Inflatable damping device and spacecraft

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of spacecrafts, and discloses an inflatable damping device and a spacecraft, and the inflatable damping device comprises a sail film which forms a three-dimensional structure after being unfolded; the inflatable supporting ring is arranged along the edge of the sail film for a circle, and the shape of the inflatable supporting ring is matched with that of the edge of the sail film; one end of the connecting rope is connected with the inflatable supporting ring, and the other end is connected with an object to be derailed; a bottle opening of the inflation bottle is communicated with the inflation supporting ring, and the inflation bottle is used for containing compressed gas; and the valve device is arranged near a bottle opening of the inflation bottle and used for opening and closing a gas passage between the inflation bottle and the inflation supporting ring, and the valve device closes the gas passage in an initial state. The sail film of the three-dimensional structure has low requirements on postures, and the complexity of posture control is reduced. According to the inflatable damping device, the inflatable supporting ring serves as a supporting mechanism in the inflatable damping device, the sail film can be unfolded by inflating the inflatable supporting ring through the inflation bottle, and the supporting mechanism is simple in structure, high in safety coefficient and beneficial to improving the efficiency of the damping device and reducing the cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of spacecraft technology, for example, to an inflatable damping device and a spacecraft. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous increase of space exploration activities, the number of spacecraft launched into Earth orbit has increased dramatically. However, many spacecraft are not equipped with effective deorbit systems after completing their scheduled missions, resulting in these failed spacecraft and debris being stranded in space for a long time. This phenomenon not only increases the risk of collision with other high-value spacecraft, but may also further aggravate the problem of space debris, threatening the safety and sustainability of future space missions.

[0003] In order to meet the deorbiting requirements of spacecraft, the spacecraft in the related technology is equipped with a damping device. The damping devices in the related technology include two types: planar structure and three-dimensional structure. The damping device with a planar structure adopts a sail membrane that unfolds into a planar shape. This damping device has the characteristics of light weight, simple structure and low cost, but it requires attitude control. The planar sail membrane is perpendicular to the speed direction of the spacecraft to effectively increase the resistance area and realize the deorbiting and deorbiting operations of the spacecraft. The damping device with a three-dimensional structure needs to have a supporting mechanism, but the structure of the supporting mechanism in the related technology is relatively complex or has certain dangers. It can be seen that the damping devices in the related technology either rely on complex attitude control or have complex and dangerous supporting mechanisms, resulting in low application efficiency and high cost. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. The summary is not an extensive review, nor is it intended to identify key / critical components or delineate the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather serves as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0005] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an inflatable damping device and a spacecraft, which can reduce the complexity of attitude control, simplify the complexity of the structure and improve safety.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an inflatable damping device, the inflatable damping device comprising:

[0007] The sail membrane forms a three-dimensional structure after unfolding;

[0008] an inflatable support ring, the shape of which matches the edge of the sail membrane and is arranged along the edge of the sail membrane;

[0009] A connecting rope, one end of which is connected to the inflatable support ring, and the other end is used to connect to the object to be derailed;

[0010] An inflatable bottle, the bottle mouth of which is connected to the inflatable support ring and is used to contain compressed gas;

[0011] A valve device is provided near the mouth of an inflatable bottle for opening and closing the gas passage between the inflatable bottle and the inflatable support ring. In the initial state, the valve device closes the gas passage.

[0012] In some embodiments, the inflatable bottle includes a bottle body, a bottleneck, and a trachea. The trachea has a first nozzle and a second nozzle that communicate with the bottleneck. The first nozzle and the second nozzle are sequentially distributed on the bottleneck from near the mouth of the bottle to far from the mouth of the bottle.

[0013] The valve device includes a driving assembly and a piston. The height of the piston is less than the minimum distance between the first nozzle and the second nozzle, and the height of the piston is greater than the maximum length of the first nozzle and the maximum length of the second nozzle. The piston is disposed inside the bottleneck.

[0014] When the piston is in the initial state, the piston is located at a position blocking the second nozzle to close the gas passage. The driving assembly is used to drive the piston to move to the area between the first nozzle and the second nozzle to open the gas passage.

