A winding storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device

Abstract

The application provides a high-precision flexible reflecting surface antenna device, which comprises a center body, an unfolding mechanism connected with the center body, an antenna arranged on the center body and a locking mechanism arranged below the center body and used for fixing the unfolding mechanism and the antenna. The high-precision flexible reflecting surface antenna device has the advantages of simple structure, small storage envelope, reliable unfolding process, high shape precision after unfolding and the like, and can meet the use requirements of Ka frequency band.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of antenna, in particular to a high-precision reflector antenna device for inter-satellite communication and earth remote sensing. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of micro-satellite technology, deep space communication, earth remote sensing observation and other tasks based on micro-satellite are increasing. In order to improve the communication rate or the earth resolution, various space application scenarios require high-precision small-aperture high-stowable efficiency deployable reflector antenna.

[0003] At present, high-stowable efficiency deployable reflector antenna is usually in the form of a rotating paraboloid, mainly using metal wire mesh as the main body for receiving and reflecting electromagnetic waves. The metal wire mesh is a flexible material that needs to be pre-tensioned to maintain the planar configuration. Mark W. THOMSON et al. in PARABOLIC DEPLOYABLE ANTENNA (US 2019 / 0173194 Al) proposed a 0.5m aperture deployable reflector antenna that can be used at 35.75GHz, which realizes an antenna stowable volume of about 1.6U by folding 30 radial ribs twice, and relies on a motor-driven deployment mechanism to maintain the pre-tightening of the metal wire mesh. Wu Ming'er et al. in High-stowable ratio winding rib deployable antenna structure (CN 108767418B) proposed a high-efficiency stowable scheme that winds the radial support rib around the center body. Since the reflector uses a metal wire mesh, the circumferential rigidity of the deployed reflector is required to maintain the configuration of the mesh, which is only suitable for X and below frequency bands.

[0004] Since the reflector antenna using metal wire mesh needs to be pre-tightened and formed, and the rotating paraboloid is approximately fitted by the metal wire mesh planar sheet, in order to realize high-precision reflector, a large number of support rib quantity and connection point quantity are required, which leads to difficulties in overall configuration implementation and adjustment. In order to reduce the number of support connection points, simplify the back support structure of small-aperture deployable antenna, and improve the shape accuracy after deployment, using flexible carbon fiber composite material shell surface with local bending stiffness is an effective solution. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application is to overcome the problem of high-precision metal wire mesh deployable antenna requiring more structure support points in the prior art, and provides a high-precision reflector antenna device for stowing, which has simple structure, small stowable envelope, reliable deployment process, high shape accuracy after deployment, and can meet the requirements of Ka frequency band.

[0006] The present invention provides a winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, comprising a central body, an unfolding mechanism connected to the central body, an antenna arranged on the central body, and a locking mechanism arranged below the central body for fixing the unfolding mechanism and the antenna;

[0007] The deployment mechanism includes a deployable flexible shell connected to the central body, a plurality of support rods arranged outside the flexible shell, and thin-walled deployable column shell rods corresponding to the support rods and fixed at both ends to the central body and the support rods respectively;

[0008] The antenna includes a feed horn fixedly connected to the central body, a cylindrical compression spring arranged outside the feed horn and connected to the bottom of the feed horn at one end so as to be movable up and down along the axis of the feed horn, a secondary counter-support ring arranged at the other end of the cylindrical compression spring, a secondary counter-support rod fixedly arranged at one end on the secondary counter-support ring, and a secondary counter arranged at the other end of the secondary counter-support rod;

[0009] The locking mechanism includes a locking fixture connected to the center body, a locking disc connected to the fixture via a deep groove ball bearing, a rocker support connected to the locking disc, a locking rocker mounted on the rocker support, a scroll spring mounted on the locking disc, a fusible cutter mounted on the center body, a locking rope support, a locking rope that passes through the fusible cutter and passes through the locking rope support and support rod, and an auxiliary locking rope connected to the locking rope and locking disc at both ends. One end of the locking rocker is used to lock the secondary counter-support ring, while the other end is located in a slot on the locking disc. A circular waveguide channel is provided from the locking fixture to the feed horn. A circular-square transition waveguide is arranged at the root of the circular waveguide, which mates with the channel through a standard waveguide port.

