Lightweight structure lock for space station docking and working method thereof

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of space station docking devices, and discloses a light-weight structure lock for space station docking locking and a working method thereof. The structure lock comprises a fixed support, two disc spring pressing plates, a disc spring assembly, an eccentric shaft and a lock hook. The fixed support is bolt-connected to a main spacecraft. A through groove is formed in the fixed support. The two disc spring pressing plates are rotationally connected to the fixed support. The disc spring assembly comprises a disc spring shaft sleeve, a disc spring sleeve and a combined disc spring. A pre-tightening bolt is arranged in the disc spring shaft sleeve. The pre-tightening bolt is threadedly connected to the disc spring sleeve. The disc spring sleeve is rotationally connected between the two disc spring pressing plates. A cam housing is arranged on the eccentric shaft. A cam is arranged on the cam housing. The eccentric shaft is eccentrically connected to the cam. A motor is connected to the eccentric shaft. A limiting clamping groove is formed in the through groove. The lock hook is slidingly connected to the limiting clamping groove by a pin shaft. The application solves the problems of large size and heavy weight of the existing docking mechanism and is suitable for the connection and locking between spacecrafts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of space station docking devices, and in particular to a lightweight structural lock for space station docking locking and its working method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the space docking mechanisms in use are mainly large docking structures between two spacecraft or between large payload equipment and the space station. They can realize the transfer of mechanical, electrical, thermal, and fluid resources. In my country's space station extravehicular activities, small and medium-sized test payloads account for more than half of the total extravehicular test payloads. Existing docking mechanisms are characterized by their large size and heavy weight. In particular, the docking of large payload equipment with the space station requires astronauts to participate in extravehicular activities, so they cannot be directly applied to the docking of extravehicular payloads with the space station and the transfer of resources. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a lightweight structural lock for docking and locking of a space station and its working method, so as to solve the problems of large size and heavy weight of existing docking mechanisms.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a lightweight structural lock for docking and locking of a space station, comprising a fixed bracket, two disc spring pressure plates, a disc spring assembly, an eccentric shaft, and a lock hook. The fixed bracket is bolted to the active plate of the active spacecraft. A through groove for the lock hook to move is provided on the fixed bracket. A tension spring connects the through groove and the lock hook. The two disc spring pressure plates are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the fixed bracket. Connecting rods are rotatably connected to the upper and lower sides of both disc spring pressure plates. The connecting rod on the upper side is rotatably connected to the fixed bracket. The disc spring assembly includes a disc spring bushing, a disc spring sleeve, and a combined disc spring connecting the disc spring bushing and the disc spring sleeve. An internal pre-tightening bolt is threadedly connected to a disc spring sleeve. The disc spring bushing is connected to a fixed bracket. The disc spring sleeve is rotatably connected between two disc spring pressure plates via a connecting rod located on the lower side. An eccentric shaft is rotatably connected to the middle of the two disc spring pressure plates. An eccentric wheel and a cam housing covering the eccentric wheel are provided on the outside of the eccentric shaft. A paddle that is slidably connected to the cam housing is integrally formed on the eccentric wheel. An arc-shaped stop is provided on the cam housing. The stop is located on the movement trajectory of the paddle. The eccentric wheel is rotatably connected to the cam housing. A motor is also connected to the eccentric shaft. An L-shaped limiting slot is opened in the through groove. The middle part of the locking hook is slidably connected to the limiting slot via a pin.

[0005] Preferably, an explosive bolt is threadedly connected inside the cam housing, a threaded hole is provided on the locking hook, and a disc spring is provided between the locking hook and the explosive bolt.

[0006] Preferably, the locking hook has an arc-shaped stepped groove, the cam housing has an elastic pressure plate, and the elastic pressure plate has a limiting pin that is slidably connected in the arc-shaped stepped groove.