[0015] In some embodiments, the driving assembly includes a driving part and an elastic member. The elastic member is disposed inside the bottleneck. The elastic member is connected to the piston and is located on the side of the piston away from the mouth of the bottle.

[0016] When the piston is in the initial state, the piston is located at a position blocking the second nozzle, and the elastic member is in a compressed state. The driving part is used to release the elastic member to make it elongate, so that the piston moves to the area between the first nozzle and the second nozzle to open the gas passage.

[0017] In some embodiments, after the elastic member elongates to move the piston to the area between the first nozzle and the second nozzle, as the height of the derailment object track decreases, the air pressure in the inflatable support ring increases. The elastic member is gradually compressed under the action of the air pressure in the inflatable support ring until the piston returns to the position blocking the second nozzle.

[0018] In some embodiments, the elastic member is made of shape memory alloy. The driving part has a heating function. The driving part is used to heat the elastic member to cause a bulk phase change of the elastic member to elongate.

[0019] In some embodiments, the driving part includes a control module and a heating element. The control module is electrically connected to the heating element. The heating element is disposed near the elastic member. The control module is used to supply power to the heating element to make the heating element generate heat, so that the heating element heats the elastic member to cause a bulk phase change of the elastic member to elongate.

[0020] In some embodiments, the driving part further includes a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is disposed on the heating element and is electrically connected to the control module.

[0021] The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the heating element, and the control module is used to supply power to the heating element according to the temperature of the heating element so that the heating element generates heat.

[0022] In some embodiments, the sail membrane forms a nearly spherical structure with an opening after being unfolded, and the edge of the sail membrane serves as the edge of the opening.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a spacecraft is provided, the spacecraft comprising the inflatable damping device provided by the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0024] The inflatable damping device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0025] The sail membrane of the elastic damping device forms a three-dimensional structure after being unfolded. The sail membrane of the three-dimensional structure has low requirements for posture, thereby significantly reducing the complexity of posture control. In the initial state of the inflatable damping device, the valve device is also in the initial state to close the gas passage, and the inflatable support ring is not inflated. At this time, the inflatable support ring and the sail membrane are folded into a smaller form. When the object to be deorbited has a need to descend or deorbit, the valve device opens the gas passage, allowing the inflatable bottle to inflate the inflatable support ring to expand and unfold. The inflatable support ring after unfolding can open the edge of the sail membrane so that air can enter the sail membrane, so that the sail membrane unfolds and forms a three-dimensional structure. The sail membrane of the three-dimensional structure can generate aerodynamic resistance with the thin atmosphere in the low-orbit environment, so that the object to be deorbited gradually slows down and leaves the original orbit. The inflatable support ring is used as the support mechanism in the inflatable damping device. The sail membrane can be opened by inflating the inflatable support ring with the inflatable bottle. This support mechanism has a simple structure. Since the air pressure in space is low, a small amount of gas can be filled into the inflatable support ring to expand and unfold it, and the safety factor is high. The above design helps to improve the efficiency of the damping device and reduce the cost.

[0026] The foregoing general description and the following description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described by corresponding drawings, which do not limit the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements, and the drawings do not constitute a scale limitation, and wherein:

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an inflatable damping device after deployment provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of an inflatable bottle and a valve device provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 3 The embodiment of the present disclosure providesFigure 2 Top view;

[0031] Figure 4 is the Figure 2 cross-sectional view of the structure in the A position in

[0032] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection of a driving part provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a control unit provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] The description of the reference numerals in the drawings is as follows:

[0035] 1 sail film, 2 inflatable support ring, 3 connecting rope;

[0036] 4 gas cylinder;

[0037] 41 cylinder body, 42 bottleneck, 43 trachea, 431 first pipe orifice, 432 second pipe orifice

[0038] 5 valve device;

[0039] 51 driving assembly, piston 52;

[0040] 511 driving part, 512 elastic member;

[0041] 5111 control module, 5112 heating element, 5113 temperature sensor;

[0042] 501 control unit, 502 power supply unit, 503 power adjustment unit;

[0043] 5011 processor, 5012 memory, 5013 communication interface, 5014 bus. Detailed implementation manners

[0044] In order to understand the features and technical content of the embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail, the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for reference and illustration only and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the following technical description, for the sake of explanation, numerous details are provided to give a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be shown in a simplified manner to simplify the drawings.

