A petal folded antenna

Abstract

The application discloses a petal type folding and unfolding antenna and belongs to the technical field of antennas. The antenna comprises a plurality of folding panels, a central body, a fixed inclined shaft, an electric push rod and a locking mechanism. The folding panels are installed on the central body through the fixed inclined shaft and can rotate around the shaft. The electric push rod is connected with the central body and the back of the panel through a hook joint and a spherical joint at both ends, and drives the panel to unfold and fold. The locking mechanism is arranged on the back of the panel and comprises a driving body, a locking seat, a positioning seat, a locking rod and a connecting rod. The locking rod of the inner ring, the middle ring and the outer ring is linked through a single driving electric cylinder, rigid locking is realized in the unfolded state by wedge tight cooperation of the storage lock shaft and the locking seat, and constraint is realized in the storage state by hooking the lock shaft of the adjacent panel through the locking hook. The application improves the storage ratio through the spatial inclined shaft layout, improves the unfolding rigidity and the storage stability through the full-automatic multi-point linkage locking, and is suitable for a vehicle-mounted antenna system with high requirements for mobility and structural reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of antenna technology, specifically relating to a petal-shaped folded antenna with a high density ratio for vehicle-mounted antennas. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicle-mounted antennas are mobile antenna systems installed on vehicle platforms, offering advantages such as flexible relocation, high battlefield survivability, and no need for a base. Currently, market demand frequently favors antenna products with greater mobility, requiring minimal retractable dimensions. For single-vehicle antenna systems, high demands are placed on the retractable size of the antenna, and improving the overall rigidity of the antenna reflector after deployment is crucial for enhancing product performance. Therefore, research on antenna folding mechanism design is of great significance for improving the mobility of large-aperture vehicle-mounted antennas. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem solved by this invention is the small retraction ratio of the radially expanded and retracted antenna reflector, and a novel spatial multi-link motion mechanism design is provided. To minimize the overall dimensions of the antenna after retraction, The technical solution adopted in this invention is: A petal-shaped folding antenna includes a folding panel, a central body, a fixed slant axis, and an electric push rod; Multiple folded panels unfold to form a reflective surface; each folded panel is mounted on the central body via a corresponding fixed oblique axis; the folded panels have the freedom to rotate around the fixed oblique axis; Multiple fixed oblique axes are arranged around the center of the central body and are rotationally symmetrical; the bottom end of the electric push rod is connected to the central body through a Hooke hinge, and the top end is connected to the back of the folding panel through a ball joint.

[0004] Furthermore, the folding panel and the electric push rod are in one-to-one correspondence.

[0005] Furthermore, the back of the folding panel has a locking mechanism; the locking mechanism includes a drive body, and a locking seat, a positioning seat, a locking rod, and a connecting rod mounted on the back of the same reflective surface; In the same reflective surface: the positioning seat is provided with a locking shaft, wherein the locking shaft abuts against the inclined surface of the positioning seat and the locking shaft is located in the shaft groove of the positioning seat, and the locking shaft has the freedom of displacement and rotation in the shaft groove of the positioning seat; one end of the locking shaft is located in the shaft groove of the positioning seat, and the other end is hinged to the locking rod, and the locking rod is perpendicular to the central axis of the locking shaft; one end of the connecting rod is connected to the driving body, and the other end is hinged to the locking rod; the locking rod is also provided with a locking hook; When the reflector is in the unfolded state, the locking shaft is located in the locking groove of the locking seat of the adjacent reflector, and the abutment of the locking shaft and the top of the inclined surface of the positioning seat are engaged; when the reflector is in the retracted state, the locking hook on the locking rod is hooked on the locking shaft of the adjacent reflector.

[0006] The technological advancements achieved by this invention due to the adoption of the above technical solutions are as follows: Employing a "one-click" operating mode, this invention achieves fully automated deployment and retraction of the back frame for petal-shaped folding antennas. By utilizing spatial oblique axis movement, the overall dimensions of the antenna after folding are minimized, improving the storage ratio. Furthermore, compared to existing petal-shaped folding antenna deployment and retraction mechanisms, this invention adds a locking mechanism between the back frames, effectively enhancing the overall structural rigidity. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the storage state of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded state of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the folding panel of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the folding mechanism of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the locking mechanism.

[0010] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the drive unit.

