A ground deployment verification device for a roll-up flexible solar array

Abstract

This invention discloses a ground-based deployment verification device for a rollable flexible solar array, belonging to the field of spacecraft solar array testing technology. The device includes a support frame, a deployment drive unit, and an attitude maintenance and hoisting unit. The deployment drive unit drives the solar array's roll axis to rotate, achieving its lateral deployment. The attitude maintenance and hoisting unit includes a longitudinally movable base, a load-bearing component for supporting and driving the solar array's roll axis, and a hoisting component for suspending the solar array in stages. This invention can comprehensively and accurately simulate the on-orbit deployment process of the solar array on the ground, effectively observe the deployment attitude, and provide protection against deployment failures, significantly improving the reliability of testing and the level of design verification.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the field of solar panel mounting device technology, specifically to a ground deployment verification device for a roll-up flexible solar panel. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of spacecraft technology, solar panels, as the core energy supply device for spacecraft, directly determine the on-orbit lifespan and mission reliability of the spacecraft. As spacecraft develop towards lightweight, miniaturized, and large deployment area, rollable flexible solar panels, with their significant advantages such as small storage volume, light weight, and large deployment ratio, have gradually replaced traditional rigid solar panels and are widely used in various spacecraft such as satellites, space stations, and deep space probes.

[0003] The operation of a rollable flexible solar array mainly includes roll-up and storage during launch and autonomous deployment during on-orbit operation. Deployment is a crucial step in ensuring the successful completion of its subsequent energy harvesting function. This deployment process involves the coupled effects of multiple disciplines, including flexible material mechanics, mechanism dynamics, and aerodynamics. The deployment attitude is susceptible to various factors such as roll-up preload, the performance of the deployment drive mechanism, the characteristics of the flexible thin film material, and disturbances in the space environment. Problems such as deployment jamming, uneven speed, attitude deviation, thin film wrinkling, and even tearing may occur. In severe cases, the solar array may fail to deploy properly or may not be able to meet energy harvesting requirements after deployment, directly threatening the on-orbit safety of the spacecraft and the success or failure of the mission.

[0004] Therefore, during the research and development and production of rollable flexible solar arrays, comprehensive and precise testing of their deployment process is essential to visually capture attitude changes and promptly identify potential deployment failures and design flaws. This is a necessary prerequisite for optimizing product structural design and improving deployment reliability. However, existing testing methods for the deployment process of rollable flexible solar arrays are significantly inadequate and cannot meet practical testing needs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a ground-based deployment verification device for a rollable flexible solar array, comprising: A ground deployment verification device for a rollable flexible solar array includes: a support truss; A rotating support assembly is mounted on the support truss for winding up and accommodating the solar array and driving its deployment. The rotating support assembly includes a rotatable support disk and a drive mechanism that is pulsatorically connected to the support disk. A bottom support and avoidance assembly is connected to the carrier plate. The bottom support and avoidance assembly includes a support member and a plurality of liftable load-bearing members disposed on the carrier plate. The load-bearing members are used to support the bottom of the solar array during the initial deployment of the solar array and can descend to avoid obstacles as the solar array continues to deploy. The hoisting and lifting assembly is installed on the hoisting plate of the supporting truss and located above the deployment path of the solar array. The hoisting and lifting assembly includes multiple clamping units, each of which is arranged along the deployment direction of the solar array and is used to sequentially clamp the deployed portion of the solar array and lift it in sections to simulate the deployment state under weightlessness. The clamping units achieve releasable clamping of the deployed portion of the solar array by magnetic attraction.

[0006] Furthermore, the load-bearing rotation assembly also includes an auxiliary rotation mechanism, which is mounted on the support truss via a first mounting plate and can move horizontally along the support truss.

[0007] The drive mechanism includes a drive motor and a telescopic transmission rod. The drive motor is mounted on the auxiliary rotation mechanism. One end of the telescopic transmission rod is connected to the output end of the drive motor, and the other end is fixedly connected to the central rod of the solar array. The drive motor drives the central rod to rotate through the telescopic transmission rod, thereby causing the support plate connected to the central rod to rotate synchronously, so as to realize the deployment of the solar array.

