A deployable conical antenna and a method of deploying the same

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of unfolding conical antennas and its unfolding method.In the application, the upper end of thin film antenna is fixed with support ring, and the lower end is fixed with bottom plate through insulating layer; receiver is fixed on the lower surface of bottom plate, and the signal input port of receiver is connected with the output end of thin film antenna; bottom plate is driven to rotate around vertical axis and pitch motion by two-degree-of-freedom turntable; support ring is connected with bottom plate through multiple unfolding mechanisms; bottom plate is also provided with locking mechanism.The application makes unfolding mechanism in folded state through locking mechanism, and then makes thin film antenna in maximum limit folded state; the application realizes unlocking of locking mechanism through two-degree-of-freedom turntable, and then realizes unlocking of unfolding mechanism, so that each unfolding mechanism drives thin film antenna to realize unfolding under the action of restoring force of corresponding torsional spring; since the volume of thin film antenna in folded state is very small, the folding and unfolding ratio of the application is very large; and the friction of friction spring in close contact in unfolding process consumes restoring force of torsional spring, to ensure that unfolding process is stable.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application belongs to the field of antenna deployment, and particularly relates to a deployed conical antenna and a deployment method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] Currently, the communication technology used in space is mainly radio communication technology and satellite communication technology, and an antenna is one of important parts of the radio communication technology and the satellite communication technology. The antenna carried on a satellite is mainly a conical antenna, and the gain of the conical antenna increases with the increase of the size in the height direction of the conical antenna. However, with the increase of the size in the height direction of the conical antenna, the storage space used by the conical antenna before entering space is larger, and the space of a carrier on a rocket is limited. Therefore, the conical antenna needs to be stored in a fairing in a folded state before entering a space movement orbit, so as to reduce the space volume used. However, the folding and unfolding ratio and the deployment stability of the existing conical antenna still have room for improvement. SUMMARY

[0003] The application aims to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a deployed conical antenna and a deployment method thereof.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the application adopts the following technical solutions.

[0005] The application provides a deployed conical antenna, which comprises a conical antenna deployment device, a locking mechanism and a two-degree-of-freedom turntable. The two-degree-of-freedom turntable comprises a rotating motor, a rotating platform, a pitching motor, a pitching platform, a swing rod and a motor frame. The rotating platform is fixed with an output shaft of the rotating motor. One end of the pitching platform is hinged with the rotating platform, and the other end is hinged with one end of the swing rod. The other end of the swing rod is fixed with an output shaft of the pitching motor. The housing of the pitching motor is fixed on one end of the motor frame, and the other end of the motor frame is hinged with the rotating platform.

[0006] The conical antenna deployment device comprises a support ring, a film antenna, an insulating layer, a receiver, a bottom plate and a deployment mechanism; the film antenna is funnel-shaped in the deployed state, the upper end of the film antenna is fixed with the support ring, and the lower end is fixed with the insulating layer; the insulating layer is fixed on the upper surface of the bottom plate, the receiver is fixed on the lower surface of the bottom plate, and the signal input port of the receiver is connected with the output end of the film antenna; the bottom plate is fixed with the pitch platform, and the deployment mechanism is arranged on both sides of the bottom plate along the direction of the output shaft of the pitch motor; the deployment mechanism comprises a connecting rod one, a connecting rod two, a connecting rod three and a connecting rod four, the two ends of the connecting rod one are hinged with the bottom plate and one end of the connecting rod two, the other end of the connecting rod two is hinged with one end of the connecting rod three, the other end of the connecting rod three is hinged with one end of the connecting rod four, and the other end of the connecting rod four is hinged with the support ring; wherein, a torsional spring is sleeved on the hinge shaft of each hinge in each deployment mechanism, and the two ends of the torsional spring are respectively abutted on the bottom plate and the connecting rod two, or the connecting rod two and the connecting rod three, or the connecting rod three and the connecting rod four, or the connecting rod four and the support ring in the corresponding deployment mechanism.

