RU2669246C1 - Device for holding and releasing transformed mechanical systems of spacecraft - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: rocket technics.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to aerospace engineering. Device for holding and releasing the transformed mechanical systems of the spacecraft contains a lock based on a bolted joint consisting of a stationary and detachable parts. Stationary part includes a body, a split nut, a separator, an activating device, springs, a sensor, and the detachable part is a funnel, a spring, a pin, a tensile force sensor in the joint of the lock, a nut for tightening the stationary and detachable parts along the junction line, spherical washers to compensate for the skewing of the pin. Separated and stationary parts are not separated by the elements of the transformed mechanical systems. Activating device containing heating elements ensures a technological operation without triggering the initiating device. Line of the joint of the lock is made in the form of a cylindrical ring with a conical shape. Separator contains holders and has a free stroke. Bearing surface of the spherical washer has a stepped shape. On the funnel the sphere is made, on the surface of which the washers are installed.EFFECT: technical result of the invention is increased reliability, informativeness and ease of operation of the device.3 cl, 9 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to rocket and space technology, and in particular to the field of mechanisms for holding transformable mechanical systems of a spacecraft in a folded position.

A device for holding and releasing a transformable mechanical system (patent EP 2298648 F1, B64G 1/64, 03/23/2011) based on a bolted connection comprising a pin, an initiating device releasing the pin and the catcher of the pin is known from the prior art.

A retention device is also known (patent US 2010005913 A1 of 01/14/2010) containing a pin, segments, pressed by a flexible tape and an initiating device.

The disadvantages of the known retention devices are:

- lack of means to confirm the fact of operation;

- the lack of the possibility of a technological response.

Closest to the claimed technical solution according to the technical essence and the technical result achieved is a device for fixing and separating parts of the structure (hereinafter referred to as the lock), comprising a lock based on a bolted connection (RF patent 2539710), including: a pin, a split nut, a separator, compression springs, holding ball, cracker, insulators, conductive threads, torsion springs and nut for tightening the lock joint. This device is taken as a prototype of the invention.

The prototype has several disadvantages, namely:

1. The cone-shaped joint of the separation surface is not able to carry a high load, which leads to a limitation of the applicability of the device;

2. The split nut is held by a separator made in the form of a cone, which can lead to a weakening of the joint at the slightest movement of the separator in the direction of release. Such a lack of headroom reduces the reliability of the device;

3. The separator does not ensure the ordered position of the segments of the split nut after operation, which can lead to blockage of the segments and the need to disassemble the lock to restore their position;

4. The lack of means of confirming the fact of the operation of the lock, reduces information content when using the device for its intended purpose;

5. The lack of technological response (without re-melting the thread) complicates the work with the device, forcing each time to replace it;

6. The need for additional equipment during autonomous testing or testing of the device due to the fact that the upper and lower parts of the device are separated by a fixed structural element. Also, in this regard, the device cannot have the form of a finished assembly and is delivered ready-made to the consumer, since it requires partial disassembly of the lock when installed in the product for its intended purpose;

7. The design of the device allows the possibility of biting the extreme turns of the spring, pulling the pin, between the funnel and the washers of the nut, tightening the joint of the lock, due to the fact that during compression, the spring can bend and move towards the edge of the cup, thereby hitting the butt between the washers and the cup . This may lead to the need to repair the device, in terms of replacing the spring;

8. In the design of the analog device, a bearing is used to connect the funnel and washers of the detachable part of the lock, which has a large weight and a heavier structure.

The problem to which the invention is directed is to implement a device for holding and releasing transformable mechanical systems of a spacecraft (SC) providing higher reliability, information content and ease of operation.

