JP3384829B2 - 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 truss structure which can be folded and extended, such as a spacecraft structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to a deployable truss structure having an improved connection mechanism for connecting the ends of rod members constituting the truss structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various foldable and extendable truss structures have been developed as structures for spacecraft, space stations and the like. Such a device generally has a structure in which the ends of a plurality of rod members are connected by a hinge mechanism or the like. Then, these rod members are rotated by the portion of the hinge mechanism to fold the truss structure and extend it into a predetermined shape.

In general, such a truss structure is often complicated in its extended state, and is designed so that its occupied volume is minimized in the folded state. Therefore, when the truss structure is folded or extended, the locus of rotation of the rod member around the hinge mechanism becomes complicated. Further, since generally 5 to 6 rod members are connected to the hinge mechanism portion, the structure of the hinge mechanism becomes extremely complicated, resulting in an increase in weight and a decrease in operational reliability. The cost of production is also high. Further, such a truss structure needs to be manufactured in many types in the extended state, but in this case, it is necessary to manufacture a different hinge mechanism for each type of truss type, which increases the cost. Invite.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and the structure of the connecting mechanism of the rod member, that is, the portion corresponding to the hinge mechanism is simple, lightweight and reliable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a deployable truss structure which is expensive and can reduce manufacturing costs.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems One aspect deployment bets of the present invention
The lath structure includes a connection mechanism that connects the ends of the plurality of rod members . This connecting mechanism includes a main body, a fitting portion formed at an end portion of the rod member, and a plurality of connecting portions on the main body.
The above fitting part is fitted in the axial direction of the rod member.
The mating receiver that supports the corresponding rod member at a predetermined angle.
Part, and the fitting part and the fitting receiving part are penetrated in the axial direction.
And the flexible strip that has been inserted by applying tension to this strip.
Note that the fitting part of the rod member corresponds to the corresponding fitting receiving part of the main body.
An urging mechanism for urging the shaft to fit in the axial direction.
I have it. One end of the strip is fixed to the body.
And the biasing mechanism is housed in the rod member.
The other end of the strip is connected to this biasing mechanism.

[0006]

By the urging force of the urging mechanism such as the spring, a tension is applied to the flexible strip such as a wire, and the tension causes the fitting portion to be drawn into the fitting receiving portion so that they are fitted. To meet.

When folding such a truss structure, when the fitting portion is pulled out from the fitting receiving portion, they are merely connected by a flexible strip such as a wire. , This rod member is rotatable in any direction,
The truss structure is folded into a predetermined shape.

When the truss structure is extended, when the holding of the rod members in the folded state is released, the fitting portions at the ends of the rod members are connected by the tension of the rod members. The truss structure is extended into a predetermined shape by being drawn into and fitted into the fitting receiving portion of the main body. In an environment such as outer space where gravity does not act, it is not necessary to apply an auxiliary force from the outside to these rod members, and the rod members are extended into a predetermined shape only by the tension of the above-mentioned strip.

This truss structure has a simple structure,
It is lightweight and highly reliable, and can reduce manufacturing costs. Also, in the state where the fitting part is pulled out from the fitting receiving part,
Since the rod member can be rotated in any direction, it is not necessary to manufacture a different connection mechanism for each type of truss structure even when manufacturing truss structures of multiple types, further reducing the manufacturing cost. be able to.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 11 show a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a deployable truss structure used for a structure such as a space station, which is a beam-shaped or beam-shaped structure. This deployable truss structure is launched into a space orbit by a rocket or the like in a folded state, extended into a predetermined form on the space orbit, and used as a part of the structure of the space station.

In the truss structure 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the ends of a plurality of rod-shaped rod members 2a and 2b are
The structure is such that they are connected by the connection mechanism 3 and combined in a truss shape. These connecting mechanisms 3 are connected to the rod members 2a,
The end portions of 2b can be fixed at a predetermined angle, and the end portions of these rod members 2a and 2b can be rotated in arbitrary directions. The rod members 2a are linearly arranged to form three longitudinal members of the beam-shaped truss structure.
Are arranged as diagonal members that connect these three stringers. A bending mechanism 4 is provided at each intermediate portion of every other rod member 2b forming the skew member. Further, these bending mechanisms 4 are configured such that the middle portion of each rod member 2b can be fixed linearly and the middle portion can be bent.

In the truss structure 1 as described above, each of the rod members 2a and 2b is rotated by the connecting mechanism 3,
Also, by bending the rod member 2b at the bending mechanism 4, the rod member 2b is folded into a small volume, and the rod member 2b is also folded.
By linearly extending the middle portion of b, the truss structure having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is extended.