[0007] The locking mechanism comprises a connecting frame and a locking assembly; the bottom plate is provided with the locking assembly at the positions of the two deployment mechanisms; the locking assembly comprises a pressing assembly, a lever, a fixed plate, a trigger, a locking piece and a hook; the pressing assembly comprises a locking seat, a roller, a lock tongue and an optical shaft; the locking seat is fixed on the bottom plate at the position inside the corresponding deployment mechanism, and the lock tongue is hinged with the locking seat; the two ends of the roller parallel to the bottom plate are respectively connected with the upper ends of the two optical shafts perpendicular to the bottom plate to form rotary pairs, each optical shaft is located at the position outside the corresponding deployment mechanism, and the lower end of each optical shaft penetrates through a circular hole in the bottom plate to form a sliding pair with the circular hole and is fixed with the connecting frame; the fixed plate is vertically fixed on the lower surface of the bottom plate, the locking piece is hinged with the fixed plate, the trigger is hinged with the fixed plate, and one arm is abutted on the boss on one side of the locking piece; the hook is fixed with the connecting frame and hooks the boss on the other side of the locking piece; the lever is fixed with the swing rod of the two-degree-of-freedom rotary table and is abutted on the other arm of the trigger.

[0008] Preferably, the two ends of the connecting rod one, the connecting rod two, the connecting rod three and the connecting rod four in the deployment mechanism are each fixed with a friction spring.

[0009] Preferably, the bottom plate is also provided with the deployment mechanism on both sides along the direction perpendicular to the output shaft of the pitch motor, and the bottom plate is provided with the pressing assembly at the positions of the two deployment mechanisms; wherein, the four deployment mechanisms are arranged equidistantly along the circumference.

[0010] More preferably, the optical shaft is supported on the bottom plate through a linear bearing.

[0011] More preferably, the upper end of the optical shaft is fixed with a connecting piece one, and the lower end is fixed with a connecting piece two, the connecting piece one forms a rotary pair with the corresponding roller, and the connecting piece two is fixed with the connecting frame.

[0012] The unfolding method of the unfolding conical antenna is as follows:

[0013] In the initial state, the film antenna and each unfolding mechanism are in the folded state, each torsion spring is in the compressed state, the locking tongue in each locking assembly presses the connecting rod four in the corresponding unfolding mechanism, and the roller presses one end of the locking tongue away from the locking seat.

[0014] After the satellite enters the movement orbit in the space, the pitch motor of the two-degree-of-freedom turntable drives the swing lever and the push lever to rotate upward by a preset angle, the swing lever further drives the pitch platform and the bottom plate to rotate upward, the bottom plate drives the trigger, the locking piece, the hook and the connecting frame to rotate upward through the fixed plate, since the angle of upward rotation of the bottom plate is larger than that of the swing lever, the push lever presses the trigger, the trigger rotates around the hinge axis with the fixed plate, and the convex of the locking piece is separated, so that the locking piece is unlocked; then each unfolding mechanism is unfolded upward under the action of the restoring force of each torsion spring, and the film antenna is unfolded upward, the connecting rod four in each unfolding mechanism drives the corresponding locking tongue to rotate upward, the locking tongue drives the two optical axes to move upward through the roller, and further drives the connecting frame and the hook to move upward, the hook drives the locking piece to rotate until the convex of the locking piece is separated; when the locking tongue is separated from the roller, each unfolding mechanism drives the film antenna to continue to unfold upward until the film antenna is completely unfolded.

[0015] The present application has the following advantages:

[0016] 1. Before entering the space, the locking mechanism of the present application makes the unfolding mechanism in the folded state, and the film antenna in the folded state, so that the unfolding mechanism is basically in the maximum folding limit, thereby achieving the purpose of greatly reducing the volume of the film antenna in the folded state; after entering the space orbit, the bottom plate, the trigger, the locking piece, the hook and the connecting frame are driven to rotate upward together by the two-degree-of-freedom turntable, and the push lever is driven to rotate upward, since the angle of upward rotation of the bottom plate and the trigger is larger than that of the push lever, the push lever presses the trigger in each locking mechanism to separate the trigger from the locking piece, so that the locking piece is unlocked, and each unfolding mechanism is unlocked, each unfolding mechanism drives the film antenna to unfold upward under the action of the restoring force of the corresponding torsion spring, and the film antenna is unfolded, since the volume of the film antenna in the folded state is very small, the folding and unfolding ratio of the present application is very large. Moreover, during the unfolding process, the friction of the friction spring at the two ends of the hinge of the connecting rod one, the connecting rod two, the connecting rod three and the connecting rod four in the unfolding mechanism, consumes the restoring force of the corresponding torsion spring in the unfolding mechanism, and plays a buffering role, ensuring the stability of the unfolding process of the present application.

