Biological sample exposure unit for aerospace space exposure experiment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of space radiation biology experiments, in particular to a biological sample exposure unit for aerospace space exposure experiments, which comprises: a container detachably connected with an outboard exposure device, having an opening at the top end and having a space for accommodating a biological sample inside; the light-transmitting cover covers the opening in the top end of the container and is used for filtering stray light and transmitting the target light source, and the target light source enters the container; the sealing ring is positioned on the lower side of the light-transmitting cover; the top end of the pressing cap is open, the pressing cap is connected with the container and used for tightly pressing the light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring to the position between the pressing cap and the container in sequence, the pressing cap, the light-transmitting cover, the sealing ring and the container are tightly connected, and therefore the air tightness of the space is guaranteed. The design is simple and convenient, the occupied space is small, the specific light source effect is ensured, the air tightness, the pressure resistance and the vibration resistance are achieved, the operation efficiency and safety are improved, different experiment requirements are supported, accurate management and data tracing are facilitated through laser marking, and a reliable aerospace space radiation biology research platform is provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of space radiation biology experiments, and particularly relates to a biological sample exposure unit for space exposure experiments in aerospace. Background Art

[0002] The engineering goal of China's manned space station is to build a national-level space laboratory, which has a long-term stable space microgravity environment, extravehicular radiation conditions, and can rely on the on-orbit operations of astronauts to realize the installation, maintenance, sample replacement, and function expansion of experimental devices. The space station provides an ideal platform for multidisciplinary cross-research and has extensive research value in many fields such as space medicine, space life science, materials science, and microbiology.

[0003] Space radiation biology experiments are an important part of space life science research, aiming to study the physiological and biochemical changes of biological samples under the action of space extreme environments (including cosmic rays, solar ultraviolet rays, atomic oxygen, vacuum, and drastic temperature changes, etc.). These studies not only help to understand the impact of the space environment on organisms and provide a scientific basis for future manned deep space exploration, but also promote the application of related technologies in fields such as space medicine, biological protection, and bioengineering.

[0004] In April 2023, a set of space radiation biology experimental device was installed in the Mengtian module of the Chinese space station, and the device was carried into orbit by the Shenzhou 16 manned spacecraft. The device can be exposed to the space environment, withstand the tests of extreme environments such as extravehicular atomic oxygen erosion, thermal cycling, and strong radiation, provide life support for biological samples, and is suitable for space exposure experiments of biological samples such as plant seeds, microorganisms, organic molecules, and small animals. There are multiple installation positions for experimental sample boxes inside the experimental device, which can flexibly replace different types of sample experimental boxes to meet the exposure requirements of different samples and support multiple experimental modes such as ultraviolet exposure and space radiation exposure.

[0005] Although the existing space radiation biology experimental devices can already support extravehicular sample exposure experiments, there is still room for optimization in aspects such as sample exposure control, sample sealing protection, and anti-vibration ability. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, and thus provide a biological sample exposure unit for space exposure experiments in aerospace.

[0007] To solve the above technical problems, the technical solution of the present invention provides a biological sample exposure unit for space exposure experiments in aerospace, including:

[0008] A container, detachably connected to the extravehicular exposure device, having an open top and a space inside for accommodating biological samples;

[0009] A light-transmitting cover, covering the top opening of the container, for filtering stray light and allowing a target light source to pass through, and the target light source enters the container;

[0010] A sealing ring, located on the lower side of the light-transmitting cover; and

[0011] A compression cap, with an open top and connected to the container, for pressing the light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring successively between the compression cap and the container, and the compression cap, the light-transmitting cover, the sealing ring and the container are tightly connected, so as to ensure the airtightness of the space.

[0012] As an improvement of the above unit, the container is made of stainless steel (1Cr18Ni9Ti) material.

