Non-impact reusable locking and unlocking device

Abstract

The application provides a non-impact reusable locking and unlocking device, relates to a space movement mechanism locking and unlocking device, and aims at solving the technical problems of the existing locking and unlocking device, such as large impact, easy to seriously affect the posture and precision of a movement component, and non-reusable in orbit. The application realizes rigid locking and unlocking by driving a sliding screw through a stepping motor and a planetary reducer. The output shaft of the planetary reducer and the connecting seat of the sliding screw are matched through a sliding groove and a sliding rail, so that the output shaft and the connecting seat can be mutually engaged to rotate in the circumferential direction and can be mutually axially slid. The application meets the repeated use requirement of locking and unlocking of the movement component in orbit. In the case that the locking device has the same volume and weight, the impact force in the locking and unlocking process can be reduced by amplifying the output torque through the high reduction ratio of the planetary reducer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to locking and unlocking devices for space motion mechanisms, and more particularly to a shock-free, reusable locking and unlocking device. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of aerospace technology, in-orbit deployed moving parts require locking and releasing devices. For example, a satellite uses a locking device to lock itself during launch and a releasing device to unlock it after reaching its predetermined orbit. Early commonly used locking and unlocking devices for space motion mechanisms were primarily pyrotechnic devices, which are simple in structure and highly reliable. However, pyrotechnic devices generate enormous impact forces during unlocking, which can severely affect the attitude and precision of the moving parts. Furthermore, pyrotechnic devices are for single-use in orbit. Besides pyrotechnic devices, existing space motion mechanisms also use shape memory alloy devices for locking and unlocking. Shape memory alloy devices have low impact and can be repeatedly tested on the ground, but their performance for repeated use in orbit is not ideal. Therefore, neither pyrotechnic devices nor shape memory alloy devices are suitable for in-orbit missions requiring repeated locking and unlocking. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to solve the technical problems of existing locking and unlocking devices having large impacts, which can seriously affect the attitude and precision of moving parts, and cannot be reused in orbit. Therefore, this invention proposes a shock-free, repeatable locking and unlocking device.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution provided by the present invention is as follows:

[0005] A shock-free, reusable locking and unlocking device, characterized in that it includes a planetary reducer, a fixing mechanism, a sliding screw, and a stepper motor;

[0006] The sliding screw includes a locking screw and a connecting seat. One end of the connecting seat is fixedly connected to the locking screw, and the other end is open and has a cylindrical sliding hole inside.

[0007] One end of the planetary reducer is connected to a stepper motor, and the other end is provided with an output shaft. The outer diameter of the output shaft is adapted to the outer diameter of the sliding hole, and the output shaft is sleeved in the sliding hole.

[0008] The inner wall of the sliding hole is provided with a slide rail extending axially and protruding radially or a slide groove extending axially and concave radially. The output shaft is provided with a slide groove extending axially and concave radially or a slide rail extending axially and protruding radially, corresponding to the slide rail extending axially and protruding radially or the slide groove extending axially and concave radially. The width and height of the slide rail are adapted to the width and depth of the corresponding slide groove, so that the output shaft and the connecting seat can both mesh with each other for circumferential rotation and slide axially with each other.

[0009] The fixing mechanism includes a bracket and an elastic threaded sleeve. One end of the bracket is fixed to the housing at the end where the output shaft of the planetary reducer is located, and the other end of the bracket is connected to the elastic threaded sleeve. The locking screw passes through the threaded hole of the elastic threaded sleeve and is used to connect with the fixed and moving parts that are being unlocked and locked.

[0010] Furthermore, the end of the bracket connected to the elastic threaded sleeve is provided with an annular boss extending radially outward, the diameter of the annular boss being consistent with the diameter of the elastic threaded sleeve, and the bracket being connected to the elastic threaded sleeve through the annular boss.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a flat key, on which a flat keyway is provided on the output shaft of the planetary reducer, and the flat key is installed in the flat keyway to form a slide rail that extends axially and protrudes radially on the output shaft.

[0012] Furthermore, the depth of the sliding hole is adapted to the length of the output shaft.

[0013] Furthermore, the portion of the bracket connecting the annular boss and the planetary reducer is cylindrical, with multiple weight-reducing holes on the cylindrical wall.

[0014] Furthermore, the elastic threaded sleeve includes an inner ring and an outer ring, and the inner ring and the outer ring are connected by an elastic rib.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0016] 1. This invention uses a stepper motor and a planetary reducer to drive a sliding screw for rigid locking and unlocking. The output shaft of the planetary reducer and the sliding screw connecting seat cooperate through a sliding groove and a sliding rail, allowing them to mesh for circumferential rotation and slide axially. This meets the reusable requirements for on-rail locking and unlocking of moving parts. With the same volume and weight for the locking device, the high reduction ratio of the planetary reducer amplifies the output torque, thus reducing the impact force during locking and unlocking.

