second wire members 20 and 21, as shown in FIGS. Will be expanded in order. In this way, the seven deploying trusses 10 forming the support structure 11 are synchronously deployed and driven, and the entire support structure is deployed and the reflecting mirror mesh 12 is stretched there.

As described above, the deployable truss structure is
Forming a frame structure 17 in which first and second connecting rods 15 and 16 combined in a quadrilateral shape having one side of the center rod 14 are radially frame-bonded to the center rod 14, the center rod 14 is formed.
An expandable elastic member 18 is erected and connected on a diagonal line of the quadrilateral formed by the first and second connecting rods 15 and 16, and a sliding member 19 is slidably provided on the center rod 14. The sliding member 19 and the expansion / contraction member 18 are linked to each other, and the first structure is provided between the frame structure 17 and the sliding member 19.
And a plurality of deployable trusses 10 in which the second wire members 20 and 21 are attached to the tension structure. According to this, the sliding member 19 is attached to the center rod 14 of the frame structure 17.
Is provided and a configuration using minimum components for sliding control of the sliding member 19 realizes a reliable folding and unfolding operation, and reduces the folding and unfolding driving means as compared with the conventional one. It is possible to improve the reliability of the operation control as well as to promote the weight reduction. Further, since the deployable truss 10 can be configured by only including the center rod 14, the first and second connecting rods 15 and 16 and the elastic member 18 as a rigid component, a strong demand is made especially in space development. A significant effect is expected in terms of promoting the weight reduction.

In the above embodiment, the first wire member 20 attached to the tension structure is attached to the frame structure 17 in a substantially cross shape on a diagonal line between the adjacent second connecting rods 16. The intersection of the first wire member 20 and the sliding member 1
Although the second wire member 21 is configured to be attached to the tension structure between the nine wires, the invention is not limited to this, and the second wire member 21 may be, for example, as shown in FIG.
, The first and second wire members 20a, 21
You may comprise so that a may be stuck. That is, the first wire member 20a is stretched between both ends of the adjacent second connecting rods 16 in a substantially parallel manner, and the second wire is provided between the sliding member 19 and the substantially central portion of the first wire member 20a. The member 21a is tightly attached and attached to the tension structure.

Further, in the above embodiment, the screw portion 1 is attached to the center rod 14 as a driving means for folding and deploying the deployable truss 10.
4a is provided, the sliding member 19 is screwed into the screw portion 14a, and the sliding member 19 is interlocked with the rotational driving of the screw portion 14a.
Although it was configured to slide, but not limited to this,
It is also possible to use a spring mechanism to slide the sliding member 19.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the frame structure 17 is constructed by arranging the first and second connecting rods 15 and 16 which are combined in a quadrilateral shape with the central rod 14 radially in six directions. The number of radiation directions is not limited to this number, and various arrangements are possible.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where seven deployable trusses 10 are combined and applied to the antenna device in which the support structure 11 is formed has been described as a representative, but the invention is not limited to this number of combinations. It is configurable. And as an applicable range, various structures including the skeleton of the Space Station,
It is also possible to apply to various buildings constructed on the ground. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0021]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a deployable truss structure having a simple structure, which can promote weight reduction and can improve reliability of operation control. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a deployable truss of a deployable truss structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an antenna device configured using the deployable truss of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of a mounting state of the reflecting mirror mesh of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an arrangement state of the sliding member of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of the operating state of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of Codes] 10 ... Deployable truss, 11 ... Support structure, 12 ... Reflector mesh, 13 ... Support tool, 14 ... Center rod, 15 ... First connecting rod, 16 ... Second connecting rod, 17 ... Frame structure, 18 ... Stretchable member, 19 ... Sliding member, 19a ... Link rod, 2
0,20a ... 1st wire member 21,21a ... 2nd wire member.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A deployable truss structure comprising a plurality of deployable trusses that can be folded and deployed freely, wherein the deployable truss has a plurality of connecting rods radially with respect to a center rod, the center rod being one side. a framework structure in which each node in combination the quadrilateral shape is freely coupled bent respectively, are extended between the nodes on the diagonal line of the connecting rod attached to quadrilateral shape of the skeleton structure, freely bent end to the node and stretchable elastic member is engaged binding to slidably provided in the center rod of the scaffold structure, the sliding member which is extendable driven freely each link coupled to said elastic member, said scaffold assembly and A wire member stretched between the sliding members in a tension structure, and the sliding member is slid with respect to the center rod to extend and retract the expanding and contracting member to connect the connecting rod of the frame structure to the center rod. Fold around A deployable truss structure comprising a drive means for deploying only. 2. The deployable truss structure according to claim 1, wherein a reflecting mirror surface on which a flexible conductive film is stretched in a parabolic shape is formed on one surface.