JPH05294293A - Cosmos structure article and construction thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the construction cost of a cosmos structure article and improve construction workability. CONSTITUTION:A cosmos structure article 1 is constituted of an expandable device body 2 and a plurality of spherical elements 3 which are installed in radial form on the outer peripheral surface of the device body 2. The spherical element 3 is constituted so as to be foldable along a folding set along the axial direction of the device body 2, and freely wound on the periphery of the device body 2, and the base part is installed at both the edge parts of the device body 2. Since the cosmos structure article is constituted of the device body and the spherical elements, the whole can be made lightweight, and the transportation cost of the cosmos structure article can be reduced. Since the cosmos structure article is constructed by developing the spherical element by its centrifugal force, the construction workability for the cosmos structure article can be improved, and the construction period for the cosmos structure article can be shortened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a space structure installed in outer space and a construction method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when an artificial satellite or a space station is launched into outer space, for example, the outer shell of aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, carbon fiber or the like is formed into a mesh shape, a spider web shape, a truss shape, or the like. Build a space structure by assembling.
This space structure has a solar power generation device with a large number of solar cells (solar cells) incorporated therein, and a living space with a side wall incorporated therein. It is configured so that the posture can be changed.

The space structure is usually mounted on a transportation rocket or the like in a state where the outer shell or the like is disassembled or folded on the ground, is transported to the space by the rocket or the like, and then assembled in the space. ..

[0004]

However, since the above-mentioned space structure is a structure in which outer shells are assembled into a mesh shape, a cobweb shape, a truss shape or the like in outer space to construct a huge plane, There are issues to be solved as shown in. The total weight of the space structure will increase, and the material transportation cost from the ground will become enormous. To assemble space structures in orbit in outer space,
Robots, EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity), etc. are required, and the assembly work of space structures is complicated. A truss structure in which a space structure is automatically expanded is also conceivable, but the system becomes complicated. In this system, after deploying the truss structure, the solar cells and the like must be attached, and the deployment work and the solar cell installation work are required, and the costs required for these operations are required, and the costs required for the operations are high. Will end up.

The present invention effectively solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a space structure and a method for constructing the space structure which can enhance the workability of constructing the space structure and reduce the construction cost. To do.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a space structure comprising a device main body which is extendable and contractible, and a plurality of spherical elements radially attached to an outer peripheral surface of the device main body. Each of the elements is configured to be foldable with a fold line along the axial direction of the device body, the spherical element is configured to be wound around the device body, and its base is attached to both ends of the device body. It is characterized by being.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a space structure comprising a device main body having a circular cross section or a regular polygonal shape in cross section, and a plurality of fan-shaped elements radially attached to an outer peripheral surface of the device main body. It is characterized in that it is configured to be foldable along a fold line along the radial direction thereof, and to be wound around the apparatus body.

A construction method of a space structure according to claim 3 is
A method for constructing the space structure according to claim 1 in outer space, wherein each spherical element is folded toward the direction in which the fold extends in a state where the apparatus body is contracted on the ground, Wrap around the device body, transport the space structure from the ground to outer space in this state,
In space, the space structure is rotated about the axis of the device main body, the spherical elements are developed by the centrifugal force, and the device main body to which both ends of these spherical elements are attached is extended, and the device main body is extended. It is characterized in that the spherical element is positioned on a substantially spherical surface by rotating with the axis line of.

A construction method of a space structure according to claim 4 is
A method for constructing a space structure according to claim 2 in space, wherein the fan-shaped elements are wound on the ground along the circumference of the apparatus main body in a direction in which the folds extend, respectively, and the space structure in this state. An object is transported from the ground to outer space, and the space structure is rotated about the axis of the apparatus main body in space to develop the fan-shaped element by centrifugal force, and these fan-shaped elements are respectively arranged on substantially the same plane. It is characterized by being positioned.

[0010]

In the space structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the device body is contracted, the spherical elements are folded with the folds, and the spherical elements are transported to the outer space while being wound around the device body. By rotating the device body in outer space, the spherical element is deployed in the circumferential direction of the device body. The device body is extended, and by rotating the device body, the spherical element is expanded on the spherical surface,
Space structure is built in outer space.

In the space structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, the fan-shaped element is folded with its folds, and the fan-shaped element is wound around the main body of the apparatus and transported to the outer space. By rotating the device body in outer space, the fan-shaped element is developed to construct a space structure in outer space.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for constructing a space structure, wherein the apparatus body is contracted, the spherical element is folded, and the space structure is wound around the apparatus body, and the space structure is miniaturized. Therefore, the space structure will be transported. Then, in space, by rotating the device body, the spherical element is developed around the device body by the centrifugal force. Further, by extending the device main body and rotating the device main body, the spherical element is expanded on the spherical surface to construct the space structure.