[0010] During locking, the locking rope bypasses the fusible cutter and passes through the locking rope bracket, effectively folding and locking the flexible shell and thin-walled deployable column around the central axis of the central body. The secondary counter-support ring is compressed into the locked position by the locking rocker, and the locking disc is locked by the attached locking rope. During deployment, the fusible cutter supplies power for a period of time, disconnecting the locking rope. The thin-walled deployable column rods are then systematically deployed to the operating position. The attached locking rope is simultaneously released, unlocking the secondary counter-support ring, which is then locked into place by the cylindrical compression spring.

[0011] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, the feed horn includes a flange mounting surface connected with a center body on one side, a horn arranged on the other side of the flange mounting surface, an axial guide groove arranged on the outer surface of the horn along the extension direction of the horn for guiding the secondary reflector support ring during unfolding, a groove arranged on the horn away from the flange mounting surface end and located in the axial guide groove for mechanically limiting and locking the secondary reflector support ring in the unfolded state, and a radial opening arranged on the horn near the flange mounting surface end and located in the axial guide groove for locking the locking end of the rocker to pass through. The radial opening and the limiting groove required for locking the prefabricated secondary reflector support ring on the feed horn. The horn is used for electromagnetic wave radiation and reception.

[0012] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, the support rod includes a support rod bonded to the flexible shell surface on one end, a cylindrical surface arranged on the support rod and matched with the thin-walled expandable cylindrical shell rod, a connecting hole arranged on the cylindrical surface for restraining the thin-walled expandable cylindrical shell rod, a threading hole arranged on the support rod for locking the rope to pass through, and a limiting stopper arranged on the other end of the support rod for limiting the radial position in the storage state.

[0013] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, the locking rotating disc includes a mounting surface connected with a deep groove ball bearing, a limiting surface, a sliding groove in contact with one end of the locking rocker and used for limiting the spatial position of one end of the locking rocker, a stopper connected with a volute torsion spring, and a threaded hole connected with an auxiliary locking rope.

[0014] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, the material of the flexible shell surface is single-layer or double-layer carbon fiber three-dimensional fabric composite material. The flexible shell surface is formed on a special mold and is a part of the entire rotating parabolic surface. The flexible shell surface after curing is connected with the root and free end of the corresponding thin-walled expandable cylindrical shell rod through two points.

[0015] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, a plurality of creases are arranged on the flexible shell surface according to the storage mode.

[0016] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, the material of the thin-walled expandable cylindrical shell rod is carbon fiber composite material.

[0017] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, the number of thin-walled expandable shell columns is 9.

[0018] The winding type high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, as a preferred mode, three locking rockers are arranged on the locking rotating disc.

[0019] The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device described in the present invention is preferably configured such that three secondary reflectors are provided between the secondary reflector and the secondary reflector support ring.