[0013] As an improvement of the above unit, the compression cap consists of a compression cap annular top wall and a compression cap cylindrical side wall. The inner diameter of the compression cap annular top wall is smaller than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate, and the outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate; a first thread is provided on the inner side of the compression cap cylindrical side wall; a second thread matching the first thread is provided on the outer side of the container side wall; after the compression cap is screwed tightly with the container, the light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring are squeezed between the compression cap annular top wall and the top of the container side wall.

[0014] As an improvement of the above unit, an installation groove is provided on the top of the compression cap annular top wall, and the installation groove has a shape matching the installation tool.

[0015] As an improvement of the above unit, the container includes: a container first section and a container second section connected from top to bottom; the container first section includes: a container first section side wall, wherein the container first section side wall is cylindrical; the container second section includes: a container second section side wall and a container second section bottom wall, and the container second section bottom wall covers the bottom opening of the container second section side wall and is connected to the bottom end of the second section side wall; wherein, the container second section side wall is surrounded by a curved panel and a straight panel, and the projection of the curved panel in the direction of the second section bottom wall is arc-shaped, and the projection of the straight panel in the direction of the second section bottom wall is linear.

[0016] As an improvement of the above unit, a bevel is provided at the top of the container first section side wall, and the bevel slopes downward from the inner side of the container first section side wall to the outer side of the container first section side wall. A notch is provided at the corresponding position of the inner side of the compression cap for the sealing ring; the diameter of the top end of the notch is the same as the inner diameter of the compression cap, the diameter of the bottom end of the notch is larger than the inner diameter of the compression cap, and the top end and the bottom end of the notch are linearly connected; so that the cross-section of the notch is a downward bevel; the sealing ring abuts against the bevel at the top of the container first section side wall and extends into the notch of the compression cap after being pressed by the compression cap to an interference fit.

[0017] As an improvement of the above unit, a threaded hole is provided at the bottom of the container for detachably connecting to the extravehicular exposure device through a connecting member.

[0018] As an improvement of the above unit, the light-transmitting cover is designed in a split form with the container and the compression cap, which is convenient for replacing the type of the light-transmitting cover according to the target light source to conduct exposure experiments with different target light sources.

[0019] As an improvement of the above unit, the target light source is an ultraviolet light source, and the light-transmitting cover is made of quartz glass; a metal coating treatment is performed on the surface of the light-transmitting cover so that the transmittance in the ultraviolet band is 0.1%.

[0020] As an improvement of the above unit, the container is further provided with an identification mark, and the identification mark includes: a name mark and / or a serial number mark; the identification mark is represented by Arabic numerals and / or letters; the identification mark is set on the container by laser engraving.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are that the provided biological sample exposure unit for space exposure experiments can ensure that only a specific target light source acts on the sample, thus meeting the experimental requirements under space vacuum and radiation conditions. The installation and disassembly process of the biological sample exposure unit is simple, which significantly improves the operation efficiency and safety of astronauts in the space environment, especially facilitating the replacement of different types of light-transmitting covers to meet various experimental needs. In addition, the threaded connection and installation groove structure in the design effectively reduce the space occupation and adapt to the narrow space environment of the space exposure device. Combining with the non-circular structure of the container, this design also enhances the anti-vibration ability and improves the installation stability, ensuring that it is not disturbed by vibration during the launch and return of the spacecraft and guaranteeing the accuracy of the experimental results. The biological sample exposure unit has good airtightness and compressive resistance and can cope with extreme conditions in the space environment. The laser-engraved identification mark helps to improve the accuracy of sample management, ensures the traceability of experimental data, and provides a more perfect and reliable experimental platform for space radiation biology research. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 It is an exploded view of the biological sample exposure unit for space exposure experiments provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view after the combination of the biological sample exposure unit;

[0024] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an enlarged view of area A in

[0025] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional view after the combination of the biological sample exposure unit. Detailed Embodiments

[0026] The technical solutions provided by the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the embodiments.

