A modular infrared heating cage capable of telescoping folding

Abstract

The application provides a telescopic and foldable modular infrared heating cage, and belongs to the field of design of a spacecraft thermal environment test simulation device. The problems of long development period, complicated adjustment and assembly, and large required storage space in the prior art are solved. The chain type heating cage module is composed of a chain type insulating belt and a heating belt, the chain type insulating belt is formed into a flexible frame through a plurality of insulating links in series, and the heating belt is installed on the chain type insulating belt. At least two sections of metal pipes that can slide relative to each other and a locking mechanism are reserved on the telescopic outer frame shaft rod of the heating cage. A baffle adjusting device is installed on the telescopic outer frame shaft rod of the heating cage. A heat flow meter support is fixed on the telescopic outer frame shaft rod of the heating cage. A sleeve fixing device is arranged at the end of the telescopic outer frame shaft rod of the heating cage. Angle aluminum is used for fixing the telescopic outer frame shaft rod of the heating cage and the chain type heating cage module through a connecting piece. The application is mainly used in the field of vacuum thermal tests.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of spacecraft thermal environment test simulation device design, in particular to a telescopic and foldable modular infrared heating cage. BACKGROUND

[0002] The space thermal environment in which the spacecraft operates is extremely severe, and the reliability of its thermal design is directly related to the success of the mission. To ensure the normal operation of satellites and other spacecraft in extreme temperature conditions in space, high-fidelity vacuum thermal tests must be conducted on the ground. The core goal of such tests is to verify the effectiveness of the thermal control system, assess the performance of each subsystem and single-machine equipment under simulated space thermal environment, and identify potential design or process defects. Vacuum thermal tests require accurate simulation of space external heat flow, i.e., reproducing the heat exchange in space mainly in the form of radiation. In this context, infrared heating cages, as the most commonly used and critical simulation means, are widely used. Its working principle is to act as a controllable heat source, generating infrared radiation through resistance heating, and projecting heat to the satellite surface in a non-contact manner, thereby truly reproducing the almost pure radiation heat exchange environment in space. This simulation capability enables test personnel to place the satellite in a controllable dynamic balance of cold and heat, accurately reproducing its temperature distribution and change state during on-orbit operation, and providing indispensable data support for thermal design verification.

[0003] However, the current widely used traditional infrared heating cage usually adopts a fixed rigid structure, which has exposed many obvious and increasingly prominent defects in practice. First, in terms of development efficiency, the traditional heating cage has a rigid structure and is usually designed in a customized manner, which requires a long development cycle, from design, material procurement to processing and assembly, and the entire process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, which cannot adapt to the rapid iteration of modern spacecraft development rhythm. Second, in terms of cost control, the customized nature results in high cost, and each new satellite model often requires the development of a new heating cage, causing a huge economic burden. Third, in terms of universality, the traditional heating cage has poor universality, and its fixed size and shape cannot adapt to different configurations and sizes of satellite products, and even slightly changed models in the same satellite series may require redesign of the heating cage, lacking the adaptability of modularization. Fourth, in terms of storage and logistics, the rigid structure determines its large storage space requirement, and when not in use, these large and cumbersome devices occupy valuable storage resources, which is a serious challenge for units with limited test site space. Finally, in terms of operation, the assembly and adjustment process is complicated, and a large amount of manual work is required for positioning, fixing and wiring during on-site installation, and it is also very inconvenient to adjust the distance or angle between the heating surface and the satellite surface, significantly increasing the time and complexity of test preparation.

[0004] With the rise and development of batch, platform development mode of small satellites, micro-nano satellites and constellation satellites, higher requirements are put forward for the efficiency, cost and flexibility of thermal test. The shortcomings of the above traditional infrared heating cage are further magnified in this background, becoming one of the bottlenecks restricting the rapid development and low-cost verification of satellites. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, the present application aims to provide a modular infrared heating cage which can be telescopic and folded to solve the problems of long development cycle, complicated adjustment and assembly, and large storage space of the infrared heating cage in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A modular infrared heating cage which can be telescopic and folded, the heating cage comprising:

[0008] a chain heating cage module, a heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft, a baffle adjusting device, a heat flow meter support, a sleeve fixing device and an aluminum angle;

[0009] The chain heating cage module is composed of a chain insulation belt and a heating belt, the chain insulation belt forms a flexible frame through a plurality of insulation links in series, and the heating belt is installed on the chain insulation belt.

