A micro deployment mechanism for space mesh antenna

Abstract

The present invention provides a micro-expansion mechanism applied to a space mesh antenna, comprising a connecting block, a first gear arm, a second gear arm, a gear shaft and a V-shaped spring, wherein the first gear arm is fixedly mounted to one end of the connecting block through the gear shaft, the second gear arm is fixedly connected to the other end of the connecting block through the gear shaft, one end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly mounted to the first gear arm through a compression spring screw, and the other end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly mounted to the second gear arm through a compression spring screw. The present invention overcomes the technical difficulties of the existing one-dimensional expansion mechanism in mass production, such as high processing cost, great assembly difficulty, asynchronous expansion process, low product reliability and high risk of mass use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of aerospace, and in particular relates to a micro-deployment mechanism applied to a space mesh antenna. Background Art

[0002] In large-scale mesh deployable antenna reflectors in space, a one-dimensional deployment mechanism needs to be reused in large quantities. In the launch state, the one-dimensional deployable mechanism is in a compressed state, and the entire antenna mechanism is in a bundled and retracted state; when the aircraft is in orbit, it is unlocked by a pyrotechnic cutter, and the bundled antenna mechanisms are gradually deployed under the drive of each deployment mechanism to form a huge parabolic reflector in space, which is used to receive electromagnetic wave signals in the space environment; the usual one-dimensional deployment mechanism installs a flat scroll spring as an energy storage element. In terms of mass production, the flat scroll spring has high production cost and low processing efficiency. The springs need to be inspected and screened one by one before they can be used. The high-elastic steel belt used in the scroll spring has a high material hardness. If it is improperly installed and used, the scroll spring is prone to the risk of brittle fracture. The installation of the scroll spring in the deployment mechanism is generally a key process. The installation quality determines the reliability of the product, and the requirements for the operator are extremely high. The single-point failure of the scroll spring affects the smooth deployment of the antenna reflector, and in severe cases, it will cause the antenna reflector to be unable to be deployed. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention aims to propose a miniature unfolding mechanism applied to space mesh antennas, so as to overcome the technical difficulties of existing one-dimensional unfolding mechanisms in mass production, such as high processing cost, great assembly difficulty, asynchronous unfolding process, low product reliability and high risk of mass use.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is achieved as follows:

[0005] A micro-expansion mechanism for a space mesh antenna comprises a coupling block, a first gear arm, a second gear arm, a gear shaft and a V-shaped spring.

[0006] The No. 1 gear arm is fixedly installed to one end of the connecting block through the gear shaft, the No. 2 gear arm is fixedly connected to the other end of the connecting block through the gear shaft, one end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly installed to the No. 1 gear arm through a compression spring screw, and the other end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly installed to the No. 2 gear arm through a compression spring screw.

[0007] Furthermore, the connecting block includes a No. 1 side plate, a No. 2 side plate, a bottom plate and a connecting column. The bottom of the No. 1 side plate is connected to the No. 2 side plate through the bottom plate to form a frame with a U-shaped cross-section. The top of the No. 1 side plate is connected to the top of the No. 2 side plate through the connecting column. The No. 1 side plate is provided with a No. 1 through hole and a No. 2 through hole, and the No. 2 side plate is provided with a No. 3 through hole and a No. 4 through hole; the No. 1 through hole and the No. 3 through hole, the No. 2 through hole and the No. 4 through hole are all coaxial holes corresponding to each other, and the No. 1 through hole, the No. 2 through hole, the No. 3 through hole and the No. 4 through hole are each provided with a radial pin hole.

[0008] Furthermore, the No. 1 gear arm includes an arm rod, two No. 1 semicircular gears and a No. 1 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are connected to the No. 1 arm rod through the No. 1 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are both provided with a No. 1 connecting hole corresponding to the No. 1 through hole and the No. 3 through hole, the No. 1 connecting seat is provided with a No. 1 groove with an L-shaped cross section on the inner side, and two No. 1 spring mounting holes are provided at the top of the No. 1 groove; the No. 2 gear arm includes an arm rod, two No. 2 semicircular gears and a No. 2 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are connected to the No. 1 arm rod through the No. 2 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are both provided with a No. 1 connecting hole corresponding to the No. 1 through hole and the No. 3 through hole, the No. 2 connecting seat is provided with a No. 2 groove with an L-shaped cross section on the inner side, and two No. 2 spring mounting holes are provided at the top of the No. 2 groove.

[0009] Furthermore, the No. 1 through hole and the No. 2 through hole are respectively connected to the No. 1 connecting hole through the gear shaft to realize the connection between the No. 1 gear arm and the connecting block, and the No. 1 gear arm rotates relative to the connecting block; the No. 2 through hole and the No. 4 through hole are also respectively connected to the No. 2 connecting hole through the gear shaft to realize the connection between the No. 2 gear arm and the connecting block, and the No. 2 gear arm rotates relative to the connecting block, and the No. 1 gear arm and the No. 2 gear arm are meshed with each other.

