Self-adaptive temperature deformation compensation stress-free connecting mechanism

Abstract

The invention provides a self-adaptive temperature deformation compensation stress-free connecting mechanism, which comprises three groups of connecting devices, each group of connecting device comprises a tension device, an eccentric adjusting device and a support, and the three groups of connecting devices are arranged on the back surface of a reflecting surface in an inverted triangle shape. A differential adjustment principle and an eccentric adjustment principle are adopted, and micron-sized six-degree-of-freedom high-precision adjustment can be carried out. Meanwhile, the reflecting surface and the back frame are hung on the back frame through the eccentric shaft device on the upper side of the panel, and spring force is provided by a spring assembly in the tensioning device to enable the reflecting surface to be tightly attached to the back frame, so that stress-free connection is achieved. In a wide-temperature environment, the whole mechanism enables each connection position to slide through the oblong hole and the fit clearance, the relative displacement between the reflecting surface and the back frame caused by different materials is coordinated, the reflecting surface is not subjected to external force all the time, and the high-precision stability in the wide-temperature environment is realized. The manufacturing method is simple, low in cost and easy to implement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of antenna technology, and in particular to a stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation, suitable for adjusting the surface accuracy of a high-precision compact field antenna reflector in a wide-temperature operating environment. Background Technology

[0002] For compact field testing systems, the accuracy of the antenna reflector has a crucial impact on the system's performance. Because the antenna reflector and antenna backframe are made of different materials with varying coefficients of thermal expansion, rigid connections under temperature changes can lead to a deterioration in the reflector's accuracy. Therefore, compact field testing systems need to operate in a temperature-controlled environment to ensure stable reflector accuracy. This results in higher system operating costs.

[0003] To improve the accuracy and stability of the reflector surface under wide temperature conditions, a stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation was designed. It employs differential adjustment and eccentric adjustment principles to achieve micron-level six-degree-of-freedom high-precision adjustment. Simultaneously, the reflector surface is held tightly against the back frame by spring force through a tensioning device, achieving a stress-free connection. Furthermore, during temperature changes, the relative displacement between the reflector surface and the back frame is coordinated through elongated holes and assembly gaps, achieving adaptive temperature deformation compensation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem of precision stability of compacted field reflective surfaces under wide-temperature operating environments. Traditional compacted field reflective surface systems require temperature-controlled operation, and the relative displacement between the reflective surface and the back frame cannot be effectively coordinated under wide-temperature environments. This invention proposes a stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation, which has high adjustment accuracy and can achieve stress-free connection and temperature deformation compensation.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: An adaptive temperature deformation compensation stress-free connection mechanism includes multiple sets of connection devices. Each set of connection devices includes a tensioning device (1) and a support (3). The support (3) is installed on the back of the reflective surface (4) at the position where the back frame is installed, and is used to connect the back frame and the reflective surface. One end of the tensioning device (1) is connected to the reflective surface (4), and the other end is connected to the support (3). The tensioning device includes a connecting seat I (5), a spring assembly (6), a pull rod (7), a push rod (8), a ball seat (9), a differential nut (10), and a mounting seat I (11); The mounting base I (5) is an n-shaped frame, which is mounted on the reflective surface (4); the bottom support of the pull rod (7) and the spring assembly (6) are both located inside the n-shaped frame, and the spring assembly (6) is located between the bottom support of the pull rod (7) and the top plate of the n-shaped frame; the push rod (8) is fitted on the pull rod, and the bottom end of the push rod (8) abuts against the upper surface of the top plate of the n-shaped frame; The push rod (8) is fitted with a ball seat (9), which is connected to the push rod (8) by a bearing; the mounting seat I (11) is fitted on the outside of the ball seat (9), and the two are connected by a ball joint; the top section of the ball seat (9) is provided with an internal thread, and the external thread of the differential nut (10) fitted on the push rod (8) and threadedly connected to the push rod (8) is engaged with the internal thread; The mounting base I (11) is connected to the support (3).

[0006] Furthermore, the connecting device is provided in 3 sets, and the 3 sets of connecting devices are arranged in an inverted triangle on the back of the antenna reflector (4).