In the method for constructing a space structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, since the fan-shaped element is wound around the main body of the apparatus and transported to the outer space, the downsized space structure is transported to the outer space. By rotating the device body in outer space, the fan-shaped element is developed by its centrifugal force.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the space structure and its construction method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a space structure,
The space structure 1 is basically composed of a device body 2 which is expandable and contractible and has a circular cross section, and a plurality of sheet-shaped spherical elements 3 which are radially attached to the outer peripheral surface of the device body 2 and have solar cells and the like. It is configured.

These spherical elements 3 are, as shown in FIG.
Each of them is configured to be foldable with a fold line 4 extending along the axial direction of the device body 2, and has bases 5 attached to both ends of the device body 2, respectively, and a direction perpendicular to the axis of the device body 2 from the base 5. In addition, a spring mechanism 6 that double-extends and opens and closes the folded tip portion is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the thus-folded spherical element 3 is configured so that the spring mechanism 6 at the tip end is closed and can be wound around the apparatus body 2.

The apparatus main body 2 moves the apparatus main body 2 by a telescopic drive section (not shown) for expanding and contracting the apparatus main body 2, a rotary drive section (not shown) for rotating the apparatus main body 2. And a drive unit (not shown). The space structure 1 having the above configuration is housed in a control unit (not shown) when being transported from the ground to outer space by a rocket or the like. The control unit includes a control unit that controls the expansion / contraction, rotation, and movement driving unit.

A method for constructing such a space structure 1 in outer space will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 2 is contracted on the ground, each spherical element 3 is folded in multiple directions in the direction in which the fold line 4 extends, and the tip of each spherical element 3 is spring-loaded. Make a closed state at 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, each spherical element 3 is attached to the device main body 2
Wrap it around. In this state, the space structure 1 is housed in the control unit, and then mounted on a rocket or the like. By moving this rocket or the like to outer space, the space structure 1 is transported to outer space.

In this space, the space structure 1 is moved by operating the movement drive unit by the control unit of the control unit. Then, the rotation drive unit is operated by the control unit to rotate the space structure 1 about the axis of the device body 2 and deploy the spherical element 3 around the device body 2 by its centrifugal force. At this time, the spherical element 3 wound around the apparatus main body 2 spreads outward as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, each spherical element 3
By opening the spring mechanism 6 and extending the device body 2 in its axial direction, the double-extended spherical element 3 is peeled off, and the spherical elements 3 attached to both ends of the device body 2 are removed. It is deployed in the axial direction. Then, by rotating the device body 2 with its axis, the spherical element 3 is positioned on a substantially spherical surface, and the space structure 1 is constructed in space, as shown in FIG.

According to the space structure 1 as described above, the space main body 2 is composed of the device main body 2 which is expandable and contractible and the spherical element 3 which can be wound around the device main body 2.
Is contracted, and the spherical element 3 is transported to outer space while being wound around the device body 2. Therefore, the space structure 1 can be miniaturized and transported to the outer space, so that the transport workability of the space structure 1 can be improved.

The spherical element 3 is attached to the apparatus main body 2
Since the base 5 of the spherical element 3 is attached to both ends of the device body 2, the spherical element 3 is extended so that the spherical element 3 can be folded. The spherical element 3 is expanded in the axial direction and the device body 2 is rotated, whereby the spherical element 3 is expanded on the spherical surface, and the space structure 1 is constructed in the outer space.
Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need to form an outer shell in outer space, to eliminate the need for a robot or EVA for construction, and to eliminate the need to provide the spherical element 3 with deployment power and its mechanism. , The work done in outer space can be reduced. Therefore, the weight of the space structure 1 can be reduced, the transportation work of the space structure 1 can be improved, and the failure points of the space structure 1 can be reduced to improve the safety of the space structure 1. ..

Further, since the spherical element 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body 2, the space structure 1 can be made large in size, the weight of the space structure 1 can be reduced, and the total weight of the transport material can be reduced. The cost of transporting the material from the ground can be reduced. Further, since the space structure 1 is configured to be expanded to a spherical surface, it is possible to eliminate the need to position the space structure 1 at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of sunlight, and control the attitude of the space structure 1. It is possible to eliminate the need for a posture control device and the like, and reduce the weight of the space structure 1.