[0027] The inventors of the present application found that although existing space radiation biology experimental devices can already support extravehicular sample exposure experiments, there is still room for optimization in aspects such as sample exposure control, sample sealing protection, and anti-vibration ability. For example, during the exposure process of some experimental boxes of existing devices, it is difficult to accurately control the ultraviolet transmittance, which may lead to experimental data errors; further research is still needed on the optimization of the sealing performance to ensure that the samples are protected from external contamination while meeting the requirements of the vacuum environment. In addition, how to improve the convenience of installation and disassembly of the sample unit so that astronauts can replace samples efficiently and safely in the space environment is also an important research direction at present.

[0028] This embodiment provides a biological sample exposure unit for space exposure experiments. After structural optimization, it can more accurately control the ultraviolet transmittance to ensure that only ultraviolet rays of specific wavelengths act on the experimental samples. At the same time, the sealing performance is enhanced to meet the special requirements in the space environment. In addition, the sample unit of the present invention adopts a modular design and has a convenient installation and disassembly structure, which can improve the operation efficiency of astronauts and enhance the anti-vibration performance of the device, so that it remains stable during the launch, operation, and return of the spacecraft. These technical improvements can effectively improve the accuracy and reliability of space biological experiments and provide a more perfect experimental platform for space radiation biology research in China. The sample ultraviolet exposure unit for space radiation experiments provided in this embodiment can be installed in an extravehicular exposure device to irradiate the samples (including ultraviolet) in the space environment, providing an experimental environment and experimental conditions for subsequent scientific research. This sample ultraviolet exposure unit can load biological samples, including plant seeds, microorganisms, etc., and complete the solar ultraviolet and space environment radiation exposure of biological samples.

[0029] The specific implementation manners of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereby.

[0030] This embodiment provides a biological sample exposure unit for space exposure experiments. This unit is used to be installed in an extravehicular exposure device and can be used for the solar ultraviolet and space environment radiation exposure of biological samples (including plant seeds, microorganisms, algae, etc.).

[0031] This biological sample exposure unit is as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, and mainly consists of a light-transmitting cover, a compression cap, a container, and a sealing ring.

[0032] The container is detachably connected to the extravehicular exposure device. The top of the container is open, and it has a space inside for accommodating biological samples;

[0033] The light-transmitting cover covers the top opening of the container, filters stray light, allows the target light source to pass through, and projects the target light source into the space;

[0034] The compression cap has an opening at the top and is connected to the container, and is used to press the light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring tightly between the compression cap and the container in sequence. The compression cap, the light-transmitting cover, the sealing ring and the container are tightly connected, so as to ensure the airtightness of the space.

[0035] Preferably, the container is made of stainless steel (1Cr18Ni9Ti) material, so that it has good compressive performance.

[0036] Preferably, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the compression cap is connected to the container by screw-threaded fit. The light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring are pressed tightly between the compression cap and the container by screwing. The compression cap consists of a compression cap annular top wall and a compression cap cylindrical side wall. The inner diameter of the compression cap annular top wall is smaller than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate, and the outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate; a first thread is arranged on the inner side of the compression cap cylindrical side wall; a second thread matching the first thread is arranged on the outer side of the container side wall; after the compression cap and the container are screwed tightly, the light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring are squeezed between the compression cap annular top wall and the top of the container side wall; the target light source passes through the light-transmitting plate and is projected into the container.

[0037] Preferably, as Figure 2 and Figure 4 shown, an installation groove is arranged on the top of the compression cap annular top wall, and the installation groove has a shape matching the installation tool. The installation groove is convenient for using a special tool for installation and torque control, and is convenient for astronauts to operate for disassembly and assembly in the space environment. Such as a groove matching a flat screwdriver head, a groove matching a cross screwdriver head, etc. The design of the screw-threaded fit connection between the compression cap and the container and the design of the top cover using the installation groove can reduce the installation space requirement, make it better stressed at the same time, improve the installation stability, enhance its anti-vibration ability, and ensure that it is not affected during the launch and return of the spacecraft. At the same time, it can also make the installation and disassembly more convenient, facilitate the operation of astronauts in the space environment, and reduce the experimental complexity.

