Root stiffening mechanism of flexible extension rod and use method of root stiffening mechanism

Abstract

The invention provides a flexible extension rod root stiffening mechanism and a using method thereof.The flexible extension rod root stiffening mechanism comprises a base, a supporting petal, a rotating shaft, a torsional spring, a locking pin, a pin pipe and a pin lifting spring, the base, the supporting petal and the torsional spring are connected and matched through the rotating shaft to form a rotating pair, and the supporting petal can be driven by the torsional spring to rotate around the rotating shaft relative to the base; one end of the locking pin is sleeved with a pin lifting spring and installed on the base through a pin pipe, the other end of the locking pin penetrates through a pin hole in the base, and the pin lifting spring is kept in a compressed state. The two supporting petals are symmetrically arranged on the base, and each supporting petal has an unlocking state and a locking state. The root of the flexible extension rod is fixed in three directions through the base and the supporting petals, and the root supporting rigidity of the cylinder in the unfolded state is improved; the device can adapt to full-state connection of the flexible extension rod from a flattened state to a cylindrical state, and allows the extension rod to be closer to a mounting bracket at the root of the flexible wing during winding, so that the extension rod is wound and stored in a smaller volume; the structure is compact, locking is reliable, and unlocking operation is convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of space flexible solar wing deployment mechanisms, and specifically, to a flexible extension rod root stiffening mechanism and its usage method. Background Art

[0002] The solar wing is the main power supply device of a spacecraft. In the case of a large area array, the flexible solar wing has the characteristics of a small stowed volume and a high power-to-mass ratio compared with a rigid solar wing, and is suitable for use in constellation stacked satellites and high-power spacecraft. The flexible solar wing deployment mechanisms mainly include scissor type, sleeve telescopic rod type, etc., but they are all complex in structure, and the kinematic pair clearance after deployment affects the stiffness of the entire wing.

[0003] The existing Chinese patent with the publication number CN118637437A discloses a winding type flexible solar cell array deployment and retraction mechanism, which fixes the flexible extension rod to the root yoke through a support rod pressing strip. However, after deployment, the root of the flexible extension rod is still in a transition state from a plane to a cylinder, with low bending stiffness, which affects the fundamental frequency of the entire wing.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to provide a flexible extension rod root stiffening mechanism. The winding type flexible solar wing provides deployment driving force and post-deployment support through the flexible extension rod, with an integrated structure and function, and has the characteristics of light weight, high packing ratio, and simplicity and reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Aiming at the defects in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible extension rod root stiffening mechanism and its usage method.

[0006] According to a flexible extension rod root stiffening mechanism provided by the present invention, it includes: a base, a support lobe, a rotating shaft, a torsion spring, a locking pin, a pin tube, and a top pin spring. The base, the support lobe, and the torsion spring are connected and cooperated through the rotating shaft to form a rotating pair. The support lobe can rotate relative to the base around the rotating shaft driven by the torsion spring;

[0007] One end of the locking pin is sleeved with a top pin spring and is installed on the base through the pin tube. The other end of the locking pin passes through the pin hole on the base, and the top pin spring is kept in a compressed state;

[0008] Two of the support lobes are symmetrically arranged on the base, and the support lobe includes an unlocked state and a locked state;

[0009] When the support lobe is in the locked state, the pin holes of the support lobe and the base are coaxial, and the locking pin is inserted into the support lobe;

[0010] When the support lobe is in the unlocked state, the locking pin is attached to the side of the support lobe.

[0011] Preferably, the base is of a symmetric structure. Vertical support parts are provided on both sides of the base. Both ends of the rotating shaft are respectively installed on the upper sides of the two support parts. A connecting part for connecting the two support parts is provided in the middle of the base. The two support flaps are respectively arranged on both sides of the connecting part.

[0012] Preferably, screw holes for installing on the connecting frame at the root of the flexible wing are provided at the bottom of the base. A plurality of connecting screw holes for connecting with the flexible extension rod are provided at the top of the base. A torsion spring fixing screw hole for fixing the torsion spring is provided in the middle of the base.

[0013] Preferably, the support flap is arc-shaped. A shaft-passing hole and a taper pin hole are provided on the side of the support flap close to the base. A connecting hole for connecting with the flexible extension rod is provided on the side far from the base.

[0014] Preferably, the flexible extension rod includes a deployed and straightened state and a wound state. When the flexible extension rod is in the deployed and straightened state, the taper pin hole on the support flap is coaxial with the pin hole on the base, allowing the locking pin to be inserted.