[0045] In the description, claims, and the above-mentioned drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, so as to implement the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein. In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0046] Unless otherwise specified, the term "plurality" means two or more.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the front and rear objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0048] The term "and / or" is an associative relationship describing an object, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or, the three relationships of A and B.

[0049] The term "corresponding" may refer to an associative relationship or a binding relationship. A corresponding to B means that there is an associative relationship or a binding relationship between A and B.

[0050] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an inflatable damping device, in combination with Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the inflatable damping device includes a sail film 1, an inflatable support ring 2, a connecting rope 3, an inflatable bottle 4, and a valve device 5.

[0051] After the sail film 1 is unfolded, a three-dimensional structure is formed, and the shape of this three-dimensional structure can be determined according to actual design requirements. For example, after the sail film 1 is unfolded, it forms an approximately spherical structure with an opening, and the edge of the sail film 1 serves as the edge of the opening. The three-dimensional sail film 1 has lower requirements for attitude, thus significantly reducing the complexity of attitude control.

[0052] The shape of the inflatable support ring 2 fits the edge of the sail film 1 and is arranged along the edge of the sail film 1. One end of the connecting rope 3 is connected to the inflatable support ring 2, and the other end of the connecting rope 3 is used to connect the object to be derailed. The bottle mouth of the inflatable bottle 4 is communicated with the inflatable support ring 2. The inflatable bottle 4 is used to accommodate compressed gas, and this compressed gas is an inert gas, such as compressed nitrogen. The valve device 5 is arranged near the bottle mouth of the inflatable bottle 4. The valve device 5 is used to open and close the gas passage between the inflatable bottle 4 and the inflatable support ring 2. Among them, the valve device 5 closes the gas passage in the initial state. When the gas passage is closed, the gas in the inflatable bottle 4 cannot flow into the inflatable support ring 2; when the gas passage is opened, the gas in the inflatable bottle 4 flows into the inflatable support ring 2 for inflation.

[0053] The inflatable damping device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure can be connected to the object to be derailed by a connecting rope 3, and the object to be derailed here can be a normal aircraft that has completed a low-orbit space mission, or it can be a space debris of a spacecraft. In the initial state of the inflatable damping device, the valve device 5 is also in the initial state to close the gas passage, and the inflatable support ring 2 is not inflated. At this time, the inflatable support ring 2 and the sail membrane 1 are folded into a smaller form. When the object to be derailed has a need to descend or leave the orbit, the valve device 5 opens the gas passage, so that the inflatable bottle 4 is inflated into the inflatable support ring 2 to expand and unfold, and the inflatable support ring 2 after unfolding can open the edge of the sail membrane 1 so that air can enter the sail membrane 1, so that the sail membrane 1 is unfolded and forms a three-dimensional structure. The sail membrane 1 of the three-dimensional structure can generate aerodynamic resistance with the rarefied atmosphere in the low-orbit environment, so that the object to be derailed gradually slows down and deviates from the original orbit. The inflatable support ring 2 is used as a supporting mechanism in the inflatable damping device, and the sail membrane 1 can be opened by inflating the inflatable support ring 2 with the inflatable bottle 4. This supporting mechanism has a simple structure. Since the air pressure in space is relatively low, a small amount of gas can be filled into the inflatable support ring 2 to make it expand and unfold, and the safety factor is relatively high. The above design is helpful to improve the efficiency of the damping device and reduce the cost.

[0054] In the disclosed embodiment, the sail membrane 1 forms an open approximately spherical structure after being unfolded, and this sail membrane 1 does not need to be completely closed, which expands the material selectivity of the sail membrane 1. The way of unfolding the sail membrane 1 is simple and easy, which improves the reliability and impact resistance of the unfolding process.

