JP3885849B2 - Antenna reflector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an antenna reflector suitable for mounting on a spacecraft such as an artificial satellite.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When building large structures in outer space, astronauts are currently working on space shuttles and space stations and meals, but these methods need to consider human damage. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the cost is high and the cost is high, and there is a possibility that the working period and the size of the structure are restricted.
[0003]
For this reason, recently, as a system for constructing a large structure in outer space, a developed truss structure that automatically constructs a structure by a driving force of a motor or the like has been studied domestically and abroad.
[0004]
By the way, as a method of constructing a large antenna in the outer space using such a deployment truss structure, the mirror surface of JP-A-7-62359 (JP-A-8-265040) or the like can be folded and deployed using a mesh material. Such a deployable antenna reflector is known.
[0005]
In such a deployable antenna reflector, a wire network is formed on a truss structure that can be folded and unfolded, and a mesh that reflects radio waves using this wire network is stretched in a mirror shape. This mesh is expanded in a mirror shape on the truss structure via the wire network in conjunction with the folding and unfolding of the truss structure.
[0006]
Such a deployable antenna reflector is isolated so that it does not interfere with the subsequent folding and unfolding operations when the wire network connection is loosened and entangled with the truss structure in conjunction with the folding and unfolding of the truss structure. Means are provided for interposing the membrane between the wire network and the truss structure in a stacked manner and preventing the wire network from being entangled with the isolation membrane.
[0007]
However, in the above-described deployable antenna reflector, the mesh surface of the mesh is constructed in such a manner that an isolating film for preventing entanglement is interposed between the wire network and the truss structure to realize the repeated folding and unfolding operation of the truss structure. During the adjustment work, the isolation film becomes an obstacle, and the mirror work including the adjustment of the wire network is very troublesome.
[0008]
Further, the deployable antenna reflecting mirror has a problem that the mirror surface assembling work is very troublesome because of the configuration in which the separating film is disposed in a laminated manner with respect to the mesh.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional deployable antenna reflector, there is a problem that the separator film for preventing the wire network from being entangled when the truss structure is folded and unfolded becomes an obstacle during the mirror surface adjustment work, and the mirror surface adjustment work is very troublesome.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an antenna reflecting mirror capable of realizing highly reliable folding and unfolding while ensuring simplification of adjustment work including mirror surface adjustment. For the purpose.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention connects a foldable and unfoldable deployable truss in which a plurality of quadrilateral members are combined in a radial direction to form a substantially polygonal column shape or a substantially polygonal pyramid shape, a mesh that forms a mirror surface that reflects radio waves, and a wire. A first wire network stretched on the reflective surface side of the mesh and a wire connected to each other, and stretched on the back side of the mesh The second wire network supported by the deployment truss and interposing the mesh in cooperation with the first wire network, and the first wire network and the second wire network are point-coupled. The wire connecting member for shaping the mesh into a mirror shape and the wire connecting member between the first and second wire networks It is obtained by forming an antenna reflector comprises a mesh tangle with preventing member which is stretched by.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, when the deployment truss is folded and deployed, and the first and second wire networks start to loosen, the entanglement preventing member regulates the wire connection member and the first and second wire networks and the mesh. Folding and unfolding operations are allowed.
[0013]
This prevents the wire connecting member from being entangled with the second wire network in conjunction with the folding and unfolding operation of the unfolding truss structure, and the highly reliable folding and unfolding operation of the first and second wire networks including the mesh. Can be repeated.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows an antenna reflector according to an embodiment of the present invention. A deployable truss structure that can be folded and unfolded is formed in a hexagonal frustum shape, for example, and an antenna mirror surface is formed on the top surface thereof. . The mirror surface of the antenna is formed by sandwiching a metal mesh (for example, a gold-plated molybdenum mesh) 10 between the first and second wire networks 11 and 12, and the peripheral portion thereof is supported by the support pillar 13 of the deploying truss 20. It is formed into a shape.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, the deployable truss 20 is formed in a hexagonal pyramid by combining six quadrilateral links 21 a to 21 f in a radial manner so as to share the central vertical member 22.
[0017]
The deployable truss 20 forms a module, and module coupling hinges 25a to 25f and 26a to 26f are attached to the outside of the vertical members 24a to 24f on the outside, and the module coupling hinges 25a to 25f and 26a to 26f are attached. A plurality of them are assembled through a gap to form a desired shape.
