Inflation-free deorbit damper

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of space debris cleaning, in particular to an inflation-free deorbital damper, the working states of the inflation-free deorbital damper comprise a contraction state and an expansion state, the inflation-free deorbital damper comprises a supporting framework, the supporting framework comprises a main framework and an auxiliary framework, the auxiliary framework comprises a plurality of joint groups, and each joint group comprises a plurality of joints which are connected in series; a string rope is arranged in the joints in a penetrating manner; the end part of the auxiliary framework is connected with the main framework; the state switching device is connected with the string rope; the sail film covers the supporting framework; when the working state is in a contraction state, the string rope corresponding to each joint group has redundant length, so that the whole auxiliary framework is in a flexible state; and the state switching device is used for pulling out the redundant string ropes corresponding to the joint groups until the joints connected in series are tightly attached to each other, and the joint groups form rigid support so as to expand and unfold the sail membrane, so that the working state is switched from the contraction state to the expansion state. The device has the advantages of good durability and reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of space debris cleaning, and in particular to an inflation-free de-orbit damper. Background Art

[0002] At present, the cleaning of space debris mainly relies on ground monitoring and early warning systems, as well as some passive collision avoidance measures. Active cleaning technologies, such as the use of robotic arms, net capture, laser push, etc., are still in the research and testing stage and are relatively expensive. The deorbit damping device increases the resistance to the target by enlarging the volume of the damper in space, thereby slowing down the target in space, causing it to gradually lower its orbital altitude and eventually enter the atmosphere and burn up. The existing damper changes its volume by inflation, requiring the external membrane to be completely sealed. Once it is damaged and leaks, the damping effect will fail. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to overcome the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides an inflation-free derailment damper, which has the advantages of good durability and reliability.

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solutions: An inflation-free derailment damper, whose working states include a contraction state and an expansion state, includes: A supporting frame, the supporting frame comprises: a main frame and a sub-frame, the sub-frame comprises a plurality of bone joint groups, the bone joint groups comprise a plurality of bone joints arranged in series, string ropes are passed through the bone joints, and the ends of the sub-frame are connected to the main frame; A state switching device, the state switching device is connected to the string rope; The sail membrane is wrapped around the supporting frame; When the working state is in the contracted state, the string ropes corresponding to each joint group have excess length, so that the sub-skeleton is in a flexible state as a whole; The state switching device is used to pull out the excess string corresponding to each joint group until the connected joints fit tightly together and each joint group forms a rigid support to expand and unfold the sail membrane, thereby switching the working state from the contracted state to the expanded state.

[0005] Based on the above structure, the principle of the described non-inflatable deorbit damper is as follows: the sub-frame is similar to the form of a bead chain. When it is in a contracted state, since the string ropes corresponding to each joint group have excess length, that is, the string ropes in the joint group are in a relaxed state, the freedom of the joints is not limited by the string ropes. At this time, the sub-frame and the sail membrane can be compressed to be stored to reduce the occupied space. When the deorbit target mission is completed, the state switching device is started to tighten the string ropes in each joint group so that the joints in each joint group are closely attached to each other at the positions corresponding to the string rope perforations to form a rigid support, so that the sail membrane can be expanded and unfolded. After the sail membrane is unfolded, the aerodynamic resistance formed by the thin atmosphere in the low-orbit environment is used to decelerate the satellite so that it leaves the original orbit. Therefore, the non-inflatable deorbit damper in the present application can realize the switching from contraction to expansion without inflation. Compared with the damper with inflation, it has the advantages of good durability and reliability.

[0006] Furthermore, in the present application, a non-inflatable derailment damper, the main skeleton is composed of a group of axially connected rod bodies, adjacent rod bodies are slidably sleeved, the axial ends of the main skeleton are connected to the sail membrane, and the axial ends of the main skeleton are connected to the opposite ends of the sub-skeleton; when the working state is in the contracted state, each rod body contracts axially; in the process of switching the working state from the contracted state to the expanded state, the main skeleton is supported by the joints so that the rod bodies slide axially and unfold. As a preferred embodiment of the present application, based on the above-mentioned device, when in the contracted state, the main skeleton also contracts to increase the volume difference of the damper before and after the state switching, which can correspondingly aggravate the change of resistance. And the main skeleton can be synchronously unfolded with the state switching of the sub-skeleton, which has the advantage of simple control.

[0007] Furthermore, in the present application, a non-inflatable derailment damper is provided with a positioning device between a pair of adjacent rod bodies, and the positioning device is used to lock the pair of rod bodies during the sliding and unfolding process of the pair of rod bodies; The positioning device includes an elastic positioning protrusion arranged on the side wall of one of the rod bodies and a positioning groove arranged on the side wall of the other rod body. When the rod body is in axial contraction, the elastic positioning protrusion elastically contacts the side wall outside the positioning groove. During the sliding and unfolding process of a pair of rod bodies, the elastic positioning protrusion enters the positioning groove to realize the locking of the pair of rod bodies. As a preferred solution of the present application, the stability of the unfolded state of the main skeleton is ensured. In this embodiment, the number of rod bodies is 2.