[0010] Furthermore, an axial groove with a hexagonal cross-section is provided at one end of the gear shaft, and a radial fixing hole corresponding to the radial pin hole is provided at one end of the axial groove. The pin passes through the radial fixing hole and the radial pin hole in sequence to realize a fixed connection between the gear shaft and the connecting block.

[0011] Furthermore, one end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly installed to the No. 1 spring mounting hole by a compression spring screw, and the other end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly installed to the No. 2 spring mounting hole by a compression spring screw, thereby realizing the connection between the V-shaped spring and the No. 1 gear arm and the No. 2 gear arm.

[0012] Furthermore, a gear sleeve is provided between the gear shaft and the first through hole, the second through hole, the third through hole and the fourth through hole.

[0013] Furthermore, the bottom of the No. 1 connecting seat and the No. 2 connecting seat are each provided with two threaded adjustment holes corresponding to the bottom plate, and fine-tuning screws are provided in the threaded adjustment holes.

[0014] Furthermore, both ends and the middle of the V-shaped spring are rounded structures.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna described in the present invention has the following advantages:

[0016] (1) The micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna described in the present invention can achieve efficient and fast manufacturing of elastic elements with low cost and high spring reliability.

[0017] (2) The micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna described in the present invention is convenient for spring detection and can conveniently perform non-destructive testing on all parts of the spring to eliminate quality defects on the surface of the spring.

[0018] (3) The miniature deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna described in the present invention has an elastic element that is easy to install and is unlikely to cause damage to the spring surface or the bending position during the installation process, thereby providing a high product reliability.

[0019] (4) The present invention describes a miniature unfolding mechanism for use in a space mesh antenna. The two arms of the unfolding mechanism are unfolded through a semicircular gear transmission to ensure synchronization of the unfolding process of the two arms. The product has high reliability, and the one-dimensional unfolding mechanism has high technical and economic value in the mass application of large mesh antennas. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The accompanying drawings constituting a part of the present invention are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the deployment of a micro-deployment mechanism applied to a space mesh antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a compression of a micro-deployment mechanism applied to a space mesh antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a coupling block according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a No. 1 gear arm according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the second gear arm according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a V-shaped spring according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a gear shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Description of reference numerals:

[0029] 1. Connecting block; 11. Side plate No. 1; 12. Side plate No. 2; 13. Bottom plate; 14. Connecting column; 15. Through hole No. 1; 16. Through hole No. 2; 17. Through hole No. 3; 18. Through hole No. 4; 19. Radial pin hole; 2. Gear arm No. 1; 21. Arm rod No. 1; 22. Semicircular gear No. 1; 23. Connecting seat No. 1; 24. Connecting hole No. 1; 25. Groove No. 1; 26. Spring mounting hole No. 1; 3. Gear arm No. 2; 31. Arm rod No. 2; 32. Semicircular gear No. 2; 33. Connecting seat No. 2; 34. Connecting hole No. 2; 35. Groove No. 2; 36. Spring mounting hole No. 2; 4. Threaded adjustment hole; 5. V-shaped spring; 6. Gear shaft; 61. Axial groove; 62. Radial fixing hole; 7. Compression spring screw. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and the like are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first", "second", and the like may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0032] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by specific circumstances.

[0033] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments.

[0034] A micro deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna, such as Figures 1 to 7 As shown, it includes a connecting block 1, a first gear arm 2, a second gear arm 3, a gear shaft 6 and a V-shaped spring 5.

[0035] The No. 1 gear arm 2 is fixedly installed to one end of the connecting block 1 through the gear shaft 6, the No. 2 gear arm 3 is fixedly connected to the other end of the connecting block 1 through the gear shaft 6, one end of the V-shaped spring 5 is fixedly installed to the No. 1 gear arm 2 through the compression spring screw 7, and the other end of the V-shaped spring 5 is fixedly installed to the No. 2 gear arm 3 through the compression spring screw 7.

[0036] The connecting block 1 includes a No. 1 side plate 11, a No. 2 side plate 12, a bottom plate 13 and a connecting column 14. The bottom of the No. 1 side plate 11 is connected to the No. 2 side plate 12 through the bottom plate 13 to form a frame with a U-shaped cross section. The top of the No. 1 side plate 11 is connected to the top of the No. 2 side plate 12 through the connecting column 14. The No. 1 side plate 11 is provided with a No. 1 through hole 15 and a No. 2 through hole 16, and the No. 2 side plate 12 is provided with a No. 3 through hole 17 and a No. 4 through hole 18; the No. 1 through hole 15 and the No. 3 through hole 17, the No. 2 through hole 16 and the No. 4 through hole 18 are all coaxial holes corresponding to each other, and the No. 1 through hole 15, the No. 2 through hole 16, the No. 3 through hole 17 and the No. 4 through hole 18 are each provided with a radial pin hole 19.