According to the method for constructing the space structure 1, the apparatus body 2 is contracted on the ground, the spherical elements 3 are folded, and the spherical elements 3 are wound around the apparatus body 2 in this state. Since the space structure 1 is transported to the outer space, the downsized space structure 1 can be transported and the workability of transporting the space structure 1 can be improved.

Then, in space, the space structure 1 is rotated by rotating the device body 2 so that the spherical element 3 is developed by its centrifugal force to extend the device body 2 and rotate the device body 2. Since the spherical element 3 is positioned on a substantially spherical surface, the spherical element 3 can be automatically deployed in outer space, and centrifugal force can be applied to the spherical element 3 to stabilize the structure of the spherical element 3. Therefore, the workability of constructing the space structure 1 can be improved. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need for robots and EVAs, to reduce the work to be performed in outer space, to simplify the system for deploying the spherical element 3, and to reduce the cost and cost required for forming a huge plane. The cost required for construction work can be reduced.

<Other Embodiments> Next, other embodiments of the space structure and the construction method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. As shown in FIG.
Is a space structure, and this space structure 11 is basically composed of a device body 12 having a circular cross-sectional view, and a plurality of sheet-shaped fan-shaped elements 13 radially attached to the outer peripheral surface of the device body. .. The fan-shaped element 13 is configured to be foldable with a fold line 14 extending in the radial direction thereof and to be wound around the apparatus body 12. Such a space structure 11 is housed in a control unit (not shown) when being transported from the ground to the outer space by a rocket or the like. This control unit includes an attitude control device that controls the attitude of the sector element 13.

In order to construct this space structure 11, first, the respective fan-shaped elements 13 are wound on the ground along the circumference of the apparatus main body 12 in the direction in which the folds 14 extend, and in this state, the space The structure 11 is housed in a control unit and is transported to outer space by a rocket or the like. In this outer space, the space structure 11 is discharged from the control unit. Then, the space structure 11 is attached to the device body 1
By rotating about the axis of 2, the fan-shaped element 13 is developed by centrifugal force. As a result, the fan-shaped elements 13 are located on substantially the same plane, and the space structure 11 is constructed.

According to this space structure 11, the fan-shaped element 1
3 is configured to be foldable with a fold line 14 extending in the radial direction thereof, and is configured to be wound around the apparatus body 12, so that the folded fan-shaped element 13 is the apparatus body 1
Wrapped around 2 and transported to outer space, space structure 1
The transport workability of 1 can be improved. Then, by rotating the device body 12 in outer space, the fan-shaped element 13 is developed, and the space structure 11 is constructed in outer space. Therefore, the device required for developing the space structure 11 can be dispensed with, the material to be transported to outer space can be reduced, and the workability of constructing the space structure 11 can be improved.

Further, according to the method for constructing the space structure 11, the creases 14 are formed on the ground for the respective fan-shaped elements 13.
Since the space structure 11 is transported from the ground to the outer space while being wound around the device main body 12 along the space, it is possible to transport the downsized space structure 11 and improve the workability of transporting the space structure 11. it can. And in outer space,
Since the space structure 11 is rotated to deploy the fan-shaped elements 13 by its centrifugal force, and the fan-shaped elements 13 are located on substantially the same plane, the spherical elements 13 can be automatically deployed in outer space. Therefore, centrifugal force can be applied to the sector element 13, the structure of the sector element 13 can be stabilized, and the workability of constructing the space structure 1 can be improved. For this reason, robots and EVs for construction
It is possible to eliminate A and the like, reduce the work to be performed in outer space, and reduce the cost required for the huge plane forming work and the cost required for the construction work.

Although the spherical element 3 and the fan-shaped element 13 having the folds 4 and 14 are used in the above-mentioned respective embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS. A spider web-shaped wire 20 may be connected to the outer circumference of the main body 12, and a strip-shaped panel 21 (fan-shaped element) incorporating a solar cell or the like may be attached to the wire 20. The wire 20 and the panel 21 are wound around the device body 12 and transported to the outer space, and the device body 12 is rotated in the outer space to deploy the belt-shaped panel 21 by its centrifugal force to construct a space structure. Good. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the apparatus main bodies 2 and 12 having a circular cross section are used, but the present application is not limited to this, and may be formed in a polygonal shape in cross section.

[0030]

As described above, according to the space structure and the method of constructing the same of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the space structure of claim 1, since the space structure is composed of a telescopic device body and a spherical element that can be wound around the device body, the device body is contracted,
The device can be transported to outer space with the spherical element wrapped around it. Therefore, the space structure can be made smaller and lighter and can be transported to the outer space, so that the workability of transporting the space structure can be improved.