Next, the structure of each part constituting the truss structure 1 will be described. The above rod members 2a, 2b
Is composed of a pipe 11 made of, for example, carbon fiber reinforced resin, aluminum alloy, etc., and is lightweight and has high strength and rigidity. The rod member 2 a is arranged along the axial direction of the beam-shaped truss structure 1 and constitutes a stringer of the truss structure 1. Further, the rod member 2 is arranged so as to intersect with the rod member 2a as the stringer.
b are arranged, and these constitute the skew members of the truss structure 1. In this embodiment, the rod members 2a and 2b have the same structure.

The connecting member 3 is shown in FIGS.
It is configured as shown in. For example, this connecting mechanism 3 includes a main body 12, and as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the ends of six rod members 2a and 2b are connected to the main body 12.

The main body 12 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy block. In addition, each rod member 2 described above
A fitting member 13 is attached to the ends of a and 2b. These fitting members 13 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and a conical convex fitting portion 14 is formed at the tip thereof.

Further, the main body 12 is provided with rod members 2a, 2 when the truss structure 1 is in an extended state.
The fitting receiving portions 15 are formed in the directions corresponding to the angles of b. These fitting receiving portions 15 are conical recesses having a shape corresponding to the shape of the fitting portion 14 of the rod members 2a and 2b. Therefore, these rod members 2
The fitting portion 14 of a and 2b is the fitting receiving portion 15 of the main body 12 described above.
The rod members 2a and 2b are fixed to the main body 12 so as not to be rotatable at a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of the fitting receiving portion 15 by being fitted in the inside in the axial direction. In the case of this embodiment, the end portion of one of the rod members is directly fixed to the main body 12.

Further, the main body 12 and the above-mentioned fitting member 13
Insertion holes 16 and 17 are formed in each of the fitting receiving portion 15 and the fitting portion 14 along the central axis thereof. A flexible strip, for example, a thin wire 18 is inserted through these insertion holes 16 and 17. Then, one end of the wire 18 is attached to the body 12.

A sliding member 19 is slidably accommodated in the pipe 11 of each of the rod members 2a and 2b. The other end of the wire 18 is attached to the sliding member 19. Also, this rod member 2
In the pipe 11 of a and 2b, the compression coil spring 2
0 is provided. The sliding member 19 is biased by the spring 20 so as to separate from the fitting member 13. Therefore, this spring 2
A tension is applied to the wire 18 by 0, and the wire 18 is urged to be drawn into the pipe 11.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the rod member 2a is pulled against the biasing force of the spring 20, the fitting portion 14 is pulled out from the fitting receiving portion 15 of the main body 12 of the connecting mechanism. The rod member 2a and the main body 12 are connected to each other via the flexible wire 18. In this state, the rod members 2a and 2b are not attached to the main body 1
It can be rotated in any direction with respect to 2. When the rod members 2a and 2b are released from the rotated state,
The ends of the rod members 2a and 2b are the springs 2 described above.
The tension of the wire 18 caused by 0 pulls the wire 18 into the fitting receiving portion 15 of the main body 12, the fitting portion 14 fits into the fitting receiving portion 15, and the rod members 2 a and 2 b are attached to the main body 12. It is fixed in a predetermined direction.

The bending mechanism 4 basically has the same structure as that of the connection mechanism 3 described above.
It is configured as shown in. That is, the pipe 11 of the rod member 2b is cut into halves at the intermediate portion, and the fitting member 13 is attached to one end of the cut portion. A receiving member 21 corresponding to the main body of the connecting mechanism 3 is provided at the other end of the cutting portion, and a conical fitting receiving portion 22 is formed on the receiving member 21. Further, a wire 18, a sliding member 19, a spring 20 and the like having the same configuration as that of the connecting member 3 are provided, and in FIG. 4, parts corresponding to the connecting mechanism 3 are designated by the same reference numerals. The description is omitted.

Truss structure 1 constructed as described above
Are the rod members 2a, 2 in the connection mechanism 3 described above.
The fitting portion 14 at the end of b is pulled out from the fitting receiving portion 15 to make the ends of these rod members rotatable, and the fitting portion 14 of the bending mechanism 4 at the intermediate portion of each rod member 2a, 2b. Is pulled out from the fitting receiving portion 15 so that the intermediate portions of these rod members can be bent. Then, these rod members are bent to bring the truss structure 1 into a predetermined folded state.