[0015] Preferably, the torsion spring is a parallel double torsion spring. The middle acting point of the torsion spring is fixed to the base, and both ends are connected to the support flap.

[0016] Preferably, the end of the locking pin inserted into the support flap is a ball-head taper pin.

[0017] Preferably, a through hole allowing the cylindrical guide rod of the locking pin to pass through is provided on the pin tube, and the diameter of the through hole is smaller than the diameter of the top pin spring. The locking pin always extends to the outside of the pin tube.

[0018] A usage method of a rigidifying mechanism for the root of a flexible extension rod provided by the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned rigidifying mechanism for the root of a flexible extension rod, and includes a locking method and an unlocking method;

[0019] The unlocking method includes the following steps: When the flexible extension rod is in the deployed and straightened state and the rigidifying mechanism is in the locked state, pull out the locking pin from the support flap to release the rotational freedom between the base and the support flap around the rotating shaft. Wind the extension rod from the other end of the flexible extension rod. When reaching the root, the extension rod gradually changes from the cylindrical displacement state to the flattened state;

[0020] The locking method includes the following steps: After the flexible extension rod is put into orbit, the flexible extension rod unwinds and straightens. The root gradually returns from the flattened state to the cylindrical state. The support flap rotates under the action of the torsion spring. The ball head of the locking pin slides closely along the side of the support flap. When the support flap rotates to make the taper pin hole coaxial with the pin hole on the base, the locking pin enters the support flap under the action of the top pin spring to realize the locking between the base and the support flap.

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

[0022] By respectively arranging connection interfaces with the bottom and the left and right of the cylindrical slotted flexible extension rod on the base and the support lobe, the present invention forms the fixation of three directions at the root of the flexible extension rod, increases the root support stiffness in the unfolded state of the cylinder, and further improves the overall fundamental frequency of the wound flexible wing; it can adapt to the connection of the flexible extension rod from the flattened state to the fully cylindrical state, allows the extension rod to be closer to the root mounting bracket of the flexible wing when wound, and winds and stores in a smaller volume; the structure is compact, the locking is reliable, the unlocking operation is convenient, and by changing the size of the support lobe, it can adapt to flexible extension rods of different diameters, with strong applicability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] By reading the detailed description of the non-restrictive embodiments with reference to the following drawings, other features, objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious:

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the locked state mainly showing the root stiffness increasing mechanism of the flexible extension rod of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 It is an exploded view mainly showing the locked state of the root stiffness increasing mechanism of the flexible extension rod of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the root stiffness increasing mechanism of the flexible extension rod mainly showing the flexible extension rod in the unfolded and straightened state of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the root stiffness increasing mechanism of the flexible extension rod mainly showing the flexible extension rod in the wound state of the present invention.

[0028] As shown in the figure:

[0029] Base 1, Support lobe 2, Rotating shaft 3

[0030] Torsion spring 4, Locking pin 5, Pin tube 6

[0031] Top pin spring 7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0032] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments. The following embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but do not limit the present invention in any form. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present invention, several changes and improvements can still be made. These all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0033] Such as Figures 1-4As shown in the figure, a rigidifying mechanism for the root of a flexible extension rod according to the present invention includes: a base 1, support petals 2, a rotating shaft 3, a torsion spring 4, a locking pin 5, a pin tube 6, and a top pin spring 7. The base 1, the support petals 2, and the torsion spring 4 are connected and cooperated through the rotating shaft 3 to form a rotating pair. The support petals 2 can be driven by the torsion spring 4 to rotate relative to the base 1 around the rotating shaft 3. One end of the locking pin 5 is sleeved with a top pin spring 7 and is installed on the base 1 through the pin tube 6. The other end of the locking pin 5 passes through the pin hole on the base 1, and the top pin spring 7 remains in a compressed state. The two support petals 2 are symmetrically arranged on the base 1, and the support petals 2 include an unlocked state and a locked state. When the support petals 2 are in the locked state, the pin holes of the support petals 2 and the base 1 are coaxial, and the locking pin 5 is inserted into the support petals 2. When the support petals 2 are in the unlocked state, the locking pin 5 is in contact with the side of the support petals 2.