[0020] The principle behind this solution is that a thin-walled composite shell, formed by curing and laying a single or double layer of carbon fiber tri-directional fabric composite material at a specific angle, exhibits localized bending stiffness and a small elastic bending radius, enabling efficient bending and stowage of the shell. The front surface of the flexible shell serves as the reflective surface for the antenna, reflecting electromagnetic waves. Pre-formed creases on the flexible shell ensure consistent folding and unfolding behavior over multiple times. The flexible shell is connected to multiple thin-walled deployable cylindrical rods at the center and edges. The thin-walled deployable cylindrical rods are formed from carbon fiber composite and have a cross-section that is a fraction of a circular arc, enabling efficient bending and stowage. As the thin-walled deployable cylindrical rods rotate and stow around the central axis of the center body, they undergo elastic bending deformation along the creases and are simultaneously wound around the central axis of the center body. The outer diameter of the flexible shell in the wound and stowed state is comparable to that of the deployable cylindrical rods. Locking ropes, which bypass the fusible cutter and locking rope bracket, are used to bind and restrain all the thin-walled deployable cylindrical rods in the stowed state. Press the secondary counter-support ring down to a position where the three locking rockers can lock it. Rotate the locking dial, causing the three locking rockers to move into the locked position through the constraints of the locking grooves on the locking dial, thus locking the secondary counter-support ring. An auxiliary locking rope is connected to the connection hole on the locking dial to lock the dial. When the flexible reflector antenna is locked, the locking rope bracket is in an upright position. After power is supplied to the fuse cutter and the locking rope is severed, the locking rope bracket, driven by the torsion spring, rotates to a horizontal position, driving the locking rope out of the threading hole on the support rod, releasing the constraints on the thin-walled deployable column housing rod. The thin-walled deployable column housing rod then deploys due to its stored elastic energy, driving the flexible shell to expand. Simultaneously, as the locking rope is released, the auxiliary locking rope is released, and the locking dial, driven by the scroll torsion spring, rotates, driving the three locking rockers to the unlocked position, thus unlocking the secondary counter-support ring. The auxiliary counter support ring moves upward under the drive of the cylindrical compression spring. After reaching the mechanical limit, it is positioned and locked by three radially arranged compression spring locking pins to complete the deployment and locking of the auxiliary counter.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present application has the advantages that: the present application can be wound and folded elastically due to the adoption of the flexible carbon fiber composite shell surface, has local bending stiffness after unfolding, and has high-precision shape preserving ability under the condition of fewer structural support points compared with the metal wire mesh surface. The flexible shell surface adopts a carbon fiber thin-wall deployable column shell rod to provide support points and deployment drive, and the deployable column shell rod is locked after unfolding, and has the advantages of simple structure, low thermal expansion coefficient and good thermal stability. A set of fuse-type cutters and passive driving linkage mechanisms are adopted to simultaneously unlock the flexible shell surface and the secondary reflector, and the energy consumption demand is low and the structural integration is high. The wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna can provide a new technical solution for Ka-band antenna load applications of various microsatellites. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna device working state schematic diagram;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna device back state schematic diagram;

[0024] Figure 3 It is a wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna device storage state schematic diagram;

[0025] Figure 4 It is a wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna device storage state sectional view;

[0026] Figure 5 It is a wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna device shell column support rod schematic diagram;

[0027] Figure 6 It is a wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna device feed horn schematic diagram;

[0028] Figure 7 It is a wound and folded high-precision flexible reflector antenna device locking rotating disc schematic diagram.

[0029] REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[0030] 1. Flexible shell surface; 2. Auxiliary reaction; 3. Auxiliary reaction support rod; 4. Auxiliary reaction support ring; 5. Feed horn; 51. Horn; 52. Groove; 53. Axial guide groove; 54. Flange mounting surface; 55. Radial opening; 6. Cylindrical compression spring; 7. Center body; 8. Thin-walled expandable cylindrical shell rod; 9. Support rod; 91. Support rod; 92. Threading hole; 93. Limit stop rod; 94. Cylindrical surface; 95. Connecting hole; 10. Fuse cutter; 11. Locking rope bracket; 12. Locking rotating disk; 121. Mounting surface; 122. Limit end surface; 123. Slide groove; 124. Stop rod; 125. Threaded hole; 13. Locking fixture; 14. Locking rope; 15. Auxiliary locking rope; 16. Locking rocker; 17. Rocker support; 18. Deep groove ball bearing; 19. Scroll torsion spring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] like Figures 1-4 As shown, a winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device includes a central body 7, an unfolding mechanism connected to the central body 7, an antenna arranged on the central body 7, and a locking mechanism arranged below the central body 7 for fixing the unfolding mechanism and the antenna;

[0034] The deployment mechanism includes a deployable flexible shell 1 connected to a central body 7, nine support rods 9 arranged on the outside of the flexible shell 1, and thin-walled deployable column shell rods 8 corresponding to the support rods 9 and fixed at both ends to the central body 7 and the support rods 9 respectively. The flexible shell 1 is made of a single-layer or double-layer carbon fiber three-dimensional fabric composite material, and is provided with a number of folds on the flexible shell 1 according to the storage mode. The thin-walled deployable column shell rods 8 are also made of a carbon fiber composite material.

