JPH04287800A - Unloading method for payload - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the unloading method of a payload in which the payload such as a module having the construction material of a space station to be constructed on the lunar surface is unloaded easily and safely onto the lunar surface. CONSTITUTION:For the unloading method of a payload 1 in which the payload 1 such as a module storing a construction material of a space station is unloaded onto the lunar surface from a landing craft having landed on a landing surface such as the lunar surface, the payload 1 is supported by propulsion units 3 having landing support legs 2 from both sides, an air bag 4 is inflated from the lower face or side face of the payload 1 into contact with the landing surface after landing on the landing surface, the payload 1 is supported by the air bag 4, then the propulsion units 3 are separated, the air in the air bag 4 is exhausted, and the payload 1 is safely lowered onto the landing surface.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a payload unloading method for lowering a payload such as a module equipped with construction materials for a space base or the like to be constructed on the lunar surface.
In particular, the present invention relates to a payload unloading method for easily and safely lowering a payload such as this module onto the lunar surface.

0002

[Prior Art] In order to exploit the moon's rich resources, it is necessary to construct a base on the lunar surface. Therefore, space equipment such as modules and payloads loaded with building materials for this space base will be sent from Earth to the moon using transportation equipment such as spacecraft. When a payload or space equipment such as a rover is to be lowered onto the lunar surface from a spacecraft that has landed on the moon, the payload must be lowered onto the lunar surface by building a ramp from the spacecraft to the lunar surface.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, payloads such as modules equipped with construction materials for space bases, etc. are large and have a total weight of 5 to 10 tons, making it difficult for small lunar rovers to do so. The problem with using a ramp like the one used to transport the moon was that the ramp would have to be long and large in order to safely lower it to the lunar surface.

Therefore, the present invention was devised to effectively solve this drawback, and its main purpose is to safely and easily transport heavy objects such as modules of a lunar base to the lunar surface. This provides a method for unloading the payload.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention lowers a payload, such as a module containing construction materials for a space base, etc., onto the lunar surface from a lander that has landed on a landing surface such as the lunar surface. In the payload unloading method, the payload is supported from both sides by a propulsion aircraft having support legs for landing, and after landing on the landing surface, an air bag is inflated from the bottom or side of the payload to contact the landing surface. At the same time, after supporting the payload with the airbag, the propulsion device is separated, and then the air inside the airbag is exhausted to safely lower the payload.

[0006]

[Operation] Since the present invention is configured as described above, the air inside the airbag supporting the payload is gradually exhausted to deflate the airbag, thereby causing the payload to gradually descend to the landing surface. . Therefore, lowering a heavy payload to a landing surface safely and easily is achieved.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a lander (consisting of a payload 1, a tunneling machine 3, and a support leg 2) that has landed on the moon surface, etc., and the payload 1 is propagated from both sides by a propulsion vehicle having a support leg 2 for landing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the aircraft is supported by aircraft 3 and landed on a landing surface.

[0009] This payload 1 is transported to the lunar surface by the above-mentioned lander, and contains construction materials for a space base, etc. inside. The length is approximately 10 meters, and it weighs 5 to 10 tons (1G) on Earth. In addition, a propulsion engine (not shown) is provided inside the propulsion unit 3.
is provided. The payload 1 is detachably supported from the propulsion device 3 by a coupling device (not shown), and is located at a height of approximately 2 to 5 meters from the landing surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an air bag 4 stored in a folded state and an air cylinder 5 for supplying air to the air bag 4 are stored in the payload 1. The air bag 4 is taken out of the payload 1 from an outlet 6 formed at the bottom of the payload 1, and is inflated at the bottom of the payload 1 by air supplied from an air cylinder 5.

Next, a method for lowering the payload 1 in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to its lower part will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, first, the air bag 4 in the payload 1 is taken out from the outlet 6, and then the air bag 4 is removed from the air cylinder 5.
As shown in FIG. 3, air is supplied into the airbag 4 and inflated below the payload 1 to contact the landing surface, and the airbag 4 supports the payload 1. Note that since there is a vacuum on the lunar surface, the air pressure supplied to the air bag 4 is approximately 0.1 atmospheres, which is sufficient.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, when the propulsion device 3 supporting the payload 1 from both sides is separated from the payload 1 and the support of the payload 1 by the propulsion device 3 is released, as shown in the figure, Payload 1 will be supported by airbag 4. Thereafter, the air in the airbag 4 is gradually exhausted to slowly deflate the airbag 4, and the payload 1 is lowered to the landing surface as shown in FIG.

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to lower the heavy payload 1 and the like by using the airbag 4, so that the payload 1 and the like can be easily and safely lowered to the lunar surface.

Next, FIGS. 6 to 9 show other modified embodiments. In this embodiment, four airbags 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are provided on the sides of the payload 1, and these airbags 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are simultaneously inflated to support the payload 1, and then the excavator 3 to payload 1
These airbags 4a, 4b, 4c,
The air in each space 4d is evacuated and deflated to gradually lower the payload 1 to the landing surface. That is, in the above embodiment, only one airbag 4 is used, so the payload 1 may lose its balance and fall from the airbag 4 before the airbag 4 is completely deflated, or the landing surface may be uneven. In this example, four airbags 4a, 4b, 4c may cause the payload to touch the ground in an unstable state if
, 4d, the payload 1 can be safely lowered to the landing surface while stably supporting the payload.

[0016] The air bag may be provided on the side of the propulsion unit 3 that is separated from the payload 1, or the air bag 4 and the air cylinder 5 may be carried by a worker from another location and placed on the underside of the payload 1. . Furthermore, the exhaust gas from the excavator 3 can also be used as the air source for the airbag. It is also possible to use it on earth by increasing the air pressure supplied to the airbags 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d. Furthermore, it can be used not only on the moon but also on other celestial bodies such as Mars.

[0017]

As described above, in summary, according to the present invention, it is possible to safely and easily lower a payload such as a module to the ground, and it has excellent effects such as improved workability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a payload is supported by a propulsion device.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a payload supported by a propulsion device.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the airbag in an inflated state.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the propulsion device separated from the payload.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which the air in the airbag is exhausted and the payload is lowered onto the landing surface.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another modified embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 6 showing a state where the excavator is separated from the payload.

FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 6 showing a state in which the air in the airbag is exhausted and the payload is lowered onto the landing surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Payload 2 Support legs 3. Propulsion machine

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A method for unloading a payload in which a payload such as a module containing construction materials for a space base, etc. is lowered from a lander that has landed on a landing surface such as the lunar surface onto the lunar surface, wherein the payload is landed from both sides of the lander. After the payload is supported by a propulsion aircraft having support legs for the purpose of landing on the landing surface, an air bag is inflated from the bottom or side of the payload to contact the landing surface, and the payload is supported by the air bag, Separate the above propulsion machine,
A method for unloading a payload, the method comprising: thereafter exhausting the air in the air bag to safely lower the payload onto a landing surface.