An unlocking mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed is an unlocking mechanism (100), comprising: an upper cover (01); a locking sleeve (02); a torsion spring (03); a wire guide sleeve (04); a housing (05); a shape memory alloy wire (06); a compression spring (09); a pull stud (12); a steel ball (11); wherein, the locking sleeve (02) is held in the locking position under the combined action of the torsion spring (03) and the shape memory alloy wire 06, and the steel ball (11), under the action of the locking sleeve (02), locks the pull stud (12) in the axial and circumferential directions; and wherein, when the shape memory alloy wire (06) is energized, the shape memory alloy wire (06) contracts, causing the locking sleeve (02) to rotate around the cylinder of the upper cover (01), and the steel ball 11 to fall outward into the axial groove of the locking sleeve (02), releasing the locking of the pull stud (12), and the pull stud to be disengaged upward under the action of the compression spring (09) and an external force, achieving unlocking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aerospace technology, and particularly to an unlocking mechanism. Background Art

[0002] Satellites usually require unlocking mechanisms to unlock antennas, deployer covers, solar panels, etc. Existing unlocking mechanisms are usually large in size and are not suitable for occasions such as small satellites.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved unlocking mechanism that can be applied to occasions such as small satellites. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an unlocking mechanism 100, including:

[0005] An upper cover 01, including a cover plate that can be fixed on a housing 05, and a cylinder located below the cover plate. A central hole with a step at the bottom is provided at the center of the cover plate and the cylinder;

[0006] A locking sleeve 02, surrounding the outer surface of the upper part of the cylinder;

[0007] A torsion spring 03, surrounding the locking sleeve 02, with one end fixed on the surface of the locking sleeve 2 and the other end fixed on the bottom of the cover plate;

[0008] A wire guide sleeve 04, having a thread and surrounding the outer surface of the upper part of the cylinder;

[0009] A housing 05, having a chamber for accommodating the cylinder of the upper cover 01, the locking sleeve 02, the torsion spring 03, and the wire guide sleeve 04;

[0010] A shape memory alloy wire 06, located in the thread of the wire guide sleeve 04, with one end fixed on the outer surface of the locking sleeve 02 and the other end fixed on the outer surface of the cylinder of the upper cover 01;

[0011] A compression spring 09, located on the step at the bottom of the central hole of the upper cover 01;

[0012] A pull stud 12, located in the central hole of the upper cover 01 and above the compression spring 09;

[0013] Steel balls 11, located in circular holes provided on the wall of the cylinder of the upper cover 01;

[0014] Wherein, when the shape memory alloy wire 06 is not energized, the locking sleeve 02 is maintained in the locked position under the combined action of the torsion spring (03) and the shape memory alloy wire 06. Under the action of the locking sleeve 02, the steel balls 11 are pressed into the pits provided on the surface of the pull stud 12, thereby locking the pull stud 12 in the axial and circumferential directions;

[0015] And when the shape memory alloy wire 06 is energized, after the shape memory alloy wire 06 reaches the phase transition temperature, it shrinks, and its shrinking force overcomes the resistance of the torsion spring 03 and the frictional force to make the locking sleeve 02 rotate around the cylinder of the upper cover 01. When the axial groove provided on the locking sleeve 02 rotates to the position of the steel ball 11, the steel ball 11 falls outward into the axial groove of the locking sleeve 02, releasing the locking of the pull nail 12, and the pull nail is disengaged upward under the action of the compression spring 09 and the external force, realizing unlocking.

[0016] The unlocking mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention has a compact structure, a small volume, is convenient to use, and has good performance, and is particularly suitable for unlocking antennas, deploying covers, solar panels, etc. on small satellites. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 Fig. shows a schematic perspective view of the unlocking mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 Fig. shows a top view, a front view, and cross-sectional views at positions A-A and F-F of the unlocking mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention for those skilled in the relevant art. However, it is obvious to those skilled in the relevant art that some of these specific details may not be required for the implementation of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described. On the contrary, the present invention can be implemented with any combination of the following features and elements, regardless of whether they relate to different embodiments. Therefore, the following aspects, features, embodiments, and advantages are for illustrative purposes only and should not be regarded as elements or limitations of the claims, unless expressly recited in the claims.

