JP2685752B2 - Solar paddle deployment mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a solar cell paddle deploying mechanism suitable for deploying a foldable solar cell paddle mounted on, for example, an artificial satellite. (Prior Art) Generally, because of the power consumption of an artificial satellite, this type of solar cell paddle is the first outermost layer among a plurality of folded solar cell panels with a solar cell paddle expansion mechanism interposed. The panel at the end is expanded to generate a desired electric power in that state, and then the second panel is expanded to generate a large amount of electric power. FIG. 3 shows such a solar cell paddle deployment mechanism, in which the solar cell paddle 11 is folded and mounted on the satellite structure 10. In this solar cell paddle 11, for example, the first solar cell panel 11a at the outermost end of the solar cell paddle 11 is connected to the second solar cell panel 11a via a first expansion mechanism including a motor 12 and a speed reducer 13, as shown in FIG. The solar cell panel 11b is arranged so as to be expandable, and is folded and held via a first holding / releasing mechanism (not shown). The second solar cell panel 11b is usually composed of a plurality of panels, and for example, a hinge 14 with a spring (not shown in FIG. 3 for convenience of the drawing, refer to the fourth) with respect to the satellite structure 10 is synchronized with the satellite structure 10. In a state in which the pulley 15 and the synchronization cable 16 (for convenience of drawing, only the drawing in FIG. 3C is shown) is arranged so as to be freely developed, the second holding and releasing mechanism (not shown) is used. It is folded and held. As a result, when the first holding / releasing mechanism (not shown) is released by, for example, a command from the ground, the solar cell paddle 11 causes the first solar cell panel 11a to move at a predetermined angle by the motor 12 and the speed reducer 13. It is deployed and held in the deployed position. next,
When the second holding / releasing mechanism (not shown) is released, the solar cell paddle 11 has the second solar cell panel 11b with the hinge 1
4, the synchronous pulley 15 and the synchronous cable 16 are synchronously deployed, and the first solar cell panel 11a is deployed to the final position by the motor 12 and the speed reducer 13. However, the solar cell paddle deployment mechanism requires two deployment mechanisms, a first deployment mechanism and a second deployment mechanism (not shown), because of its structure, and thus the size is increased and the overlap is reduced.
Moreover, the control system was complicated, and its operation was troublesome. (Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned overlapping and complication, and has a simple structure and a small size.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely good solar cell paddle deploying mechanism that can improve weight reduction. [Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Problems and Actions Thereof) The present invention relates to a deployable first solar cell panel that is folded and held through a first holding / releasing mechanism, and the first solar cell. A battery panel connected to each other, a deployable second solar cell panel that is folded and held via a second holding and releasing mechanism, and the first and second solar cell panels, A deploying means for deploying to a deploying position interlocking with the holding and releasing of the second holding and releasing mechanism, and a first synchronous pulley are rotatably arranged on the first solar cell panel, and are mounted on the second solar cell panel. A second synchronous pulley is axially arranged, and a synchronous mechanism in which a synchronous belt is wound between the first and second synchronous pulleys and one of the first solar cell panel and the first synchronous pulley are engaged. Place the mating member in the other direction so that it A first solar cell panel and a first synchronization pulley engaging hole to the other and disposed in correspondence with the engaging member,
When the first solar cell panel is expanded to a predetermined position by the expanding means, the engaging member moves in the direction of the engaging hole and engages with the engaging hole to move the first synchronous pulley. A solar cell paddle deploying mechanism is provided with a connecting means for synchronously connecting to the first solar cell panel.
Also, the reliable deployment of the second solar cell panel can be realized by one deployment means. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a main part of a solar cell paddle deploying mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the solar cell paddle 20, the outermost first solar cell panel 20a deployed in the first stage is deployed. For example, the second solar cell panel 20b developed in the second stage is movably supported via a hinge 21 having a spring, which constitutes the means. The shaft 21a of the hinge 21 has a synchronous pulley as a first synchronous pulley that constitutes a synchronous mechanism.
22 is inserted. This sync pulley 22 has a sync cable 23
One side is wound, and the other side of this synchronization cable 23 is the second
The synchronous pulley 24, for example, is wound around the synchronous pulley 24 attached to the second solar cell panel 20b as shown in FIG. The second solar cell panel 20b is composed of a plurality of panels as shown in FIG.
