JPS60226202A - Spread type antenna reflector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a spread type antenna reflector with good performance of storage and high surface acccuracy by adopting the constitution that many parts distributed on a face of a flexible conductive thin film possible for holding are tensed by many connecting wires respectively. CONSTITUTION:An aperture of the reflector is supported by a hoop connecting a beam 12b being a tubular rod made of, e.g., a carbon fiber composite material with a hinge 11a provided with a spring device, and the flexible conductive film 14 constituting the reflector face is formed into a desired shape of a reflection mirror face while many distributed parts on the film face are tensed respectively by many connecting wires 15. The connecting wires 15 are bound and fixed to a column bar 19 formed to be made folded by a hinge 18. In folding the reflector, it is folded by using the hinges 11a, 18 and then in storage. Through the constitution above, the surface accuracy is high, good performance of storage and also light weight are attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a deployable antenna reflector, particularly one suitable for being mounted on the Ayu star.

[Prior Art] Figures 1, 2, and 3 show an example of a conventional deployable antenna reflector. Figure 1 shows its retracted state, and Figures 2 and 3 show its retracted state. Each shows the expanded state.

The deployable antenna reflector shown in Fig. 1.2.3 is formed in a so-called paratular shape, and a large number of ribs (2) are arranged radially from a disk-shaped central dish (1), and each rib ( 2), a flexible conductive thin film (4) is stretched between them. Each rib (4) has its base end at 1
The disk-like shape is connected to the central dish (1) via a hinge (3) with a degree of freedom. Flexible conductive thin film (
4) is composed of, for example, a fine metal mesh.

Here, in the retracted state shown in FIG. 1, the ribs (2) are contracted so that the flexible conductive thin film (4) is folded between the ribs (2). In addition, in the unfolded state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ribs (2) expand radially, so that the flexible conductive thin film (4)
) are expanded with some tension between them,
This forms a parabolic radio wave reflecting mirror surface.

However, the above-mentioned conventional deployable antenna reflector first requires a storage length that is approximately 1/2 of its deployed diameter. For this reason, its storability was not necessarily good.

In addition, each rib (2) itself is formed to curve along a predetermined parabolic plane, but the flexible conductive thin film (4) developed between each rib (2) is Due to the slight tension applied for its expansion, it tends to flatten out without following the parabolic plane. For this reason, the mirror surface precision inevitably becomes rough. In order to approximately improve this mirror precision, the only way is to increase the number of the ribs (2) as much as possible. However, increasing the number of ribs results in a significant increase in weight, which is a trade-off.

[Summary of the invention] This invention has been made to improve the above drawbacks,
By using wires instead of the ribs, we propose a deployable antenna reflector that is easy to store and can simultaneously improve the precision of the radio wave reflecting mirror surface and reduce weight.

Embodiment FIGS. 4 to 7 show a deployable antenna reflector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Here, FIGS. 4 and 5 are a front view and a side view showing the state when stored. Also, Figures 6 and 7
The figures are a front view and a side view showing the state at the time of development.

The deployable antenna reflector shown in Figures 4 to 7 has a hinge (
11a), (11b), long beam (12a) and short beam (1
2b), support wire (13), flexible conductive thin film (14)
), a bonding wire (15), etc. In addition, a spacer (16), a fixture (17), a column hinge (
18), column bar (19), column spacer (20)
It can be attached to the side wall (22) of the satellite body using accessory parts such as a column attachment (21).

The hinges (11a) and (11b) are each equipped with a spring device such as a spiral spring, and are always elastically biased in the expanding direction. It is also equipped with a latch device that locks the device when it is expanded to a predetermined angle. In this case, one hinge (11a> has an expansion angle of 180 degrees and the other hinge (11b) has an expansion angle of 12
They are each locked at an expansion angle of 0 degrees.

The long beam (12a) and the short beam (12b) are each tubular rods, and are made of, for example, a carbon fiber composite material. The long beam (1'2a) and the short beam (12b) are arranged to form a polygonal (regular hexagonal) hoop as shown in Fig. 6 by means of the hinge (11a), <11'b). connected in a ring. This polygonal hoop is attached to the satellite side wall (22) by means of a dowel (17) on one side. In this case, the long beam (12a) is the satellite side wall (22
) and on the side opposite to that side. Two short beams (12b) are arranged on each of the other sides (four sides). The short beam (12b) is formed to have approximately half the length of the long beam (12a), and each side has 2
The books are arranged in a connected manner. Then, the corner of the polygonal hoop has a hinge (1
1b), respectively. Also, Chiryang (
12b) and the short beam (12b) are connected by hinges that expand to 180 degrees (11a).
(See Figure 6 above).

The long beam (12a) and each hinge (11a).

As shown in FIG. 6, one end of a support wire (13) is fixed to each of the support wires (11b). Each support wire (
13) The other ends are each fixed to the peripheral edge of the flexible conductive thin film. This flexible conductive thin film (14) is made of, for example, a fine metal net. Moreover, its planar development shape is formed into the same polygon (regular hexagon) as the polygonal hoop. This flexible conductive thin film (14) is expanded by being pulled in the plane direction via the support wire (13).

