A truss antenna deployment locking mechanism and apparatus

Abstract

A truss antenna unfolding locking mechanism and device, the locking mechanism comprises a shell, a male hinge head, a torsional spring, a ratchet, a locking steel ball and a volute spring; the shell is the main part of the unfolding locking mechanism and forms a rotating hinge pair with a plurality of male hinge heads; each male hinge head corresponds to a torsional spring and a locking steel ball; each male hinge head forms a rotating hinge pair with the shell separately, and the end of each male hinge head is provided with an opening which is locked under the action of the corresponding locking steel ball; each torsional spring is used to drive the corresponding male hinge head to unfold; the ratchet is located in the shell and is used to push the locking steel ball to move into the opening at the end of the male hinge head under the drive of the volute spring; and the volute spring is used to drive the ratchet to rotate. The present application realizes the locking function after the truss antenna is unfolded and can improve the reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a truss antenna deployment and locking mechanism and device, belonging to the field of antenna technology. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of satellite communication and Earth observation technologies, the demand for large space antennas and their technical performance requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. Due to the limitations of the space envelope of launch vehicles, most space structures (such as antennas, solar arrays, and robotic arms) are sent into space in a folded and compressed state, and then deployed after entering orbit. Against this backdrop, the research on large deployable truss-type satellite antennas has become a key technology in satellite development, with increasingly stringent requirements for antenna aperture and deployment accuracy. To ensure structural rigidity and accuracy after deployment, the antenna must possess deployment locking capability; however, due to weight and accuracy requirements, current truss antenna designs have weak or no locking capability after deployment. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and solve the problem of insufficient locking capability of truss antennas.

[0004] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0005] A truss antenna deployment and locking mechanism includes a housing, a male hinge head, a torsion spring, a ratchet, a locking steel ball, and a spiral spring;

[0006] The outer shell, which is the main body of the unfolding and locking mechanism, forms a rotating hinge pair with multiple male hinge heads;

[0007] Each male hinge head corresponds to a torsion spring and a locking ball;

[0008] Each male hinge head forms a separate rotating hinge pair with the outer shell, and each male hinge head has an opening at its end, which achieves the locking function under the action of the corresponding locking steel ball;

[0009] Each torsion spring is used to drive the corresponding male hinge head to unfold;

[0010] The ratchet, located inside the housing, is driven by a coil spring to push a locking ball into the end opening of the male hinge head;

[0011] A spiral spring is used to drive the ratchet to rotate.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer shell is a hollow structure with a circular inner ring. The outer side of the circular inner ring is provided with multiple connecting parts, each connecting part corresponding to a male hinge head to form a hinge pair.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of through holes are provided on the circumference of the inner circular ring, each through hole corresponding to a male hinge head. The locking steel ball passes through the through hole of the outer shell under the push of the ratchet to achieve the locking function of the male hinge head.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, each connecting part is a pair of lug structures.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ratchet is located in the hollow structure of the outer shell.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the unfolding locking mechanism further includes a limiting part for limiting the ratchet at the hollow structure of the outer shell.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of male hinge heads are evenly distributed circumferentially on the outer shell.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, each torsion spring is installed in the corresponding male hinge head.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotation direction of the ratchet is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the hinge pair.

[0020] An unfolding and locking device based on the aforementioned unfolding and locking mechanism further includes multiple connecting rods, one end of each connecting rod being connected to a male hinge head, and the other end of each connecting rod being connected to an external antenna body.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0022] (1) The present invention realizes the locking function after the truss antenna is deployed, which can improve reliability.

[0023] (2) The present invention makes full use of the internal space of the node part and has no impact on the overall structure of the truss.

[0024] (3) The locking capability of the present invention utilizes the dead point of the mechanism, and the locking is reliable.

[0025] (4) The present invention can simultaneously lock 6 connecting rods around the node. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the typical tetrahedral truss antenna as described in this invention in its deployed state.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the unfolded state of the unfolding and locking mechanism of the truss antenna of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the retracted state of the deployment and locking mechanism of the truss antenna of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the locking mechanism structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the locking relationship between the ratchet and the steel ball in the locking mechanism structure of this invention;

[0031] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the hinge locking relationship of the unfolded locking mechanism structure of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] A truss antenna deployment and locking mechanism includes:

[0034] The outer shell 1 is the main body of the unfolding and locking mechanism, and forms a rotating hinge pair with the six male hinge heads 2 around it;

[0035] The male hinge head 2 forms a rotating hinge pair with the outer shell 1. Its end has an opening, which achieves the locking function under the action of the locking steel ball 5.

[0036] Torsion spring 3 drives the unfolding of male hinge head 2;

[0037] The ratchet 4, located at the center of the housing 1, is driven by the coil spring 6 to push the locking steel ball 5 to move in the circumferential through hole of the housing 1;

[0038] The steel ball 5 can move along the circumferential through hole of the outer shell 1 to achieve the locking function of the male hinge head 2;

[0039] The spiral spring 6 drives the ratchet 4 to rotate.