[0017] 2. The two-degree-of-freedom turntable of the present application can adjust the direction and inclination angle of the film antenna. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present application in the folded state.

[0019] Figure 2 Figure 1 is a schematic view of the conical antenna deployment device in the unfolded state of the deployment mechanism and the thin film antenna in the present application;

[0020] Figure 3 Figure 2 is a schematic view of the conical antenna deployment device in the folded state of the deployment mechanism and the thin film antenna in the present application; Figure 2 Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 2;

[0021] Figure 4 Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part B in Figure 2; Figure 2 Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part C in Figure 2;

[0022] Figure 5 Figure 6 is a schematic view of the structure of the deployment mechanism and the compression assembly in the present application;

[0023] Figure 6 Figure 7 is a side view of the present application in the folded state;

[0024] Figure 7 Figure 8 is a schematic view of the structure of the locking mechanism in the present application located below the bottom plate;

[0025] Figure 8 Figure 9 is a schematic view of the state of the two-degree-of-freedom turntable driving locking mechanism in the present application just unlocked. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present application will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1 , the present application is a kind of unfolded conical antenna, including conical antenna deployment device 1, locking mechanism 2 and two-degree-of-freedom turntable 3; as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 8 , two-degree-of-freedom turntable 3 includes rotating motor 3-1, rotating platform 3-2, pitching motor 3-3, pitching platform 3-4, swing rod 3-5 and motor frame 3-6; rotating platform 3-2 is fixed with the output shaft of rotating motor 3-1; one end of pitching platform 3-4 is hinged with rotating platform, the other end is hinged with one end of swing rod 3-5, the other end of swing rod 3-5 is fixed with the output shaft of pitching motor 3-3, the shell of pitching motor 3-3 is fixed at one end of motor frame 3-6, the other end of motor frame 3-6 is hinged with rotating platform 3-2.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown in the figure, the conical antenna unfolding device 1 comprises a support ring 1-1, a film antenna 1-3, an insulating layer 1-4, a receiver 1-5 (for uploading signals to the upper computer), a bottom plate 1-6 and an unfolding mechanism; the film antenna 1-3 is funnel-shaped in the unfolded state, the upper end of the film antenna 1-3 is fixed with the support ring 1-1, and the lower end is fixed with the insulating layer 1-4; the insulating layer 1-4 is fixed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 1-6, the receiver 1-5 is fixed on the lower surface of the bottom plate 1-6, and the signal input port of the receiver 1-5 is connected with the output end of the film antenna 1-3; the bottom plate 1-6 is fixed with the pitching platform 3-4, and the unfolding mechanism is arranged on both sides of the bottom plate 1-6 along the direction of the output shaft of the pitching motor 3-3; the unfolding mechanism comprises a connecting rod one 1-7, a connecting rod two 1-8, a connecting rod three 1-9 and a connecting rod four 1-12, the two ends of the connecting rod one 1-7 are hinged with the bottom plate 1-6 and one end of the connecting rod two 1-8, the other end of the connecting rod two 1-8 is hinged with one end of the connecting rod three 1-9, the other end of the connecting rod three 1-9 is hinged with one end of the connecting rod four 1-12, and the other end of the connecting rod four 1-12 is hinged with the support ring 1-1. Among them, a torsional spring 1-10 is sleeved on the hinge shaft 1-11 at each hinge in each unfolding mechanism, and the two ends of the torsional spring 1-10 are respectively abutted on the bottom plate 1-6 and the connecting rod two 1-8, or the connecting rod two 1-8 and the connecting rod three 1-9, or the connecting rod three 1-9 and the connecting rod four 1-12, or the connecting rod four 1-12 and the support ring 1-1 in the corresponding unfolding mechanism.

