Fixed feed reflector antenna

Abstract

The application provides a fixed feed reflector antenna, which comprises a main reflector, a sub-reflector, a feed assembly, an X motor assembly, a Y motor assembly, a conformal connecting rod and a compression release device; the main reflector is arranged at one end of the conformal connecting rod, and the sub-reflector is arranged at the other end of the conformal connecting rod; the Y motor assembly is used for driving the main reflector to rotate; the X motor assembly is located at the root of the conformal connecting rod and is used for driving the conformal connecting rod and the main reflector on the conformal connecting rod to perform pitching motion and thus perform beam scanning; the compression release device is connected with the main reflector and is used for compressing or releasing the main reflector; and the feed assembly is arranged on one side of the sub-reflector and is used for emitting electromagnetic waves to the sub-reflector. In the application, the feed assembly is fixed and does not need to be arranged with a rotary joint, the main reflector is rotated by the Y motor assembly, the main reflector is fixed on the root X motor assembly through the curved conformal connecting rod, and the two motors are linked to realize large-angle beam scanning of the antenna.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to space communication, in particular to a fixed feed reflector antenna. BACKGROUND

[0002] Satellites communicate with ground stations through antennas, and the satellites are in motion relative to the ground stations when flying. In order to maintain a stable communication link, the beam of the antenna needs to be able to be adjusted in real time and always point to the main beam direction of the ground station antenna.

[0003] The conventional reflector antenna of the positive feed type is heavy in weight, has a large launch envelope and a small pointing angle, and cannot meet the launch target requirements of the current multiple satellites per launch vehicle. The positive feed antenna generally uses two-axis rotation of a two-dimensional pointing mechanism to realize adjustment of the pointing angle of the antenna. In order to ensure that the relative position between the feed network and the reflector does not change when the antenna moves, a rotary joint is generally configured to realize connection of the feed network, and multiple compression points are also designed to fix the antenna to improve the overall stiffness of the antenna and prevent the antenna from being damaged due to resonance during satellite launch. This not only increases the compression envelope, weight and cost of the antenna, but also increases the loss of the electrical performance of the antenna. SUMMARY

[0004] In view of the defects in the prior art, the purpose of the present application is to provide a fixed feed reflector antenna.

[0005] The fixed feed reflector antenna provided by the present application comprises a main reflector, a sub-reflector, a feed assembly, a Y motor assembly, an X motor assembly, a shaped connecting rod and a compression release device.

[0006] The main reflector is arranged at one end of the shaped connecting rod, and the sub-reflector is arranged at the other end of the shaped connecting rod.

[0007] The Y motor assembly is used to drive the main reflector to rotate.

[0008] The X motor assembly is located at the root of the shaped connecting rod and is used to drive the shaped connecting rod and the main reflector located on the shaped connecting rod to perform a pitching motion and thus perform beam scanning.

[0009] The compression release device is connected to the main reflector and is used to compress or release the main reflector.

[0010] The feed assembly is arranged on one side of the sub-reflector and is used to emit electromagnetic waves to the sub-reflector.

[0011] Preferably, the main reflector adopts a thin-walled structure and is made of aluminum alloy material.

[0012] The back of the main reflecting surface is provided with a fan-shaped reinforcing rib.

[0013] Preferably, the back of the main reflecting surface is provided with a cylindrical structure, and the central axis of the cylindrical structure is collinear with the electric axis of the main reflecting surface.

[0014] Preferably, the shaped connecting rod is made of carbon fiber.

[0015] The first embedded part and the second embedded part are respectively arranged at two ends of the shaped connecting rod.

[0016] Preferably, the shaped connecting rod is used to ensure that the main reflecting surface and the auxiliary reflecting surface do not interfere with each other when they rotate at a large angle.

[0017] The flange central axis of the first embedded part is perpendicular to the flange central axis of the second embedded part.

[0018] The first embedded part is used to fix the main reflecting surface and the Y motor assembly, and to ensure that the central axis of the Y motor assembly, the flange central axis of the first embedded part, and the electric axis of the main reflecting surface are always coaxial.

[0019] One end of the second embedded part is fixed on the X motor assembly, and is used to ensure that the central axis of the X motor assembly and the flange central axis of the second embedded part are coaxial.

[0020] The other end of the second embedded part is fixed on the auxiliary reflecting surface, and is used to ensure that the electric axis of the main reflecting surface is always collinear with the central axis of the horn of the feed source assembly after being reflected by the refraction point of the auxiliary reflecting surface. The refraction point is always the intersection point of the central axis of the X motor and the auxiliary reflecting surface.