[0010] The heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft retains at least two sections of metal pipes which can slide relative to each other and a locking mechanism installed on the metal pipes, for adjusting the width of the heating cage.

[0011] The baffle adjusting device is installed on the heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft for local heat flow regulation.

[0012] The heat flow meter support is fixed on the heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft for installing a heat flow meter.

[0013] The sleeve fixing device is arranged at the end of the heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft for connecting a plurality of heating cage surfaces.

[0014] The aluminum angle is used to fix the heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft and the chain heating cage module through a connecting piece.

[0015] Further, a preferred mode is also provided, the chain insulation belt is composed of insulation links made of polytetrafluoroethylene material connected in series by bolts, and the heating belt is made of nickel-chromium alloy material and is installed in parallel on the chain insulation belt by a fixing piece.

[0016] Further, a preferred mode is also provided, the insulation links are integrally formed high-temperature-resistant structures, adjacent links are connected through rotating pairs, and the width of the chain heating cage module is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of links.

[0017] Further, it is proposed that the fixing member is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the fixing member is used to press the heating belt on the insulating link through a mortise and tenon structure.

[0018] Further, it is proposed that the metal pipe of the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage is an aluminum alloy pipe, and the locking mechanism comprises a threaded jackscrew or a cam handle, and the telescopic position is locked by tightening the threaded jackscrew or operating the cam handle.

[0019] Further, it is proposed that the baffle adjusting device comprises a first sliding block and a baffle, and the first sliding block can slide along the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage.

[0020] A support arm is welded on the first sliding block, and the end of the support arm is fixed with the baffle.

[0021] The fastener of the first sliding block is loosened, and then the first sliding block is moved to a desired position along the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and is locked again.

[0022] The angle of the baffle relative to the heating surface is adjusted by rotating the relative angle of the first sliding block and the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage.

[0023] Further, it is proposed that the heat flow meter support comprises a second sliding block connected with the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and a nut welded on the second sliding block, and the nut is used to install the installation rod of the heat flow meter.

[0024] Further, it is proposed that the sleeve fixing device is a connecting flange, and the connecting flange is provided with a connecting slot hole.

[0025] Further, it is proposed that the angle aluminum is fixed by the connecting piece to form the overall frame of the heating cage, and the end of the chain type heating cage module is fixed on the angle aluminum through the insulating link.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the present application has the following advantages:

[0027] Traditional technology uses rigid metal frame as support, which shape and size cannot be changed. The invention designs chain insulation belt composed of chain links as the core support structure. The overall rigid support is divided into multiple discrete insulation chain links connected by rotary pairs. These chain links are connected in series, and when support is needed, a stable bearing surface can be formed by tensioning; when it needs to be stored, the rotary freedom between the chain links allows the entire structure to bend or even curl. This principle change from rigid to flexible realizes the storage and adaptation of different shaped spacecraft, which is fundamentally different from existing technology.

[0028] To match the size changes of the flexible heating surface, the support skeleton, i.e. the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage, adopts a telescopic sleeve structure. By using at least two metal pipes that can slide relative to each other, the length of the support skeleton can be adjusted steplessly or stepwise by locking it at any telescopic position with a simple locking mechanism (such as a top screw), so that it can accurately match different sizes of modular heating surfaces, realizing the versatility of one frame for multiple sizes.

[0029] The functional units (such as baffles, heat flow meter supports) of traditional heating cages are difficult to install and adjust. The invention designs the baffle adjustment device and the heat flow meter support as independent modules that can slide along the telescopic shaft and be fixed. These functional components are integrated with a slider that can move freely on the backbone shaft, and by loosening / locking the slider, the rapid positioning and fixing of the components on the shaft can be achieved, realizing the local precise control of heat flow and flexible arrangement of measurement points.