[0035] like Figure 5 As shown, the support rod 9 includes a support rod 91 connected to the flexible shell surface 1 at one end, a cylindrical surface 94 provided on the support rod 91 and matching the thin-walled expandable column shell rod 8, a connecting hole 95 provided on the cylindrical surface 94 for constraining the thin-walled expandable column shell rod 8, a threading hole 92 provided on the support rod 91 for passing the locking rope 14, and a limit stop rod 93 provided at the other end of the support rod 91 for limiting the radial position in the stored state;

[0036] The antenna comprises a feed horn 5 fixedly connected with the center body, a cylindrical compression spring 6 arranged outside the feed horn 5 and having one end connected with the bottom of the feed horn 5 and being capable of moving up and down along the axial direction of the feed horn 5, a secondary reverse support ring 4 arranged at the other end of the cylindrical compression spring 6, three secondary reverse support rods 3 having one end fixedly arranged on the secondary reverse support ring 4, and a secondary reverse 2 arranged at the other end of the secondary reverse support rods 3.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6 , the feed horn 5 comprises a flange mounting surface 54 connected with one side of the center body 7, a horn 51 arranged on the other side of the flange mounting surface 54, an axial guide groove 53 arranged on the outer surface of the horn 51 along the extension direction of the horn 51 and used for guiding the secondary reverse support ring 4 during unfolding, a groove 52 arranged on the horn 51 away from the flange mounting surface 54 and located in the axial guide groove 53 and used for mechanically limiting and locking the secondary reverse support ring 4 in the unfolded state, and a radial opening 55 arranged on the horn 51 close to the flange mounting surface 54 and located in the axial guide groove 53 and used for locking the locking end of the rocker 16 to pass through.

[0038] The locking mechanism comprises a locking fixing member 13 connected with the center body 7, a locking rotating disc 12 connected with the locking fixing member 13 through a deep groove ball bearing 18, a rocker support 17 connected with the locking rotating disc 12, three locking rockers 16 arranged on the rocker support 17, a vortex torsion spring 19 arranged on the locking rotating disc 12, a fuse cutter 10 and a locking rope support 11 arranged on the center body 7, a locking rope 14 winding around the fuse cutter 10 and passing through the locking rope support 11, the locking support rod 9, and an auxiliary locking rope 15 having two ends connected with the locking rope 14 and the locking rotating disc 12 respectively.

[0039] As shown in Figure 7 , the locking rotating disc 12 comprises a mounting surface 121 connected with the deep groove ball bearing 18, a limiting surface 122, a sliding groove 123 in contact with one end of the locking rocker 16 and used for limiting the spatial position of the one end of the locking rocker 16, a stop lever 124 connected with the vortex torsion spring 19, and a threaded hole 125 connected with the auxiliary locking rope 15.

[0040] In the use process of the embodiment, when locked, after the locking rope 14 winds around the fuse cutter 10 and then passes through the locking rope support 11, the flexible shell surface 1 and the thin-walled expandable cylindrical shell rod 8 are folded and stored around the central axis of the center body 7 in a winding manner with high efficiency, the secondary reverse support ring 4 is pressed to the locking position by the locking rocker 16, and the locking rotating disc 12 is limited to the locking state by the auxiliary locking rope 15; when unfolded, the fuse cutter 10 is powered for a period of time, the locking rope 14 is cut off, the thin-walled expandable cylindrical shell rod 8 is orderly unfolded to the working state, the auxiliary locking rope 15 is synchronously released, the unlocking of the secondary reverse support ring 4 is realized, and finally the secondary reverse support ring 4 is locked after being positioned under the action of the cylindrical compression spring 6.