[0018]
Similarly, the six side links 21a to 21f constituting the deployment truss 20 are supported by the transverse member 40 and the transverse member 41 so as to be substantially along the metal mesh 10 (see FIG. 1) from the central longitudinal member 22 thereof. Has been. Further, the vertical members 24 a to 24 f are supported on the outer peripheral ends of the horizontal member 40 and the horizontal member 41 so as to be rotatable like the central vertical member 22.
[0019]
The six support pillars 13 are configured to be joined to the outer vertical member 24.
[0020]
Inside the four side links 21a to 21f, an oblique member 42 is attached between the central vertical member 22 and the horizontal member 41 so as to be rotatable, and between the central vertical member 22 and the oblique member 42. There are 43 known umbrella mechanisms. The umbrella mechanism 43 is slidably assembled in the directions of arrows A and B with respect to the central vertical member 22 via a drive unit (not shown), and the unfolding truss 20 is folded in conjunction with the sliding in the direction of arrow A. The deployment truss 20 is deployed from the folding position in conjunction with the sliding in the arrow B direction (see FIG. 2).
[0021]
Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, 14 of the unfolding trusses 20 are combined to form the unfolding truss structure 30. The deployment truss structure 30 is configured by rotatably coupling a plurality of modules 23 by module coupling hinges 25a to 25f and 26a to 26f.
[0022]
In order to satisfy the function of the parabolic antenna, the metal mesh 10 must be present on the parabolic surface. By setting the length of the support column 13 to an appropriate value, the point at the tip of the support column 13 is changed. It is set to be a point on the parabolic surface.
[0023]
As described above, the unfolded truss structure 30 shown in FIG. 3 is an assembly of the unfolded truss 20 shown in FIG. 2, and an antenna reflecting mirror surface can be configured using the unfolded truss structure 30 shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to set the point of the front-end | tip of the support pillar 13 so that it may become a point on a parabolic surface separately for every module.
[0024]
The first wire network 11 is formed by connecting non-conductive wires made of quartz or the like in a spider web shape, and is stretched on the mirror surface side of the metal mesh 10. Then, a fixing tool 14 made of, for example, a non-conductive resin material is assembled at each intersection of the first wire networks 11.
[0025]
The second wire network 12 is formed by connecting similar non-conductive wires in a ladder shape (catenary structure), and is stretched on the back side of the metal mesh 10.
[0026]
A plurality of cable connection members 15 are assembled to the second wire network 12 at predetermined intervals corresponding to the fixtures 14 of the first wire network 11. And this 2nd wire network 12 is the state which sandwiched the metal mesh 10 with the 1st wire network 11, and the cable connection member 15 of the 2nd wire network 12 made the metal mesh 10 penetrate, The end is attached to the fixture 14 of the first network work 11.
[0027]
The first wire network 11, the metal mesh 10, and the second wire network 12 arranged in a stacked manner are attached to the support pillar 13 of the deployment truss 20 using a fixture 16.
[0028]
In addition, the 2nd wire network 12 is supported by the predetermined position of each horizontal member 40 of the four side links 21a-21f of the expansion | deployment truss 20 so that the intermediate part may have a desired mirror surface shape, and the said metal mesh 10 is 1st. The desired mirror surface shape is set in cooperation with the wire network 11.
[0029]
Between the first and second wire networks 11 and 12, a mesh-like entanglement preventing member 17 formed of a non-conductive resin material corresponding to the cable connecting member 15 is provided on the mirror surface. Each is stretched in the direction (see FIG. 4).
[0030]
The entanglement preventing member 17 is assembled, for example, by being folded at an intermediate portion so as to sandwich (wrap) the cable connection member 15 of the second wire network 12 (see FIG. 5). The entanglement preventing member 17 is attached to the cable connecting member 15 using a thread or the like so as to have a predetermined degree of freedom.
[0031]
Further, when the entanglement preventing member 17 is loosened in a state of being stretched between the first and second wire networks 11 and 12, it affects the folding and unfolding of the first and second wire networks 11 and 12. The first and second wire networks 11 and 12 are appropriately attached using a thread or the like so as not to affect the width of the wire.
[0032]
The entanglement preventing members 17 are all disposed at locations where the cable connection members 15 of the second wire network 12 are disposed, for example.
[0033]
However, if there is no possibility that the cable connection member 15 of the second wire network 12 may be entangled without the entanglement preventing member 17 being disposed due to the support structure with the deployment truss 20, the location It is not necessary to arrange in.
[0034]
With the above configuration, for example, in the deployment of the deployment truss 20 shown in FIG. 4, when the umbrella mechanism 43 is driven in the direction of the arrow A and folded and accommodated, the first and second wire networks 11, 12 is loosened and the metal mesh 10 is folded and accommodated.