[0007] Preferably, the working method of the structural lock includes the following steps:

[0008] Locking process: The motor drives the eccentric shaft to rotate clockwise. Under the limit of the combined disc spring and the paddle, the locking hook rotates with the eccentric wheel. The paddle separates from one end of the stop block. The eccentric shaft continues to rotate clockwise. Under the action of the limit slot, the locking hook moves downward to contact the passive plate on the passive spacecraft and pulls it to the active plate. Then the locking hook can no longer move downward. The center of the eccentric shaft moves upward and drives the connecting rod to compress the combined disc spring. With the compression of the combined disc spring, the eccentric wheel moves to the dead point.

[0009] Unlocking process: The motor drives the eccentric shaft to rotate counterclockwise, and the locking hook moves to the upright state according to the determined motion law. At this time, the locking hook separates from the passive plate. As the eccentric shaft continues to rotate counterclockwise, the eccentric shaft drives the paddle to abut against the cam housing. The paddle forces the eccentric wheel to rotate, which drives the locking hook to rotate around the eccentric wheel until the locking hook is in the open state, and the passive plate can be safely unlocked and separated.

[0010] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0011] This invention abandons the passive locking hook and integrates the disc spring assembly, locking hook assembly, and connecting rod assembly into a single-sided locking hook structure. This reduces the mass of the passive section and transmits the force to the disc spring assembly through the connecting rod, enabling the technical requirement of high locking force to be achieved under relatively small disc spring pressure. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of a lightweight structural lock for docking and locking of a space station according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a lightweight structural lock for docking and locking of a space station according to the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a top view of a lightweight structural lock for docking and locking of a space station according to the present invention.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the disc spring assembly in this embodiment;

[0016] Figure 5 This is an isometric view of the cam housing and the locking hook in this embodiment;

[0017] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working process of a lightweight structural lock for docking and locking of a space station according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the locked state in this embodiment.

[0019] The corresponding labels in the attached diagram are named as follows: Fixed bracket 1, Disc spring pressure plate 2, Eccentric shaft 3, Lock hook 4, Through groove 5, Connecting rod 6, Disc spring bushing 7, Disc spring sleeve 8, Combined disc spring 9, Connecting rod support 10, Preload bolt 11, Cam housing 12, Eccentric wheel 13, Paddle 14, Stop block 15, Arc-shaped stepped groove 16, Elastic pressure plate 17, Limit pin 18, Explosion bolt 19, Disc spring 20, Tension spring 21, Limit slot 22, Active plate 23, Passive plate 24. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments:

[0021] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, a lightweight structural lock for docking and locking a space station includes a fixed bracket 1, two disc spring pressure plates 2, a disc spring assembly, an eccentric shaft 3, and a locking hook 4. The fixed bracket 1 is bolted to the active plate 23 of the active spacecraft. A through groove 5 for the locking hook 4 to move is provided on the fixed bracket 1. A tension spring 21 is connected between the through groove 5 and the locking hook 4 via screws. An L-shaped limiting groove 22 is provided on the side wall of the through groove 5. The two disc spring pressure plates 2 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the fixed bracket 1. A connecting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the upper and lower sides of both disc spring pressure plates 2. The connecting rod 6 on the upper side is rotatably connected to the fixed bracket 1. The disc spring assembly includes a disc spring bushing 7, a disc spring sleeve 8, and a combined disc spring 9 connected between the disc spring bushing 7 and the disc spring sleeve 8. A connecting rod support 10 is bolted to the upper side of the disc spring bushing 7. A connecting rod 6, rotatably connected to the fixed bracket 1, passes through the center of the connecting rod support 10. The disc spring bushing 7 has a partition plate inside, and a preload bolt 11 passes through the partition plate. The preload bolt 11 is threadedly connected to the disc spring sleeve 8, and the clamping force of the combined disc spring 9 can be adjusted by means of the preload bolt 11. The disc spring sleeve 8 is rotatably connected between the two disc spring pressure plates 2 through a connecting rod 6 located on the lower side. The connecting rod 6 located on the lower side passes through the lower side of the disc spring sleeve 8, and the disc spring sleeve 8 is rotatably connected to the disc spring bushing 7 inside.

