JPH11293777A - Spreading type framed structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote lightening in addition to improvement in rigidity, and to enhance reliability of motion control. SOLUTION: Rib members 17a, 17b are bridged among every other connecting section of the first and second ring-shaped bodies 11, 12 of an approximately hexagonal truncated pyramidal frame body 15 and both ends of a central rod 16, and both ends of the rib members are frame-connected respectively rotatably. The frame members 11a, 11b, connecting rods 13, 14 and rib members 17a, 17b of the frame body 15 are turned while using the connecting sections of these frame members, connecting rods and rib members as the centers of rotation and shorn and deformed in crest, valley, crest and valley shapes centering around the central rod 16 and folded and housed in an approximately cylindrical shape by controlling the revolution of one ends of the rib members 17a, 17b in the axial direction of the central rod 16, and the frame body 15 is constituted so as to be spread in an approximately hexagonal truncated pyramidal shape centering around the central rod 16 when the rib members 17a, 17b are inverted to the central rod 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a deployable skeleton structure suitable for use in, for example, various structures constituting a space base, a mirror support structure of an antenna system constructed in outer space, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of space development, the development of a space base concept is in progress. In this Space Station concept, various deployable frame structures including the Space Station skeleton and antenna support structure are assembled on the ground in advance, then folded and stored and transported to outer space, A method of deploying in space has been considered and is being developed. In such an expandable frame structure, a frame member is combined with a frame structure such as a truss structure having a polygonal prism shape such as a cube (quadrangle prism) or a triangular prism, and rotatably coupled between its ends. There has been proposed a method of forming a foldable and foldable framework, and combining a plurality of the frameworks to form a desired shape.

For example, as a deployable frame structure, a frame member is frame-connected in a cubic shape, and driving means, for example, a telescopic member (or an intermediate portion can be bent freely) on a diagonal line of its quadrilateral surface. 2. Description of the Related Art There is a frame structure in which a plurality of frame members are folded and deployed by arranging and arranging a plurality of frame members by driving and controlling the expansion and contraction members (or bending members).

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned expandable frame structure, any of the frame structures is provided with a large number of constituent members such as a telescopic member (or a bent member) as a fold-deployment driving means for performing the fold-deployment. Must be so complicated that the configuration is
There is a problem that the reliability of the folding and unfolding operation is low, the rigidity thereof is low, and it is difficult to increase the size.

In order to stabilize the rigidity of the frame structure, the number of components must be increased.
There is a problem that when the size is promoted, the weight becomes very heavy.

[0006] The problem of such deployable frame structures has been studied in the field of space development due to recent diversification of communications.
When constructing a large antenna reflector exceeding m, this is a serious problem.

[0007]

As described above, the conventional expandable skeleton structure has a complicated structure, inferior reliability of the folding and unfolding operation, low rigidity and heavy weight. There is a problem that it is difficult to increase the size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been developed to improve the rigidity, promote the reduction of the weight, and realize the improvement of the reliability of the operation control. It is an object to provide a mold frame structure.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a ring-shaped annular body in which frame members are combined into an even-numbered rectangular shape having a square shape or more, and ends thereof are rotatably connected to each other.
A substantially even prism-shaped skeleton body in which the connecting rods are erected between the connecting parts by opposing each other at predetermined intervals, and the ends of the connecting rods are rotatably connected to the connecting parts. A center rod disposed substantially at the center of the annular body of the skeleton body and substantially parallel to the connecting rod, and a connecting rod provided between the coupling portions of the annular body and provided every other one of the connecting rods. Wherein one end of the connecting rod and one end of the center rod, and a plurality of bridges are installed between the other end of the connecting rod and the other end of the center rod, and the ends are rotatably connected to each other. And a folding and unfolding means for folding and unfolding the rib member around a central rod by urging each of the rib members in the axial direction to constitute a deployable frame structure.

According to the above construction, a rib member is provided between every other connecting portion of the two annular members of the polygonal columnar frame and both ends of the center rod, and both ends are rotatable. By connecting the frame and controlling the rotation of one end of the rib member in the axial direction of the center rod, the skeleton body and the rib member are rotated about the connection portion as the rotation center, and the connection rod is mounted around the center rod. ,valley,
When the rib member is turned upside down with respect to the center bar after being sheared and deformed into a mountain or valley shape and stored in a substantially cylindrical shape, the skeleton is developed into a polygonal column shape centered on the center bar.

Thus, the frame member, the connecting rod, the center rod,
Folding and unfolding are possible without bending or extending the middle part of the rib member, and while securing weight reduction and high rigidity, it is possible to promote large size, and Thus, a highly reliable folding and unfolding operation can be performed.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a module 10 constituting a deployable skeleton structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, 19 modules are combined to form an antenna support structure having an opening diameter of, for example, 16 m or more. (Refer to FIG. 2, only one module is indicated by oblique lines.) In this case, on one surface of the module 10, an antenna mesh 50 constituting a well-known antenna mirror surface is stretched via a mesh support mechanism 60 including, for example, a stretching cable and a support post.