[0055] In some embodiments, the sail membrane 1 is formed by splicing a plurality of membrane sheets. For example, the sail membrane 1 can be formed by splicing 12 membrane sheets. The material of the sail membrane 1 has high temperature resistance and chemical resistance, for example, the material of the sail membrane 1 can be brown polyimide material.

[0056] In some embodiments, the gas-filled bottle 4 includes a bottle body 41, a bottleneck 42 and an air pipe 43, the air pipe 43 has a first pipe opening 431 and a second pipe opening 432 connected to the bottleneck 42, and the first pipe opening 431 and the second pipe opening 432 are sequentially distributed on the bottleneck 42 from close to the bottle opening to far from the bottle opening. The valve device 5 includes a drive assembly 51 and a piston 52, the height of the piston 52 is less than the minimum distance between the first pipe opening 431 and the second pipe opening 432, the height of the piston 52 is greater than the maximum length of the first pipe opening 431 and the maximum length of the second pipe opening 432, the piston 52 is arranged inside the bottleneck 42, and the drive assembly 51 is used for the piston 52 to move inside the bottleneck 42. The inner diameter of the bottleneck 42 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the piston 52, so that the piston 52 can seal the bottleneck 42 and prevent the gas from flowing out directly through the bottleneck 42. Here, the maximum length of the pipe opening is the distance between the two points farthest apart in the pipe opening. Taking the pipe opening as a circle as an example, the maximum length is the diameter of the pipe opening; taking the pipe opening as a rectangle as an example, the maximum length is the length of the pipe opening.

[0057] The height of the piston 52 is designed to be less than the minimum distance between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432, so that the piston 52 can only block one of the two pipe orifices and cannot block both at the same time. In the initial state, the piston 52 is located inside the bottleneck 42 and exactly blocks one of the first pipe orifice 431 or the second pipe orifice 432, thereby effectively closing the gas passage, ensuring that the gas can neither flow out through the bottleneck 42 nor flow out through the air pipe 43, achieving a complete closure of the gas passage and ensuring that inflation operation will not occur accidentally before it is needed.

[0058] When it is necessary to supply gas to the inflation support ring 2, the driving assembly 51 will be activated and drive the piston 52 to move to the position between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432. At this time, since the piston 52 no longer directly blocks any pipe orifice, the gas can freely enter the air pipe 43 from the second pipe orifice 432 and finally flow into the area near the bottle mouth through the first pipe orifice 431, thereby inflating the inflation support ring 2. This process effectively opens the gas passage and enables the inflation operation to proceed smoothly. Through such a design, not only is it ensured that the gas passage can be accurately controlled when needed, but also the overall process of the inflation operation is simplified, improving the reliability and efficiency of the entire inflatable damping device.

[0059] In some embodiments, the driving assembly 51 includes a driving part 511 and an elastic member 512. The elastic member 512 is arranged inside the bottleneck 42. The elastic member 512 is connected to the piston 52 and is located on the side of the piston 52 away from the bottle mouth. When the piston 52 is in the initial state, the piston 52 is located at the position blocking the second pipe orifice 432, and the elastic member 512 is in a compressed state. The driving part 511 is used to release the elastic member 512 to make it elongate, so that the piston 52 moves to the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432 to open the gas passage.

[0060] In the initial state, the elastic member 512 is in a compressed state. The piston 52 is located inside the bottleneck 42 and exactly blocks the second pipe orifice 432, thus effectively closing the gas passage, ensuring that the gas can neither flow out through the bottleneck 42 nor through the trachea 43, achieving a complete closure of the gas passage. When it is necessary to supply gas to the inflatable support ring 2, the driving assembly 51 will start and drive the elastic member 512 to elongate. As the elastic member 512 gradually elongates, it will push the piston 52 to the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432. At this time, since the piston 52 no longer directly blocks any pipe orifice, the gas can freely enter the trachea 43 from the second pipe orifice 432 and finally flow into the area near the bottle mouth through the first pipe orifice 431, thereby inflating the inflatable support ring 2. The elastic member 512 stores energy when compressed in the initial state and releases this energy to push the piston 52 to move when needed. This method utilizes the high energy density characteristic of the elastic material, realizes an efficient energy conversion process, reduces the dependence on an external power source, and improves the overall efficiency of the system.