[0008] Furthermore, the auxiliary rotating mechanism includes a second mounting plate, a third mounting plate, a hydraulic mechanism, and a fourth mounting plate.

[0009] The third mounting plate is fixed below the second mounting plate.

[0010] The hydraulic mechanism is installed below the third mounting plate, and the output end of the hydraulic mechanism is connected to the fourth mounting plate to drive the fourth mounting plate to rise and fall.

[0011] The drive motor is fixed to the third mounting plate, and the telescopic transmission rod is rotatably mounted on the fourth mounting plate.

[0012] Furthermore, the bottom support and avoidance assembly also includes a guide mechanism and a support member, wherein the guide mechanism includes a guide rod and a pressing member.

[0013] The guide rod is fixed to the support member, and a guide groove is provided on the guide rod.

[0014] The pressing member is slidably disposed in the guide groove. One end of the pressing member is provided with a pressing part, and the other end is provided with a guide post.

[0015] The bearing plate has a multi-layer structure with control grooves between its layers, and the guide column slides in conjunction with the control groove.

[0016] When the bearing plate rotates, the control groove pushes the guide column to move the pressing member along the guide groove, so that the pressing part presses against the bearing member and lowers it.

[0017] Furthermore, the bearing plate is provided with multiple limiting grooves, and the load-bearing component is vertically installed in the limiting grooves.

[0018] The upper end of the load-bearing component is provided with a load-bearing part for supporting the solar panel, and a pressure block is provided on the side near the guide rod.

[0019] The pressing part can abut against the pressing block to drive the load-bearing member to descend along the limiting groove.

[0020] Furthermore, the clamping unit includes a mounting component, two rotating rods, a clamping plate, and a magnetic suction rod.

[0021] The two rotating rods are rotatably mounted on the mounting component.

[0022] The clamping plate is fixed to the rotating rod. The clamping plate is a magnetic plate that can attract each other or the hanging plate above.

[0023] The magnetic suction rod is disposed between adjacent mounting components and is electromagnetically controlled to attract or release the rotating rod, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the clamping plate.

[0024] Furthermore, it also includes a fixing member, which is fixedly connected to the third mounting plate of the rotating component via a first connecting plate and can move horizontally synchronously with it.

[0025] The fastener is provided with multiple air intake holes, each of which is connected to an external air intake device for adsorbing the wrinkled parts when the solar wings are deployed.

[0026] Furthermore, a fifth mounting plate is provided on the support truss, and a tensioning plate is provided at the unfolded end of the solar wing, with the tensioning plate being fixedly connected to the fifth mounting plate.

[0027] Furthermore, the support truss is provided with a hoisting plate on its front side, and the hoisting and lifting assembly is installed on the hoisting plate.

[0028] Beneficial technical effects of the present invention: 1. By hoisting the deployed solar array simultaneously with its deployment using a hoisting mechanism, the deployment process of the solar array under weightless conditions can be simulated to the greatest extent, making it easier to observe the deployment attitude of the solar array more accurately and intuitively. 2. The bottom of the solar panel is supported by multiple load-bearing components to prevent the outer flexible solar panel from falling or falling off, thereby ensuring that the solar panel remains horizontal during deployment and achieving a more accurate simulation of the solar panel deployment trajectory. 3. An air suction device can adsorb wrinkled solar panels when they fail to deploy, thus preventing damage to the solar panels; 4. By coordinating the movement of the guide mechanism and the load-bearing plate, the solar panels are prevented from rubbing against the load-bearing components during deployment. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings...

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from a first perspective.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from a second perspective.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the auxiliary rotating mechanism of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the hoisting mechanism from a first-view perspective of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hoisting mechanism from a second perspective of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the guiding mechanism structure of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting mechanism of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation between the bearing plate and the load-bearing component of the present invention.