[0021] Preferably, the pressing and releasing device is provided with a hot knife shaped contact surface.

[0022] A plurality of conical parts are arranged on the hot knife shaped contact surface.

[0023] The middle of the main reflecting surface is provided with a first circular hole, and the periphery is provided with a second circular hole.

[0024] The first circular hole is used for the tensioning rope of the pressing and releasing device to pass through and be fixed; and the second circular hole is used for the insertion of the conical parts to press the antenna.

[0025] Preferably, the rotating shaft of the Y motor assembly is fixed at one end of the first embedded part.

[0026] The Y motor assembly is used to rotate the motor body of the Y motor assembly and the main reflecting surface together through the self-rotation reaction force of the rotating shaft.

[0027] Preferably, the feed source assembly is fixed, and the central axis of the X motor assembly is coaxial with the central axis of the horn of the feed source assembly.

[0028] Preferably, the feed source assembly and the sub-reflector are used to be fixed on one side of the star body; and the main reflector is used to be fixed on the other side of the star body.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the application has the following advantages:

[0030] 1. Compared with the conventional antenna, the feed source assembly is fixed during operation, the main reflector rotates by using the Y motor assembly without rotating joint, the two motors are connected by the shaped connecting rod which is fixed on the rotating shaft of the X motor assembly, the large angle beam scanning of the antenna is completed by the two motors, the antenna is fixed on two different cabin plates of the star body when the antenna is compressed, the antenna compression envelope is reduced to the maximum range by the layout of the whole star body under the condition that the main reflector and the sub-reflector do not interfere with each other and the field of view is not blocked, so that the antenna has the advantages of light weight, low loss, low cost, small compression envelope range, etc.

[0031] 2. The reflector antenna provided by the application is fixed with the feed source, a carbon fiber shaped connecting rod is designed, the flange center axes of the first and second embedded parts are perpendicular to each other, and the two end embedded parts are respectively fixed with the X / Y motor assembly and the main and sub reflectors, so that the main reflector axis is always coaxial with the center axis of the feed source horn after being reflected by the sub-reflector, the intersection of the rotating shaft center axis of the X motor assembly and the sub-reflector is the reflection point, the two-dimensional rotation of the reflector relative to the fixed feed source can be realized by the rotation of the X / Y motor assembly, and the large range beam scanning of the antenna is realized. Compared with the conventional positive feed antenna, the rotating joint is not configured, so that the antenna processing cost is reduced and the overall weight is also reduced.

[0032] 3. The reflector antenna provided by the application is designed by using the thin arm structure of the main reflector, the back muscle is of the fan structure, the mechanical strength of the antenna is improved, the weight of the antenna is reduced, in addition, a cylinder is designed on the back of the main reflector, after being assembled on the Y motor, the cylinder axis is collinear with the rotating shaft center axis of the Y motor assembly and the main reflector axis, and the main reflector virtual axis can be converted into the actually measurable cylinder center axis during the three coordinate precision measurement.

[0033] 4. The reflector antenna provided by the application is fixed at the main reflector gravity center position by using only one compression point, a plurality of conical parts are designed on the shaped surface of the compression release device, a plurality of second circular holes are designed on the main reflector, the shaped surface of the compression release device and the main reflector are attached when the antenna is compressed, the conical parts are embedded in the second circular holes, the radial shear friction of the antenna is improved, and the radial sliding of the antenna during the vibration test is prevented.

[0034] 5. The reflector antenna provided by the application is fixed on two different cabin plates of the star body in the compression state, the compression envelope of the antenna is greatly reduced by adjusting the position of the antenna on the cabin plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the fixed feed reflector antenna in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a geometric schematic diagram of the fixed feed reflector antenna structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a partial schematic diagram of the structure of the fixed feed reflector antenna in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the main and reverse directions of the reflector antenna in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the reflector antenna in another direction in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the reflector antenna hot knife in an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0042] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the reflector antenna shaping link in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] In the picture:

[0044] 1 is the main reflector; 2 is the secondary reflector; 3 is the feed assembly; 4 is the X motor assembly; 5 is the Y motor assembly; 6 is the shaping link; 7 is the clamping release device; 101 is the cylinder; 102 is the first circular hole; 103 is the second circular hole; 601 is the carbon fiber rod; 602 is the first embedded part; 603 is the second embedded part; 701 is the shaping block; 702 is the conical part. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments. These embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but do not limit the invention in any way. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention. These all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, the fixed feed reflector antenna of this invention addresses the stringent requirements for load envelope and weight in multi-satellite launch. The antenna requires no rotating joints, is fixed to two different sides of the cabin during satellite mounting, and has only one clamping point, thereby significantly reducing the antenna's weight and compression envelope.