As shown in FIG. 3, the module 10 has ring-shaped first and second annular bodies 11 and 12 opposed to each other at a predetermined interval, and has two types of connecting rods 13 between the vertices. , 14 are selectively installed to connect the connecting rods 13, 14.
Are skeleton-connected to the apex to form a frame 15 having a truncated polygonal pyramid shape, for example, a substantially hexagonal pyramid shape.

That is, the ring-shaped first and second annular bodies 1
For example, the pipes 1 and 12 are each formed by combining two types of six pipe-shaped frame members 11a and 12a having different lengths in a hexagonal shape. Then, the first and second annular bodies 1
For example, two pipe-type connecting rods 13 and 14 having different lengths, for example, are alternately provided between the connecting portions, and the ends of the frame members 11a and 12a are connected to each other. Hinge portions 13 radially formed at both ends of connecting rods 13 and 14
a and 14a (see FIG. 4) are rotatably connected to each other in the axial direction to form a substantially hexagonal truncated pyramid-shaped frame 15.

The first and second annular bodies 11 and 12 are
As shown in FIG. 5, the lengths of the two types of frame members 11a and 12a are set to X and Y (X <
Assuming that the length dimensions of the two types of connecting rods 13 and 14 constituting the substantially quadrilateral side surface are h and H (h <H), the relationship of X + H = Y + h is satisfied. Thereby, the first
One of the second annular members 11 and 12 can form an antenna mirror surface having a desired curvature. In other words, the frame 15 is composed of two types of frame members 11a and 12a.
The first and second annular bodies 11 and 12 skeleton-connected in a.
It is formed by connecting the frames at predetermined intervals using three connecting rods 13 and 14 having lengths of h and H, respectively.

The first and second frames 15 are provided in the frame 15.
For example, a pipe-shaped center rod 16 is disposed in correspondence with the centers of the annular bodies 11 and 12, and both ends of the center rod 16 and the first
The rib members 17a and 17b are laid radially every other portion between the connecting portions of the second annular bodies 11 and 12.
One end of each of the rib members 17a and 17b is rotatably connected to the hinge portion 14a of the connecting rod 14 in the axial direction, and the other end is rotatably connected to the hinge portions 16a at both ends of the center rod 16 in the axial direction. Is done. And one end of the center rod 16,
The mesh support mechanism 60 is provided at the joint of the first annular body 11 of the skeleton body 15 and the mesh support mechanism 6 is provided.
The antenna mesh 50 is stretched on 0.

Also, one end of the center rod 16 and the rib member 1
An umbrella mechanism 19 is provided between the other end of 7a. In the umbrella mechanism 19, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a sliding member 19a is movably provided at one end of a center rod.
One ends of the three first link members 19b are linked to each other. The other end of the first link member 19b is
The second link member 19c is link-linked between the first link member and the rib member 17a. Further, a spring member 19d is attached to the sliding member 19a so as to apply an urging force to the center rod 16 in the direction of arrow A (the developing direction). The sliding member 19a is a spring member 1
In a state where it is most moved in the direction of arrow B against the urging force of 9d, it is positioned by a lock mechanism (not shown). As a result, the rib member 17a is connected to the spring member 19 via the sliding member 19a and the first and second link members 18b and 19c.
It is positioned at the folding position against the urging force of d. Here, the frame 15 is connected to the connecting rod 1 around the center rod 16.
3, 14 are located like mountains, valleys, mountains, valleys, mountains, valleys,
It is so-called shear deformation.

The rib member 17a of the first annular body 11
Auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20 is provided at each of the joints where is not frame-joined as shown in FIG. In this auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20, a sliding member, a link member, and a spring member (in FIG. 3, for convenience of the drawing, detailed drawings are omitted) are similarly assembled between the connecting rod and the frame member. It is positioned in a folded state by the lock mechanism (not shown) in the same manner as the umbrella mechanism 19 against the urging force of the spring member. When the lock of the lock mechanism (not shown) is released, the auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20 is released.
In cooperation with the above, the frame member 11 of the frame body 15 which is folded and stored by applying a biasing force to the connecting rod 14 in the developing direction to the skeleton member 11a and the rib member 17a in a so-called shearing deformation.
a, 12a, the connecting rods 13, 14, the center rod 16, and the rib members 17a, 17b are inverted to develop a substantially hexagonal truncated pyramid shape.