[0011] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the locking seat structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning seat structure in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the locking seat and the positioning seat in an embodiment of the present invention; The diagram labels are as follows: 1. Reflector lobe; 2. Back frame; 4. Central body; 5. Ball joint; 6. Locking mechanism; 7. Fixed inclined shaft; 8. Electric push rod; 9. Hooke joint; 10. Feed source; 11. Sub-face; 14. Inner positioning seat; 15. Outer positioning seat; 61. Outer ring locking seat; 62. Outer ring positioning cone seat; 3. Storage lock shaft; 64. Outer ring positioning seat; 65. Outer ring positioning ball seat; 66. Outer ring positioning ball; 67. Fixed support foot of middle ring drive electric cylinder; 68. Drive electric cylinder; 69. 610. Drive connecting plate, 611. Drive connecting rod, 612. Connecting plate fixing foot, 613. Outer ring locking rod, 614. Adjusting rod a, 615. Adjusting nut, 616. Middle ring connecting rod, 617. Middle ring locking rod, 618. Middle ring positioning seat, 619. Adjusting rod b, 620. Inner ring locking seat, 621. Inner ring positioning seat foot, 622. Inner ring locking rod. Detailed Implementation

[0012] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0013] This invention provides a petal-shaped folding antenna, particularly suitable for applications such as vehicle-mounted and mobile platforms where high requirements are placed on storage size, unfolding rigidity, and automation. The following is a detailed description... Figures 1 to 9 The present invention will be described in detail in terms of its structural composition, working principle and preferred embodiments.

[0014] I. Overall Structure Overview Reference Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the petal-shaped folding antenna of the present invention mainly consists of the following core components: folding panels (including reflector lobes 1 and back frame 2), a central body 4, a fixed oblique axis 7, an electric push rod 8, and a locking mechanism 6. Multiple folding panels are arranged rotationally symmetrically around the central body 4, collectively forming a complete reflector surface. Each folding panel is connected to the central body 4 via a fixed oblique axis 7 and can rotate around this axis. The lower end of the electric push rod 8 is connected to the central body 4 via a Hooke hinge 9, and the upper end is connected to the back frame 2 via a ball joint 5, providing the driving force for unfolding and retracting. The feed 10 and sub-facet 11 are mounted on a feed sleeve above the central body 4.

[0015] II. Composition and Installation of Folding Panels The folding panel consists of a reflective lobe 1 and a back frame 2. The reflective lobe 1 is made of a lightweight, high-rigidity composite material (such as carbon fiber or aluminum alloy), and multiple adjustment joints are pre-embedded on its back, which connect it to the back frame 2. This design facilitates on-site adjustment of the surface accuracy of the reflective lobe 1 while ensuring a rigid connection between it and the back frame 2, thus improving the overall structural stability.

[0016] III. Optimization of Angled Axis Layout and Storage The fixed inclined axis 7 is a spatially inclined axis, and its axis is not parallel to the axial direction of the central body 4. Multiple fixed inclined axes 7 are arranged symmetrically about the center of the central body 4, such as... Figure 4 As shown. By mounting the fixed tilting axis 7 as close as possible to the outer circumference of the central body 4, the axial space utilization can be maximized, significantly improving the antenna's storage ratio (the ratio of stored volume to deployed volume). Furthermore, the fixed tilting axis 7 employs an axial pre-tightening structure, effectively eliminating clearances between moving parts and ensuring deployment accuracy.

[0017] IV. Electric Drive and Self-Locking The electric actuator 8, as the core driving element, preferably employs a transmission scheme using a trapezoidal lead screw and a precision planetary gear reducer. This scheme combines the advantages of high transmission accuracy and good self-locking performance, ensuring reliable locking of the folding panel at any travel position without the need for an additional braking device. The motor and cylinder of the electric actuator 8 are arranged in parallel via gear transmission, forming a compact "folding-back" structure that saves installation space. The connection between the Hooke hinges 9 and ball joints 5 at both ends can compensate for changes in spatial angles during movement, ensuring effective transmission of driving force.

[0018] V. Detailed Structure of the Locking Mechanism One of the key improvements of this invention is the integration of a fully automatic locking mechanism 6, which ensures a reliable connection between adjacent folding panels in both the unfolded and folded states, significantly improving overall rigidity. The following section discusses... Figures 5 to 9 The organization will be explained in detail.

[0019] The locking mechanism 6 is installed on the side of the back frame 2. It adopts the design concept of "multi-point linkage and single drive" and mainly includes: drive body, locking seat, positioning seat, locking rod and connecting adjustment components.

[0020] 1. Driving unit like Figure 6 As shown, the drive unit, serving as the sole power source, is centrally mounted on the back frame 2 at the central ring location. It includes: Drive cylinder 68: Its cylinder body is hinged to the back frame via the middle ring drive cylinder fixing support 67.