[0034] Connection interfaces are respectively arranged on the base 1 and the two support petals 2 for connecting with the bottom and the left and right of the cylindrical slotted flexible extension rod, forming fixations in three directions at the root of the flexible extension rod and improving the bending stiffness. The actual size and dimensions of the support petals 2 need to be adjusted according to the flexible extension rod, and the rotatable angle of the support petals 2 can also be adjusted according to the requirements of the flexible extension rod. Preferably, when the support petals 2 rotate to a position of 90° with respect to the ground of the base 1, the locking pin 5 enters the pin hole on the support petals 2 under the action of the top pin spring 7 to achieve the locking of the support petals 2 and the base 1. When unlocking is required, the locking pin 5 is withdrawn from the pin hole on the support petals 2 by an external force. When the flexible extension rod is wound and retracted, the root is in a slightly curved planar state, and the rigidifying mechanism for the root of the extension rod is in an unfolded state. The support petals 2 are approximately at 0° with respect to the bottom surface of the base 1. The locking pin 5 passes through the pin hole of the base 1, and under the action of the top pin spring 7, the ball head of the locking pin 5 presses against the side of the support petals 2.

[0035] The base 1 has a symmetrical structure. Vertical support parts are arranged on both sides of the base 1. The two ends of the rotating shaft 3 are respectively installed on the upper sides of the two support parts. A connecting part for connecting the two support parts is arranged in the middle of the base 1. The two support petals 2 are respectively arranged on both sides of the connecting part.

[0036] Screw holes for installing on the connecting frame at the root of the flexible wing are arranged at the bottom of the base 1. A plurality of connecting screw holes for connecting with the flexible extension rod are arranged at the top of the base 1. A torsion spring fixing screw hole for fixing the torsion spring 4 is arranged in the middle of the base 1.

[0037] The support petals 2 are arc-shaped. A shaft-passing hole and a taper pin hole are arranged on the side of the support petals 2 close to the base 1. A connecting hole for connecting with the flexible extension rod is arranged on the side of the support petals 2 far from the base 1.

[0038] The flexible extension rod includes an unfolded and straight state and a wound state. When the flexible extension rod is in the unfolded and straight state, the taper pin hole on the support petals 2 is coaxial with the pin hole on the base 1, allowing the locking pin 5 to be inserted.

[0039] The torsion spring 4 is a parallel double torsion spring. The middle acting point of the torsion spring 4 is fixed to the base 1, and both ends are connected to the support lobe 2, driving the support lobe 2 to move relative to the base 1.

[0040] One end of the locking pin 5 inserted into the support lobe 2 is a ball head taper pin.

[0041] The pin tube 6 is provided with a through hole allowing the cylindrical guide rod of the locking pin 5 to pass through, and the aperture of the through hole is smaller than the diameter of the top pin spring 7. The locking pin 5 always extends to the outside of the pin tube 6.

[0042] A usage method of a root stiffening mechanism for a flexible extension rod according to the present invention includes a locking method and an unlocking method.

[0043] When the flexible extension rod is from the wound state to the unfolded state, the actuation process of the flexible extension rod stiffening mechanism is as follows. When the flexible extension rod is in the unfolded and straightened state, the stiffening mechanism is adjusted to the locked state. At three positions of the flexible extension rod, it is fixed to the base 1 and the support lobe 2 of the stiffening mechanism respectively by screws. Pull out the part of the locking pin 5 exposed from the pin tube 6 to withdraw the locking pin 5 from the support lobe 2, releasing the rotational freedom between the base 1 and the support lobe 2 around the rotating shaft 3. Wind the extension rod from the other end of the flexible extension rod. When reaching the root, the extension rod gradually changes from the cylindrical displacement state to the flattened state, and the support lobe 2 also follows the extension rod wall and rotates from 90° to 0°. The wound and stored state of the flexible extension rod is maintained by the pressing and releasing device.

[0044] After the flexible extension rod enters the orbit, the pressing and releasing device is unlocked, and the flexible extension rod unwinds and straightens. The root gradually returns from the flattened state to the cylindrical state. During this period, the support lobe 2 rotates under the action of the torsion spring 4, and the ball head of the locking pin 5 slides closely along the side of the support lobe 2. When the support lobe 2 rotates to 90° with respect to the bottom surface of the base 1, the taper pin hole on the support lobe 2 is coaxial with the pin hole on the base 1, and the locking pin 5 enters the support lobe 2 under the action of the top pin spring 7, realizing the locking between the base 1 and the support lobe 3.

[0045] This application can adapt to the connection of the flexible extension rod from the flattened state to the full cylindrical state, allowing the extension rod to be wound closer to the mounting bracket at the root of the flexible wing when winding, and winding and storing with a smaller volume.

[0046] The stiffening mechanism of this application is connected to the slotted flexible extension rod in three positions, increasing the root support stiffness in the cylindrical unfolded state, and thus improving the overall fundamental frequency of the wound flexible wing.