Control cables 21 are respectively bridged between the connecting portion of the first annular body 11 of the frame 15 located between the rib members 17a and one end of the center rod 16 (three places, (See FIG. 3). The control cable 21 has one end coupled to the coupling portion of the first annular body 11 and the other end disposed on the other end of the center rod 16.
It is attached to 2.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cable winding mechanism 22 is provided with a winding section 22a rotatably driven via a drive motor 22b. One end is wound around each so that it can be wound up freely. The cable winding mechanism 22 has a drive motor 22b
Is a control unit (not shown) for the umbrella mechanism 19 and the auxiliary umbrella mechanism 2
0, and is driven and controlled in accordance with 0, and the frame members 11a, 12a,
The developing speed of the connecting rods 13, 14 and the rib members 17a, 17b is controlled.

Here, for example, a wire cable 23 is stretched over the truss structure on the skeleton body 15 including the rib members 17a and 17b, and is connected to respective connection portions (FIG. 3).
(Refer to the broken line in the figure). Thereby, the skeleton 1
The rigidity of the rib 5 and the rib members 17a and 17b in the deployed state is enhanced.

In the above configuration, in the folded storage state,
Frame members 11a and 12a of frame 15 and connecting rod 13,
14. The connecting rods 13a, 14 are raised by the rib members 17a, 17b against the deployment force of the umbrella mechanism 19 and the auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20,
A valley, a mountain, a valley, a mountain, a valley, and the like, which are sheared and deformed around the center bar 16 and folded and stored in a substantially cylindrical shape (FIG. 9A)
(B), (c) and FIGS. 10 (a), (b), (c).

When the lock mechanism (not shown) is operated, the frame 15 including the rib members 17a and 17b0 is
Locked in the folded storage position. At this time, the cable winding mechanism 22 winds up the control cable 21 at the winding portion 22a, and allows the frame members 11a and 12a of the frame body 15, the connecting rods 13 and 14, and the rib members 17a and 17b to be folded and stored. . By being folded and stored in a substantially cylindrical shape in this manner, the frame body 15 including the rib members 17a and 17b has a desired rigidity. Is done.

When the umbrella is deployed from the folded and stored state, first, the lock mechanism (not shown) is driven to unlock the umbrella mechanism 19 and the auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20. Then, the umbrella mechanism 19 and the auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20 cooperate with each other to form the frame members 11a and 12a, the connecting rods 13 and 14, and the rib members 17 of the frame body 15 that is sheared and stored in a folded state.
a and 17b are urged to rotate about the center rod 16 in the developing direction to develop a substantially hexagonal truncated pyramid centering on the center rod 16 (FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c) and FIGS. 10 (a)
(See (b) and (c)).

At this time, the driving mechanism of the drive motor 22b drives the cable winding mechanism 22 to rotate the winding section 22a at a predetermined rotation speed in the cable feeding direction.
And the deployment speed of the auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20 is controlled to
The frame members 11a and 12a, the connecting rods 13 and 14, and the rib members 17a and 17b are developed in synchronization. As a result, the antenna mesh 50 is stretched over the connecting rods 13 and 14 and the center rod 16 of the skeleton 15 via the mesh support mechanism 60, and the antenna mesh 50 is spread into a predetermined mirror surface shape, and a desired antenna mirror surface is constructed.

As described above, the deployable skeleton structure is formed of the first and second annular bodies 1 of the skeleton 15 having a substantially truncated hexagonal pyramid shape.
Rib members 17a, 17b are bridged between every other connecting portion of the center rod 16 and both ends of the center rod 16, and both ends are rotatably frame-connected to each other so that one end of the rib members 17a, 17b is centered. By controlling the rotation of the rod 16 in the axial direction, the frame members 11a and 11b of the frame 15 and the connecting rods 13 and 1 are controlled.
4. The rib members 17a and 17b are rotated about the joint thereof as a rotation center, and the peaks, valleys, peaks,
When the rib members 17a and 17b are inverted with respect to the center rod 16 by being sheared and deformed into a valley shape and stored in a substantially cylindrical shape,
The frame 15 is configured to be deployed in a substantially hexagonal truncated pyramid shape centered on the center rod 16.

According to this, the skeleton member 11 of the skeleton body 15
a, 12a, connecting rods 13, 14, rib members 17a, 1
7b is sheared around the center rod 16 and the whole is folded and unfolded, and the intermediate portion of the frame 15, the center rod 16, and the rib members 17a and 17b is not bent or extended. By being configured to be able to be folded and unfolded, high rigidity can be achieved with a minimum number of components, the weight can be easily promoted, and a stable folding and unfolding operation is realized. As a result, a reliable and stable folding and unfolding operation can be realized while achieving a large size required in the field of recent space development.