[0030] The chain insulation belt proposed in the invention can be bent and curled, and the entire heating cage can be transformed from a large rigid structure to a compact roll or folded state in the non-use state, with a storage volume reduction of more than 60%, greatly relieving the pressure of storage and transportation, which is completely impossible for traditional rigid structures. The chain heating cage unit module can be adjusted in width by adding or removing chain links, and in length by telescopic outer frame shaft, and then quickly assembled into a three-dimensional structure through sleeve fixing device and angle aluminum. This rapid assembly and high versatility perfectly adapt to the modern small satellite batch production and multi-configuration development needs, shortening the traditional customized and lengthy development cycle to a standardized rapid preparation process. The slidable and angle-adjustable baffle device allows test personnel to make local fine tuning of the heat flow in a specific area, achieving more precise simulation of space external heat flow. At the same time, the flexible positioning of the heat flow meter support ensures the accuracy of the measurement data. This convenient adjustment capability improves the test quality and efficiency. The heating belts are installed in a modular form on the chain insulation belt. When a heating belt is damaged, it can be replaced independently without the need to disassemble the entire heating cage or large area of heating surface, greatly simplifying the maintenance process and saving maintenance time and cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] The accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, are included to provide a further understanding of the application and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application. The illustrations, together with their description, serve to explain the application without limiting the same.

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a telescopic folding modular infrared heating cage according to the present application;

[0033] Figure 2 A single-sided schematic diagram of a heating cage according to the present application;

[0034] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a chain heating cage module according to the present application;

[0035] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a telescopic outer frame shaft of a heating cage according to the present application;

[0036] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a baffle adjustment device according to the present application.

[0037] In the drawings:

[0038] 1 - chain insulation belt, 2 - heating belt, 3 - fixing member, 4 - locking mechanism, 5 - first metal tube, 6 - second metal tube, 7 - heat flow meter support, 8 - sleeve fixing device, 9 - first sliding block, 10 - baffle, 11 - angle aluminum. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It should be noted that, in the case of no conflict, the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other, and the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all the embodiments.

[0040] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of facilitating the description of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, therefore it cannot be understood as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second" and the like are only for the purpose of description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, the features limited by "first", "second" and the like can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more.

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0042] Implementation Method 1: This implementation method addresses the problems of long development cycles, cumbersome adjustment and assembly, and large storage space requirements of existing infrared heating cages. It proposes a modular infrared heating cage that can be extended and folded. The heating cage includes:

[0043] Chain heating cage module, heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft, baffle adjustment device, heat flow meter bracket 7, sleeve fixing device 8 and angle aluminum 11;

[0044] The chain heating cage module consists of a chain insulating belt 1 and a heating belt 2. The chain insulating belt 1 is connected in series with multiple insulating chain links to form a flexible frame that can be bent. The heating belt 2 is installed on the chain insulating belt.

[0045] The telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage retains at least two sections of metal tubes that can slide relative to each other and a locking mechanism 4 installed on the metal tubes, which is used to adjust the width of the heating cage.

[0046] The baffle adjustment device is installed on the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and is used for local heat flow regulation.

[0047] The heat flow meter bracket 7 is fixed on the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and is used to install the heat flow meter;

[0048] The sleeve fixing device 8 is located at the end of the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and is used to connect multiple heating cage surfaces.

[0049] The angle aluminum 11 is used to fix the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and the chain heating cage module through the connector;

[0050] The flexible storage and rapid assembly of the heating cage are achieved through the curvature of the chain-type insulating tape and the adjustability of the telescopic outer frame.

[0051] Implementation Method 2: This implementation method further defines the modular infrared heating cage that can be extended and folded as described in Implementation Method 1. The chain insulating strip 1 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene material and the insulating chain links are connected in series by bolts. The heating strip 2 is made of nickel-chromium alloy material and is installed parallel to the chain insulating strip by fasteners.

[0052] Embodiment three, this embodiment is a further limitation of the modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic folding described in embodiment two, the insulating link is a high-temperature-resistant structure integrally formed, adjacent links are connected through rotating pairs, and the width of the chain heating cage module is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of links.