[0038] Preferably, as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown in the figure, the container includes: a first container section and a second container section connected from top to bottom; the first container section includes: a side wall of the first container section, wherein the side wall of the first container section is cylindrical; the second container section includes: a side wall of the second container section and a bottom wall of the second container section, and the bottom wall of the second container section covers the bottom opening of the side wall of the second container section and is connected to the bottom end of the second side wall; wherein, the side wall of the second container section is formed by enclosing a curved panel and a straight panel, wherein the projection of the curved panel in the direction of the bottom wall of the second section is arc-shaped, and the projection of the straight panel in the direction of the bottom wall of the second section is linear. The second container section is designed with a cut-off corner to make it a non-circular structure, which can prevent the components from rotating or loosening due to microgravity and mechanical vibration in the space environment. At the same time, the container is optimized in structure design and material selection, so that it can still meet the requirements of space exposure experiments in the thin-wall state. Preferably, the first thread of the container is provided on the outer side of the side wall of the first container section.

[0039] Preferably, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown in the figure, a bevel is provided at the top of the side wall of the first container section, and the bevel slopes downward from the inner side of the side wall of the first container section to the outer side of the side wall of the first container section, that is, the height of the inner side of the side wall of the first container section is higher than the height of the outer side of the first side wall. A notch is provided at the corresponding position of the inner side of the compression cap for the sealing ring; the diameter of the top end of the notch is the same as the inner diameter of the compression cap, the diameter of the bottom end of the notch is larger than the inner diameter of the compression cap, and the top end and the bottom end of the notch are linearly connected; so that the cross-section of the notch is a downward bevel. The sealing ring abuts against the bevel at the top of the side wall of the first container section and is pressed by the compression cap to extend into the notch of the compression cap after interference fit. The sealing ring cooperates with the notch of the compression cap and the bevel of the container. After interference fit, the contact area between the sealing ring and the compression cap and the container is increased, providing a reliable sealing effect. By improving the sealing performance, the internal sample will not be contaminated or damaged due to changes in the external environment.

[0040] Preferably, as Figure 2 shown in the figure, an installation position is provided on the bottom wall of the second container section for connecting with the extravehicular exposure device. In this embodiment, the installation position can be a threaded hole. The sample ultraviolet exposure unit is detachably connected to the extravehicular exposure device through the threaded hole provided on the bottom wall of the second container section to ensure its stability and reliability during the launch, operation and return of the spacecraft.

[0041] Preferably, the light-transmitting cover and the container and the compression cap adopt a split design, which is convenient for replacing the type of the light-transmitting cover according to the target light source to conduct exposure experiments with different target light sources. This design enables the sample unit to be applicable to a variety of exposure methods: not only applicable to ultraviolet band exposure, but also can be used for space environment particle radiation exposure, expanding its application range.

[0042] Preferably, the target light source is an ultraviolet light source, and the light-transmitting cover is generally made of glass, preferably quartz. A metal coating treatment is performed on the surface of the light-transmitting cover to control the transmittance in the ultraviolet band at 0.1%, and the transmittance in other bands is further attenuated to reduce interference with the experimental results. The design of the light-transmitting cover ensures the light transmittance of the exposure window and can withstand the pressure and vibration effects of the space environment.

[0043] Preferably, as Figure 4 shown, the container is also provided with an identifier, which can be a name identifier or / and a serial number identifier, and the identifier can be represented by Arabic numerals and / or letters. The identifier can be set on the container by laser engraving. The setting of the identifier facilitates scientists to distinguish different samples and make records during the experiment, ensuring the accuracy and traceability of the data. Using laser engraving for the identifier is not easy to be confused and meets the environmental protection requirements, and is suitable for long-term space experiments.