[0022] An eccentric shaft 3 is rotatably connected to the middle of two disc spring pressure plates 2. An eccentric wheel 13 and a cam housing 12 covering the eccentric wheel 13 are provided on the outside of the eccentric shaft 3. A paddle 14, integrally formed on the eccentric wheel 13 and slidably connected to the cam housing 12, is also provided. An arc-shaped stop 15 is provided on the side wall of the cam housing 12, with both the upper and lower ends of the stop 15 located on the movement trajectory of the paddle 14. The eccentric wheel 13 is rotatably connected to the cam housing 12, and one end of the eccentric shaft 3 is coaxially connected to a motor fixedly mounted on the disc spring pressure plate 2. The middle part of the locking hook 4 and the cam housing 12 are slidably connected to the limiting groove 22 via a pin. An arc-shaped stepped groove 16 is provided on the outer surface of the locking hook 4. An elastic pressure plate 17 is bolted to the outer surface of the cam housing 12, and the tail of the elastic pressure plate 17 is bolted to the cam housing 12. A limiting pin 18 is provided on the elastic pressure plate 17 and slidably connected to the arc-shaped stepped groove 16. The cam housing 12 is also threadedly connected to an explosive bolt 19 located on the lower side of the locking hook 4. The locking hook 4 has a threaded hole, and a disc spring 20 is connected between the threaded hole and the explosive bolt 19.

[0023] The movement process of this structural lock is as follows: Figure 6 It consists of three states: the open state, the upright state, and the locked state.

[0024] When the lock is in the open position, the eccentric shaft 3 swings open at a certain angle, the lever 14 abuts against the stop block 15, and the lock hook 4 is in the open position so that the passive plate 24 can safely reach the pre-locking position. The tension spring 21 is in the tensioned state so that the lever 14 can drive the stop block 15 to move during the straightening process. In order to reduce the stress concentration phenomenon during the locking process, the combined disc spring 9 has a preload. The limit pin 18 is located in the shallow part of the arc-shaped stepped groove 16, at which time the elastic pressure plate 17 has elasticity. The explosion bolt 19 is in the inactive state and presses the lock hook 4 against the cam housing 12 through the threaded connection, that is, the disc spring 20 is in the compressed state.

[0025] The working method of a structural lock includes the following steps:

[0026] Locking process: The motor drives the eccentric shaft 3 to rotate clockwise. Under the limit of the combined disc spring 9 and the paddle 14, the locking hook 4 rotates with the eccentric wheel 13 and pulls the passive plate 24 on the passive spacecraft to the active plate 23. The paddle 14 separates from one end of the stop block 15. Under the action of the limit slot 22, the locking hook 4 moves downward to contact the passive plate 24 on the passive spacecraft and pulls it to the active plate 23. The center of the eccentric shaft 3 moves upward and drives the connecting rod 6 to compress the combined disc spring 9. With the compression of the combined disc spring 9, the eccentric wheel 13 moves to the dead point.

[0027] Unlocking process: The motor drives the eccentric shaft 3 to rotate counterclockwise, and the locking hook 4 moves to the upright state according to the determined motion law. At this time, the locking hook 4 separates from the passive plate 24. As the eccentric shaft 3 continues to rotate counterclockwise, the eccentric shaft 3 drives the paddle 14 to abut against the cam housing 12. The paddle 14 forces the eccentric wheel 13 to rotate, thereby driving the locking hook 4 to rotate around the eccentric wheel 13 until the locking hook 4 is in the open state, and the passive plate 24 can be safely unlocked and separated.

[0028] In an emergency, by activating the explosive bolt 19, the disc spring 20 generates thrust due to initial compression, causing the locking hook 4 to rotate a certain angle and separate from the passive plate 24 on the passive spacecraft. In this embodiment, the locking hook 4 is designed to rotate at an angle of 30°, thereby achieving rapid unlocking. Simultaneously, to prevent the locking hook 4 from rebounding during emergency unlocking and causing unlocking failure, a limiting pin 18 can limit the locking hook 4 after rotation, ensuring the stability and reliability of the separation.

