JPH02228803A - Development type parabolic antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent ring shaped torsion by using a cable binding plural thin wires only and not applying any twist for a developing wire tying the tip of a developing arm and the tip of a developing boom. CONSTITUTION:A cable forming by binding plural thin wires only and not applying any twist is used for a developing wire 8 tying a tip of a developing arm 2 and a tip of a developing boom 7 and delivering the development force of the boom 7 to the arm 2. Thus, the bending stiffness of the coupling member is decreased and no large stress is caused even when the member is bent largely. Thus, a kink of a ring shape caused to escaping a large bending stress caused in the member in the direction of twist is prevented and a defect in the sufficient developing due to the ring left as a kink after developing is prevented.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention by simplifying the deployment mechanism.

This article relates to a deployable parabolic antenna that is highly lightweight and has improved reliability.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, the performance and reliability of space shuttles, Ariane rockets, etc. have improved, and economic benefits have been created for space utilization. In particular, large deployable antennas are indispensable for communication in mobile bodies such as ships and vehicles, and their development has been actively carried out.

Figures 9(a) and 9(b) show the above deployable antenna according to the European Space Agency's journal Proe, Worksho.
p on Mecha-nieal Techno
logic for AntennasJ 5P-
This is a diagram showing the conventional deployable parabolic antenna shown in Volume 225 (1984). In Figure 2, (1) is the lower arm,
(2) is the deployment arm, (3) is the mesh mirror surface, (4)
is the center heave which is the fulcrum of the arm expansion.

FIG. 1O is a diagram showing the state in which the arm of the deployable antenna is stored, and in FIG. 2, (5) is a rotating hinge equipped with a spiral spring for deployment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the lower arm in an expanded state.

Next, the operation will be explained. Initially, the lower arm (1) is restrained by a retaining wire (not shown) in the storage configuration.
The device begins its deployment by cutting the holding wire with a detonator or the like based on a command from the ground. The deploying arm (2) also deploys in the same manner, but its deploying force is transmitted by the rotational force of the spiral spring of the spring-equipped rotating hinge (5) via a deploying force transmission wire (not shown).

The development method described above has been considered in the past, but
When increasing the size of the antenna in the future.

If you use a two-stage system as shown in Figures 9 to 11,
The length of the arm is too long when stored.

To avoid this, if you use a multi-stage system, there will be wires, etc. that transmit the deployment force! Turn into H. In addition, costs will increase accordingly. Reliability decreases. Problems arise, such as the inability to adjust the precision of the mirror surface.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

It is expected that antenna reflectors will become larger in the future, but as mentioned above, the conventional method does not provide good storage performance, and when a multi-stage type is used, the deployment mechanism becomes complicated and reliability suffers. Many issues arise, such as the increased need to improve the degree of baking area.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the deployable parabolic antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention, an extendable boom with an extendable force is used as the structure supporting the power feeding part or the sub-reflector, and the arm itself is expanded by using the extendable force to extend the arm that supports the mirror surface. Since it does not need to have its own deployment force, its deployment mechanism is very simple, with only a locking mechanism when fully deployed and a wire cutter switch to cut the deployment wire. It can be done.

Therefore, although the conventional deployment method uses a multi-stage arm that is highly storable but complicated, expensive, and unreliable, the deployment method of the present invention simplifies it, resulting in lower costs and higher costs. Reliability can be improved. In addition, the deployment wire that connects the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extension boom is made of a cable that is made of multiple thin wires that are not twisted to prevent the bending rigidity from increasing. It is possible to prevent ring-shaped twisting, which is likely to be a contributing factor, from occurring.

A deployable parabolic antenna according to another embodiment of the invention includes:
An extension boom with II extension force is used as the structure supporting the power incoming section or sub-reflector, and by using the extension force to expand the arm that supports the mirror surface, a multi-stage arm is used to improve storage capacity. The arm itself does not need to have its own deployment force, so the only mechanism for deployment is a locking mechanism when fully deployed and a wire cutter switch to cut the deployment wire. It can be as simple as Also,
For the deployment wire that connects the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extension boom, we use a flat cable with a rectangular cross section that has high torsional rigidity and is less prone to twisting, with a large length ratio of the long side to the short side. It is possible to prevent ring-shaped twisting from occurring, which is likely to cause problems.