[0040] A ratchet 4 is provided at the center of the outer casing 1, which can push the locking steel ball 5 to move under the drive of the worm spring 6; the outer casing 1 is provided with a circumferential through hole, and the steel ball 5 moves radially in the through hole under the push of the ratchet 4; the end of the male hinge head 2 has an opening, and after it is unfolded into place, it achieves the locking function under the action of the locking steel ball 5.

[0041] Center node flange

[0042] Example:

[0043] A truss antenna deployment and locking mechanism and device, comprising:

[0044] The central node flange of the outer shell 1 is used to connect the male hinge head 2. There are 6 male hinge heads 2, which are distributed around the circumference of the node outer shell 1. Under the action of the torsion spring 3, they are unfolded. The ratchet 4 can rotate along the axis of the node outer shell 1, thereby controlling the position of the locking steel ball 5 in the circumferential through hole of the node outer shell 1, so as to realize the locking function of the male hinge head 2. The spiral spring 6 drives the rotation of the ratchet 3 to realize the locking function.

[0045] like Figure 1 The diagram shows a typical tetrahedral truss antenna structure described in this invention. It is connected by several nodes and connecting rods to form a specific parabolic surface. A node is generally connected to 6 connecting rods and 3 diagonal rods around it.

[0046] like Figure 2 The diagram shows the unfolded state of the truss antenna's unfolding and locking mechanism; the six surrounding connecting rods are in a horizontally unfolded state.

[0047] like Figure 3 The diagram shows the retracted state of the deployment and locking mechanism of the truss antenna of the present invention; the six connecting rods around it are in a retracted 90-degree state.

[0048] like Figure 4 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the unfolding locking mechanism. The outer shell 1 is the main structure of the unfolding locking mechanism. It is a symmetrical hexagonal structure and forms a hinge pair with the male hinge head 2. A ratchet 3 is installed in the center of the outer shell 1. The ratchet spring 6 provides torque to achieve rotational movement, which in turn pushes the locking steel ball 5 to move in the through hole around the outer shell 1, thereby achieving the locking function of the male hinge head 2.

[0049] like Figure 5 The diagram shows the locking relationship between the ratchet and the steel ball in the unfolding locking mechanism of the present invention. In the retracted state (left figure), the ratchet 4 tends to rotate counterclockwise under the drive of the worm spring 6, the male hinge head 2 is in the retracted state, and the locking steel ball 5 is located in the through hole of the outer shell 1. When the male hinge head 2 is in the unfolded state (right figure), the opening rotates to the horizontal position, the ratchet 4 rotates, and pushes the locking steel ball 5 to move outward, thereby realizing the locking function of the male hinge head 2.

[0050] like Figure 6 The diagram shows the locking relationship of the hinge pair in the locking mechanism of the present invention. In the retracted state (left figure), the opening of the male hinge head 2 faces upward, the locking steel ball 5 is located in the through hole of the outer shell 1, and the male hinge head 2 can rotate freely. In the unfolded state (right figure), the opening of the male hinge head 2 is in a horizontal state, and the locking steel ball 5 is pushed by the ratchet 3 to press against the opening of the male hinge head 2, thereby realizing the locking function of the hinge pair.

[0051] The contents not described in detail in this specification are common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

[0052] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention by utilizing the methods and techniques disclosed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solutions of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A truss antenna deployment and locking mechanism, characterized in that, Includes housing (1), male hinge head (2), torsion spring (3), ratchet (4), locking steel ball (5), and spiral spring (6); The outer shell (1) is the main body of the unfolding locking mechanism and forms a rotating hinge pair with multiple male hinge heads (2); Each male hinge head (2) corresponds to a torsion spring (3) and a locking ball (5); Each male hinge head (2) forms a rotating hinge pair with the outer shell (1) and each male hinge head (2) has an opening at its end, which realizes the locking function under the action of the corresponding locking steel ball (5); Each torsion spring (3) is used to drive the corresponding male hinge head (2) to unfold; The ratchet (4), located inside the housing (1), is driven by the spiral spring (6) to push the locking ball (5) to move into the end opening of the male hinge head (2); A spiral spring (6) is used to drive the ratchet (4) to rotate; The outer shell (1) is a hollow structure with a circular inner ring. Multiple connecting parts are provided on the outside of the circular inner ring, and each connecting part corresponds to a male hinge head (2) to form a hinge pair. The inner circle has multiple through holes on its circumference, each through hole corresponding to a male hinge head (2). The locking steel ball (5) passes through the through hole of the outer shell (1) under the push of the ratchet (4) to achieve the locking function of the male hinge head (2). The rotation direction of the ratchet (4) is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the hinge pair.

2. The unfolding locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each connector is a pair of lug structures.

3. The unfolding locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ratchet (4) is located in the hollow structure of the outer shell (1).

4. The unfolding locking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The unfolding locking mechanism also includes a limiting part for limiting the ratchet (4) in the hollow structure of the housing (1).

5. The unfolding locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple male hinge heads (2) are evenly distributed around the outer shell (1).

6. The unfolding locking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each torsion spring (3) is installed in the corresponding male hinge head (2).

7. An unfolding and locking device based on the unfolding and locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, It also includes multiple connecting rods, one end of each connecting rod is connected to a male hinge head (2), and the other end of each connecting rod is connected to the external antenna body.

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