[0038] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Support truss; 2. Lifting mechanism; 3. Solar panel; 11. First mounting plate; 12. Control motor; 13. Auxiliary rotation mechanism; 131. Second mounting plate; 132. Third mounting plate; 133. Hydraulic mechanism; 134. Fourth mounting plate; 135. Drive motor; 136. Telescopic transmission rod; 14. Fifth mounting plate; 15. Lifting plate; 151. Mounting component; 152. Magnetic suction rod; 153. Rotating rod; 154. Clamping plate; 21. Fixing component; 211. Air intake hole; 212. First connecting plate; 213. Second connecting plate; 22. Support component; 221. Guide rod; 2211. Guide groove; 222. Rotating component; 223. Pressing component; 2231. Pressing part; 2232. Guide column; 224. Third connecting plate; 23. Support plate; 231. Supporting component; 232. Control groove; 233. Limiting groove; 234. Load-bearing component; 2341. Load-bearing component; 235. Compression block; 31. Center rod; 32. Tensioner plate. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. This will allow for a full understanding of how the present application uses technical means to solve technical problems and achieve technical effects, and to facilitate its implementation.

[0040] This embodiment discloses a ground deployment verification device for a roll-up flexible solar array, such as... Figure 1-4 As shown, the overall device includes a support truss 1, a hoisting mechanism 2, and a solar panel 3.

[0041] The lower end of the supporting truss 1 is fixed to the ground, and both its front and rear ends are equipped with a first mounting plate 11 that can be moved left and right by a motor.

[0042] The first mounting plate 11 located at the rear end is fixedly equipped with control motors 12 at both the upper and lower ends.

[0043] The output end of the control motor 12 located at the upper end passes through the second mounting plate 131 on the upper part of the auxiliary rotating mechanism 13 and is threadedly engaged with it, thereby realizing the horizontal movement of the auxiliary rotating mechanism 13 controlled by the control motor 12.

[0044] A third mounting plate 132 is fixedly disposed at the lower end of the second mounting plate 131.

[0045] Hydraulic mechanisms 133 are installed at the four lower corners of the third mounting plate 132 to control the lifting and lowering of the fourth mounting plate 134 at its lower end.

[0046] A drive motor 135 is fixedly installed at the upper middle part of the third mounting plate 132.

[0047] A telescopic transmission rod 136 is rotatably mounted on the fourth mounting plate 134. The telescopic transmission rod 136 is connected to the output end of the drive motor 135 via a spline, so that the drive motor 135 can always control the rotation of the telescopic transmission rod 136 during the lifting and lowering process of the fourth mounting plate 134.

[0048] The right end of the support truss 1 is fixedly provided with a fifth mounting plate 14 for mounting the fixed end of the solar panel 3.

[0049] like Figure 1-4 As shown, a hoisting plate 15 is fixedly installed on the upper front side of the support truss 1.

[0050] Multiple mounting components 151 are fixedly installed at the lower center of the hoisting plate 15.

[0051] Two magnetic rods 152 are rotatably mounted between multiple mounting components 151, and two rotating rods 153 are rotatably mounted between adjacent mounting components 151.

[0052] The two magnetic rods 152 are installed inside the rotating rod 153 on one side, and can be attracted and separated by electromagnetic control.

[0053] Clamping plates 154 are fixedly installed on the two rotating rods 153 located between adjacent mounting components 151. The clamping plates 154 can be attracted to each other or to the lower end of the lifting plate 15.

[0054] Two sets of motors (not shown in the figure) can be used to control the two magnetic rods 152 to rotate in opposite directions, and repeat the following operations from right to left: release the mutual attraction between the two clamping plates 154 and the lifting plate 15, and attract the two rotating rods 153 through the two magnetic rods 152 and rotate them 90 degrees in opposite directions until the two clamping plates 154 come into contact with each other and are electromagnetically attracted. Then release the attraction of the two magnetic rods 152 to the two rotating rods 153, thereby controlling the clamping plates 154 to clamp different parts of the solar panel 3 in sequence.

[0055] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 5-8 As shown, the hoisting mechanism 2 includes: a fixing component 21, a supporting component 22, and a bearing plate 23.

[0056] The fixing member 21 has multiple air suction holes 211, which are connected to an external air suction device (not shown in the figure) to absorb the wrinkled parts when the solar wing 3 is deployed.