[0017] 2. The elastic sleeve of the present invention is a spring sheet with internal threads. The elastic sleeve and the locking screw together form a screw mechanism to realize the linear movement of the locking screw before and after engaging with the fixing part. The elastic deformation can overcome the over-positioning between the spring sheet thread and the fixing part thread, and effectively lock the fixing part.

[0018] 3. After the locking screw is screwed into the locked state, the invention can fix the locking screw by relying on the power-off self-locking function of the planetary reducer, thereby achieving anti-loosening during locking. The structure is simple and reliable, improving the safety during on-orbit use.

[0019] 4. By controlling the speed and output torque of the stepper motor and planetary reducer, this invention can provide different speeds and torques required for locking and unlocking respectively, ensuring that the unlocking torque is greater than the locking torque and that the unlocking torque and locking torque are in opposite directions, thereby ensuring that the device can unlock smoothly and improving reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the impact-free reusable locking and unlocking device of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the locking state of an embodiment of the impact-free reusable locking and unlocking device of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the unlocking state of an embodiment of a shock-free, reusable locking and unlocking device of the present invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0024] 1-Planetary reducer; 11-Plain key; 12-Output shaft; 2-Fixing mechanism; 21-Bracket; 22-Elastic threaded sleeve; 3-Sliding screw; 31-Locking screw; 32-Connecting seat; 33-Sliding hole; 4-Stepper motor; 5-Moving parts; 6-Fixing parts. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0026] A shock-free, reusable locking and unlocking device, such as Figure 1 As shown, the system includes a planetary reducer 1, a fixing mechanism 2, a sliding screw 3, and a stepper motor 4. One end of the planetary reducer 1 is connected to the stepper motor 4, and the other end of the planetary reducer 1 is provided with an output shaft 12. A keyway is provided on the outer surface of the output shaft 12. The planetary reducer 1 also includes a key 11, which is installed in the keyway to form a slide rail that extends axially and protrudes radially. The sliding screw 3 includes a locking screw 31 and a connecting seat 32. One end of the connecting seat 32 is fixedly connected to the locking screw 31, and the other end is open and has a cylindrical sliding hole 33 inside. The outer diameter of the sliding hole 33 is adapted to the outer diameter of the output shaft 12. The output shaft 12 is sleeved in the sliding hole 33 of the connecting seat 32, and the depth of the sliding hole 33 is adapted to the length of the output shaft 12. A sliding groove that extends axially and is radially concave is provided on the inner wall of the sliding hole 33. The width and depth of the sliding groove are adapted to the width and height of the slide rail on the output shaft 12. The planetary reducer 1 and the connecting seat 32 can achieve mutual meshing for circumferential rotation and mutual axial sliding through the cooperation of the slide groove and slide rail.

[0027] The fixing mechanism 2 includes a bracket 21 and an elastic sleeve 22. One end of the bracket 21 is fixed to the housing at the end where the output shaft 12 is located. The other end of the bracket 21 has an annular boss extending radially outward. The diameter of the annular boss matches that of the elastic sleeve 22. The bracket 21 is fixedly connected to the elastic sleeve 22 through the annular boss. The elastic sleeve 22 is a spring plate with a threaded hole. The threaded hole is located at the center of the elastic sleeve 22, and its diameter matches that of the locking screw 31. The locking screw 31 passes through the threaded hole of the elastic sleeve 22, forming a lead screw mechanism to realize the linear movement of the locking screw 31 before and after engaging with the fixing component 6. After the locking screw 31 passes through, it connects to the fixing component 6 and the moving component 5. The elastic sleeve 22 includes an inner ring and an outer ring, which are connected by an elastic rib. The elastic sleeve 22 overcomes over-positioning with the fixing component 6 through elastic deformation, thereby effectively locking with the fixing component 6. The part of the bracket 21 that connects the annular boss and the planetary reducer 1 is cylindrical, and the cylindrical wall is provided with multiple weight reduction holes.

[0028] When it is necessary to lock the moving part 5, the stepper motor 4 drives and outputs torque, and the planetary reducer 1 is energized to rotate forward with high torque. This drives the locking screw 31 to the left, sequentially screwing it into the internal threaded holes of the fixed part 6 and the moving part 5 via the flat key 11. The sliding groove of the connecting seat 32 then partially disengages from the output shaft 12, and simultaneously the elastic sleeve 22 undergoes elastic deformation, ensuring that the locking screw 31 is securely locked to the fixed part 6 and the moving part 5, thus achieving the locking function. Figure 2 The diagram shown is of the locked state.