[0007] Furthermore, the spring assembly (6) is provided in three groups, each group of spring assembly (6) includes a spring, a constraint rod and a fixing sleeve; the fixing sleeve and the spring are both fitted on the constraint rod; wherein, one end of the spring abuts against the bottom of the constraint rod and the other end abuts against the bottom of the fixing sleeve; the fixing sleeve and the constraint sleeve are slidably fitted, and the top end of the fixing sleeve is fixedly connected to the top plate of the n-shaped frame.

[0008] Furthermore, the bottom of the ball seat (9) is spherical and the upper middle part is cylindrical; the mounting seat I (11) is provided with a sleeve structure, the bottom end of the sleeve structure is ball-jointed with the ball seat; the sleeve structure is provided with four adjusting screws in the circumferential direction, the adjusting screws are threadedly connected to the sleeve structure and pass through the sleeve structure, and the inner end abuts against the upper middle part of the ball seat. The four adjusting screws are located in the same plane. After the tensioning device (1) is installed, the push rod (8) and pull rod (7) are adjusted by the ball seat (9) to align their central axis with the normal of the reflective surface. The upper part of the ball seat (9) is tightened by the adjusting screws to fix the normal position, thereby achieving high-precision adjustment of the normal direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the connecting device also includes an eccentric adjustment device (2), which is installed on one side of the tensioning device and includes a connecting seat II (13), an eccentric shaft (14), a mounting seat II (15), and a locking nut (17). The mounting base II (15) is mounted on the reflective surface (4), and the connecting base II (13) is mounted on the back frame; one end of the eccentric shaft passes through the mounting base II (15) and is threadedly connected to the locking nut (17) on the other side of the mounting base; the connecting base II (13) is provided with an elongated hole, and the eccentric block at the other end of the eccentric shaft (14) is located in the elongated hole and has a degree of freedom to move freely in the elongated hole; The eccentric block is spherical, and its center is located off the central axis of the eccentric axis.

[0010] Furthermore, the limiting plate (16) is installed at the opening of the elongated hole to prevent the eccentric block from coming out.

[0011] Furthermore: In the tensioning device (1), rotating the differential nut (10) causes the pull rod (7) to move upward and press the spring assembly (6), so that the spring is in a compressed state, achieving the effect of pressing the reflective surface with the back frame; The spring assembly (6) is in contact with the bottom end face of the push rod; Furthermore: There is a gap between the central shaft of the pull rod (7) and the central hole (6) of the spring assembly. The size of the gap is calculated based on the working temperature range of the reflector and the thermal expansion coefficient of the reflector manufacturing material and the back frame manufacturing material.

[0012] The above technical solution has the following advantages: Employing differential adjustment and eccentric shaft adjustment design, it can perform micron-level position and attitude adjustments.

[0013] b) The reflective surface and the back frame are hung on the back frame by the eccentric shaft device on the upper side of the panel. The spring force provided by the spring assembly in the tensioning device makes the reflective surface and the back frame fit tightly, thus achieving a stress-free connection.

[0014] c) In a wide temperature range, the entire mechanism allows each connection position to slide through the elongated hole and the fitting clearance, which coordinates the relative displacement between the reflective surface and the back frame caused by different materials. The reflective surface is never subjected to external force, thus achieving stable precision in a wide temperature range. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 : Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the connecting mechanism of the present invention; Figure 2 : Schematic diagram of the distribution of the three sets of connecting devices in this invention; Figure 3 : Schematic diagram of the single-unit connection device of the present invention; Figure 4 : A cross-sectional view of the tensioning device of the present invention; Figure 5 : Schematic diagram of the spring assembly structure of the tensioning device of the present invention; Figure 6 : Schematic diagram of the eccentric adjustment device of the present invention; Figure 7 : Schematic diagram of the connecting seat II of the eccentric adjustment device of the present invention; Figure 8 : Schematic diagram of the eccentric shaft structure of the eccentric adjustment device of the present invention.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Tensioning device; 2. Eccentric adjustment device; 3. Support; 4. Reflective surface; 5. Connecting seat I; 6. Spring assembly; 7. Pull rod; 8. Ball seat; 9. Differential nut; 10. Mounting seat I; 11. Guide rod; 12. Connecting seat II; 13. Eccentric shaft; 14. Mounting seat II; 15. Limiting plate; 16. Locking nut; 17. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The following detailed description of an adaptive temperature deformation compensation stress-free connection mechanism of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, includes structural composition, positional relationships, connection relationships, and implementation principles.

