JP3175187B2 - Space environment utilization equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a space environment utilization apparatus used in an experiment utilizing a microgravity environment such as space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-164700, a conventional apparatus is provided with a membrane structure between a storage rack and a microgravity environment utilizing device to fix the microgravity environment utilizing device at launch. In addition, there is one that performs vibration isolation.

[0003]

The above-mentioned prior art is to reduce the internal pressure of the membrane structure and to realize a vibration isolation state in a storage rack of a microgravity environment utilizing device by gravity gradient, atmospheric drag, and spacecraft movement. Of the microgravity environment device came into contact with the inner wall of the storage rack,
There was a possibility that a satisfactory microgravity environment could not be obtained.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to reduce the pressure inside the membrane structure and to move the microgravity environment-using device in the storage rack by the gravity gradient, atmospheric drag, and the movement of the spacecraft in the state where the vibration isolation state is realized. The object of the present invention is to prevent the microgravity environment from being disturbed by the gravity environment device coming into contact with the inner wall of the storage rack.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage rack, a microgravity environment utilizing device,
Provided between the storage rack and the microgravity environment utilization device.
The gas structure is sealed, and the internal pressure of the film structure is changed.
Pressure adjusting device for making the microgravity environment use device
Relative displacement, relative speed,
Space ring equipped with speed detecting sensor and its control device
In the environment utilization device, a nozzle is provided in the film structure,
Before the gas comes into contact with the microgravity environment device from the nozzle
The inner surface of the film structure is sprayed, and the film is collected using the film structure.
Means for positioning in the delivery rack, and the storage rack
Voice coil motor between the microgravity environment utilizing device
The storage rack using the voice coil motor.
Means for positioning the inside.

[0006]

[Function] By blowing gas from the nozzle provided in the membrane structure to the inner surface of the membrane structure in contact with the microgravity environment device, the pressure is used to move the microgravity environment device and perform positioning in the rack. In addition, it is possible to prevent disturbance of the microgravity environment due to the microgravity environment device coming into contact with the inner wall of the storage rack. Further, by adjusting the nozzle diameter, the positioning force of the microgravity environment utilizing device can be changed, and control with a weak positioning force that does not affect the use of the microgravity environment can be performed.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Performed by

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the space environment utilization apparatus.
The microgravity environment utilizing device 2 is stored in a storage rack 1 through a membrane structure 3 in which gas is sealed and the pressure of the sealed gas is variable, and mounted on a space environment utilizing facility such as a space shuttle or a free flyer. Used.

The space environment utilization device includes a microgravity environment utilization device 2, a film structure 3a to 3f provided between the storage rack wall 1 and the microgravity environment utilization device 2 and having a variable pressure of a sealed gas.
Positioning valve 4a provided in membrane structures 3a to 3f
4i, a displacement gauge 17 for detecting a relative displacement of the microgravity environment utilization device 2 with respect to the storage rack wall 1, a pressure sensor 9 for detecting the internal pressure of the membrane structure, and valves 5, 6, a pipe 7, and a cylinder 8. A pressure control device within the structure, a control device 10, a signal line 11, and a positioning nozzle 12 installed in the film structures 3a to 3f so as to face the inner surface of the film structure that is in contact with the microgravity environment device 2, Acceleration sensor 18,
19, comprising an exhaust valve 20.

When a large external force is applied to the space environment utilization device, such as during launch and recovery, the internal pressure of the film structures 3a to 3f is increased, the rigidity of the film structures 3a to 3f is increased, and the microgravity environment utilization device 2 is fixed. , Protect.

The space environment utilization device operates when the microgravity environment utilization device 2 operates in a microgravity environment.
f, the rigidity of the membrane structures 3a to 3f is reduced, a weak spring system is formed, and vibration isolation of the microgravity environment utilization device 2 is performed.

In a state where the pressure in the membrane structure is reduced and a weak spring system is formed so that vibration is not transmitted to the microgravity environment utilization device 2, the gravity gradient of the microgravity environment utilization device 2, atmospheric drag, Movement in the storage rack due to disturbance acceleration such as movement of the spacecraft is detected by the displacement meter 17, and when the distance between the microgravity environment utilization device 2 and the storage rack wall 1 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, A signal is generated from the pressure control device 10, the valve 4 having a film structure located in the gap where the distance is equal to or less than the threshold value is opened, and gas is brought into contact with the microgravity environment device 2 from a nozzle provided in the film structure. The position of the microgravity environment device 2 is controlled by the pressure applied to the inner surface of the film structure.

In a microgravity environment, the pressure in the membrane structure is detected by a pressure sensor 9 in the membrane structure, and an exhaust valve 20 is provided to prevent the pressure in the membrane structure from increasing and the rigidity of the membrane structure from increasing. Is released as appropriate.