[0029] When unlocking the moving part 5 is required, the stepper motor 4 drives and outputs torque, and the planetary reducer 1 is energized and reverses to amplify the torque. At this time, the amplified output torque of the planetary reducer 1 during unlocking is greater than the amplified output torque of the planetary reducer 1 during locking. Under the action of the elastic sleeve 22 and the flat key 11, the locking screw rotates to the right out of the threaded hole of the moving part 5, and the sliding groove of the connecting seat 32 is then fully engaged with the output shaft 12 of the planetary reducer 1, realizing the unlocking function. Figure 3 The diagram shown is a schematic of the unlocked state.

[0030] This invention employs a stepper motor 4 to output torque, a planetary reducer 1 to amplify the torque, and an elastic sleeve 22 and a locking screw together to form a screw mechanism as a transmission device. By controlling the stepper motor 4 and the planetary reducer 1, the locking screw 31 is driven to rotate for rigid locking and unlocking, enabling the moving part 5 to lock and unlock when in use on the track. By controlling the speed and torque of the planetary reducer 1, the elastic deformation of the elastic sleeve 22 is used to eliminate the over-positioning problem of the thread engagement of the moving part 5, achieving impact-free locking of the moving part 5. The locking screw is fixedly connected to the output shaft 12 of the planetary reducer 1. With the stepper motor 4 outputting torque and the planetary reducer 1 amplifying the torque, the locking torque and unlocking torque are in opposite directions. When the unlocking torque is greater than the locking torque, the locking screw can be pulled away from the moving part 5, and repeated locking and unlocking can be achieved.

Claims

1. A non-jarring reusable locking and unlocking device, characterized by: It includes a planetary reducer (1), a fixing mechanism (2), a sliding screw (3), and a stepper motor (4); The sliding screw (3) includes a locking screw (31) and a connecting seat (32). One end of the connecting seat (32) is fixedly connected to the locking screw (31), and the other end is open and has a cylindrical sliding hole (33) inside. One end of the planetary reducer (1) is connected to the stepper motor (4), and the other end is provided with an output shaft (12). The outer diameter of the output shaft (12) is adapted to the inner diameter of the sliding hole (33), and the output shaft (12) is sleeved in the sliding hole (33). The inner wall of the sliding hole (33) is provided with a slide rail that extends axially and protrudes radially or a slide groove that extends axially and is concave radially. The output shaft (12) is provided with a slide groove that extends axially and is concave radially or a slide rail that extends axially and protrudes radially, corresponding to the slide rail that extends axially and protrudes radially or the slide groove that extends axially and is concave radially. The width and height of the slide rail are adapted to the width and depth of the corresponding slide groove, so that the output shaft (12) and the connecting seat (32) can both mesh with each other to rotate circumferentially and slide axially with each other. The fixing mechanism (2) includes a bracket (21) and an elastic sleeve (22). One end of the bracket (21) is fixed to the housing at the end where the output shaft (12) of the planetary reducer (1) is located. The other end of the bracket (21) is connected to the elastic sleeve (22). The locking screw (31) passes through the threaded hole of the elastic sleeve (22) and is used to connect with the fixed part (6) and the moving part (5) that are to be unlocked and locked. The locking screw (31) is connected to the threaded hole of the moving part (5). The elastic threaded sleeve (22) includes an inner ring and an outer ring, and the inner ring and the outer ring are connected by an elastic rib.

2. A non-jarring reusable locking and unlocking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bracket (21) is connected to the elastic threaded sleeve (22) at one end with an annular boss extending radially outward. The diameter of the annular boss is the same as the diameter of the elastic threaded sleeve (22). The bracket (21) is connected to the elastic threaded sleeve (22) through the annular boss.

3. A non-jarring reusable locking and unlocking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: It also includes a flat key (11), on which the output shaft (12) of the planetary reducer (1) is provided with a flat keyway, and the flat key (11) is installed in the flat keyway to form a slide rail that extends axially and protrudes radially on the output shaft (12).

4. A non-jarring reusable locking and unlocking device according to claim 1, wherein: The depth of the sliding hole (33) is adapted to the length of the output shaft (12).

5. A non-jarring reusable locking and unlocking device according to claim 2, wherein: The part of the bracket (21) that connects the annular boss and the planetary reducer (1) is cylindrical, and the cylindrical wall is provided with multiple weight reduction holes.

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