[0020] The meanings of the various terms involved in this specification are generally the ordinary meanings in the art, or the meanings that are normally understood by those skilled in the art after reading this specification. The terms "comprising" and "including" in this specification are open-ended, that is, in addition to the elements mentioned, other elements not mentioned may also be included. The terms "connected" and "coupled" and other similar terms in this specification generally include mechanical connection, electrical connection, or a combination thereof, and generally include both direct connection and indirect connection or coupling via other components. The terms "first", "second", etc. in this specification are only used to distinguish different components of the same type, and do not represent any order in terms of importance, structure, function, etc.

[0021] Now refer to Figure 1-2 , wherein, Figure 1Shows a schematic perspective view of an unlocking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 Shows a top view, a front view, and cross-sectional views at positions A-A and F-F of the unlocking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] As Figure 1-2 shown, the unlocking mechanism 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0023] An upper cover 01, including a cover plate that can be fixed to the housing 05, and a cylinder located below the cover plate. At the center of the cover plate and the cylinder is a central hole with a step at the bottom;

[0024] A locking sleeve 02, surrounding the outer surface of the upper part of the cylinder;

[0025] A torsion spring 03, surrounding the locking sleeve 02, with one end fixed to the surface of the locking sleeve 2 and the other end fixed to the bottom of the cover plate;

[0026] A wire guide sleeve 04, having a thread and surrounding the outer surface of the upper part of the cylinder;

[0027] A housing 05, having a chamber for accommodating the cylinder of the upper cover 01, the locking sleeve 02, the torsion spring 03, and the wire guide sleeve 04;

[0028] A shape memory alloy wire 06, located inside the thread of the wire guide sleeve 04, with one end fixed to the outer surface of the locking sleeve 02 and the other end fixed to the outer surface of the cylinder of the upper cover 01;

[0029] A compression spring 09, located on the step at the bottom of the central hole of the upper cover 01;

[0030] A pull stud 12, located in the central hole of the upper cover 01 and above the compression spring 09;

[0031] A steel ball 11, located in a round hole provided in the wall of the cylinder of the upper cover 01;

[0032] Wherein, when the shape memory alloy wire 06 is not energized, the locking sleeve 02 is held in the locked position under the combined action of the torsion spring (03) and the shape memory alloy wire 06. Under the action of the locking sleeve 02, the steel ball 11 is pressed into a pit provided on the surface of the pull stud 12, thereby locking the pull stud 12 in the axial and circumferential directions;

[0033] And wherein, when the shape memory alloy wire 06 is energized, after the shape memory alloy wire 06 reaches the phase change temperature, it contracts, and its contraction force overcomes the resistance of the torsion spring 03 and the friction force to cause the locking sleeve 02 to rotate around the cylinder of the upper cover 01. When the axial groove provided on the locking sleeve 02 rotates to the position of the steel ball 11, the steel ball 11 falls outward into the axial groove of the locking sleeve 02, releasing the locking of the pull stud 12, and the pull stud is ejected upward under the action of the compression spring 09 and an external force to achieve unlocking.

[0034] In some embodiments, the unlocking mechanism 100 further includes a set screw 08 which is installed in a screw hole provided on the cylindrical wall of the upper cover 01 through a window provided on the housing 05 and extends into a chute provided on the pull stud 12, thereby ensuring the guidance between the pull stud 12 and the upper cover 01.

[0035] In some embodiments, the unlocking mechanism 100 further includes a fixing screw 07 for installing the unlocking mechanism 100 on a satellite, such as on the box body of the satellite, through a hole provided at the bottom of the housing 05.

[0036] In some embodiments, the unlocking mechanism 100 further includes a screw 10 for fixing the wire guide sleeve 04 and the upper cover 01 together.

[0037] The pull stud 12 can be connected to any member that moves through unlocking, such as the antenna of a satellite, a deployment cover, a solar panel, etc.

[0038] The shape memory alloy wire 06 can be connected to a power source through a switch circuit (not shown), so that the energization and de-energization of the shape memory alloy wire 06 can be controlled.