[0018] I. Overall Structural Layout and Connection Relationships

[0019] The stress-free connection mechanism of this invention includes three sets of connection devices, each set comprising a tensioning device (1), an eccentric adjustment device (2), and a support (3). The three sets of connection devices are arranged in an inverted triangle on the back of the antenna reflector (4), with two sets located at the upper edge of the reflector and arranged symmetrically from left to right, and the other set located at the center of the lower edge of the reflector. The support (3) is fixedly mounted on the back frame, serving as the basic support structure connecting the back frame and the reflector. One end of the tensioning device (1) and the eccentric adjustment device (2) are connected to the reflector (4), and the other end is connected to the support (3), together forming a flexible connection system between the reflector and the back frame. This arrangement effectively constrains the reflector in the X, Y, and Z directions, while allowing free sliding in a specific direction when the temperature changes, thus achieving adaptive compensation for thermal deformation.

[0020] II. Structure and Connection Method of Tensioning Device

[0021] The tensioning device (1) is the core component of the present invention for achieving stress-free connection and Z-axis adjustment. It mainly includes connecting seat I (5), spring assembly (6), pull rod (7), push rod (8), ball seat (9), differential nut (10) and mounting seat I (11).

[0022] Mounting base I (5) is an n-shaped frame structure, and its bottom is fixed to the back of the reflective surface (4) by bolts; the spring assembly (6) is set inside the n-shaped frame, located between the bottom support of the pull rod (7) and the top plate of the n-shaped frame. The spring assembly (6) consists of three sets of springs, each set of springs is fitted on the guide rod (12), and is evenly arranged circumferentially along the axis of the push rod (8) and the pull rod (7) to ensure uniform force distribution. The lower end of the pull rod (7) is provided with a disc-shaped bottom support to support the spring assembly (6); the push rod (8) is fitted on the pull rod (7) outside the n-shaped frame, and its bottom is provided with a flange (bottom support), which is located on the upper surface of the top plate of the n-shaped frame and contacts the upper end of the spring assembly (6).

[0023] The ball seat (9) is mounted on the push rod (8). Its bottom is spherical and its upper middle part is cylindrical. The ball seat (9) and the push rod (8) are connected by a bearing, which allows for relative rotation. Mounting seat I (11) is mounted on the outside of the ball seat (9). Its lower end has a ball socket structure, which forms a ball joint with the ball head at the bottom of the ball seat (9), allowing it to swing within a certain angle range. The differential nut (10) is mounted on the upper end of the push rod (8) and engages with the external thread on the push rod. The external thread of the differential nut (10) engages with the internal thread on the top of the ball seat (9). By rotating the differential nut (10), the push rod (8) can be driven to move slightly along the axial direction, thereby adjusting the compression of the spring. The upper end of mounting seat I (11) is connected to the support (3) by bolts, realizing the fixed connection between the tensioning device and the back frame.

[0024] III. Structural Composition and Connection Method of Eccentric Adjustment Device

[0025] The eccentric adjustment device (2) is a key component in this embodiment for adjusting the position of the reflector in the XY plane and compensating for thermal deformation. It mainly includes a connecting seat II (13), an eccentric shaft (14), a mounting seat II (15), a limiting plate (16), and a locking nut (17). The mounting seat II (15) is fixed to the back of the reflector (4) by bolts; the connecting seat II (13) is fixed to the back frame, and its main body is a plate structure with an elongated hole. One end of the eccentric shaft (14) is provided with an eccentric spherical head (eccentric block), which is embedded in the elongated hole of the connecting seat II (13) and can slide freely in a specific direction within the elongated hole; the other end of the eccentric shaft (14) is a threaded shaft section, which passes through the mounting hole on the mounting seat II (15) and is fixed by the locking nut (17). The limiting plate (16) is installed on the connecting seat II (13) by screws, covering the opening of the elongated hole to prevent the eccentric spherical head from coming out of the elongated hole.