The concept of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows that the microgravity environment utilizing device 2 is in operation, the pressure in the membrane structure is reduced, and a weak spring system is formed.
Vibration is not transmitted to the microgravity environment utilization device 2. In this state, when the microgravity environment utilization device 2 moves in the direction of arrow A due to disturbance such as gravity gradient, atmospheric drag, and spacecraft motion, the distance between the microgravity environment utilization device 2 and the rack wall 1 is displaced. When the distance is detected by the total 17 and becomes equal to or less than the set threshold value, the position of the microgravity environment utilization device 2 is controlled by ejecting gas from the nozzle 12 provided in the film structure.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which position control is performed by the nozzle 12. Arrow B indicates microgravity environment utilization device 2
, And arrows X and Y indicate the direction of movement of the gas to be blown. By blowing the gas, the direction of movement of the microgravity environment utilization device 2 is changed, and the microgravity environment utilization device 2 is prevented from contacting the rack wall 1. In this case, the control is performed using a weak positioning force that does not affect the use of the microgravity environment, but this can be performed by setting the nozzle diameter and the pressure of the pipe 7.

In FIG. 5, by blowing the gas,
The movement direction of the microgravity environment utilizing device 2 is changed as shown by the arrow C, and the state where the contact of the microgravity environment utilizing device 2 with the rack wall 1 is prevented is shown.

Regarding a positioning method by jetting gas,
An example will be described with reference to FIGS.

As described above, the positioning by the ejection of the gas is performed by the pressure adjusting device including the valves 4, 5, 6, the pipeline 7, the cylinder 8, the membrane structure internal pressure sensor 9, the pressure control device 17, and the signal line 11. Do.

Microgravity environment utilization device 2 and storage rack wall 1
Is smaller than the threshold value and the positioning of the microgravity environment utilization device 2 becomes necessary, the valve a5 is closed, the valve b6 and the positioning valve 4 are opened, and the pressurized gas in the cylinder 8 is transferred to the membrane structure. 3, and a gas is sprayed from the nozzle 12 onto the inner surface of the film structure in contact with the microgravity environment device 2 to perform position correction. Further, the exhaust valve 20 is appropriately opened to prevent the pressure in the membrane structure 3 from increasing and the rigidity of the membrane structure from increasing.

In the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the threshold value for positioning the microgravity environment utilizing device 2 is the distance between the microgravity environment utilizing device 2 and the rack wall 1.
The threshold may be set based on the relative speed and relative acceleration of the microgravity environment utilization device 2 with respect to the rack wall 1.

The pressure adjusting mechanism for ejecting gas may be of any type as long as it has the same effect as that of the present apparatus. For the nozzle for ejecting gas, a negative pressure is used instead of ejecting gas. May control the position of the microgravity environment device.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the space environment utilization apparatus is applied to an acceleration disturbance source 22 such as a pump or a motor to prevent the disturbance acceleration generated by the acceleration disturbance source from harming other equipment. The method of controlling the film structure is the same as the method described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which a voice coil motor 22 for positioning the microgravity utilizing device 2 is disposed between the microgravity environment utilizing device 2 and the storage rack 1.

Microgravity environment utilization device 2 and storage rack wall 1
Is smaller than the threshold value and the positioning of the microgravity environment utilization device 2 is required, the position is corrected by controlling the voice coil motor 22 by the control device 23. The control method is to cause the voice coil motor 22 to perform the effects of the nozzle 12 shown in FIGS.

[0026]

According to the present invention, the pressure in the membrane structure is reduced, a weak spring system is formed, and the vibration is not transmitted to the microgravity environment utilization device. It is possible to prevent disturbance of the microgravity environment due to the disturbance of the motion of the spacecraft or the like caused by the microgravity environment device coming into contact with the inner wall of the storage rack. Further, by adjusting the nozzle diameter, the positioning force of the microgravity environment utilizing device can be changed, and control with a weak positioning force that does not affect the use of the microgravity environment can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial explanatory view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, ... rack wall, 3 ... membrane structure, 4 ... positioning valve, 5, 6 ... valve, 7 ... pipeline, 8 ... cylinder, 9 ... membrane structure internal pressure sensor, 10 ... pressure control device, 11 ... signal line , 1
2. Nozzle.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B64G 1/66

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage rack, a microgravity environment utilization device, a gas-filled film structure provided between the storage rack and the microgravity environment utilization device, and a pressure for changing an internal pressure of the film structure. Adjuster, relative space between the microgravity environment utilization device and its storage rack inner wall, relative speed, in a space environment utilization device equipped with a sensor for detecting the relative acceleration and its control device, provided a nozzle in the film structure, Means for spraying gas from the nozzle onto the inner surface of the membrane structure that is in contact with the microgravity environment device, and positioning the interior of the storage rack using the membrane structure;
Note that a voice coil motor is
Provided in the storage rack using the voice coil motor.
Means for positioning the space environment.