[0037] The No. 1 gear arm 2 includes a No. 1 arm rod 21, two No. 1 semicircular gears 22 and a No. 1 connecting seat 23. The two No. 1 semicircular gears 22 are connected to the No. 1 arm rod 21 through the No. 1 connecting seat 23. The two No. 1 semicircular gears 22 are both provided with a No. 1 connecting hole 24 corresponding to the No. 1 through hole 15 and the No. 3 through hole 17. The No. 1 connecting seat 23 has a No. 1 groove 25 with an L-shaped cross section on the inner side, and two No. 1 spring mounting holes 26 are provided on the top of the No. 1 groove 25; the No. 2 gear arm 3 includes a No. 2 arm rod 31, two No. 2 semicircular gears 32 and a No. 2 connecting seat 33. The two No. 1 semicircular gears 22 are connected to the No. 1 arm rod 21 through the No. 2 connecting seat 33. The two No. 1 semicircular gears 22 are both provided with a No. 1 connecting hole 24 corresponding to the No. 1 through hole 15 and the No. 3 through hole 17. The No. 2 connecting seat 33 has a No. 2 groove 35 with an L-shaped cross section on the inner side, and two No. 2 spring mounting holes 36 are provided on the top of the No. 2 groove 35. The first groove 25 and the second groove 35 match the shape of the V-shaped spring 5 , and play a role in limiting the V-shaped spring 5 .

[0038] The No. 1 through hole 15 and the No. 2 through hole 16 are respectively connected to the No. 1 connecting hole 24 through the gear shaft 6, so as to realize the connection between the No. 1 gear arm 2 and the connecting block 1, and the No. 1 gear arm 2 rotates relative to the connecting block 1; the No. 2 through hole 16 and the No. 4 through hole 18 are also respectively connected to the No. 2 connecting hole 34 through the gear shaft 6, so as to realize the connection between the No. 2 gear arm 3 and the connecting block 1, and the No. 2 gear arm 3 rotates relative to the connecting block 1, the No. 1 gear arm 2 and the No. 2 gear arm 3 are meshed with each other, and the No. 1 gear arm 2 and the No. 2 gear arm 3 interact with each other.

[0039] An axial groove 61 with a hexagonal cross-section is provided at one end of the gear shaft 6, and a radial fixing hole 62 corresponding to the radial pin hole 19 is provided at one end of the axial groove 61. Preferably, the radial fixing holes 62 are 90° apart from each other, and the pins pass through the radial fixing holes 62 and the radial pin holes 19 in sequence to realize the fixed connection between the gear shaft 6 and the connecting block 1, thereby fixing the gear shaft 6 to prevent the gear shaft 6 from falling off and causing the No. 1 gear arm 2 and the No. 2 gear arm 3 to fall off from the connecting block 1. After the radial pin holes are closed, the pins are permanently connected to the gear shaft 6 and the connecting block 1.

[0040] One end of the V-shaped spring 5 is fixedly installed to the first spring installation hole 26 by means of a compression spring screw 7, and the other end of the V-shaped spring 5 is fixedly installed to the second spring installation hole 36 by means of a compression spring screw 7, so as to realize the connection between the V-shaped spring 5 and the first gear arm 2 and the second gear arm 3. Figure 2 As shown, the V-shaped spring 5 in the compressed state realizes the function of energy storage.

[0041] A gear sleeve is provided between the gear shaft 6 and the first through hole 15, the second through hole 16, the third through hole 17 and the fourth through hole 18 to protect the gear shaft 6 and extend the service life of the gear shaft.

[0042] The bottom of the No. 1 connecting seat 23 and the No. 2 connecting seat 33 are both provided with two threaded adjustment holes 4 corresponding to the bottom plate 13. Fine-tuning screws are provided in the threaded adjustment holes 4. By rotating the extension amount of the fine-tuning screws, the spatial angle of the unfolding state of the unfolding mechanism can be adjusted.

[0043] Both ends and the middle of the V-shaped spring 5 are rounded structures to avoid excessive stress concentration when the V-shaped spring 5 is compressed.