[0061] In some embodiments, the driving part 511 can be a locking mechanism for locking the elastic member 512 in a compressed state. When it is necessary to supply gas to the inflatable support ring 2, the driving part 511 can release the elastic member 512, and the elastic member 512 starts to elongate, thereby driving the piston 52 to move until the piston 52 is located in the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432.

[0062] In some embodiments, the elastic member 512 is made of a shape memory alloy. The driving part 511 has a heating function. The driving part 511 is used to heat the elastic member 512 so that the elastic member 512 undergoes a bulk phase change and elongates. As the elastic member 512 gradually elongates, it will push the piston 52 to the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432.

[0063] The shape memory alloy will undergo a phase change at a specific temperature, resulting in changes in shape and size. Utilizing this characteristic, the elastic member 512 is configured to be made of a shape memory alloy. After the driving part 511 heats the elastic member 512, the elastic member 512 will recover from the compressed state to its original state and its length will gradually increase. By precisely controlling the temperature of the elastic member 512 by the driving part 511, the length of the elastic member 512 can be controlled, and further the precise control of the movement of the piston 52 can be achieved, so that the piston 52 can accurately move to the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432.

[0064] Whether it is in the form of a locking mechanism or a drive unit 511 equipped with a heating function, these designs rely on the deformation of the elastic member 512 itself to drive the piston 52 to move. This method not only reduces the operation complexity of the drive unit 511 but also simplifies the overall structure of the drive assembly 51. In addition, since the mechanical actions required to drive the piston 52 to move are relatively simple, the possibility of mechanical failures is significantly reduced, thereby enhancing the reliability and stability of the damping device. Specifically, the deformation of the elastic member 512 is utilized to achieve the movement of the piston 52, avoiding complex mechanical movements or the need for additional power sources. This design concept makes the entire device more compact and efficient, and exhibits higher stability during long-term operation. By reducing the number of components and simplifying the operation process, the maintenance cost can also be reduced and the durability of the system can be improved.

[0065] For the combination of the elastic member 512 made of shape memory alloy and the drive unit 511 with a heating function, the drive unit 511 can trigger the movement of the piston 52 by generating heat, and the drive unit 511 does not need to perform any mechanical actions, further reducing the possibility of mechanical failures and enhancing the reliability and stability of the damping device.

[0066] In some embodiments, the drive unit 511 includes a control module 5111 and a heating element 5112, and the control module 5111 is electrically connected to the heating element 5112. The heating element 5112 is disposed near the elastic member 512, and the control module 5111 is configured to supply power to the heating element 5112 to cause the heating element 5112 to generate heat, so that the heating element 5112 heats the elastic member 512 to cause a bulk phase change of the elastic member 512 and elongate.

[0067] In some embodiments, in combination Figure 5 As shown, the control module 5111 may include a control unit 501, a power supply unit 502, and a power regulation unit 503. The power supply unit 502 is respectively connected to the control unit 501 and the power regulation unit 503. The control unit 501 is also connected to the power regulation unit 503, and the power regulation unit 503 is connected to the heating element 5112. The power supply unit 502 can supply appropriate voltages to the control unit 501 and the power regulation unit 503. The control unit 501 outputs a control signal to the power regulation unit 503, and the power regulation unit 503 adjusts the magnitude of the power supplied to the heating element 5112 according to the control signal, thereby controlling the heat generated by the heating element 5112. The heating element 5112 can be a resistance wire heater, a thin film heater, a ceramic heater, etc.

[0068] The heating element 5112 is disposed near the elastic member 512. The control module 5111 is configured to supply power to the heating element 5112 to cause the heating element 5112 to generate heat, so that the heating element 5112 heats the elastic member 512 to cause a bulk phase change of the elastic member 512 and elongation. By precisely adjusting the power supply amount of the heating element 5112 by the control module 5111, the heat generated by the heating element 5112 is accurately controlled, thereby accurately controlling the temperature of the elastic member 512, realizing the control of the length of the elastic member 512, and further realizing the precise control of the movement of the piston 52, so that the piston 52 can accurately move to the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432.