[0021] Drive connection plate 69: It is a triangular plate with three hinge points for switching motion and avoiding dead spots.

[0022] Drive link 610: transmits power to the subsequent locking lever system.

[0023] The push rod end of the drive cylinder 68 is hinged to the first hinge point of the drive connecting plate 69; the second hinge point of the drive connecting plate 69 is hinged to the back frame through the connecting plate fixed support 611; and the third hinge point is hinged to the drive connecting rod 610.

[0024] 2. The locking seat and the positioning seat are installed in pairs. like Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, the locking mechanism adopts a "one-to-one" pairing method: On the back frame 2 of a certain folding panel (denoted as panel A), an inner ring locking seat 620, a middle ring locking seat 618, and an outer ring locking seat 61 are fixedly installed along the inner, middle, and outer ring positions, respectively.

[0025] At the corresponding positions of the back frame 2 of the adjacent folding panel (referred to as panel B), the inner ring positioning seat 621, the middle ring positioning seat 617 and the outer ring positioning seat 64 are fixedly installed respectively.

[0026] 3. Positioning and locking core components Each positioning seat (such as the outer ring positioning seat 64) is equipped with a storage locking shaft 3. The locking shaft 3 is installed in the shaft groove of the positioning seat and has a micro-motion degree of freedom along the axial direction and a rotational degree of freedom about its own axis. One end of the locking shaft 3 is designed with a special-shaped abutment surface, which forms a wedge fit with the mating inclined surface in the shaft groove of the positioning seat; the other end extends out of the shaft groove and is hinged to the corresponding locking rod (such as the outer ring locking rod 612).

[0027] Each locking seat (such as the outer ring locking seat 61) has a fixed positioning cone seat 62 inside, which is used to cooperate with the positioning ball 66 on the positioning seat (installed through the positioning ball seat 65) to achieve initial positioning and guidance when unfolded.

[0028] 4. Multi-ring locking rod linkage system To achieve simultaneous locking of the inner, middle, and outer rings, the locking rods are connected via a spatial linkage system: The middle ring locking assembly: the drive link 610 is hinged to the middle ring connecting rod 615, the other end of the middle ring connecting rod 615 is hinged to the middle ring locking rod 616, and the middle ring locking rod 616 is hinged to the collection lock shaft 3 on the middle ring positioning seat 617.

[0029] Inner and outer ring linkage adjustment components: Inner ring: The middle ring locking rod 616 is connected to the inner ring locking rod 622 via the adjusting rod b 619.

[0030] Outer ring: The middle ring connecting rod 615 is connected to the outer ring locking rod 612 via adjusting rod a 613 and adjusting nut 614. The adjusting nut 614 has internal threads with opposite left and right turns, which mate with the threaded heads on the middle ring connecting rod 615 and adjusting rod a 613, respectively. Rotating the adjusting nut 614 allows for precise fine-tuning of the connecting rod length to compensate for manufacturing and assembly tolerances.

[0031] Locking hook: A locking hook is provided at the end of the outer ring locking rod 612 for hooking and locking when stored.

[0032] VI. Work Process 1. Unfolding and locking process First, drive the electric cylinder 68 to swing the locking hook, causing it to disengage from the outer ring of panel B and retract the locking shaft 3. Then, all the electric push rods 8 are activated, pushing each folding panel to rotate outward synchronously around the fixed inclined axis 7 and unfold.

[0033] When the folding panel is unfolded to the designed working position, the positioning ball 66 on each panel B first embeds into the positioning cone 62 in the corresponding locking seat of panel A, completing the initial positioning.

[0034] At the same time, each collection lock shaft 3 slides into the locking groove of the adjacent panel locking seat.

[0035] The electric cylinder 68 is activated, pushing out the push rod, which in turn drives the middle ring connecting rod 615 to move via the drive connecting plate 69 and the drive connecting rod 610.

[0036] The motion is transmitted through the linkage system, causing the locking rods of the inner, middle, and outer rings to rotate synchronously.

[0037] The rotation of the locking rod causes the storage lock shaft 3 to rotate slightly within the groove of the positioning seat. Its irregular abutment surface and the inclined surface of the positioning seat produce a wedge-tightening effect, generating a strong axial tensile force on the lock shaft 3.

[0038] The axial tension tightly presses the storage lock shaft 3 against the bottom of the locking seat groove, and forces the positioning ball 66 to fit tightly against the positioning cone seat 62, thereby achieving high-precision, high-rigidity multi-point locking between adjacent panels in the inner, middle and outer ring positions.

