RU2111155C1 - Device for interlock and release of opening members - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: space engineering; device for interlock and release of opening members keeping the solar batteries or antennae mounted on satellite casing in folded state and releasing them for programmed opening. SUBSTANCE: device includes at least one rope keeping the opening structure mounted on bearing base. Tension of rope is effected by means of sleeve; lever is articulated to rope by means of ball; cutting elements made in form of studs are received by slots located over contour of lever; cutting element is mounted on bearing base. Each rigid member to be cut is fitted independently with cutting tool and is provided with limiter to limit motion of lever in way of rope tensions; device is provided with lever motion sensor. EFFECT: enhanced reliability. 3 cl, 4 dwg

Description

 The device for locking and releasing elements of a drop-down type is intended for use when holding solar batteries or antennas mounted on the satellite’s body when folded and releasing them for programmatic opening.

 The closest known device is a device for locking and opening elements of a deployable type.

 The device contains at least one cable, a structure that is mounted on a support base, which does not open, a shrink sleeve that controls the tension of the cable, a lever with which the end of the cable is rotated, elements for cutting, fixing the position of the lever, a cutting tool mounted on the support base.

 The disadvantage of this device is the lack of backup tool for cutting in case of failure.

 An object of the invention is to increase the reliability of the device by reserving a cutting tool.

 The problem is solved in that the device for locking and releasing the drop-down structure, containing at least one cable, a structure that is mounted on a support base, which prevents the cable from being opened, a shrink sleeve that controls the cable tension, a lever with which the end of the cable is rotated, the cuttable locking elements the position of the lever, the cutting tool mounted on the support base, is made so that it has at least two hard cut elements, each of which is involved with the cut The tool is autonomous and equipped with a lever movement limiter in the direction of the cable tension, the lever is made with slots along the contour into which the elements to be cut are inserted, the place where the cable is applied to the lever is located between the slots at the equal and shortest distance from them, and each lever movement limiter is equipped with additional flexible mechanical connection with the support base to ensure the controlled movement of parts after cutting, and is also equipped with a lever movement sensor.

 In FIG. 1 shows a device in a locked position; in FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a device with two elements to be cut; in FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a device with three elements to be cut; in FIG. 4 - the relative position of the parts of the device in case of failure of one of the cutting tools.

 A device with two cut elements is as follows.

 The device comprises at least one cable 1 holding a drop-down structure that is mounted on a support base (the structure is not shown in FIG.). The cable is tensioned by the clutch 2. The lever 3 is pivotally connected to the cable by means of a ball 4, which is compressed at the end of the cable. Elements for cutting in the form of pins 5a and 5b are inserted in the slots 6a and 6b located along the contour of the lever 3. The point of application of the cable 1 is located in the middle of the lever 3 between the slots 6a and 6b. The nuts 7a and 7b limit the movement of the lever 3 in the direction of tension of the cable 1 (direction A). The nuts are connected to the studs and secured by known techniques. Each hairpin 5a and 5b has a stand-alone tool for cutting 8a and 8b, made in the form of pyrodevices that destroy the hairpins at a given point in time on command. Pyrodevices are fixed on a support base. The nuts 7a and 7b are additionally connected to the support base by flexible mechanical connections 9a and 9b, for example a safety wire, the length of which does not impede the movement of the lever when it is actuated.

 This device operates as follows.

 At the command of the pyroelectric device 8a and 8b, the studs 5a and 5b are destroyed, as a result of which the cable 1 loses its rigid connection with the support base and, weakening, moves in the direction A and releases the fixed structure. Flexible connections 9a and 9b, while not being a serious obstacle to the movement of the cable, keep the rest of the studs 5a and 5b from uncontrolled movement. The fact that the cable moves in direction A can be detected using a contact electric sensor included in the telemetry control circuit. To do this, the device is supplemented with a sensor, the electrical contacts of which, for example, in the locked position of the device are closed, and open when released.

 The sensor is placed between the lever and the support base so that in the locked position of the device the sensor rod closing the contacts is pinched by the lever (the sensor is not shown in Fig., Because its execution is known and does not affect the essence of the solution of the device itself).

 Reservation is carried out as follows.

 In the event of a failure, for example, of the pyrodevice 8a, the lever 3 loses support with the nut 7b due to the destruction of the stud 5b and under the influence of tension in the cable instantly changes its position, turning relative to the ball 4 and the nut 7a. The slot 6a is made so that the pin 5a does not interfere with the rotation of the lever 3. The rotation of the lever 3 allows the cable 1 to move in the direction A, freeing the fixed structure.

 The design and operation of the device with three slotted elements is similar, with the exception of the design of the lever 3. The lever 3 has the shape of an equilateral triangle (see Fig. 3). Slots 6a - 6c are made at the vertices of the triangle. Ball 4 is allowed at the center of gravity of the triangle. Studs 5a - 5c are brought into the slot. The movement of the lever 3 is limited by nuts 7a - 7c.

 This design increases the degree of redundancy of the device, allowing the release of the fixed structure with any combination of three pyrochecks. For example, if only studs 5b are destroyed, lever 3 loses support with nut 7b. Under the influence of tension in the cable, the lever 3 instantly changes its position, turning relative to the ball 4 and nuts 5a and 5b. The slots 6a - 6c are made so that for any combination of destruction of the studs, the remaining studs not destroyed do not interfere with the rotation of the lever.

Claims (3)

 1. A device for locking and releasing a drop-down structure, comprising at least one cable, a structure that is mounted on a supporting base from the disclosure, a shrink sleeve for adjusting the cable tension, a lever with which the end of the cable is rotated, cut elements for fixing the position of the lever, cut a tool mounted on a support base, characterized in that it has at least two hard cut elements, each of which interacts with the cutting tool autonomously and equipped with a limiter for moving the lever in the direction of the cable tension, the lever is made with slots along the contour into which the elements for cutting are connected, the place of application of the cable to the lever is located between the slots at an equal and shortest distance from them.  2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each lever limiter is equipped with an additional flexible mechanical connection with a support base to ensure controlled movement of the parts after cutting.  3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is additionally equipped with a lever movement sensor.

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