[0029] As shown in the figure, Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the locking mechanism 2 comprises a connecting frame 2-7 and a locking assembly; the bottom plate 1-6 is provided with the locking assembly at the positions of the two unfolding mechanisms; the locking assembly comprises a pressing assembly, a lever 2-9, a fixed plate 2-10, a trigger 2-11, a locking piece 2-12 and a hook 2-13; the pressing assembly comprises a locking seat 2-1, a roller 2-2, a locking tongue 2-3 and an optical axis 2-5. The locking seat 2-1 is fixed on the bottom plate 1-6 at the position inside the corresponding unfolding mechanism, and one end of the locking tongue 2-3 is hinged with the locking seat 2-1; the two ends of the roller 2-2 parallel to the bottom plate 1-6 are respectively connected with the upper ends of the two optical axes 2-5 perpendicular to the bottom plate 1-6 to form rotary pairs, each optical axis 2-5 is located at the position outside the corresponding unfolding mechanism, and the lower end of each optical axis 2-5 penetrates through a circular hole formed on the bottom plate 1-6 to form a sliding pair with the circular hole and is fixed with the connecting frame 2-7; the fixed plate 2-10 is vertically fixed on the lower surface of the bottom plate 1-6, the locking piece 2-12 is hinged with the fixed plate 2-10, the trigger 2-11 is hinged with the fixed plate 2-10, and one arm is abutted on the boss on one side of the locking piece 2-12; the hook 2-13 is fixed with the connecting frame 2-7 and hooks the boss on the other side of the locking piece 2-12; the lever 2-9 is fixed with the swing rod 3-5 of the two-degree-of-freedom rotary table 3 and is abutted on the other arm of the trigger 2-11.

[0030] As a preferred embodiment, the assembly of the pitch motor 3-3, the swing rod 3-5 and the motor frame 3-6 is provided with two.

[0031] As a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 3 The two ends of the link one 1-7, the link two 1-8, the link three 1-9 and the link four 1-12 in the unfolding mechanism are all fixed with the friction spring 1-2, and the friction spring 1-2 in contact with each other is used for consuming the restoring force of the corresponding torsional spring 1-10 in the unfolding process of the unfolding mechanism, and plays a buffering role.

[0032] As a preferred embodiment, the bottom plate 1-6 is also provided with two unfolding mechanisms along the direction perpendicular to the output shaft of the pitch motor 3-3, and the bottom plate 1-6 is provided with a pressing assembly at the positions of the two unfolding mechanisms; wherein the four unfolding mechanisms are arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction.

[0033] More preferably, the optical axis 2-5 is supported on the bottom plate 1-6 through the linear bearing 2-6.

[0034] More preferably, the upper end of the optical axis 2-5 is fixed with the connecting piece one 2-4, and the lower end is fixed with the connecting piece two 2-8, the connecting piece one 2-4 and the corresponding roller 2-2 form a rotary pair, and the connecting piece two 2-8 is fixed with the connecting frame 2-7.

[0035] The unfolding method of the unfolding conical antenna is as follows:

[0036] In the initial state, the film antenna 1-3 and each unfolding mechanism are in the folded state, each torsional spring 1-10 is in the compressed state, the locking tongue 2-3 in each locking assembly presses the link four 1-12 in the corresponding unfolding mechanism, and the roller 2-2 presses the end of the locking tongue 2-3 away from the locking seat 2-1.

[0037] After the satellite enters the movement orbit in the space, the pitch motor 3-3 of the two-degree-of-freedom rotary table 3 (the shell of the rotary motor 3-1 is fixed on the satellite) drives the swing rod 3-5 and the lever 2-9 to rotate upward by a preset angle, the swing rod 3-5 drives the pitch platform 3-4 and the bottom plate 1-6 to rotate upward, the bottom plate 1-6 drives the trigger 2-11, the locking piece 2-12, the hook 2-13 and the connecting frame 2-7 to rotate upward through the fixed plate 2-10, since the angle of upward rotation of the bottom plate 1-6 is greater than the angle of upward rotation of the swing rod 3-5, the lever 2-9 presses the trigger 2-11, the trigger 2-11 rotates around the hinge axis with the fixed plate 2-10, and the convex platform of the locking piece 2-12 is separated, the locking piece 2-12 is unlocked, as shown in Figure 8The shown; then each deployment mechanism is under the action of the restoring force of the corresponding torsional spring 1-10 to deploy upward, and drive the thin film antenna 1-3 to deploy upward, the connecting rod four 1-12 in each deployment mechanism pushes the corresponding lock tongue 2-3 to rotate upward, the lock tongue 2-3 drives the two optical axes 2-5 to move upward through the roller 2-2, and further drives the connecting frame 2-7 and the hook 2-13 to move upward, the hook 2-13 drives the locking piece 2-12 to rotate until the boss of the locking piece 2-12 is separated; when the lock tongue 2-3 is separated from the roller 2-2, each deployment mechanism drives the thin film antenna 1-3 to continue to deploy upward until it is completely deployed, and the deployment task is completed.