[0008] Furthermore, in the present application, a non-inflatable derailment damper has a plurality of joint groups arranged in an array along the circumferential direction of the main frame, and when the working state is in the expanded state, the joint groups form an arc support to expand the sail membrane into a sphere. As a preferred solution of the present application, the sail membrane formed into a sphere can reduce the control of the damper posture.

[0009] Furthermore, in the present application, a non-inflatable derailment damper, the state switching device includes a turntable rotatably mounted on the main frame, and the string rope passing through the joint group is wound and connected to the turntable. As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the turntable rotates to drive the string rope to be continuously wound on the turntable to tighten the string rope in the joint group to achieve state switching. In one embodiment, the turntable can be connected to a rotating motor to drive the turntable to rotate.

[0010] Furthermore, in the air-free derailment damper of the present application, the turntable is arranged at one end of the main frame.

[0011] Further, in the present application, the air-free derailment damper, the string rope is a Dyneema fiber line. As a preferred solution of the present application, it has the advantage of good reliability.

[0012] Furthermore, in the present application, the air-free derailment damper has the joints in a cylindrical shape, and the string rope is axially inserted into the joints.

[0013] It can be seen from the above technical solution that the present invention has the following beneficial effects: (1) The invention discloses an air-free derailment damper, which has the advantages of delicate unfolding structure design, high volume compression, light weight and simple processing.

[0014] (2) The present invention discloses an inflation-free derailment damper which does not rely on inflation support and has the advantages of simple operation during the elastic expansion process and reduced complexity of the elastic expansion. Meanwhile, the spherical structural design avoids additional posture control.

[0015] (3) The air-free derailment damper disclosed in the present invention does not require complete closure, which increases the selectivity of sail membrane materials. The elastic expansion method is simple, which improves the reliability and impact resistance of the elastic expansion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an inflation-free derailment damper in an embodiment of the present application when it is in an expanded state; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the main skeleton in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a joint group in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the external structure of an inflation-free derailment damper in an expanded state according to an embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the connection between the string rope and the turntable in the embodiment of the present application.

[0017] In the figure: 1-main frame; 11-rod body; 111-elastic positioning protrusion; 112-positioning groove; 2-auxiliary frame; 21-joint; 22-string rope; 3-turntable; 4-sail membrane. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Combination Figures 1 to 4 The non-inflation derailment damper shown in the figure has a working state including a contraction state and an expansion state, including: The supporting frame includes: a main frame 1 and a sub-frame 2, the sub-frame 2 includes a plurality of joint groups, the joint groups include a plurality of joints 21 arranged in series, a string 22 is passed through the joints 21, and the end of the sub-frame 2 is connected to the main frame 1; A state switching device, the state switching device is connected to the string rope 22; The sail membrane 4 is coated on the supporting frame; When the working state is in the contracted state, the string ropes 22 corresponding to each joint group have excess length, so that the sub-frame 2 is in a flexible state as a whole; The state switching device is used to pull out the redundant string 22 corresponding to each joint group until the connected joints 21 fit closely to each other and each joint group forms a rigid support to expand and unfold the sail membrane 4, thereby switching the working state from the contracted state to the expanded state.

[0019] Based on the above structure, the principle of a non-inflatable deorbit damper is as follows: the sub-frame 2 is similar to the form of a bead chain. When it is in a contracted state, since the string ropes 22 corresponding to each joint group have an extra length, that is, the string ropes 22 in the joint group are in a relaxed state, the freedom of the joints 21 is not limited by the string ropes 22. At this time, the sub-frame 2 and the sail membrane 4 can be compressed to be stored to reduce the occupied space. When the deorbit target mission is completed, the state switching device is started to tighten the string ropes 22 in each joint group, so that the joints 21 in each joint group are closely attached to each other at the positions corresponding to the perforations of the string ropes 22 to form a rigid support, so that the sail membrane 4 can be expanded and unfolded. After the sail membrane 4 is unfolded, the aerodynamic resistance formed by the thin atmosphere in the low-orbit environment is used to decelerate the satellite so that it leaves the original orbit. Therefore, the non-inflatable deorbit damper in the present application can realize the switching from contraction to expansion without inflation. Compared with the damper with inflation, it has the advantages of good durability and reliability.

[0020] Combination Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, the main skeleton 1 is composed of a group of axially connected rod bodies 11, adjacent rod bodies 11 are slidably sleeved, the axial ends of the main skeleton 1 are connected to the sail membrane 4, and the axial ends of the main skeleton 1 are connected to the opposite ends of the sub-skeleton 2; when the working state is in the contracted state, each rod body 11 contracts axially; during the process of switching the working state from the contracted state to the expanded state, the main skeleton 1 is supported by the joints 21 so that the rod body 11 slides axially and expands. Based on the above device, when in the contracted state, the main skeleton 1 also contracts to increase the volume difference of the damper before and after the state switching, which can correspondingly intensify the change of resistance. And the main skeleton 1 can be synchronously expanded with the state switching of the sub-skeleton 2, which has the advantage of simple control.