[0044] The sample exposure unit of the present invention can provide a stable and reliable experimental platform for space radiation biology experiments. The design can adapt to the space environment, including factors such as temperature changes, cosmic rays, and vacuum conditions, ensuring that biological samples can be stably exposed in a harsh environment and maintaining the controllability of the experiment, which is of great significance for China's space biological experiment research.

[0045] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that any modification or equivalent replacement of the technical solutions of the present invention does not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiments, comprising: The container is detachably connected to the extravehicular exposure device, has an open top, and has a space for accommodating biological samples; A light-transmitting cover, covering the top opening of the container, for filtering stray light and allowing a target light source to pass through, the target light source entering the container; A sealing ring, located on the lower side of the light-transmitting cover; and The pressing cap has an opening at the top and is connected to the container, and is used to press the light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring in sequence between the pressing cap and the container. The pressing cap, the light-transmitting cover, the sealing ring and the container are tightly connected to ensure the airtightness of the space.

2. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The container is made of stainless steel (1Cr18Ni9Ti).

3. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressing cap is composed of an annular top wall and a cylindrical side wall. The inner diameter of the annular top wall of the pressing cap is smaller than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate, and the outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the light-transmitting plate. A first thread is arranged on the inner side of the cylindrical side wall of the pressing cap. A second thread matching the first thread is arranged on the outer side of the container side wall. After the pressing cap is tightened with the container, the light-transmitting cover and the sealing ring are squeezed between the annular top wall of the pressing cap and the top of the container side wall.

4. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 3, characterized in that: A mounting groove is arranged on the top of the annular top wall of the pressure cap, and the mounting groove has a shape matching the mounting tool.

5. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The container comprises: a first section of the container and a second section of the container connected from top to bottom; the first section of the container comprises: a side wall of the first section of the container, wherein the side wall of the first section of the container is cylindrical; the second section of the container comprises: a side wall of the second section of the container and a bottom wall of the second section of the container, wherein the bottom wall of the second section of the container covers the bottom end opening of the side wall of the second section of the container and is connected to the bottom end of the side wall of the second section; wherein the side wall of the second section of the container is composed of a curved plate and a straight plate, wherein the projection of the curved plate in the direction of the bottom wall of the second section is arc-shaped, and the projection of the straight plate in the direction of the bottom wall of the second section is straight-line-shaped.

6. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 5, characterized in that: A bevel is arranged at the top of the first section side wall of the container, and the bevel is inclined downward from the inner side of the first section side wall of the container to the outer side of the first section side wall of the container, and a notch is arranged on the inner side of the pressure cap at a position corresponding to the sealing ring; the diameter of the top end of the notch is the same as the inner diameter of the pressure cap, the diameter of the bottom end of the notch is larger than the inner diameter of the pressure cap, and the top end of the notch is connected to the bottom end of the notch in a straight line; so that the cross section of the notch is a downward bevel; the sealing ring abuts against the bevel at the top of the first section side wall of the container, and extends into the notch of the pressure cap after being pressed by the pressure cap to interference fit.

7. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the container is provided with a threaded hole for detachably connecting with the outboard exposure device through a connecting piece.

8. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light-transmitting cover, the container and the pressure cap are designed to be split, so that the type of the light-transmitting cover can be easily replaced according to the target light source, so as to carry out exposure experiments with different target light sources.

9. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target light source is an ultraviolet light source, and the light-transmitting cover is made of quartz glass; the light-transmitting cover is subjected to metal coating treatment on its surface so that the transmittance in the ultraviolet band is 0.1%.

10. The biological sample exposure unit for aerospace exposure experiment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The container is also provided with a mark, which includes: a name mark and / or a serial number mark; the mark is represented by Arabic numerals and / or letters; the mark is set on the container by laser engraving.

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