As shown in FIG. 7, one end of each of a large number of connecting wires (15) is distributed and fixed to the surface of the flexible conductive thin film (14). The other end of each bonding wire (15) is concentrated in one place and fixed to the tip of the column bar (19).

The column bar (19) is a column foldable by a hinge (18), and its base is fixed to the satellite side wall (22) by a column fixture (21). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, this column bar (19) is folded and stored in a state where it is laid down on the side of the satellite side wall (22). Satellite side wall (22)
A column spacer 20 is attached to support the column bar (19) in its stored state.

Further, the column bar (19) is expanded so as to stand vertically with respect to the satellite side wall (22), as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Then, its tip is located at the same height as the center of the hoop, and the other bundled end of the bonding wire (15) is pulled from this position.

Note that the hinge (18) is also equipped with a spring device and a latch device. Thereby, the hinge (18) is always elastically biased in the expansion direction. Also,
It also locks once it is expanded to 180 degrees.

Now, the operation of the deployable antenna reflector will be explained.

First, at the time of satellite launch, the hoop and the column bar (19) are moved as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
Hinge (11a), (llb).

Fold it by folding it at point (18).

At the same time, the flexible conductive thin film (14) is also folded into the hoop. At this time, the long beam (12a)
is formed to be slightly longer than twice the length of the short beam (' 12 b ). This prevents the left and right hinges (11a> from colliding with each other when the hoop is folded. Also, the folded beam (11a) is prevented from colliding with each other.
A spacer (16) is provided between 2a) and (12b), respectively.
is interposed, and thereby the name (1'2 a)
.

A predetermined gap is maintained between (12b). In the folded state as described above, it is tied up in an appropriate binding state (not shown) and attached to the side wall of the satellite (22
) is stored and fixed.

Next, when the launched satellite reaches a predetermined orbit, the binding by the binding device is released. As a result, the 6th
As shown in the figure and FIG.
b) and (18) are each expanded to a predetermined angle and locked by the action of a spring device. Then, the flexible conductive thin film (14) spreads together with the hoop, and the bonding wire (15) also spreads accordingly. At the same time,
The column bar (19) stands up from the satellite side wall (22) at a right angle, and its tip pulls the other end of the bonding wire (15) rearward. This allows the flexible conductive film (14) to move along three axes. It is pulled out and unfolded into a parabolic shape. Then, an antenna reflector is formed.

Here, the flexible conductive thin film (14) has a large number of stops distributed on its surface with its peripheral edge being pulled radially in the surface direction from the hoop via the support wire (13). The landing point is pulled rearward by the plurality of bonding wires (15), so that it is expanded into a predetermined parabolic shape. The shape of the curved surface is determined by the length of each bonding wire (13), and the mirror-like precision of the curved surface is determined by the fixation per unit area of a large number of bonding wires (15) fixed to the conductive thin film (14). The number of bonding wires (15) depends on the number of points, that is, the number of bonding wires (15). Therefore, only the number of bonding wires (15) that can obtain the required curved surface braking is used. The weight of each wire (15) can be made much lighter than the ribs of the conventional para-shaped deployable antenna reflector, and since it is a wire, it can be bent completely freely.Therefore, The approximation accuracy of the radio wave reflecting mirror surface of the antenna reflector can be improved by increasing the number of antenna reflectors without significantly increasing the weight.Furthermore, the storability can also be made very good.

In the above embodiment, the shape of the hoop is a regular hexagon, but the same effect can be obtained by using other regular polygonal shapes or irregular polygonal shapes. Furthermore, the bonding wire (15) may be made of metal or non-metal. Furthermore, if there is a suitable place to fasten the other ends of a large number of bonding wires, the column bar (19)
can also be omitted. Furthermore, the other ends of the large number of bonding wires may be fixed at a plurality of locations or in a dispersed manner.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention uses a wire in place of the rib as a member that defines the curved surface of the deployable antenna reflector, thereby improving the storage property and improving the accuracy of the radio wave reflecting mirror surface. This has the effect of being able to achieve both improvement and weight reduction.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional deployable antenna reflector in its retracted state, FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and side views respectively showing its deployed state, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are one example of the present invention. FIGS. 6 and 7 are a front view and a side view showing a state in which the deployable antenna reflector according to the embodiment is stored, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are a front view and a side view showing a state in which it is deployed. In the figure, (11a), (11b), (18) are hinges, (12a), (12b) long and short beams, (13)
is a wire, (14) is a flexible conductive thin film, (15) is a bonding wire, (19) is a column bar, and (22) is a side wall of the satellite. Note that the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or equivalent members. Agent: Patent attorney Masuo Oiwa (2 others) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a deployable antenna reflector in which a flexible conductive thin film in a folded state is expanded into a predetermined curved shape, a foldable hoop is used to expand the flexible conductive thin film by pulling it in the direction of its surface. and a large number of bonding wires that impart a predetermined curved shape to the conductive thin film by individually pulling a large number of locations distributed on the surface of the flexible conductive thin film. reflector.