Since the spherical element is configured to be foldable with a fold line along the radial direction of the apparatus main body, and the base of the spherical element is attached to both ends of the apparatus main body, the spherical shape can be obtained by extending the apparatus main body. The element is deployed in the axial direction of the device body, and by rotating the device body, the spherical element is deployed on the spherical surface, and a space structure is constructed in outer space. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the need for assembling an outer shell in outer space, eliminate the need for a robot or EVA for construction, and eliminate the need to provide a deploying power and its mechanism on a spherical element. Can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the weight of the space structure, to improve the transportation work of the space structure, to reduce the failure points of the space structure, and to improve the safety of the space structure.

According to the space structure of the second aspect, the fan-shaped element is configured to be foldable with a fold line along the radial direction thereof and to be wound around the main body of the apparatus. Therefore, the folded fan-shaped element is It can be wrapped around the device body and transported to outer space, improving the workability of transporting space structures. By rotating the device body in outer space, a fan-shaped element is developed and a space structure is constructed in outer space. Therefore, the space structure can be upsized and the workability of constructing the space structure is improved. be able to.

According to the method for constructing a space structure according to claim 3, the apparatus main body is contracted, and each spherical element is folded,
In addition, since it is wrapped around the device body and transported to outer space, it is possible to transport a downsized space structure and improve the workability of transporting the space structure. Since the device body is rotated and the device body is extended to deploy the spherical element, centrifugal force can be applied to the spherical element to automatically deploy it in outer space, and construction workability and stability of a space structure can be achieved. Can be improved. For this reason, robots and EVs for construction
It is possible to eliminate A and the like, improve the safety of the construction work of the space structure, and reduce the work performed in outer space. Since the space structure is constructed by expanding the spherical elements by its centrifugal force, the construction period of the space structure can be shortened, and the cost required for the huge plane forming work and the cost required for the construction work can be reduced. You can

According to the method of constructing a space structure according to the fourth aspect, since each fan-shaped element is folded and transported while being wound around the apparatus body, the workability of transporting the space structure can be improved. Since the space structure is constructed in the outer space by rotating the space structure, the workability of constructing the space structure can be improved. Further, since the fan-shaped element is developed by its centrifugal force, it is possible to eliminate the need for a robot, EVA, etc., and it is possible to reduce the cost required for the huge plane forming work and the cost required for its construction work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a space structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the spherical element of FIG. 1 is folded.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the spherical element of FIG. 2 is wrapped around the apparatus main body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the apparatus main body of FIG. 2 is extended.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the space structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the fan-shaped element of FIG. 5 is wound.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified example of FIG.

8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fan-shaped element of FIG. 7 is wound.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1/11 Space structure 2/12 Device body 3 Spherical element 4 14 Fold 5 Base 13 Fan element

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body which is extendable / contractible, and a plurality of spherical elements radially attached to an outer peripheral surface of the apparatus main body, wherein each of the spherical elements is folded at a fold line along the radial direction of the apparatus main body. A space structure characterized in that the spherical element is configured to be freely wound around the device body, and the bases thereof are attached to both ends of the device body. 2. A device main body having a circular shape or a regular polygonal shape in cross section, and a plurality of fan-shaped elements radially attached to an outer peripheral surface of the device main body, wherein the fan-shaped element is folded at a fold line extending in a radial direction thereof. A space structure characterized by being freely configured and being capable of being wound around the apparatus body. 3. A method for constructing the space structure according to claim 1 in outer space, wherein each spherical element is folded toward the direction of extension of a fold while the apparatus body is contracted on the ground. , Wrapping each spherical element around the device body, transporting the space structure from the ground to outer space in this state, rotating the space structure around the axis of the device body in outer space, Characterized in that the elements are deployed by their centrifugal force, and further the apparatus main body to which both ends of these spherical elements are attached is extended and rotated about the axis of the apparatus main body to position the spherical elements on a substantially spherical surface. How to construct a space structure. 4. A method for constructing the space structure according to claim 2 in outer space, wherein the fan-shaped elements are wound on the ground along the circumference of the apparatus main body in a direction in which folds extend. In the state, the space structure is transported from the ground to the outer space, and the space structure is rotated about the axis of the apparatus main body in the space to develop the fan-shaped element by centrifugal force, and these fan-shaped elements are respectively A method for constructing a space structure, which is characterized in that the space structures are located on substantially the same plane.