The problem is solved due to the fact that the locking device contains a lock based on a bolt connection, the pin of which is held by a split nut, in turn, the split nut is held by a roller separator, which is moved by tension springs and is held by the burned-out thread of the activating device through the lever. The separator of the split nut has a free stroke, which allows to guarantee non-operation during small movements of the separator, thereby increasing the reliability of the device. Also, the segments of the split nut, after operation, are held by a separator and special holders, which prevents their disordered position and thereby prevents the need for partial disassembly of the structure to install them in their places. The joint of the separation plane has the shape of a cylindrical ring, and on the side of the detachable part a conical collar is made, restricting the movement of the detachable part relative to the stationary one and provides a higher bearing capacity relative to the conical joint. Also, the design of the lock does not provide for its separation by the structural elements of the spacecraft, which allows the device to be delivered to the consumer in finished form and not to use additional equipment during its autonomous tests, increasing the ease of use. The sensor, which is part of the device, confirms the fact of the operation of the lock, thereby ensuring information content. The stepped shape of the washer installed under the nut, which ensures tightening of the lock joint, does not allow the spring to move so that its extreme turns are clamped between the washer and the spring cup, thereby increasing the reliability of the device. Also, the design provides the possibility of technological operation of the device without triggering the initiating device of the lock, thereby increasing the convenience of operation during ground-based experimental testing (NEO), allowing not to replace the destructible element of the activating device after the operation of the lock.

The invention is illustrated by drawings:

- in FIG. 1 shows a general view of the device before operation;

- in FIG. 2 shows a general view of the device after operation;

- in FIG. 3 shows a section through a center line of a lock;

- in FIG. 4 shows the activating device of the lock;

- in FIG. 5 shows a separator;

- in FIG. 6 shows a sensor;

- in FIG. 7 shows the installation of springs from the separator to the stops;

- in FIG. 8 shows a heater;

- in FIG. 9 shows a general diagram of a device.

The device for holding and releasing transformed mechanical systems of the spacecraft contains stationary 1 and detachable 2 parts. The stationary part 1 is installed on the spacecraft body, and the detachable part 2 on the movable structural element. The stationary part consists of a housing 3, a split nut 4, a separator 5, stops 6, springs 7, springs 8, sensor 9, rod 10, cover 11, holder 12, activating device 13 and lever 14. In turn, sensor 9 consists of a bracket 15 and the rocker arm 16 spring-loaded with a spring 17. On the bracket and the beam are fixed plate 18 with contacts 19. The separator 5 consists of a cage 20, the separator of the rollers 48, the axis 49 and the rollers 21, mounted on the cage 20 with screws 22. The activating device 13 consists of the housing 23, two heaters 24, the cover 25, the retention element 26. the heater 24 is made of insulator 28 and a spiral 29 fixed to the insulator 28 through contacts 44 with nuts 30. The detachable part consists of a funnel 31, two spherical washers 32, nut 33, pin 34, springs 35, washers 36, force sensor 37, washers 38 and screws 39. Pin 34 also includes a sleeve 40, a spring 41, a stem 42, and washers 46.

The device operates as follows. After applying power to the activating device 13, the spirals 28 that are part of the heaters 23 are made of material with a high value of electrical resistivity. After heating the spirals to the temperature necessary to destroy the holding element 26, the lever 14 is released. After the lever is released, under the action of the springs 8, the separator 5 rotates, thereby releasing the segments of the split nut 4. Then, the segments of the nut diverge to the sides releasing the pin 31, while the segments of the split nut do not have the possibility of disordered placement in the design of the lock of the device, after its operation, since their movement limits in the radial direction the separator 5, and in the axial - stops 6. After releasing the pin, the spring 35 pulls the pin from the stationary part. At the same time, the sensor 9 is triggered. The rod 10, after the pin leaves the stationary part of the lock, no longer interacts with the spring 41 through the rod 42 and under the action of the spring 17 of the rocker 16 falls down, thereby making it possible to close the sensor contacts 19. After the pin is fully stretched by a spring into the funnel 31, the stationary 1 and detachable 2 parts of the device are freely separated along the separation surface.