[0047] The antenna comprises a main reflector 1, a sub-reflector 2, a feed assembly 3, an X motor assembly 4, a Y motor assembly 5, a conformal connecting rod 6 and a compression release device 7;

[0048] The main reflector 1 is arranged at one end of the conformal connecting rod 6, and the sub-reflector 2 is arranged at the other end of the conformal connecting rod 6;

[0049] The Y motor assembly 5 is used to drive the main reflector 1 to rotate;

[0050] The X motor assembly 4 is located at the root of the conformal connecting rod 6 and is used to drive the conformal connecting rod 6 and the main reflector 1 located on the conformal connecting rod 6 to perform a pitching motion so as to perform a beam scanning;

[0051] The compression release device 7 is connected to the main reflector 1 and is used for compression or release of the main reflector 1;

[0052] The feed assembly 3 is arranged at one side of the sub-reflector 2 and is used to emit electromagnetic waves to the sub-reflector 2.

[0053] In the embodiment, the main reflector 1 has a thickness of 1 mm, the back ribs are designed in the form of fan-shaped reinforcing ribs and are processed and formed by using aluminum alloy materials, so that the weight of the antenna is reduced and the overall rigidity is improved.

[0054] A first circular hole 102 is designed in the middle of the main reflector 1, and three second circular holes 103 are arranged at the periphery, which not only fix the compression release device 7, but also reduce the influence on the electrical performance of the antenna to the maximum extent. In addition, a cylinder 101 is designed at the back of the main reflector 1, so that the central axis of the cylinder 101 is collinear with the electrical axis of the main reflector 1, which facilitates the conversion of the virtual electrical axis of the antenna into the central axis of the measurable cylinder 101 in the later three-coordinate precision measurement. The weight of the reflector is reduced, the mechanical strength of the antenna is improved, and the influence of the punching on the electrical performance of the antenna is reduced to the maximum extent.

[0055] The central axis of the cylinder 101 is collinear with the electrical axis of the main reflector and the central axis of the rotation axis of the Y motor assembly 5, and in the later three-coordinate precision measurement of the antenna, the virtual electrical axis of the antenna can be converted into the central axis of the measurable cylinder 101.

[0056] In the embodiment of the application, the antenna adopts one compression point and is arranged near the gravity center of the main reflector to be fixed and anti-loose, the compression release device 7 uses a hot knife unlocking form, a conformal block 701 is designed to be seamlessly matched with the contact part of the main reflector 1, and three

[0057] In the embodiment of the application, the antenna adopts one compression point and is arranged near the gravity center of the main reflector to be fixed and anti-loose, the compression release device 7 uses a hot knife unlocking form, a conformal block 701 is designed to be seamlessly matched with the contact part of the main reflector 1, and three ​The upper conical part 702 of the shaped block 701 is embedded into the second circular hole 103 of the main reflector when the antenna is compressed, so as to improve the radial shear friction of the antenna, prevent the radial sliding of the antenna in the vibration test, and make the hot knife tensioning rope pass through the first circular hole 102 of the main reflector 1, so as to compress and prevent loosening.

[0058] Further, a carbon fiber shaped connecting rod 6 is designed, two ends of the connecting rod 6 are a first embedded part 602 and a second embedded part 603, the two end embedded parts are made of titanium alloy material, so that the connecting rod 6 will not be interfered when the antenna is scanned at a large angle, the weight of the antenna is controlled, the strength of the connecting rod 6 is improved, the stress deformation of the antenna is reduced after a large number of vibrations, and the pointing accuracy of the antenna is kept consistent.

[0059] The connecting rod is designed in a shaped structure, so that the main reflector and the auxiliary reflector will not interfere with each other when they are rotated at a large angle.

[0060] The flange center axis of the first embedded part 602 is perpendicular to the flange center axis of the second embedded part 603, the first embedded part 602 is used for fixing the main reflector 1 and the Y motor assembly 5, so that the center axis of the Y motor assembly 5, the flange center axis of the first embedded part 602 and the electric axis of the main reflector 1 are always coaxial; one end of the second embedded part 603 is fixed on the X motor assembly 4, so that the center axis of the X motor assembly 4 and the flange center axis of the second embedded part 603 are coaxial, and the other end of the second embedded part 603 is fixed on the auxiliary reflector 2, the electric axis of the main reflector 1 and the center axis of the feed horn are always collinear after being reflected by the auxiliary reflector. The reflection point is always the intersection of the X motor center axis and the auxiliary reflector. Therefore, the antenna can be rotated through the X / Y motor assembly 5 to realize large-range beam scanning of the antenna without a rotating joint.