[0038] After the deployment task is completed, the two-degree-of-freedom turntable 3 can drive the bottom plate 1-6 to rotate and pitch, adjust the direction of the thin film antenna 1-3 and the angle between the central axis of the thin film antenna 1-3 and the horizontal plane.

Claims

1. A deployable conical antenna comprising a conical antenna deployment device and a two degree of freedom turntable, characterized in that: The locking mechanism comprises a connecting frame and a locking assembly; the bottom plate is provided with the locking assembly at positions corresponding to the two deployment mechanisms; the locking assembly comprises a pressing assembly, a lever, a fixed plate, a trigger, a locking piece and a hook; the pressing assembly comprises a locking seat, a roller, a locking tongue and an optical shaft; the locking seat is fixed to the bottom plate at a position inside the corresponding deployment mechanism, and the locking tongue is hinged to the locking seat; the ends of the roller parallel to the bottom plate are respectively connected to the upper ends of the two optical shafts perpendicular to the bottom plate to form rotary pairs, each optical shaft is located at a position outside the corresponding deployment mechanism, and the lower end of each optical shaft penetrates through a circular hole in the bottom plate to form a sliding pair with the circular hole and is fixed to the connecting frame; the fixed plate is vertically fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate, the locking piece is hinged to the fixed plate, the trigger is hinged to the fixed plate, and one arm of the trigger is abutted against a boss on one side of the locking piece; the hook is fixed to the connecting frame and hooks the boss on the other side of the locking piece; the lever is fixed to the swing rod of the two-degree-of-freedom turntable and is abutted against the other arm of the trigger. The two ends of each rotary pair in the deployment mechanism are fixed with a friction spring.

2. An un-furled conical antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two sides of the bottom plate along the direction perpendicular to the output shaft of the elevation motor are also provided with the deployment mechanisms, and the bottom plate is provided with the pressing assembly at positions corresponding to the two deployment mechanisms; wherein, the four deployment mechanisms are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

3. An un-furled conical antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical shaft is supported on the bottom plate through a linear bearing.

4. An un-furled conical antenna according to claim 3, wherein: The upper end of the optical shaft is fixed to a connecting piece one, and the lower end is fixed to a connecting piece two; the connecting piece one forms a rotary pair with the corresponding roller, and the connecting piece two is fixed to the connecting frame.

5. An un-furled conical antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that: Specifically as follows:

6. A method of deploying a conical antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The two ends of each rotary pair in the deployment mechanism are fixed with a friction spring. In the initial state, the thin film antenna and each deployment mechanism are in the folded state, each torsion spring is in the compressed state, and the locking tongue in each locking assembly presses the connecting rod four in the corresponding deployment mechanism, and the roller presses one end of the locking tongue away from the locking seat; After the satellite enters the movement orbit in the space, the pitch motor of the two-degree-of-freedom turntable drives the swing lever and the push lever to rotate upward by a preset angle, the swing lever further drives the pitch platform and the bottom plate to rotate upward, the bottom plate drives the trigger, the locking piece, the hook and the connecting frame to rotate upward through the fixed plate, since the angle of upward rotation of the bottom plate is greater than that of the swing lever, the push lever presses the trigger, the trigger rotates around the hinge axis with the fixed plate, and the convex platform of the locking piece is separated, so that the locking piece is unlocked; then each deployment mechanism is expanded upward under the action of the restoring force of each torsion spring, and the thin film antenna is expanded upward, the connecting rod four in each deployment mechanism pushes the corresponding locking tongue to rotate upward, the locking tongue drives the two optical shafts to move upward through the roller, and further drives the connecting frame and the hook to move upward, the hook drives the locking piece to rotate until the convex platform of the locking piece is separated; when the locking tongue is separated from the roller, each deployment mechanism drives the thin film antenna to continue to expand upward until the thin film antenna is completely expanded.

Images