Re-cocking the lock of the device is done by turning the lever 14 in the direction of tension of the springs 8 (in the cocking direction), while the desired position of the rollers 21 of the separator 5 is provided by the springs 7. Moreover, the springs 7 are fixed at one end to the eye of the stops 6, and the other to the rollers 21 through screws 22. When the lever is turned, the segments of the split nut are crushed by the 4 separator rollers to a position in which the pin can be held. Then the pin 34 is screwed in, the detachable part 2 of the lock is installed and the nut 33 is tightened with the moment necessary to ensure the required force at the junction of the stationary and detachable parts.

Sensor 9, to simplify the work during electrical testing, has the possibility of technological operation (contact closure), i.e. during electrical checks there is no need to activate the device lock to check the functioning of the sensor, but it is enough to press with the necessary force on the rocker arm 16 in the axial direction in the region of the rod 10.

In addition, the lock has the possibility of technological operation. To perform a technological actuation, it is necessary to turn the screw 43 in the direction of unscrewing until the holding element 26 is released, which is pulled out of the activating device by the lever 14 under the action of the force from the springs 8. Thus, there is no need to replace the holding element, but it is only necessary to re-engage the lock.

Also in the activating device 13, heat-shrinkable tube 50 can be additionally installed on the contacts 44 to prevent accidentally closing the contact on the cover 25, thereby increasing the reliability of the device.

In the prototype, the funnel and washers of the detachable part are interconnected by a bearing, while in the claimed invention, the funnel 31 and washers 46 are interconnected by the fact that a sphere is made on the funnel, the washers 45 are mounted on its surface. Thus, as well as on the prototype, the washers are pumped relative to the funnel, but the mass is reduced, since the connection through the bearing has more weight than the connection on the surface of the sphere. In order to prevent clamping of the funnel by the washers when tightening the screws 39, lining washers 36 are used to adjust the gap between the washers so that the washers 46 do not clamp the funnel 31 and, at the same time, the axial play of the funnel relative to the washers 46 does not exceed the permissible values .

The technical effect is to use:

- the junction of the separation plane, made in the form of a cylindrical ring, with a cone-shaped shoulder designed to limit the displacement of the detachable and stationary parts relative to each other, which allows the lock of the device to prevent discrepancies in the junction of the lock at higher loads;

- roller separator, allowing small movements of the separator, not leading to a weakening of the junction of the device;

- an additional separator, ensuring the ordering of the position of the segments of the split nut, which prevents the collapse of the segments;

- a sensor confirming the fact of the operation of the lock, thereby increasing the information content of the device;

- an activating device that allows the lock of the locking device to be actuated without destroying the retaining element, as a result of which it is not necessary to replace it, which simplifies the work with the locking device during its NEO and working with it when conducting checks as part of transformable mechanical systems;

- the design of the retention device that does not require additional equipment, since the stationary and detachable parts are not separated by a stationary element of the transformable structure, which increases the usability of the device and allows you to transfer the device to the consumer in a finished form;

- the design of the nut washer, tightening the joint of the lock, not allowing the spring to move towards the edge of the glass, which prevents the possibility of biting the extreme turns of the spring between the funnel and the washer, thereby increasing the reliability of the device.

- connection of the funnel and washers of the detachable part on the surface of the sphere made on the funnel.

Claims (3)

1. A device for holding and releasing transformable mechanical systems of a spacecraft, comprising a bolt-lock, consisting of a stationary and detachable parts, the stationary part including a housing, a split nut, a separator, an activating device, springs, and a detachable part - a funnel, a spring, a pin, a torque sensor at the junction of the lock, a nut to tighten the stationary and detachable parts along the junction line, spherical washers to compensate for the misalignment of the pin, characterized in that the detachable and the stationary parts are not separated by elements of transformable mechanical systems, the activating device containing heating elements provides technological operation without triggering the initiating device, the lock joint line is made in the form of a cylindrical ring with a conical shoulder, the separator contains holders and has free travel, the supporting surface of the spherical washer has a stepped shape, and also a sphere is made on the funnel, on the surface of which washers are installed, eliminating the need the use of the bearing. 2. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the lock is additionally equipped with a sensor, confirming the fact of the operation of the lock. 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that a heat-shrinkable tube is installed on the contact of the heating element.

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