[0026] The eccentricity of the eccentric shaft (14) is precisely designed, and the micron-level position adjustment of the reflecting surface in the XY plane can be achieved by rotating the eccentric shaft. In the actual arrangement, the elongated holes in the two sets of connecting devices at the upper edge are arranged along the X direction (horizontal direction) to constrain the Y-direction displacement and allow sliding in the X direction; the elongated holes in the one set of connecting devices at the lower edge are arranged along the Y direction (vertical direction) to constrain the X-direction displacement and allow sliding in the Y direction. This arrangement allows the reflecting surface to slide freely in the XY plane when the temperature changes, coordinating thermal deformation.

[0027] IV. Implementation Principles and Working Process

[0028] The implementation principle of this invention is based on three major mechanisms: stress-free connection, six-degree-of-freedom fine adjustment, and temperature adaptive compensation. During the assembly process, the reflective surface (4) is first suspended on the back frame by two sets of eccentric adjustment devices (2) on the upper edge, and a set of eccentric adjustment devices on the lower edge provides horizontal constraints, forming a preliminary positioning. Subsequently, the precise position and attitude of the reflective surface in the XY plane are adjusted by rotating the eccentric shaft (14), and micron-level translation is achieved by using the eccentricity. In the Z-axis adjustment, the differential nut (10) is rotated to push the push rod (8) to move axially, achieving micron-level adjustment in the Z-axis. The relative position of the adjustment rod and the spring assembly is compressed to compress the spring assembly (6), so that the reflective surface and the back frame generate appropriate clamping force, achieving stress-free fit. The spring assembly (6) provides a continuous and stable spring force, avoiding assembly stress caused by rigid connection, while allowing the reflective surface to expand or contract freely in the Z-axis when the temperature changes. The ball joint structure between the ball seat (9) and the mounting seat I (11) enables the tensioning device to have multi-angle adaptive capability, which can compensate for installation errors and initial attitude deviations.

[0029] Under wide-temperature operating conditions, the reflector and the back frame undergo relative deformation due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of their materials. At this time, the elongated holes in the two sets of eccentric adjustment devices on the upper edge allow the reflector to slide along the X direction, absorbing thermal deformation in the X direction; the elongated holes in the one set of eccentric adjustment devices on the lower edge allow the reflector to slide along the Y direction, absorbing thermal deformation in the Y direction. The reserved gap between the pull rod (7) and the spring assembly (6) is used to accommodate the thermal expansion displacement in the Z direction, and the spring force remains constant, ensuring that the reflector is always in a state without external force. The entire mechanism achieves adaptive coordination of multidimensional thermal deformation between the reflector and the back frame through the combined effect of the elongated holes, the ball joint gap, and the spring flexibility, so that the reflector always maintains a high-precision surface shape within a wide temperature range.

[0030] V. Typical Implementation Steps

[0031] When implementing this connection mechanism, first install the three sets of supports (3) on the back frame according to the design position, ensuring that the installation plane is flat and the position is accurate. Then, fix the mounting seat I (5) and mounting seat II (15) to the corresponding position on the back of the reflective surface (4), paying attention to the connection strength and positional accuracy between the mounting seat and the reflective surface. Initially suspend the reflective surface on the back frame through the eccentric adjustment device (2), without locking the eccentric shaft at this time. At this time, rotate the nut at the top of the push rod (7) in the tensioning device (1) to compress the spring assembly (6) appropriately, generating sufficient clamping force to make the reflective surface fit against the back frame. Adjust the position of the reflective surface in the Y direction by rotating the two sets of eccentric shafts (14) on the upper edge, and adjust the position of the reflective surface in the X direction by rotating the one set of eccentric shafts on the lower edge, so as to achieve precise positioning of the reflective surface in the XY plane. Next, rotate the differential nuts (10) of each tensioning device (1) to achieve precise positioning in the Z direction, and at the same time check whether the gaps in each direction meet the requirements of thermal deformation sliding. Finally, the system was tested in a wide-temperature environment to verify the surface accuracy of the reflective surface and the thermal adaptability of the connection mechanism, with fine adjustments made if necessary. Throughout the installation and adjustment process, it was ensured that all sliding parts were well lubricated and free from jamming, and that all threaded connections were secure and reliable.

[0032] Through the above structural design and implementation method, the present invention successfully achieves stress-free connection between the reflector and the back frame, high-precision six-degree-of-freedom adjustment and wide-temperature adaptive deformation compensation, which significantly improves the working stability and surface accuracy maintenance capability of the compact field antenna system in a wide temperature environment.