[0044] A miniature deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna, the working principle: during the compression process, the first gear arm 2 is subjected to an external torque in the clockwise direction, and the second gear arm 3 is subjected to an external torque in the counterclockwise direction. Under the action of gear meshing, the first gear arm 2 and the second gear arm 3 are gradually retracted, and the V-shaped spring 5 is gradually compressed and stored. Under the action of gear meshing transmission, the first gear arm 2 and the second gear arm 3 contact each other and reach the limit position of the compression stroke. The energy storage of the V-shaped spring 5 reaches the limit value, and the Figure 2 The compressed state shown;

[0045] During the unfolding process, in the compressed state shown, after the external torque applied to the No. 1 gear arm 2 and the No. 2 gear arm 3 is removed, the No. 1 gear arm 2 and the No. 2 gear arm 3 are meshed and transmitted to unfold under the driving action of the V-shaped spring 5. The No. 1 gear arm 2 rotates counterclockwise, and the No. 2 gear arm 3 rotates clockwise. When the No. 1 gear arm 2 contacts the bottom of the connecting block 1, the No. 2 gear arm 3 contacts the bottom of the connecting block 1 at the same time under the transmission of the gear, and the unfolding mechanism reaches the state shown in FIG. Figure 1 The extended travel limit position is shown;

[0046] Expanded state, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first gear arm 2 and the second gear arm 3 can adjust the extension amount of the first arm rod 21 and the second arm rod 31 of the unfolding state of the unfolding mechanism to be in the same straight line by rotating the extension amount of the fine-tuning screw.

[0047] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A micro deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna, characterized in that: It includes a coupling block, a No. 1 gear arm, a No. 2 gear arm, a gear shaft and a V-shaped spring. The first gear arm is fixedly mounted to one end of the connecting block through the gear shaft, the second gear arm is fixedly connected to the other end of the connecting block through the gear shaft, one end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly mounted to the first gear arm through a compression spring screw, and the other end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly mounted to the second gear arm through a compression spring screw; The connecting block includes a No. 1 side plate, a No. 2 side plate, a bottom plate and a connecting column. The bottom of the No. 1 side plate is connected to the No. 2 side plate through the bottom plate to form a frame with a U-shaped cross section. The top of the No. 1 side plate is connected to the top of the No. 2 side plate through the connecting column. The No. 1 side plate is provided with a No. 1 through hole and a No. 2 through hole. The No. 2 side plate is provided with a No. 3 through hole and a No. 4 through hole. The No. 1 through hole and the No. 3 through hole, the No. 2 through hole and the No. 4 through hole are all coaxial holes corresponding to each other. The No. 1 through hole, the No. 2 through hole, the No. 3 through hole and the No. 4 through hole are all provided with a radial pin hole. The No. 1 gear arm includes an arm rod, two No. 1 semicircular gears and a No. 1 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are connected to the No. 1 arm rod through the No. 1 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are both provided with No. 1 connecting holes corresponding to the No. 1 through holes and the No. 3 through holes, the No. 1 connecting seat is provided with a No. 1 groove with an L-shaped cross section on the inner side, and two No. 1 spring mounting holes are provided on the top of the No. 1 groove; the No. 2 gear arm includes an arm rod, two No. 2 semicircular gears and a No. 2 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are connected to the No. 1 arm rod through the No. 2 connecting seat, the two No. 1 semicircular gears are both provided with No. 1 connecting holes corresponding to the No. 1 through holes and the No. 3 through holes, the No. 2 connecting seat is provided with a No. 2 groove with an L-shaped cross section on the inner side, and two No. 2 spring mounting holes are provided on the top of the No. 2 groove.

2. According to claim 1, a micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna is characterized in that: The No. 1 through hole and the No. 2 through hole are respectively connected to the No. 1 connecting hole through the gear shaft to realize the connection between the No. 1 gear arm and the connecting block, and the No. 1 gear arm rotates relative to the connecting block; the No. 2 through hole and the No. 4 through hole are also respectively connected to the No. 2 connecting hole through the gear shaft to realize the connection between the No. 2 gear arm and the connecting block, and the No. 2 gear arm rotates relative to the connecting block, and the No. 1 gear arm and the No. 2 gear arm are meshed with each other.

3. According to claim 2, a micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna is characterized in that: An axial groove with a hexagonal cross-section is provided at one end of the gear shaft, and a radial fixing hole corresponding to the radial pin hole is provided at one end of the axial groove. The pin passes through the radial fixing hole and the radial pin hole in sequence to realize the fixed connection between the gear shaft and the connecting block.

4. The micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly installed to the No. 1 spring mounting hole by a compression spring screw, and the other end of the V-shaped spring is fixedly installed to the No. 2 spring mounting hole by a compression spring screw, thereby realizing the connection between the V-shaped spring and the No. 1 gear arm and the No. 2 gear arm.

5. The micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that: A gear sleeve is provided between the gear shaft and the first through hole, the second through hole, the third through hole and the fourth through hole.

6. The micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottoms of the No. 1 connecting seat and the No. 2 connecting seat are both provided with two threaded adjustment holes corresponding to the bottom plate, and fine-tuning screws are arranged in the threaded adjustment holes.

7. The micro-deployment mechanism for a space mesh antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both ends and the middle of the V-shaped spring are rounded structures.

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