[0039] The surface of the wire guide sleeve 04 is provided with threads for ensuring the spiral winding of the shape memory alloy wire 06. In this way, when the shape memory alloy wire 06 contracts upon energization, it can slide within the wire guide sleeve 04. Since one end of the shape memory alloy wire is fixed, the other end will move, thereby generating a tangential pulling force on the locking sleeve 02 to form a torque, causing the locking sleeve 02 to rotate around the cylinder of the upper cover 01, and thus enabling the steel balls 11 to slip outwards, thereby unlocking the pull stud 12.

[0040] The cover plate of the upper cover 01 can be fixed to the housing 05 by screws.

[0041] The unlocking mechanism according to the embodiments of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the above description and illustration are only examples and not limitations to the present invention. In other embodiments of the present invention, the device may have more, fewer, or different components, and the connection, inclusion, and functional relationships between the components may be different from those described and illustrated. For example, the shape and structure of each component can be different from those described and illustrated, and the positions and connection relationships between the components can also be different from those described and illustrated, and so on. All these variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0042] The unlocking mechanism according to the embodiments of the present invention is compact in structure, small in size, convenient to use, and good in performance, and is particularly suitable for unlocking antennas, deployment covers, solar panels, etc. on small satellites.

[0043] Although the present invention has been disclosed as above through embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. All various changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall be incorporated into the protection scope of the present invention, and the protection scope of the present invention shall be determined only by the scope defined by the language of the claims and its equivalent language.

Claims

1. An unlocking mechanism (100), characterized in that, it includes: An upper cover (01), including a cover plate that can be fixed on a housing (05), and a cylinder located below the cover plate. There is a central hole with a step at the bottom in the center of the cover plate and the cylinder; A locking sleeve (02), surrounding the outer surface of the upper part of the cylinder; A torsion spring (03), surrounding the locking sleeve (02), with one end fixed on the surface of the locking sleeve (02) and the other end fixed on the bottom of the cover plate; A wire guide sleeve (04), having threads and surrounding the outer surface of the upper part of the cylinder; A housing (05), having a chamber for accommodating the upper cover (01), the locking sleeve (02), the torsion spring (03), and the wire guide sleeve (04); A shape memory alloy wire (06), located inside the threads of the wire guide sleeve (04), with one end fixed on the outer surface of the locking sleeve (02) and the other end fixed on the outer surface of the cylinder of the upper cover (01); A compression spring (09), located on the step at the bottom of the central hole of the upper cover (01); A pull stud (12), located in the central hole of the upper cover (01) and above the compression spring (09); A steel ball (11), located in a round hole provided on the cylinder wall of the upper cover (01); wherein, when the shape memory alloy wire (06) is not energized, the locking sleeve (02) is held in the locked position under the combined action of the torsion spring (03) and the shape memory alloy wire 06. Under the action of the locking sleeve (02), the steel ball (11) is pressed into a pit provided on the surface of the pull stud (12), thereby locking the pull stud (12) in the axial and circumferential directions; and wherein, when the shape memory alloy wire (06) is energized, after the shape memory alloy wire (06) reaches the phase transition temperature, it shrinks, and its shrinkage force overcomes the resistance of the torsion spring (03) and the frictional force to cause the locking sleeve (02) to rotate around the cylinder of the upper cover (01). When the axial groove provided on the locking sleeve (02) rotates to the position of the steel ball (11), the steel ball (11) falls outward into the axial groove of the locking sleeve (02), releasing the locking of the pull stud (12), and the pull stud is pushed upward under the action of the compression spring (09) and an external force to achieve unlocking.

2. The unlocking mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, it further includes a set screw (08), which is installed in a screw hole provided on the cylinder wall of the upper cover (01) through a window provided on the housing (05) and extends into a chute provided on the pull stud (12), thereby ensuring the guidance between the pull stud (12) and the upper cover (01).

3. The unlocking mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, it further includes a fixing screw (07), used to install the unlocking mechanism on a satellite through a hole provided at the bottom of the housing (05).

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