[0039] 2. The process of gathering, storing, and locking. The drive cylinder 68 retracts the push rod, and the electric push rod 8 moves in the opposite direction, pulling the folding panel to rotate inward around the fixed inclined axis 7 and fold up.

[0040] When the panel is fully retracted to the stored state (e.g.) Figure 1 , Figure 5 , Figure 7 When (as shown), adjacent panels are close together.

[0041] At this moment, the locking hook at the end of the outer ring locking rod 612 on panel A is located just above the outer ring storage lock shaft 3 of the adjacent panel B.

[0042] The drive cylinder 68 continues to retract, and through the linkage system, it drives the outer ring locking rod 612 to rotate in the opposite direction, causing the locking hook to swing downward and firmly hook onto the outer ring storage lock shaft 3 of panel B.

[0043] This ensures reliable circumferential constraint and locking of the antenna during storage (transportation), guaranteeing structural stability and safety during transportation.

Claims

1. A petal-shaped folding antenna, characterized in that, It includes a folding panel, a central body, a fixed inclined shaft, and an electric push rod; the folding panel consists of a reflective lobe and a back frame; Multiple folded panels unfold to form a reflective surface; each folded panel is mounted on the central body via a corresponding fixed oblique axis; the folded panels have the freedom to rotate around the fixed oblique axis; Multiple fixed oblique axes are arranged around the center of the central body and are rotationally symmetrical; the bottom end of the electric push rod is connected to the central body through a Hooke hinge, and the top end is connected to the back of the folding panel through a ball joint. The folding panel has a locking mechanism on its back; the locking mechanism includes a drive body, a locking seat, a positioning seat, a locking rod, and a connecting adjustment assembly; The drive unit, serving as the sole power source, is centrally mounted on the back frame at the central ring location; it includes: Drive electric cylinder: Its cylinder body is hinged to the back frame via the central ring drive electric cylinder fixed support leg; Drive connection plate: a triangular plate with three hinge points for switching motion and avoiding dead spots; Drive linkage: transmits power to the subsequent locking lever system; The push rod end of the drive electric cylinder is hinged to the first hinge point of the drive connecting plate; the second hinge point of the drive connecting plate is hinged to the back frame through the connecting plate fixed support; and the third hinge point is hinged to the drive connecting rod. On the back frame of a folding panel, an inner ring locking seat, a middle ring locking seat, and an outer ring locking seat are fixedly installed along the inner, middle, and outer ring positions, respectively; At the corresponding positions on the back frame of adjacent folding panels, the inner ring positioning seat, the middle ring positioning seat, and the outer ring positioning seat are fixedly installed respectively. Each positioning seat is equipped with a storage locking shaft; the locking shaft is installed in the shaft groove of the positioning seat and has a micro-movement degree of freedom along the axial direction and a rotational degree of freedom about its own axis; one end of the locking shaft is designed with a special-shaped abutment surface, which forms a wedge fit with the mating inclined surface in the shaft groove of the positioning seat; the other end extends out of the shaft groove and is hinged to the corresponding locking rod. Each locking seat has a fixed positioning cone seat inside, which is used to cooperate with the positioning ball on the positioning seat to achieve initial positioning and guidance when unfolding; The middle ring locking assembly: the drive link is hinged to the middle ring connecting rod, the other end of the middle ring connecting rod is hinged to the middle ring locking rod, and the middle ring locking rod is then hinged to the collection lock shaft 3 on the middle ring positioning seat; Inner and outer ring linkage adjustment components: Inner ring: The middle ring locking rod is connected to the inner ring locking rod via adjusting rod b; Outer ring: The middle ring connecting rod is connected to the outer ring locking rod through adjusting rod a and adjusting nut; the adjusting nut has threads with opposite left and right turns inside, which respectively cooperate with the threaded heads on the middle ring connecting rod and adjusting rod a, and the length of the connecting rod can be precisely adjusted by rotating the adjusting nut; Locking hook: A locking hook is provided at the end of the outer ring locking rod for hooking and locking when stored; When the reflective surface is in the unfolded state, the locking shaft is located in the locking groove of the locking seat of the adjacent reflective surface, and the abutment of the locking shaft and the top of the inclined surface of the positioning seat are engaged. When the reflective surface is in its stored state, the locking hook on the locking rod is attached to the locking shaft of the adjacent reflective surface.

2. The petal-shaped folding antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The folding panels and electric push rods are matched one-to-one.

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