[0069] In some embodiments, both the control module 5111 and the heating element 5112 are disposed outside the gas filling bottle 4. The heating element 5112 is specifically disposed in the bottleneck 42 in the area corresponding to the elastic member 512. By disposing the control module 5111 and the heating element 5112 outside the gas filling bottle 4, the internal space of the gas filling bottle 4 can be fully utilized, and at the same time, the design of the internal structure of the gas filling bottle 4 is simplified. Moreover, it also avoids opening holes or installing components on the gas filling bottle 4, which helps to maintain its original sealing performance and ensure the safety and reliability of gas storage. The layout of the heating element 5112 close to the elastic member 512 reduces the distance of heat transfer, improves the heating efficiency, and enables the elastic member 512 to reach the required phase change temperature faster.

[0070] In some embodiments, the heating element 5112 is an annular member, and the heating element 5112 is sleeved in the area of the bottleneck 42 corresponding to the elastic member 512. The annular heating element 5112 can surround the area of the bottleneck 42 corresponding to the elastic member 512, ensuring that heat is evenly transferred to the elastic member 512 from all directions. This avoids the problems of local overheating or insufficient heating of the elastic member 512, enables the elastic member 512 to be heated evenly, and thus realizes a more stable and consistent phase change process. Since the heating element 5112 is closely attached to the position of the bottleneck 42 corresponding to the elastic member 512, the distance of heat transfer is greatly shortened, the heat transfer efficiency is improved, and the elastic member 512 can reach the required phase change temperature faster.

[0071] In some embodiments, in combination Figure 1 and Figure 5As shown, the driving unit 511 further includes a temperature sensor 5113. The temperature sensor 5113 is disposed on the heating element 5112 and electrically connected to the control module 5111. The temperature sensor 5113 is used to detect the temperature of the heating element 5112, and the control module 5111 is used to supply power to the heating element 5112 according to the temperature of the heating element 5112 to make the heating element 5112 generate heat. Through the real-time temperature of the heating element 5112 provided by the temperature sensor 5113, the control module 5111 can accurately adjust the power supply parameters to ensure that the heat generated by the heating element 5112 can meet the requirements, so as to ensure that the elastic member 512 can accurately reach the phase change temperature.

[0072] In some embodiments, the temperature sensor 5113 is connected to the control unit 501. The temperature sensor 5113 feeds back the detected temperature of the heating element 5112 to the control unit 501. The control unit 501 calculates the required heating power based on the detected temperature by the temperature sensor 5113 to generate a corresponding control signal, and then outputs the control signal to the power adjustment unit 503. The power adjustment unit 503 adjusts the magnitude of the power supplied to the heating element 5112 according to the control signal, so as to control the heat generated by the heating element 5112, ensure that the heat generated by the heating element 5112 can meet the requirements, and thus ensure that the elastic member 512 can accurately reach the phase change temperature.

[0073] In some embodiments, after the elastic member 512 extends to move the piston 52 to the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432, as the track height of the object to be derailed decreases, the air pressure in the inflatable support ring 2 increases. The elastic member 512 is gradually compressed under the action of the air pressure in the inflatable support ring 2 until the piston 52 returns to the position blocking the second pipe orifice 432. As the track height of the object to be derailed decreases, the external atmospheric density increases, which will cause the air pressure in the inflatable support ring 2 to increase. When the air pressure in the inflatable support ring 2 is greater than the air pressure in the inflatable bottle 4, as the air pressure in the inflatable support ring 2 continues to increase, the piston 52 will be pushed towards the second pipe orifice 432 under the action of the air pressure in the inflatable support ring 2, and the elastic member 512 will be gradually compressed accordingly until the piston 52 returns to the position blocking the second pipe orifice 432 to close the gas passage. This design can utilize the change of the internal gas pressure of the inflatable support ring 2 to automatically close the gas passage, prevent potential safety hazards caused by over-inflation, and improve the safety and reliability of the device. Moreover, the process of closing the gas passage does not require the participation of an additional power device, reducing the complexity of the system, lowering the failure rate, and at the same time saving the space and weight of the device.