According to this, when the antenna system is constructed by being sheared around the center rod 16 arranged at the center of the substantially hexagonal truncated pyramid-shaped frame 15 and folded and unfolded as a whole, Since the mesh support mechanism 60 for supporting the central portion of the antenna mesh 50 forming the antenna mirror can be arranged at substantially equal intervals on the first annular body 11 of the skeleton 15, highly accurate adjustment of the antenna mirror can be performed. Can be easily realized.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the substantially hexagonal truncated pyramid-shaped frame 15 which forms the antenna mirror support structure is described. Depending on the shape of the object, it is also possible to form a polygonal prism-shaped skeleton structure of square prisms or more even-numbered prisms or more, and in any prismatic skeleton structure,
Similar effects are expected.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the umbrella mechanism 19 and the auxiliary umbrella mechanism 20 are used as the expansion driving means has been described. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and various types of expansion driving structures may be used. It is possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, the skeleton 1
5, the center bar 16, and the rib members 17a and 17b are used to form a frame structure, and the frame body 15, the center bar 16, and the rib member 1 are formed.
Although the description has been given of the case where the wire cable 23 is erected in the truss structure between the connecting portions 7a and 17b, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, both the wire cable 23 and the beam (not shown) may be used, or none of the wire cable 23 and the beam (not shown) may be combined, and the present invention can be applied to various frame structures.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the support structure of the antenna reflector constituting the antenna system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the applicable range includes the skeleton of the space base. The present invention can be applied to various structures and various buildings constructed on the ground. Therefore, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0033]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the rigidity can be improved, the weight can be reduced, and the reliability of operation control can be improved. An expandable skeleton structure can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a deployable skeleton structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an antenna support structure to which the deployable skeleton according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the frame structure of FIG. 1 taken out;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the connecting rod of FIG. 1 taken out;

FIG. 5 is a view shown for explaining a connection relationship between first and second annular bodies of the skeleton body of FIG. 1 and a connecting rod;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the umbrella mechanism of FIG. 1 taken out;

FIG. 7 is a view showing the cable winding mechanism of FIG. 1 taken out;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing details of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a folding and unfolding process of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a process of folding and unfolding the center rod and the connecting rod of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Module. 50 ... mesh antenna. 60 ... mesh support mechanism. 11, 12: First and second annular bodies. 11a, 12a ... frame members. 13, 14 ... connecting rods. 13a, 14a ... hinge part. 15 ... Framed body. 16 ... Center rod. 16a: hinge part. 17a, 17b ... rib members. 19 ... Umbrella mechanism. 19a: sliding member. 19b, 19c: First and second link members. 19d: Spring member. 20 ... Auxiliary umbrella mechanism. 21 ... Control cable. 22 Cable winding mechanism. 22a: Winding unit. 22b ... Drive motor. 23 ... Wire cable.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Takahara 1 Toshiba, Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Inside Toshiba R & D Center

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A ring-shaped annular body in which frame members are combined into an even-numbered rectangular shape of a quadrangle or more and their ends are rotatably connected to each other. Connecting rods are erected between the connecting parts, and the ends of the connecting rods are rotatably connected to the connecting parts. A center rod disposed substantially parallel to the connecting rod at the center, and a connecting rod provided for every other connecting rod provided between the coupling portions of the annular body, A plurality of rib members which are provided between one end and one end of the center rod, and between the other end of the connecting rod and the other end of the center rod, and whose ends are rotatably connected to each other; Folding and unfolding, each of which is urged in the axial direction to fold and unfold the skeleton around a center rod. Deployable framework structure comprising a stage. 2. The skeleton body includes two types of annular bodies formed of skeleton members having different lengths, and two types of annular bodies having different lengths.
2. The deployable skeleton structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of connecting rods are skeleton-connected to form an even-numbered truncated pyramid or more. 3. The sum of the lengths of the frame members and the connecting rods located on both sides of a diagonal line connecting the vertices of a quadrilateral formed by the frame members and the connecting rods is set to the same length. 3. The deployable skeleton structure according to claim 1, wherein the skeleton structure is formed. 4. The connecting rod, which is provided correspondingly to the other of the connecting members where the rib member is not bridged, wherein the connecting member of one of the connecting members of the annular body and the frame member and the central rod are provided. A control cable, one end of which is connected to the connecting portion between the connecting rod and the frame member, and the other end of which is interlocked with the folding and unfolding operation of the folding and unfolding means. The deployable frame structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising operation speed control means for performing winding control. 5. The folding and unfolding means includes a first umbrella mechanism disposed between one end of a center rod and an end of a first rib member, and one annular body to which a control cable is coupled. The deployable frame structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a plurality of second umbrella mechanisms disposed between the rod and the frame member. 6. The frame, first and second rib members,
The deployable skeleton structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a wire cable is provided in a truss structure between connection portions of the cable members. 7. The deployable skeleton structure according to claim 1, wherein a mesh material constituting an antenna mirror surface is stretched on one annular body of the skeleton body.