[0035]
At this time, the entanglement preventing member 17 restricts the position of the cable connecting member 15 of the second wire network 12 so as not to affect the folding accommodation while loosening in conjunction with the folding accommodation, thereby preventing the entanglement with the wire. However, the metal mesh 10 folded between the first and second wire networks 11 and 12 is allowed to be folded.
[0036]
In addition, when the umbrella mechanism 43 of the unfolding truss 20 is driven and the unfolding truss 20 is unfolded, the entanglement preventing member 17 accommodated in the folded state is configured to regulate the wire connecting member 15 and the first and second wire networks 11. , 12 and the deployment operation of the metal mesh 10 are allowed.
[0037]
In this way, the wire connecting member 15 prevents the tangling to the second wire network 12 when the unfolding truss 20 is folded, and the first and second wire networks 11 and 12 including the metal mesh 10 are prevented. Realizes the repeated folding and stretching operation.
[0038]
As described above, the antenna reflecting mirror is point-coupled via the cable connecting member 15 between the first and second wire networks 11 and 12 that sandwich the metal mesh 10 to form a mirror surface. The mesh-shaped entanglement preventing member 17 is stretched so as to correspond to the wire connecting member 15 in the direction perpendicular to the plane between the two wire networks 11 and 12.
[0039]
According to this, when the unfolding truss 20 is folded and unfolded, the entanglement preventing member 17 regulates the wire connecting member 15 existing between the first and second wire networks 11 and 12 and the first and second The folding operation of the wire networks 11 and 12 and the metal mesh 10 is allowed. Accordingly, the wire connecting member 15 interlocked with the folding and unfolding operation of the unfolding truss 20 is prevented from being entangled with the second wire network 12, and the first and second wire networks 11 and 12 including the metal mesh 10 are trusted. It is possible to repeatedly perform a folding operation with high characteristics.
[0040]
Further, according to this, the entanglement with prevention member 17, in the orthogonal direction between the first and second wire network 11, 12, Ri by the fact that adopts a structure in which mounting arrangement, assembling arrangement Therefore, easy mounting is realized without affecting the mirror surface adjustment work and the mirror surface assembly work.
[0044]
Their to configuration sewn to preventing member 17 entangled the cable connecting member 15, or by wrapping in prevention member 17 individually entangled, it is possible to prevent the conditioned securely entangled.
[0045]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the well-known umbrella mechanism 43 is used as the folding and unfolding means for folding and unfolding the unfolding truss 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other folding unfolding is also provided. It is also possible to configure using a mechanism.
[0046]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the developed shape is applied to the hexagonal pyramid-shaped developed truss 20 has been described. The present invention can also be applied to freely deployable trusses of various shapes.
[0047]
Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an antenna reflector that can realize a highly reliable and highly accurate folding deployment while ensuring simplification of adjustment work including mirror surface adjustment. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an antenna reflector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the unfolded truss applied to FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing an antenna reflecting mirror constituted by connecting 14 deployed trusses of FIG. 2;
4 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a part of the configuration for explaining the main part of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the attachment preventing member shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Metal mesh.
11: First wire network.
12 ... Second wire network.
13 ... Support pillar.
14: Fixing tool.
15: Cable connecting member.
16: Fixing tool.
17 ... Tangle prevention member.
20 ... Deployment truss.
21a-21f ... Four-sided link.
22 ... Center vertical member.
24a-24f ... Vertical member.
25a-25f ... Module coupling hinge.
26a-26f ... Module coupling hinge.
30 ... Expanded truss structure.
40 ... A transverse member.
41 ... A transverse member.
42 ... Oblique member.
43 ... Umbrella mechanism.

Claims (1)

A folding truss that can be folded and unfolded by combining a plurality of quadrilateral members in a radial direction and framed into a substantially polygonal column shape or a substantially polygonal pyramid shape,
A mesh that forms a mirror surface that reflects radio waves;
A first wire network that is formed by connecting wires and is stretched on the reflective surface side of the mesh;
A second wire that is formed by connecting wires, is stretched on the back side of the mesh, supported by the deployment truss, and sandwiches the mesh in cooperation with the first wire network; Wire network,
A wire connecting member for point-coupling between the first wire network and the second wire network to shape the mesh into a mirror shape ;
A mesh-like entanglement preventing member stretched corresponding to the wire connecting member between the first and second wire networks ;
The entanglement preventing member is formed by sandwiching a wire connecting member that joins between the first and second wire networks,
A part of the entanglement preventing member is attached to the wire connecting member with a degree of freedom .

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