Then, the truss structure is held in a folded state and launched into space orbit. Then, when used, the holding of the folded truss structure is released.
As a result, each rod member 2a, 2b is connected to the wire 18
The fitting portions 14 are drawn into and fitted into the fitting receiving portions 15 by the tension of the rod member 2b, the bending mechanism 4 in the middle portion of the rod member 2b is fixed in a straight line, and the rod members 2a and 2b.
The end portion of is fixed at a predetermined angle by the connection mechanism 3 and is extended to the beam-shaped truss structure as shown in FIG.

When the truss structure 1 is folded or extended, the connecting mechanism 3 and the bending mechanism 4 are:
Since these rod members 2a and 2b can be freely rotated or bent in any direction, it is easy to fold and extend these rod members, and even if there is a considerable error in the rotation locus, etc., High reliability because there are no catches. Since the gravity hardly acts on the space orbit, it is possible to extend the truss structure only by the biasing force of the spring 20.

The basic structure of the truss structure 1 of the above embodiment and its extended state are shown in FIGS.
Will be described with reference to.

First, the basic structure of the truss structure 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG.
A state in which the truss structure 1 similar to the above is set up is shown. The truss structure 1 includes six rod members 2a. This is a structure in which a plurality of tetrahedron unit structures each composed of 2b and four connection mechanisms 3 are combined. That is, FIG. 6 shows a state in which the lower portion of the truss structure body 1 of FIG. 5 is disassembled into three unit structure bodies 30. All of these three unit structures 30 have the same tetrahedron shape. Then, the rod members 2a,
2b is arranged, and the connection mechanism 3 is arranged at a position corresponding to each vertex of the tetrahedron.

Then, these tetrahedral unit structures 3
0s are combined so as to share one surface with the adjacent unit structures 30. That is, in FIG. 6, the hatched surface is a surface shared by the adjacent unit structures 30. In FIG. 6, for easy understanding, the rod member and the connecting mechanism forming this shared surface are drawn in duplicate, but when actually configured as a truss structure, There is no rod member and connection mechanism shown by 2b 'and 3'.

FIG. 7 shows the truss structure 1 in a folded state. The upper half portion of FIG. 7 is in a folded state, and is shown in the extended state in the lower half. Half of the rod member 2b constituting the skew member is bent by 180 ° at a bending mechanism portion in the middle thereof, and the bent rod member 2b and the other rod members 2a, 2b are parallel to each other. Folded into.

Further, when extending from this folded state, the rod members 2a, 2 held in the folded state.
When b is released all at once, these rod members 2a, 2b
May be entangled, so it is preferable to release the rod members one by one from the end.

The process of extending the folded rod member as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. The truss structure 1 is housed in, for example, a cylindrical container 31 in a folded state, and its holding is released one by one from the rod members at the ends. Also, in these figures, the lower portion of the truss structure is shown already extended.

FIG. 8 shows a state where one rod member 2b is released. This rod member 2b is in a state of being bent by about 180 ° at the bending mechanism portion in the middle thereof. Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the rod member 2b is linearly extended in sequence. Then, finally, as shown in FIG. 11, the rod member 2b is linearly extended. In this state, in the bending mechanism 4, the fitting portion 14 is fitted and fixed to the fitting receiving portion 15, and also in the connection mechanism 3, the fitting portion 14 is fitted into the fitting receiving portion 15 and is set to a predetermined position. Fixed at an angle. Therefore, in this state, FIG.
All rod members surrounding the surface shown by hatching 1 are fixed. By repeating the above process, the rod members are extended one by one and extended to the truss structure 1 as shown in FIG. In addition, although the case where this truss structure is extended was demonstrated above, when folding this truss structure, the process reverse to the above is performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned first embodiment. For example, FIGS. 12 and 13 show a connecting mechanism 40 used in the truss structure of the second embodiment of the present invention. The connection mechanism 40 includes a main body 41. A mounting member 42 is provided at the end of the rod member 2a. Further, a reverse taper-shaped fitting portion 43 is formed at the tip of the mounting member 42. Also,
A fitting hole 47 is formed in the main body 41, and an inner peripheral surface of an edge portion of the fitting hole 47 is formed in a tapered shape. A collet chuck 44 is provided in the fitting hole 47. The inner peripheral surface of the collet chuck 44 is formed in an inverse taper shape so as to fit the fitting portion 43, and a plurality of slits are formed in the peripheral wall portion, so that the collet chuck 44 elastically expands. Diameter and fitting part 4 above
Mating with 3.