[0021] In this embodiment, a positioning device is provided between a pair of adjacent rod bodies 11, and the positioning device is used to lock the pair of rod bodies 11 during the sliding and unfolding process of the pair of rod bodies 11; the positioning device includes an elastic positioning protrusion 111 arranged on the side wall of one of the rod bodies 11 and a positioning groove 112 arranged on the side wall of the other rod body 11. When the rod body 11 is in axial contraction, the elastic positioning protrusion 111 elastically contacts the side wall outside the positioning groove 112. During the sliding and unfolding process of the pair of rod bodies 11, the elastic positioning protrusion 111 enters the positioning groove 112 to achieve the locking of the pair of rod bodies 11. To ensure the stability of the unfolded state of the main skeleton 1. In this embodiment, the number of rod bodies 11 is 2.

[0022] In this embodiment, a plurality of joint groups are arranged in an array along the circumferential direction of the main frame 1. When the working state is in the expanded state, the joint groups form an arc support to expand the sail membrane 4 into a sphere. The sail membrane 4 formed into a sphere can reduce the control of the damper posture.

[0023] Combination Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the state switching device includes a turntable 3 rotatably mounted on the main frame 1, and the string 22 passing through the joint group is wound and connected to the turntable 3. The turntable 3 rotates to drive the string 22 to be continuously wound on the turntable 3 to tighten the string 22 in the joint group to achieve state switching. In one embodiment, the turntable 3 can be connected to a rotating motor to drive the turntable 3 to rotate.

[0024] In this embodiment, the turntable 3 is disposed at one end of the main frame 1 .

[0025] In this embodiment, the string 22 is a Dyneema fiber line, which has the advantage of good reliability.

[0026] In this embodiment, the joint 21 is cylindrical, and the string 22 is axially inserted into the joint 21 .

[0027] The technical principles of the present invention are described above in conjunction with specific embodiments. These descriptions are only for explaining the principles of the present invention and cannot be interpreted as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention in any way. Based on the explanations herein, those skilled in the art can associate other specific implementations of the present invention without creative work, and these methods will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A non-inflatable derailment damper, whose working states include a contracted state and an expanded state, characterized in that: include: A supporting frame, the supporting frame comprising: a main frame (1) and a sub-frame (2), the sub-frame (2) comprising a plurality of bone joint groups, the bone joint groups comprising a plurality of bone joints (21) arranged in series, a string (22) passing through the bone joints (21), and an end of the sub-frame (2) being connected to the main frame (1); A state switching device, the state switching device is connected to the string rope (22); A sail membrane (4) is wrapped around the supporting frame; When the working state is in a contracted state, the string ropes (22) corresponding to each joint group have excess length, so that the sub-skeleton (2) is in a flexible state as a whole; The state switching device is used to pull out the redundant string (22) corresponding to each joint group until the connected joints (21) are closely fitted to each other and each joint group forms a rigid support to expand and unfold the sail membrane (4) to achieve switching of the working state from the contracted state to the expanded state.

2. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main skeleton (1) is composed of a group of axially connected rod bodies (11), adjacent rod bodies (11) are slidably sleeved, the axial ends of the main skeleton (1) are connected to the sail membrane (4), and the axial ends of the main skeleton (1) are connected to the opposite ends of the auxiliary skeleton (2); when the working state is in a contracted state, each rod body (11) contracts axially; when the working state switches from the contracted state to the expanded state, the main skeleton (1) is supported by the joints (21) so that the rod bodies (11) slide and expand axially.

3. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 2, characterized in that: A positioning device is provided between a pair of adjacent rod bodies (11), and the positioning device is used to lock the pair of rod bodies (11) during the process of sliding and unfolding the pair of rod bodies (11).

4. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 3, characterized in that: The positioning device comprises an elastic positioning protrusion (111) arranged on the side wall of one of the rod bodies (11) and a positioning groove (112) arranged on the side wall of the other rod body (11); when the rod body (11) is in axial contraction, the elastic positioning protrusion (111) elastically abuts against the side wall outside the positioning groove (112); during the process of sliding and unfolding the pair of rod bodies (11), the elastic positioning protrusion (111) enters the positioning groove (112) to achieve locking of the pair of rod bodies (11).

5. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of bone joint groups are arranged in an array along the circumferential direction of the main skeleton (1); when in the working state of being in the expanded state, the bone joint groups form an arc-shaped support so as to expand the sail membrane (4) into a sphere.

6. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The state switching device comprises a turntable (3) rotatably mounted on the main frame (1), and a string rope (22) passing through the joint group is wound and connected to the turntable (3).

7. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 6, characterized in that: The turntable (3) is arranged at one end of the main frame (1).

8. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The string (22) is a Dyneema fiber line.

9. The air-free derailment damper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bone joint (21) is cylindrical, and the string rope (22) is axially inserted into the bone joint (21).

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