[0061] In the embodiment of the application, the rotating shaft of the Y motor assembly 5 is fixed on one end of the first embedded part 602 of the connecting rod, and the rotating shaft self-transmits the reaction force to drive the motor and the main reflector assembly to rotate together.

[0062] The feed source assembly 3 is fixed, the center axis of the X motor assembly 4 and the horn center axis of the feed source assembly 3 are coaxial.

[0063] Further, the feed source assembly, the X motor assembly 4, the Y motor assembly and the main and auxiliary reflectors of the reflector antenna are respectively fixed on two different cabin plates of a star body, and only one compression and release device 7 is used to fix the antenna, so as to reduce the compression envelope of the antenna and reduce the weight of the antenna.

[0064] In summary, the application designs a structure of fixed feed reflector antenna, the feed assembly of the antenna is fixed, without rotating joint, only one compression release device, and installed on two different cabin plates of the star, the main reflector uses Y motor assembly to realize self-rotation, fixed on the root X motor assembly through the shaped connecting rod, and the two motors are linked to complete large angle beam scanning of the antenna.

[0065] The specific embodiments of the application are described above. It needs to be understood that the application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications or changes can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims, which does not affect the essential content of the application.

Claims

1. A fixed-feed reflector antenna, characterized by, The antenna comprises a main reflecting surface, a sub reflecting surface, a feed source assembly, a Y motor assembly, an X motor assembly, a conformal connecting rod and a compression releasing device. The main reflecting surface is arranged at one end of the conformal connecting rod, and the sub reflecting surface is arranged at the other end of the conformal connecting rod. The Y motor assembly is used to drive the main reflecting surface to rotate. The X motor assembly is arranged at the root of the conformal connecting rod and is used to drive the conformal connecting rod and the main reflecting surface arranged on the conformal connecting rod to perform a pitching motion so as to perform a beam scanning. The compression releasing device is connected to the main reflecting surface and is used to compress or release the main reflecting surface. The feed source assembly is arranged at one side of the sub reflecting surface and is used to emit electromagnetic waves to the sub reflecting surface. The compression releasing device is provided with a hot knife conformal contact surface. A plurality of conical members are arranged on the hot knife conformal contact surface. The main reflecting surface is provided with a first circular hole in the middle and a second circular hole at the periphery.

2. The fixed-feed reflector antenna of Claim 1, wherein, The first circular hole is used for the tensioning rope of the compression releasing device to pass through the compression fixing. The main reflecting surface adopts a thin-walled structure and is processed and formed by using an aluminum alloy material.

3. The fixed-feed reflector antenna of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The back ribs of the main reflecting surface are provided with fan-shaped reinforcing ribs.

4. The fixed-feed reflector antenna of Claim 1, wherein, The back surface of the main reflecting surface is provided with a cylindrical structure, and the central axis of the cylindrical structure is collinear with the electric axis of the main reflecting surface. The conformal connecting rod is processed and formed by using carbon fibers.

5. The fixed-feed reflector antenna of Claim 4, wherein, First and second embedded parts are arranged at the two ends of the conformal connecting rod respectively. The conformal connecting rod is used to ensure that the main reflecting surface and the sub reflecting surface do not interfere with each other when they rotate at a large angle. The flange central axis of the first embedded part is perpendicular to the flange central axis of the second embedded part. The first embedded part is used to fix the main reflecting surface and the Y motor assembly and ensure that the central axis of the Y motor assembly, the flange central axis of the first embedded part and the electric axis of the main reflecting surface are always coaxial. One end of the second embedded part is fixed on the X motor assembly and is used to ensure that the central axis of the X motor assembly and the flange central axis of the second embedded part are coaxial.

6. The fixed-feed reflector antenna of Claim 4, wherein, The other end of the second embedded part is fixed on the sub reflecting surface and is used to ensure that the electric axis of the main reflecting surface is always collinear with the horn central axis of the feed source assembly after being reflected by the refraction point of the sub reflecting surface. The rotating shaft of the Y motor assembly is fixed on one end of the first embedded part.

7. The fixed-feed reflector antenna of Claim 1, wherein, The Y motor assembly is used to rotate the motor body of the Y motor assembly and the main reflecting surface together through the self-rotation reaction force of the rotating shaft.

8. The fixed-feed reflector antenna of Claim 1, wherein, The feed source assembly is fixed, and the central axis of the X motor assembly is coaxial with the horn central axis of the feed source assembly. The feed source assembly and the sub reflecting surface are used to be fixed on one side plate of a star body, and the main reflecting surface is used to be fixed on the other side plate of the star body.

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