[0074] The disclosed embodiment provides a spacecraft, which includes the above-mentioned inflatable damping device. One end of the connecting rope 3 of the inflatable damping device is connected to the inflatable support ring 2, and the other end of the connecting rope 3 is used to connect the object to be derailed. When the inflatable damping device is in the initial state, the valve device 5 is also in the initial state to close the gas passage, and the inflatable support ring 2 is not inflated. At this time, the inflatable support ring 2 and the sail membrane 1 are folded into a smaller shape.

[0075] When the spacecraft needs to descend or de-orbit, the valve device 5 will receive the de-orbit command to open the gas passage, so that the gas bottle 4 can inflate the gas support ring 2 to expand it. The expanded gas support ring 2 can open the edge of the sail membrane 1 so that air can enter the sail membrane 1, so that the sail membrane 1 can be expanded and form a three-dimensional structure. Based on the flexibility of the fiber rope, the three-dimensional structure of the sail membrane 1 is automatically located behind the spacecraft, eliminating the need for additional attitude control. The three-dimensional structure of the sail membrane 1 can generate aerodynamic resistance with the thin atmosphere in the low-orbit environment, causing the spacecraft to gradually slow down and leave the original orbit.

[0076] In some embodiments, the driving assembly 51 is used to receive a de-orbiting instruction, after which the driving assembly 51 is started and drives the piston 52 to move to a position between the first pipe opening 431 and the second pipe opening 432 to open a gas passage.

[0077] In some embodiments, the driving assembly 51 includes a driving part 511 and an elastic member 512. When the piston 52 is in the initial state, the piston 52 is located at a position blocking the second nozzle 432, and the elastic member 512 is in a compressed state. The driving part 511 is used to receive a de-orbit instruction, and then release the elastic member 512 to extend it, so that the piston 52 moves to the area between the first nozzle 431 and the second nozzle 432 to open the gas passage.

[0078] In some embodiments, the elastic member 512 is made of a memory alloy, and the driving unit 511 has a heating function. The driving unit 511 is used to receive a de-orbit instruction, and then heat the elastic member 512 to make the elastic member 512 elongate due to a phase change. As the elastic member 512 gradually elongates, it will push the piston 52 to the area between the first pipe port 431 and the second pipe port 432 to open the gas passage.

[0079] In some embodiments, the driving unit 511 includes a control module 5111 and a heating element 5112, and the control module 5111 is electrically connected to the heating element 5112. The control module 5111 is used to receive a de-orbit instruction, and then supply power to the heating element 5112 to heat the heating element 5112, so that the heating element 5112 heats the elastic element 512 to cause the elastic element 512 to undergo a phase change and extend. As the elastic element 512 gradually extends, it will push the piston 52 to reach the area between the first nozzle 431 and the second nozzle 432 to open the gas passage.

[0080] In some embodiments, the control module 5111 may include a control unit 501, a power supply unit 502, and a power regulation unit 503. The power supply unit 502 is respectively connected to the control unit 501 and the power regulation unit 503. The control unit 501 is also connected to the power regulation unit 503. The power regulation unit 503 is connected to the heating element 5112. The control unit 501 is configured to receive a derailment instruction and then output a control signal to the power regulation unit 503. The power regulation unit 503 adjusts the amount of power supplied to the heating element 5112 according to the control signal, thereby controlling the heat generated by the heating element 5112. The heating element 5112 heats the elastic member 512 so that the occurrence body of the elastic member 512 undergoes a phase change and elongates. As the elastic member 512 gradually elongates, it will push the piston 52 to the area between the first pipe orifice 431 and the second pipe orifice 432 to open the gas passage.

[0081] In some embodiments, in combination Figure 6 As shown, the control unit 501 in the inflatable damping device includes a processor 5011 (processor) and a memory 5012 (memory). Optionally, the control module 5111 may further include a communication interface 5013 (Communication Interface) and a bus 5014. Among them, the processor 5011, the communication interface 5013, and the memory 5012 can complete communication with each other through the bus 5014. The communication interface 5013 can be used for information transmission. The processor 5011 can call the logical instructions in the memory 5012 to output a control signal.