[0053] In this embodiment, the insulating link is integrally formed by injection molding with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material resistant to high temperature, and the shape is designed to realize angular rotation between adjacent links, for example, in the form of double ear plates cooperating with pin shafts; the connecting piece between adjacent links is preferably a combination of stainless steel bolts and lock nuts, which not only provides a rotating pair between the links, but also ensures the reliability of the connection.

[0054] Embodiment four, this embodiment is a further limitation of the modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic folding described in embodiment two, the fixing member 3 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the fixing member is used to press the heating band on the insulating link through the mortise and tenon structure.

[0055] In this embodiment, the fixing member 3 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the mortise and tenon structure is used to firmly press the heating band on the insulating link. The two ends of the heating band 2 terminate at the insulating link, and the heating band of each unit is connected by a metal strip, and is led to a unified electrical interface by a wire. By increasing or decreasing the number of links, the width of the unit module can be flexibly adjusted, and by adjusting the length of the heating band, the length of the unit module can be flexibly adjusted to meet the needs of different sizes.

[0056] Embodiment five, this embodiment is a further limitation of the modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic folding described in embodiment one, the metal pipe of the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage is an aluminum alloy pipe, and the locking mechanism 4 includes a threaded jackscrew or a cam handle, and the telescopic position is locked by tightening the threaded jackscrew or operating the cam handle.

[0057] In this embodiment, the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage constitutes the support skeleton of the heating cage, which is composed of at least two relatively slidable first metal pipes 5 and second metal pipes 6. The conventional configuration is two sections, which can be expanded according to needs. Preferably, the metal pipe is an aluminum alloy pipe. The locking mechanism 4 is provided on the outer pipe of the metal pipe, which is used to lock the telescopic position of the inner pipe. The locking mechanism is one or more threaded jackscrews, which are screwed into the outer pipe, and the end of the jackscrew is tightly pressed against the inner pipe by tightening the jackscrew to achieve locking. Cam handle can also be used to achieve faster adjustment. By adjusting the length of the first metal pipe 5, the length of the installed chain heating cage module can be accurately matched, thereby realizing the adjustment of the size of the entire heating cage working surface.

[0058] Embodiment six, this embodiment is a further limitation of the modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic folding according to embodiment one, the baffle adjusting device comprises a first slider 9 and a baffle 10 which can slide along the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage, specifically:

[0059] A support arm is welded on the first slider 9, and the end of the support arm is fixed with a baffle 10;

[0060] Loosen the fastener of the first slider 9, move the first slider 9 along the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage to the desired position, and then lock it again;

[0061] By rotating the relative angle of the first slider 9 and the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage, the angle of the baffle 10 relative to the heating surface can be adjusted.

[0062] In this embodiment, the baffle adjusting device is installed on the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage, and the baffle adjusting device comprises a first slider 9 which can slide along the shaft. A support arm is welded on the first slider 9, and the end of the support arm is fixed with a baffle 10. By loosening the fastener of the slider, it can be moved to the desired position along the shaft and then locked again; by rotating the relative angle of the first slider 9 and the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage, the angle of the baffle 10 relative to the heating surface can be adjusted, so as to realize the local shielding and accurate control of the heat flow in this area.

[0063] Embodiment seven, this embodiment is a further limitation of the modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic folding according to embodiment one, the heat flow meter support 7 comprises a second slider connected with the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and a nut welded on the second slider, the nut is used to install the mounting rod of the heat flow meter, and the spatial posture and measurement position of the mounting rod can be adjusted by loosening the locking screw of the second slider.

[0064] The heat flow meter support 7 is also fixed on the telescopic outer frame shaft, comprising a slider connected with the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and a nut welded on the slider, the nut is used to install the mounting rod of the heat flow meter, and the spatial posture and position of the mounting rod can be flexibly adjusted by loosening the locking screw of the slider, so as to ensure that the heat flow meter can accurately align the measured object and be positioned to the best measurement point.