[For production]

If one embodiment of the present invention is used, a multi-stage deployable parabolic antenna can be installed using one extension boom and a spiral spring attached to the center hub attachment part of each arm in order to improve the storage capacity of the long arm. It can be expanded using a very simple mechanism. In addition, as a deployment wire that connects the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extensible boom and transmits the deployment force of the extensible boom to the deployment arm, a cable that is made of multiple thin wires and is not twisted is used to connect them. The bending stiffness of the member becomes smaller.

Even if the member is bent significantly, no large stress will be generated. In other words, it is possible to prevent ring-shaped torsion that occurs because the large bending stress generated in the two members is released in the torsional direction. If a ring-shaped part is formed, it can hang on other components, etc., or the ring can remain in a lump-like shape after deployment, which can easily become an obstacle to sufficient deployment, but this can be prevented. It is possible.

If another embodiment of the present invention is used, a multi-stage deployable parabolic antenna can be installed with one extension boom and a spiral spring provided at the center hub of each arm to improve the storage capacity of the long arm. It can be expanded using a very simple mechanism. In addition, by using a flat cable with a rectangular cross section that has high torsional rigidity as the deployment wire that connects the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extension boom and transmits the deployment force of the extension boom to the deployment arm, it is possible to prevent ring-shaped twisting ( < Obstacles to expansion caused by the formation of shearing-like parts can be prevented.

〔Example〕

FIGS. 1 to 6 are continuous views showing an embodiment of the present invention from a stored state to a fully unfolded state.

(11 is attached to the lower arm, (2) is attached to the above lower arm (deployment arm, (3) is the mesh mirror surface, (4) is the center hub that supports the lower arm and extension boom, (5) is attached to the lower arm) A rotating hinge with a spring that provides deployment force; (6) is a rotating hinge that connects the lower arm and the deployable arm and between the deployable arms; (7) deploys the deployable arm, and after deploying the antenna, the power feeding section or sub-reflector The extension boom (8), which serves as a support structure for the mirror, is a deployment wire that connects the deployment arm at the tip to the extension boom, expands the deployment arm, and is cut after deployment.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the state in which the holding wire has been cut and the deployment has started, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the folded deployment arm in the middle of being deployed, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the deployment arm after the deployment arm has finished being deployed. An illustration of the comrade being locked and the deployed animation and lower arm being deployed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the deployment arm and the lower arm are locked after the deployment arm and the lower arm have been deployed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the deployment wire being cut and the entire arm being deployed, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state in which deployment has been completed.

7 and 8 are enlarged views of section A in FIG. 2. Figure 7 is Figure 2A when the first invention of this invention is implemented.
This is an enlarged view of the part '), (2] is the deployable arm, (
7) is an extension boom, and (8) is a t made of multiple thin wires bundled together.
! This is a wire for deployment that does not require twisting. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 2 when the second invention of the present invention is implemented. It is a flat cable-shaped deployment wire with a rectangular cross section with high torsional rigidity that connects the tip to the tip of the extendable boom.

The unfolding operation is performed in the following process. The deployment arm is restrained by a holding wire in the stored state, and as a first stage of deployment, the holding wire is cut by a holding wire cutting mechanism. The holding wire cutting mechanism uses a highly reliable line cutter that uses gunpowder to blow the cutter and cut the wire. As shown in FIG. 1, the unconstrained deployment arm begins to deploy as the extension boom extends.

The deployment arm is deployed by the extension force of the extensible boom and the outward opening force of the spring-loaded rotation hinge. The extension force of the extension boom is transmitted to the deployment arm through a deployment wire attached to the tip of the deployment arm. The deployment arm is pulled upward by the force from this extension boom and is deployed in the sequence shown in Figures 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 4, all the two-turn hinges are finally locked, and then the deployment wire is cut by the deployment wire cutting mechanism. The deployment wire cutting mechanism uses a highly reliable line cutter that uses explosives to blow the cutter and cut the wire, similar to the holding wire cutting mechanism, and all locking mechanisms on each arm are wired in series as switches for the line cutter. This ensures that the deployment wire is cut when all arms have been deployed. When the deployment wire is cut, the entire arm is deployed by a spring provided at the attachment point of the lower arm, as shown in FIG. The mesh mirror surface is attached to each arm and is folded up when stored, and unfolds when the arms are unfolded.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in one embodiment of the present invention.