Further, surrounding the outer periphery of the fitting portion 43,
A cylindrical lock sleeve 45 is provided so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The inner peripheral surface of the lock sleeve 45 is slightly tapered, and the inner peripheral surface is axially fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the collet chuck 44 to elastically expand the diameter of the collet chuck 44. It is configured to prevent Further, the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion of the lock sleeve 45 is formed in a tapered shape. The lock sleeve 45 is biased by a spring 46 so as to move toward the tip of the fitting portion 43.

The connecting mechanism 40 is provided with the wire 18, the sliding member 19, the spring 20 and the like as in the case of the above-mentioned embodiment, and in FIG. 12 and FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to the connection mechanism of the above embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the spring 2 is used.
A tension is applied to the wire 18 by 0, and the fitting portion 43 of the rod member 2 a is pulled into the collet chuck 44 of the main body 41 by the tension of the wire 18 and fitted therein. In this case, first the collet chuck 44
Since the diameter of the lock sleeve 45 is elastically expanded,
Comes into contact with the tip end surface of the collet chuck 44 and retracts while compressing the spring 46. When the fitting portion 43 is completely fitted to the collet chuck 44, the collet chuck 44 contracts due to the elastic force, so that the lock sleeve 45 advances and fits on the outer peripheral surface of the collet chuck 44. Then, the diameter of the collet chuck 44 cannot be expanded. Therefore, the collet chuck 44 is non-releasably locked with the fitting portion 43 fitted. In this locked state, a load acts on the fitting portion 43 and the collet chuck 44
When a force to expand the diameter of the lock sleeve 45 is applied, the lock sleeve 45 may expand in diameter due to the elastic force, and the collet chuck 44 may expand in diameter together with the lock sleeve 45. Since the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion of the sleeve 45 is closely fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the fitting hole 47, the lock sleeve 45 does not elastically expand its diameter, and the above-mentioned problems are prevented. The locking action is secured.

The above-mentioned mechanism is not limited to the connecting mechanism, but can be applied to a bending mechanism for connecting the intermediate portion of the rod member in a freely bendable manner.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Although the beam-shaped truss structure has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also configure a planar truss structure as shown in FIGS. 14 to 17.

That is, this embodiment is similar to the above-mentioned embodiments in that it has six rod members forming a tetrahedron and four rod members.
The first connection unit constitutes the first unit structure. And
A plurality of these first unit structures are arranged so that the adjacent first unit structures share one side, that is, one rod member, to form a second unit structure. The unit structure is combined to form a planar truss structure.

FIG. 14 shows one second unit structure 51. This second unit structure 51 is composed of four tetrahedral first unit structures 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d. That is, the rod members shown in black in the drawing are the first unit structures 50a, the rod members shown by hatching are the first rod members 50b, and a large number of dodds. The first unit structure 50c is constituted by the rod member indicated by the mark, and the first unit structure 50d is constituted by the rod member indicated by cross hatching. The rod member 2c is shared by the first unit structures 50a and 50b, and the rod member 2d is formed by the first unit structures 50a and 50b.
0c, and the rod member 2e is also shared by the first unit structures 50a and 50d. It should be noted that the rod member 2f is different from another adjacent second unit structure when the second unit structure 51 is combined with another second unit structure to form a planar truss structure. It is a shared rod member.

The second unit structure 5 thus constructed
14, the surface 52a in FIG. 14 and the surface formed by the plurality of rod members connected to the connection mechanism 3a are parallel to each other. Therefore, a planar truss structure is formed by combining the second unit structures 51 with the front and back reversed. In this embodiment, the connecting mechanism 3 and the bending mechanism in the middle of the rod member are the same as those described above, and as shown in FIG. 15, they can be folded in the same manner as in the case of the above-mentioned embodiment. it can.

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 show such a second
FIG. 16 is a perspective view and FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a planar truss structure body formed by combining the unit structure bodies of FIG. In these figures, the rod member constituting one second unit structure 51 is shown in black. In this structure, since the front and back of such a second unit structure 51 are reversed, the first unit structure is shared between the adjacent second unit structures. .