[0029] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention, and common knowledge regarding specific technical solutions or characteristics is not elaborated upon here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical solutions of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the present invention or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application should be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. A lightweight structural lock for docking and locking of a space station, characterized in that: The system includes a fixed bracket (1), two disc spring pressure plates (2), a disc spring assembly, an eccentric shaft (3), and a locking hook (4). The fixed bracket (1) is bolted to the active plate (23) of the active spacecraft. The fixed bracket (1) has a through groove (5) for the locking hook (4) to move. A tension spring (21) is connected between the through groove (5) and the locking hook (4). The two disc spring pressure plates (2) are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the fixed bracket (1). The upper and lower sides of the two disc spring pressure plates (2) are rotatably connected to connecting rods (6). The connecting rod (6) on the upper side is rotatably connected to the fixed bracket (1). The disc spring assembly includes a disc spring bushing (7), a disc spring sleeve (8), and a combined disc spring (9) connected between the disc spring bushing (7) and the disc spring sleeve (8). A preload bolt (11) is inserted inside the disc spring bushing (7). The preload bolt (11) is threaded into the disc spring sleeve (8). The disc spring bushing (7) is connected to the fixed bracket (1), and the disc spring sleeve (8) is rotatably connected between the two disc spring pressure plates (2) via the connecting rod (6) located on the lower side. The eccentric shaft (3) is rotatably connected to the middle of the two disc spring pressure plates (2). The eccentric shaft (3) is provided with an eccentric wheel (13) and a cam housing (12) covering the eccentric wheel (13). The eccentric wheel (13) is also integrally formed with a sliding connection to the cam. The cam housing (12) has a paddle (14) on it, and an arc-shaped stop (15) is provided on the cam housing (12). The stop (15) is located on the movement trajectory of the paddle (14). The eccentric wheel (13) is rotatably connected to the cam housing (12). The eccentric shaft (3) is also connected to a motor. An L-shaped limiting slot (22) is provided in the through groove (5). The middle part of the locking hook (4) is slidably connected in the limiting slot (22) by a pin.

2. A lightweight structural lock for docking and locking a space station according to claim 1, characterized in that: An explosive bolt (19) is threadedly connected inside the cam housing (12), and a threaded hole is provided on the locking hook (4). A disc spring (20) is provided between the locking hook (4) and the explosive bolt (19).

3. A lightweight structural lock for docking and locking a space station according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking hook (4) has an arc-shaped stepped groove (16), the cam housing (12) has an elastic pressure plate (17), and the elastic pressure plate (17) has a limiting pin (18) that is slidably connected in the arc-shaped stepped groove (16).

4. A lightweight structural lock for docking and locking a space station according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The working method of the structural lock includes the following steps: Locking process: The motor drives the eccentric shaft (3) to rotate clockwise. The locking hook (4) rotates with the eccentric wheel (13) under the limit of the combined disc spring (9) and the paddle (14). The paddle (14) separates from one end of the stop block (15). The eccentric shaft (3) continues to rotate clockwise. Under the action of the limit slot (22), the locking hook (4) moves downward to contact the passive plate (24) on the passive spacecraft and pulls it to the active plate (23). Then the locking hook (4) cannot move downward. The center of the eccentric shaft (3) moves upward and drives the connecting rod (6) to compress the combined disc spring (9). With the compression of the combined disc spring (9) until the eccentric wheel (13) moves to the dead point; Unlocking process: The motor drives the eccentric shaft (3) to rotate counterclockwise, and the locking hook (4) moves to the upright state according to the determined motion law. At this time, the locking hook (4) separates from the passive plate (24). As the eccentric shaft (3) continues to rotate counterclockwise, the eccentric shaft (3) drives the paddle (14) to abut against the cam housing (12). The paddle (14) forces the eccentric wheel (13) to rotate, thereby driving the locking hook (4) to rotate around the eccentric wheel (13) until the locking hook (4) is in the open state, and the passive plate (24) can be safely unlocked and separated.

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