[0041] The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited to this. Any person skilled in the art can make equivalent substitutions or changes according to the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present application within the technical range disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device, characterized by: It comprises a central body (7), a deployment mechanism connected to the central body (7), an antenna arranged on the central body (7), and a locking mechanism arranged below the central body (7) for fixing the deployment mechanism and the antenna; The deployment mechanism comprises a deployable flexible shell (1) connected to the central body (7), a plurality of support rods (9) arranged outside the flexible shell (1), and thin-walled deployable column shell rods (8) corresponding one-to-one to the support rods (9) and having two ends respectively fixed to the central body (7) and the support rods (9); The material of the flexible shell surface (1) is a single-layer or double-layer carbon fiber three-dimensional fabric composite material; The antenna comprises a feed horn (5) fixedly connected to the central body, a cylindrical compression spring (6) arranged outside the feed horn (5) and connected at one end to the bottom of the feed horn (5) and capable of moving up and down along the axis of the feed horn (5), a secondary counter-support ring (4) arranged at the other end of the cylindrical compression spring (6), a secondary counter-support rod (3) fixed at one end on the secondary counter-support ring (4), and a secondary counter (2) arranged at the other end of the secondary counter-support rod (3); The locking mechanism comprises a locking fixture (13) connected to the central body (7), a locking rotating disk (12) connected to the locking fixture (13) via a deep groove ball bearing (18), a rocker support (17) connected to the locking rotating disk (12), a locking rocker (16) arranged on the rocker support (17), a scroll torsion spring (19) arranged on the locking rotating disk (12), a fusible cutter (10) and a locking rope bracket (11) arranged on the central body (7), a locking rope (14) passing around the fusible cutter (10) and passing through the locking rope bracket (11) and the support rod (9), and an auxiliary locking rope (15) with two ends respectively connected to the locking rope (14) and the locking rotating disk (12).

2. The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feed horn (5) includes a flange mounting surface (54) connected to the central body (7) on one side, a horn (51) arranged on the other side of the flange mounting surface (54), an axial guide groove (53) arranged on the outer surface of the horn (51) along the extension direction of the horn (51) for guiding the secondary anti-support ring (4) during the deployment process, a groove (52) arranged on the horn (51) away from one end of the flange mounting surface (54) and located in the axial guide groove (53) for mechanically limiting and locking the secondary anti-support ring (4) in the deployed state, and a radial opening (55) arranged on the horn (51) close to one end of the flange mounting surface (54) and located in the axial guide groove (53) for the locking end of the locking rocker (16) to pass through.

3. The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support rod (9) includes a support rod (91) with one end bonded to the flexible shell surface (1), a cylindrical surface (94) arranged on the support rod (91) and matching the thin-walled expandable column shell rod (8), a connecting hole (95) arranged on the cylindrical surface (94) for constraining the thin-walled expandable column shell rod (8), a threading hole (92) arranged on the support rod (91) for the locking rope (14) to pass through, and a limit lever (93) arranged on the other end of the support rod (91) for limiting the radial position in the storage state.

4. The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking rotating disk (12) includes a mounting surface (121) connected to the deep groove ball bearing (18), a limiting surface (122), a sliding groove (123) in contact with one end of the locking rocker (16) and used to limit the spatial position of one end of the locking rocker (16), a blocking rod (124) connected to the scroll torsion spring (19), and a threaded hole (125) connected to the auxiliary locking rope (15).

5. The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of folds are provided on the flexible shell surface (1) according to the storage mode.

6. The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the thin-walled expandable column shell rod (8) is a carbon fiber composite material.

7. The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Three locking rockers (16) are provided on the locking rotating disk (12).

8. The winding type storage high-precision flexible reflector antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Three auxiliary counter-support rods (3) are provided between the auxiliary counter (2) and the auxiliary counter-support ring (4).

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