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the truss structure body of the present invention is not limited to the truss structure body having the form as in the above-described embodiment, but can be configured as any other truss structure body.
Also, when constructing a truss structure of a simple form,
It is also possible to omit the bending mechanism at the intermediate portion of the rod member. Furthermore, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the structure of a spacecraft or a space station, and can be applied to a truss structure that can be used for other purposes and that can be extended and folded.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the fitting portion of the connecting mechanism for joining the ends of the rod member is pulled out from the fitting receiving portion, the rod member becomes rotatable in any direction. Therefore, the structure of this connection mechanism is simple, lightweight and can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, since the rod member can be rotated in any direction, the connecting mechanism can be shared even when forming truss structures of various forms, and further cost reduction can be achieved. Further, since the turning direction is arbitrary, the rod member has a high degree of freedom in the turning locus at the time of folding and extending, and is highly reliable because it is prevented from being caught. Further, since the fitting portion is automatically fitted to the fitting receiving portion by the tension of the flexible strip, the mechanism for extending the truss structure can be greatly simplified. , Its effect is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beam-shaped truss structure body according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a connection mechanism portion.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of a connection mechanism in a partial cross section.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a bending mechanism portion.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the beam-shaped truss structure body of the first embodiment in an upright state.

6 is a perspective view showing a unit structure which is a constituent of the truss structure of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of the truss structure body of the first embodiment is folded.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an extension process of the truss structure body according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an extension process of the truss structure body according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an extension process of the truss structure body according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an extension process of the truss structure body according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a part of a connecting mechanism of the second embodiment in a sectional view.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connection mechanism of FIG. 12 in a connected state.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second unit structure constituting the planar truss structure of the third embodiment.

15 is a perspective view of the second unit structure of FIG. 14 in a folded state.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a planar truss structure body according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a planar truss structure body according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f ... Rod member 3 ... Connection mechanism 4 ... Bending mechanism 12 ... Main body 14 ... Fitting part 15: Fitting receiving part 18 ... Flexible strip 20 ... Spring 43 ... Fitting part 44 ... Collet Chuck 45 ... Rock sleeve

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 61-24741 (JP, A) JP-A 2-127197 (JP, A) JP-A 4-40813 (JP, U) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B64G 1/22 E04B 1/344 F16S 3/00

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A plurality of Rod member, a connecting mechanism and the Bei example spreading and foldable truss structure that connects the ends of the rod members, upper Kise' connection mechanism includes a body When a fitting portion formed at an end portion of the rod member, the fitting portion formed with a plurality of the upper Symbol present body <br/> fitted in the axial direction of the rod member, the corresponding rod
A fitting-receiving portion for supporting the member at a predetermined angle, and conditions of the flexible which is inserted through the upper Kihama engaging portion and the upper Kihama case receiving portion in the axial direction, the tension in this Article body a biasing mechanism for fitting portion provided on kilometers head member is urged to fit into corresponding the axial direction into the fitting receiving portion to the upper Symbol body, which comprises a, the Article body One end of the rod is fixed to the body and the rod
The biasing mechanism is housed in the member, and
A deployable truss structure whose ends are connected to this biasing mechanism . 2. The biasing mechanism is housed in the rod member.
The other end of the strip, including the contained spring
Is connected to this spring.
Deployable truss structure. 3. The fitting portion has a conical projection shape.
In addition, the fitting receiving part is a conical concave
These mating parts and mating receivers are centered in the axial direction.
The insertion holes are formed along the
One end of this strip is fixed to the main body.
And the biasing mechanism in the rod member is
And the other end of the strip is
The expansion tiger according to claim 1, characterized in that
Structure. 4. The fitting mechanism and the fitting receiver are provided in the connection mechanism.
A lock mechanism is provided to lock the parts in a fitted state.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
The deployable truss structure described in. 5. The lock is provided at an intermediate portion of the rod member.
A folding mechanism is provided to allow the folding
The deployable truss structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
Body construction. 6. The rod member constitutes each side of a tetrahedron.
And the connecting mechanism is the tetrahedron.
It is disposed at a position constituting the vertices of the structure of the tetrahedron
Unit structure composed of multiple rod members and connecting mechanism
Each of the plurality of unit structures is adjacent to the unit structure.
The rod members that compose one surface of the tetrahedron of the structure are
And combined to form a beam-shaped truss structure
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that
The deployable truss structure described in. 7. The rod member constitutes each side of a tetrahedron.
And the connection mechanism of the tetrahedron is
This tetrahedron is arranged at the position that constitutes each vertex.
A unit structure is composed of multiple rod members and connecting mechanism.
Unit structure in which each of the plurality of unit structures is adjacent
The rod members that make up one side of the tetrahedron of the body are
Are combined together to form a planar truss structure
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that
Deployed truss structure. 8. The fitting receiving portions correspond to the main body.
Supports when the rod member is in the extended state
Formed at a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of each rod member
The deployable truss according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
Structure. 9. A plurality of the rod members in a folded state.
Has a storage container for storing
When a plurality of rod members housed in the
9. The deployable truss structure according to claim 1, which is released one by one.