[0082] In addition, when the logical instructions in the above-mentioned memory 5012 are implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The memory 5012, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as the program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 5011 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 5012, that is, realizes the output of the control signal.

[0083] The memory 5012 may include a storage program area and a storage data area. Among them, the storage program area can store an operating system and application programs required for at least one function; the storage data area can store data created according to the use of the terminal device, etc. In addition, the storage may include a high-speed random access memory 5012, and may also include a non-volatile memory 5012.

[0084] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units may be only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Additionally, the couplings or direct couplings or communication connections shown or discussed between each other may be through some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections of the devices or units may be in electrical, mechanical or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to implement this embodiment. Additionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the functional units may be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit.

Claims

1. An inflatable damping device, characterized in that: include: The sail membrane forms a three-dimensional structure after unfolding; An inflatable support ring is arranged around the edge of the sail membrane, and its shape matches the edge of the sail membrane; A connecting rope, one end of which is connected to the inflatable support ring, and the other end is used to connect to the object to be derailed; An inflatable bottle, the bottle mouth of which is connected to the inflatable support ring and is used to contain compressed gas; The valve device is arranged near the bottle mouth of the gas-filled bottle and is used to open and close the gas passage between the gas-filled bottle and the gas-filled support ring, wherein the valve device closes the gas passage in the initial state.

2. The pneumatic damping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas-filled bottle comprises a bottle body, a bottle neck and an air pipe, wherein the air pipe has a first pipe opening and a second pipe opening which are connected to the bottle neck, and the first pipe opening and the second pipe opening are sequentially distributed on the bottle neck from close to the bottle opening to far away from the bottle opening; The valve device comprises a drive assembly and a piston, wherein the height of the piston is less than the minimum distance between the first pipe opening and the second pipe opening, the height of the piston is greater than the maximum length of the first pipe opening and the maximum length of the second pipe opening, and the piston is arranged inside the bottleneck; When the piston is in the initial state, the piston is located at a position to block the second pipe opening to close the gas passage; the drive assembly is used to drive the piston to move to the area between the first pipe opening and the second pipe opening to open the gas passage.

3. The pneumatic damping device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The driving assembly includes a driving part and an elastic member, wherein the elastic member is arranged inside the bottleneck, and the elastic member is connected to the piston and is located on a side of the piston away from the bottle mouth; When the piston is in the initial state, the piston is located at a position blocking the second pipe opening, and the elastic member is in a compressed state; the driving part is used to release the elastic member to stretch it, thereby moving the piston to the area between the first pipe opening and the second pipe opening to open the gas passage.

4. The pneumatic damping device according to claim 3, characterized in that: After the elastic member is stretched to move the piston to the area between the first pipe opening and the second pipe opening, as the track height of the object to be derailed decreases, the air pressure in the inflatable support ring increases; the elastic member is gradually compressed under the action of the air pressure in the inflatable support ring until the piston returns to the position of blocking the second pipe opening.

5. The pneumatic damping device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The elastic member is made of a memory alloy, and the driving part has a heating function. The driving part is used to heat the elastic member so that the elastic member undergoes a phase change and is elongated.

6. The pneumatic damping device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The driving part includes a control module and a heating element, and the control module is electrically connected to the heating element; The heating element is arranged near the elastic element, and the control module is used to supply power to the heating element to make the heating element generate heat, so that the heating element heats the elastic element to make the elastic element undergo a phase change and extend.

7. The pneumatic damping device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The driving unit also includes a temperature sensor, which is arranged on the heating element and is electrically connected to the control module; The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the heating element, and the control module is used to supply power to the heating element according to the temperature of the heating element so that the heating element generates heat.

8. The pneumatic damping device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The heating element is an annular element, and is sleeved on an area of ​​the bottleneck corresponding to the elastic element.

9. The pneumatic damping device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: After the sail membrane is unfolded, a nearly spherical structure with an opening is formed, and the edge of the sail membrane serves as the edge of the opening.

10. A spacecraft, characterized in that: Comprising the inflatable damping device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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