Claims

1. A stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation, comprising multiple sets of connection devices, each set of connection devices comprising a tensioning device (1) and a support (3), wherein the support (3) is installed on the back of the reflective surface (4) at the position where the back frame is installed, for connecting the back frame and the reflective surface; one end of the tensioning device (1) is connected to the reflective surface (4), and the other end is connected to the support (3); characterized in that: The tensioning device includes a connecting seat I (5), a spring assembly (6), a pull rod (7), a push rod (8), a ball seat (9), a differential nut (10), and a mounting seat I (11); The mounting base I (5) is an n-shaped frame, which is mounted on the reflective surface (4); the bottom support of the pull rod (7) and the spring assembly (6) are both located inside the n-shaped frame, and the spring assembly (6) is located between the bottom support of the pull rod (7) and the top plate of the n-shaped frame; the push rod (8) is fitted on the pull rod (7), and the bottom end of the push rod (8) abuts against the upper surface of the top plate of the n-shaped frame; The push rod (8) is fitted with a ball seat (9), which is connected to the push rod (8) by a bearing; the mounting seat I (11) is fitted on the outside of the ball seat (9), and the two are connected by a ball joint; the top section of the ball seat (9) is provided with an internal thread, and the external thread of the differential nut (10) fitted on the push rod (8) and threadedly connected to the push rod (8) is engaged with the internal thread; The mounting base I (11) is connected to the support (3).

2. The stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting device is provided in 3 sets, and the 3 sets of connecting devices are arranged in an inverted triangle on the back of the antenna reflector (4).

3. The stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spring assembly (6) is provided in three groups. Each group of spring assemblies (6) includes a spring, a constraint rod and a fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve and the spring are both fitted on the constraint rod. One end of the spring abuts against the bottom of the constraint rod and the other end abuts against the bottom of the fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve and the constraint sleeve are slidably fitted together, and the top end of the fixing sleeve is fixedly connected to the top plate of the n-shaped frame.

4. The stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the ball seat (9) is spherical and the upper middle part is cylindrical; the mounting seat I (11) is provided with a sleeve structure, the bottom end of the sleeve structure is ball-jointed with the ball seat; the sleeve structure is provided with four adjusting screws in the circumferential direction, the adjusting screws are threaded to the sleeve structure and pass through the sleeve structure, and the inner end abuts against the upper middle part of the ball seat. The four adjusting screws are located in the same plane. After the tensioning device (1) is installed, the push rod (8) and pull rod (7) are adjusted by the ball seat (9) to align their central axis with the normal of the reflective surface. The upper part of the ball seat (9) is tightened by the adjusting screws to fix the normal position, thereby achieving high-precision adjustment of the normal direction.

5. The stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting device also includes an eccentric adjustment device (2), which is installed on one side of the tensioning device and includes a connecting seat II (13), an eccentric shaft (14), a mounting seat II (15), and a locking nut (17). The mounting base II (15) is mounted on the reflective surface (4), and the connecting base II (13) is mounted on the back frame; one end of the eccentric shaft passes through the mounting base II (15) and is threadedly connected to the locking nut (17) on the other side of the mounting base; the connecting base II (13) is provided with an elongated hole, and the eccentric block at the other end of the eccentric shaft (14) is located in the elongated hole and has a degree of freedom to move freely in the elongated hole; The eccentric block is spherical, and its center is located off the central axis of the eccentric axis.

6. The stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting plate (16) is installed at the opening of the elongated hole to prevent the eccentric block from coming out.

7. The stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the tensioning device (1), rotating the differential nut (10) causes the pull rod (7) to move upward and press the spring assembly (6), so that the spring is in a compressed state, achieving the effect of pressing the reflective surface with the back frame; The spring assembly (6) is in contact with the bottom end face of the push rod.

8. The stress-free connection mechanism with adaptive temperature deformation compensation according to claim 2, characterized in that: The center shaft of the pull rod (7) and the center hole (6) of the spring assembly are left with a gap. The size of the gap is calculated based on the working temperature range of the reflector and the thermal expansion coefficient of the reflector manufacturing material and the back frame manufacturing material.

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