[0065] Embodiment eight, this embodiment is a further limitation of the modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic folding according to embodiment one, the sleeve fixing device 8 is a connecting flange, the connecting flange is provided with connecting slot holes, by aligning the sleeve fixing devices in different directions, and using bolts to pass through the corresponding connecting slot holes, the three-dimensional surface structure assembly of multiple chain type heating cage modules can be realized.

[0066] In the ninth embodiment, the corner aluminum 11 is fixed to each other by the connecting piece to form the overall frame of the heating cage, and the end of the chain heating cage module is fixed to the corner aluminum by the insulating link, and the corner aluminum is fixed to each other by the connecting piece to complete the assembly of the whole heating cage.

[0067] The above detailed description of the application is only used to help explain the application. The detailed description does not describe all the details and does not limit the application to the described specific embodiments. According to the content of the specification, many modifications and changes can be made. The specification selects and describes these embodiments in order to better explain the principles and practical applications of the application, so that those skilled in the art can well understand and use the application.

Claims

1. A modular, infrared heating cage that is capable of being folded and extended, characterized in that, The heating cage includes: Chain heating cage module, heating cage telescopic outer frame shaft, baffle adjustment device, heat flow meter bracket (7), sleeve fixing device (8) and angle aluminum (11); The chain heating cage module consists of a chain insulating strip (1) and a heating strip (2). The chain insulating strip (1) is connected in series with multiple insulating chain links to form a flexible frame that can be bent. The heating strip (2) is installed on the chain insulating strip. The telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage retains at least two sections of metal tubes that can slide relative to each other and a locking mechanism (4) installed on the metal tubes, which is used to adjust the width of the heating cage; The baffle adjustment device is installed on the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and is used for local heat flow regulation. The heat flow meter bracket (7) is fixed on the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and is used to install the heat flow meter; The sleeve fixing device (8) is located at the end of the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and is used to connect multiple heating cage surfaces; The angle aluminum (11) is used to fix the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and the chain heating cage module through the connector; The baffle adjustment device includes a first slider (9) that can slide along the axis of the telescopic outer frame of the heating cage and a baffle, specifically: A support arm is welded onto the first slider (9), and a baffle (10) is fixed to the end of the support arm. Loosen the fasteners of the first slider (9), move the first slider (9) to the desired position along the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage, and then re-lock it; By rotating the first slider (9) relative to the axis of the telescopic outer frame of the heating cage, the angle of the baffle (10) relative to the heating surface is adjusted.

2. The modular, infrared heating cage of claim 1, wherein, The chain insulating tape (1) is made of polytetrafluoroethylene material and the insulating chain links are connected in series by bolts. The heating tape (2) is made of nickel-chromium alloy material and is installed parallel to the chain insulating tape by fasteners.

3. The modular, infrared heating cage of claim 2, wherein, The insulating chain link is a one-piece molded high-temperature resistant structure. Adjacent chain links are connected by a rotating pair, and the width of the chain heating cage module can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of chain links.

4. A modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic and folding according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fastener is made of polytetrafluoroethylene and uses a tenon and mortise structure to press the heating band onto the insulating link.

5. A modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic and folding according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metal tube of the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage is an aluminum alloy tube. The locking mechanism (4) includes a threaded set screw or a cam-type handle. The telescopic position is locked by tightening the threaded set screw to press against the inner tube or by operating the cam-type handle.

6. A modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic and folding according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat flow meter bracket (7) includes a second slider connected to the telescopic outer frame shaft of the heating cage and a nut welded to the second slider. The nut is used to install the mounting rod of the heat flow meter. The spatial orientation and measurement position of the mounting rod can be adjusted by loosening the locking screw of the second slider.

7. A modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic and folding according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sleeve fixing device (8) is a connecting flange, and the connecting flange is provided with a connecting groove.

8. A modular infrared heating cage capable of telescopic and folding according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle aluminum (11) is fixed to each other by connectors to form the overall frame of the heating cage, and the end of the chain heating cage module is fixed to the angle aluminum by insulating chain links.

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