10 includes a hinge 14, a synchronous pulley 15, and a synchronous cable 16 (third part
(See FIG. 4 and FIG. 4) In a state in which it is arranged so as to be deployable via a deployment mechanism configured as shown in FIG. Then, the first solar cell panel 20a is folded and housed on the second solar cell panel 20b via a first holding and unfolding mechanism (not shown). Further, a synchronous coupling engaging member 25 constituting a coupling means is attached to the synchronous pulley 22 at a predetermined position thereof via a spring 26 and a fixture 27 so as to be movable in the directions of arrows A and B.
The engaging member 25 is used as the first solar cell panel 20.
Corresponding to the synchronous coupling engagement hole 28 formed in a, the first solar cell panel 20a is engaged (inserted) in the engagement hole in a state of being expanded by the hinge 21. In the above configuration, the first stage of the solar cell paddle 20 is unfolded in the folded state shown in FIG. 2 (a), and first the first holding / releasing mechanism (not shown) is released by a command from the ground, for example. Then, when the first solar cell panel 20a is expanded clockwise by the urging force of the hinge 21 to the position shown in FIG. 2 (b), the synchronous pulley 22 is engaged with the engagement hole 28. The member 25 is held in the deployed position against the biasing force of the hinge 21 with the member 25 engaged and synchronously coupled. (Eg 90 ° deployment) This is the first solar panel
The shaft 21a of the synchronous pulley 22 and the hinge 21 when the 20a is rotated.
When and are rotated to a predetermined position by so-called idling, the engaging member 25 of the synchronous pulley 22 is engaged with the engaging hole of the first solar cell panel 20a. When the second holding and deploying mechanism (not shown) is released in the first stage of the deployed state, the second solar cell panel 20b causes the hinge 14, the synchronous pulley 15, and the synchronous cable 16 (see FIG. 3), respectively. And FIG. 4)). At the same time, the first solar cell panel 20a is
In synchronism with the expansion of the solar cell panel 20b of (for example, the pulley diameter ratio 2: 1 of the synchronous pulleys 22 and 24, the solar cell panel 2
The expansion ratios of 0a and 20b are expanded as shown in FIG. 2 (c) in synchronization with the relationship of 1: 2. As described above, the solar cell paddle deployment mechanism allows the first solar cell panel 20a to be deployed in the second solar cell panel 20b.
Since the second stage expansion control is possible only by the hinge expansion mechanism without using the conventional motor 12 and speed reducer 13 (see FIG. 4), it is possible to realize the second stage expansion control. In addition, the number of components can be reduced, and the size and weight can be reduced. Further, according to this, since the expansion control is performed only by the release control of the first and second holding and releasing mechanisms, the operability including the handling thereof can be improved and the reliability can be improved. In addition, in the said Example, although it demonstrated as the case where it was comprised so that only one solar cell panel of the outermost edge might be developed as a 1st step, it is not restricted to this and a solar cell panel of a plurality of sheets is a 1st step. It can also be configured to deploy to. Therefore, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a very good solar cell paddle deploying mechanism which has a simple structure and can be improved in size and weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view showing a main part of a solar cell paddle deploying mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operational state diagram shown for explaining the operation, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are an external view and a detailed view of main parts shown for explaining a conventional solar cell paddle deploying mechanism. 20 …… Solar paddle, 20a …… First solar panel, 20b …… Second solar panel, 21 …… Hinge, 22
...... Synchronous pulley, 23 …… Synchronous cable, 24 …… Synchronous pulley, 25 …… Engaging member, 26 …… Spring, 27 …… Mounting member,
28: Engagement hole.

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Kenzo Matsumura               1, Komukai Toshiba-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi               Toshiba Komukai factory                (56) References JP-A-61-157497 (JP, A)                 62-59600 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A deployable first solar cell panel that is folded and held via a first holding / releasing mechanism and one that connects the first solar cell panel,
A deployable second solar cell panel that is folded and held via a second holding and releasing mechanism; and the first and second solar cell panels, the first and second solar cell panels.
Deploying means for deploying to a deploying position interlocking with the holding / releasing of the holding / releasing mechanism, a first synchronous pulley rotatably arranged on the first solar cell panel, and a second synchronous pulley on the second solar cell panel. A synchronous mechanism in which the synchronous pulley is axially arranged, and a synchronous belt is wound around the first and second synchronous pulleys; and an engaging member for one of the first solar cell panel and the first synchronous pulley. Is arranged so that it can move in and out in the other direction, and
When an engaging hole is provided in the other of the solar cell panel and the first synchronous pulley in correspondence with the engaging member, and the first solar cell panel is expanded to a predetermined position by the expanding means. A connecting means for moving the engaging member in the engaging hole direction and engaging with the engaging hole to connect the first synchronizing pulley to the first solar cell panel in a synchronous manner. Paddle deployment mechanism.