[0047] This application has a compact structure, reliable locking, convenient unlocking operation, and can adapt to flexible extension rods with different diameters only by changing the size of the support lobe 2, with strong applicability.

[0048] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the present application.

[0049] The specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims, which do not affect the essence of the present invention. Without conflict, the embodiments of the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other arbitrarily.

Claims

1. A rigidifying mechanism for the root of a flexible extension rod, characterized in that, Comprising: A base (1), support petals (2), a rotating shaft (3), a torsion spring (4), a locking pin (5), a pin tube (6), and a top pin spring (7). The base (1), the support petals (2), and the torsion spring (4) are connected and cooperated through the rotating shaft (3) to form a rotating pair. The support petals (2) can be driven by the torsion spring (4) to rotate relative to the base (1) around the rotating shaft (3). One end of the locking pin (5) is sleeved with a top pin spring (7) and is installed on the base (1) through the pin tube (6). The other end of the locking pin (5) passes through the pin hole on the base (1), and the top pin spring (7) remains in a compressed state. The two support petals (2) are symmetrically arranged on the base (1), and the support petals (2) include an unlocking state and a locking state. When the support petals (2) are in the locking state, the pin holes of the support petals (2) and the base (1) are coaxial, and the locking pin (5) is inserted into the support petals (2). When the support petals (2) are in the unlocking state, the locking pin (5) is in contact with the side of the support petals (2).

2. The root stiffening mechanism of the flexible extension rod according to claim 1, characterized in that The base (1) is of a symmetric structure. Vertical support parts are provided on both sides of the base (1). Both ends of the rotating shaft (3) are respectively installed on the upper sides of the two support parts. A connecting part connecting the two support parts is provided in the middle of the base (1). The two support petals (2) are respectively arranged on both sides of the connecting part.

3. The root stiffness increasing mechanism of the flexible extension rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, Screw holes for installing on the root connecting frame of the flexible wing are provided at the bottom of the base (1). A plurality of connecting screw holes for connecting with the flexible extension rod are provided at the top of the base (1). A torsion spring fixing screw hole for fixing the torsion spring (4) is provided in the middle of the base (1).

4. The root rigidifying mechanism of the flexible extension rod according to claim 1, characterized in that The support petals (2) are arc-shaped. A shaft-passing hole and a taper pin hole are provided on the side of the support petals (2) close to the base (1). A connecting hole for connecting with the flexible extension rod is provided on the side far from the base (1).

5. The rigidifying mechanism for the root of the flexible extension rod according to claim 4, characterized in that, The flexible extension rod includes an unfolded and straightened state and a wound state. When the flexible extension rod is in the unfolded and straightened state, the taper pin hole on the support petals (2) is coaxial with the pin hole on the base (1), allowing the locking pin (5) to be inserted.

6. The root stiffening mechanism of the flexible extension rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, The torsion spring (4) is a parallel double torsion spring. The middle acting point of the torsion spring (4) is fixed to the base (1), and both ends are connected to the support petals (2).

7. The root stiffness increasing mechanism of the flexible extension rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the locking pin (5) inserted into the support petals (2) is a ball-head taper pin.

8. The root stiffening mechanism of the flexible extension rod according to claim 1, characterized in that, A through hole allowing the cylindrical guide rod of the locking pin (5) to pass through is provided on the pin tube (6), and the aperture of the through hole is smaller than the diameter of the top pin spring (7). The locking pin (5) always extends to the outside of the pin tube (6).

9. A method for using a root stiffening mechanism of a flexible extension rod, which is applied to the root stiffening mechanism of the flexible extension rod according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Including a locking method and an unlocking method; The unlocking method includes the following steps: When the flexible extension rod is in the unfolded and straightened state and the stiffening mechanism is in the locking state, pull out the locking pin (5) from the support petals (2) to release the rotational freedom between the base (1) and the support petals (2) around the rotating shaft (3). Wind the extension rod from the other end of the flexible extension rod. When reaching the root, the extension rod gradually changes from the cylindrical displacement state to the flattened state. The locking method includes the following steps: after the flexible extension rod enters the orbit, the flexible extension rod unwinds and straightens, the root gradually returns from the flattened state to the cylindrical state, the support flap (2) rotates under the action of the torsion spring (4), the ball head of the locking pin (5) slides closely along the side of the support flap (2), and when the support flap (2) rotates until the taper pin hole is coaxial with the pin hole on the base (1), the locking pin (5) enters the support flap (2) under the action of the top pin spring (7) to realize the locking of the base (1) and the support flap (2).

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