By making it possible to store the arm by folding it in multiple stages using a simple unfolding method, it achieves high storage performance and 2.
It is also hoped that reliability will be improved by simplifying the mechanism. Furthermore, by using a cable that is simply a bundle of multiple thin wires without twisting as the deployment wire connecting the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extension boom, ring-shaped torsion can be prevented.

If a ring-shaped part is formed, it can easily get caught on other components, etc., or remain in a lump-like shape after deployment, which can easily impede sufficient deployment.
This has the effect of preventing this.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the arm can be folded into multiple stages using a simple unfolding method, thereby achieving high storage performance and improving reliability by simplifying the mechanism. In addition, by using a flat cable with a rectangular cross section that has high twistability as the deployment wire that connects the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extension boom, ring-shaped twisting occurs, resulting in the formation of a ring-shaped part. This has the effect of preventing obstacles to development caused by this.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 6 are continuous views showing the deployment sequence as an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows the state immediately after the start of deployment, and Figure 2 shows the deployment arm being deployed. Figure 3 is a diagram showing a state where the deployment arm has finished being deployed and the deployment arm and lower arm are being deployed, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the state in which the arm has been deployed, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing the state in which the deployment arm is deployed. A diagram showing the deployment wire being cut and the entire arm being deployed, Figure 6 is a diagram showing the state where all deployment has been completed,
7 and 8 are enlarged views of part A in FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the shape of the deploying wire in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. Figures 9(h) and 9(b) are diagrams showing an example of a conventionally considered deployable antenna, and Figure 10 is a detailed diagram of an arm when stored in a conventional example. FIG. 11 is a detailed view of an arm when deployed in a conventional example. In fig. (1) is the lower arm, (2) is the expansion arm, (3) is the mesh mirror surface, (4) is the center hub, and (5) is the spring-loaded rotation and hinge. (6) shows the rotation hinge, (7) shows the extension boom, and (8) shows the deployment wire. Note that in the two figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure Figure Figure Figure Figure (a) (b>

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of lower arms each having a rotational hinge with a deployment spring at the lower end, a deployment arm that is attached to the upper end of the lower arm with a rotational hinge and can itself be bent by a plurality of rotational hinges, the lower arm, and deployment. A locking mechanism for maintaining the expanded state of the arm, an extendable boom that deploys the lower arm and the deployable arm and holds the power supply unit or sub-reflector after deployment, and a mesh mirror surface supported by the lower arm and the deployable arm. , a retention wire that holds the lower arm and the deployment arm in the stowed state;
A deployment wire that is a bundle of multiple thin wires connecting the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extension boom, a holding wire cutting mechanism that cuts the holding wire at the start of deployment, and a deployment wire after the lower arm and the deployment arm are locked. A deployable parabolic antenna characterized by being equipped with a deployable wire cutting mechanism that cuts the wire. (2) a plurality of lower arms each having a rotational hinge with a deployment spring at the lower end; a deployment arm that is attached to the upper end of the lower arm with a rotational hinge and can itself be bent by the plurality of rotational hinges; the lower arm and the deployment arm; A locking mechanism for maintaining the expanded state of the arm, an extendable boom that deploys the lower arm and the deployable arm and holds the power supply unit or sub-reflector after deployment, and a mesh mirror surface supported by the lower arm and the deployable arm. , a retention wire that holds the lower arm and the deployment arm in the stowed state;
A deployment wire that connects the tip of the deployment arm and the tip of the extension boom, which is in the form of a flat cable and has a rectangular cross section with a large length ratio of the long side to the short side; a holding wire cutting mechanism that cuts the holding wire at the start of deployment; A deployable parabolic antenna characterized by comprising a deployable wire cutting mechanism that cuts the deployable wire after the lower arm and the deployable arm are locked.