[0057] A first connecting plate 212 is fixedly installed at the middle of the upper end of the fastener 21, and the first connecting plate 212 is fixedly connected to the third mounting plate 132.

[0058] The fastener 21 is fixedly provided with a second connecting plate 213 at both the front and rear ends, and the two second connecting plates 213 are slidably connected to the first mounting plate 11 on one side of the fastener 21.

[0059] The lower end of the fastener 21 is fixedly mounted on the upper end of the support 22.

[0060] The support member 22 is fixedly provided with a third connecting plate 224, which is threadedly engaged with the control motor 12 located at the lower end of the support truss 1 and is driven to move by the control motor 12.

[0061] A guide rod 221 is fixedly provided in the middle of the support member 22, and a guide groove 2211 is provided at the lower end of the guide rod 221.

[0062] A rotating component 222 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the support component 22, and the rotating component 222 is fixedly connected to the middle part of the bearing plate 23.

[0063] The guide groove 2211 is slidably fitted with a pressure member 223.

[0064] The end of the pressing member 223 away from the guide member 221 is fixedly provided with a pressing part 2231, and the pressing part 2231 and the deployment point of the solar wing 3 are in the same vertical position.

[0065] A guide post 2232 is fixedly installed on the side of the pressing part 2231 near the guide member 221.

[0066] The support plate 23 has a multi-layer structure and is composed of continuous support members 231.

[0067] A control groove 232 is provided between each layer of the bearing plate 23, and the control groove 232 is used to guide the guide column 2232.

[0068] The bearing plate 23 has multiple limiting grooves 233, and each limiting groove 233 has a load-bearing component 234 vertically installed inside.

[0069] The upper end of the load-bearing component 234 is fixedly provided with a load-bearing part 2341 for supporting the bottom of the solar panel 3.

[0070] A pressing block 235 is fixedly provided on the side of the load-bearing member 234 away from the rotating member 222, and can be pressed down by the pressing part 2231.

[0071] When the support plate 23 rotates, the control groove 232 pushes the guide column 2232 to move closer to the guide rod 221, and at the same time, the pressing part 2231 presses against the corresponding pressing block 235 to move downward, thereby causing the load-bearing component 234 to descend, so as to prevent the solar wing 3 from rubbing against the load-bearing component 234 when it is deployed.

[0072] The solar array 3 is formed by continuously winding flexible solar arrays around a central rod 31, and its unfolded end is fixedly connected to a tension plate 32.

[0073] The lower end of the central rod 31 is fixedly connected to the rotating component 222.

[0074] Working principle: First, the fourth mounting plate 134 is raised by the hydraulic mechanism 133. Then, the solar panel 3 is placed above the support plate 23, and the tension plate 32 is installed on the fifth mounting plate 14. Next, the hydraulic mechanism 133 lowers the fourth mounting plate 134 and fixes the telescopic transmission rod 136 to the center rod 31. Then, the support truss 1 controls the two first mounting plates 11 to move to the left, while the drive motor 135 controls the telescopic transmission rod 136 and the center rod 31 to rotate synchronously to deploy the solar panel. Simultaneously, while the support truss 1 controls the two first mounting plates 11 to move to the left, the control motor 12 controls the auxiliary rotation mechanism 13 and the support member 22 to move forward, ensuring that the deployed end of the solar panel 3 is always at the same horizontal position. While the solar panel 3 is deployed, the control slot 232 controls the guide column 2232 to move closer to the guide rod 221, and while the support plate 23 rotates, it presses against... Part 2231 controls the contact block 235 to move downwards, thereby preventing the flexible solar wing at the bottom of the solar wing 3 from rubbing against the load-bearing component 234 and causing damage when it is deployed. After the solar wing 3 is partially deployed, two sets of motors (not shown in the figure) control two magnetic rods 152 to rotate in opposite directions, and release the mutual attraction between the two clamping plates 154 and the lifting plate 15 from right to left. The two magnetic rods 152 attract the two rotating rods 153 and rotate them 90° in opposite directions until the two clamping plates 154 come into contact with each other and are electromagnetically attracted. Then, the attraction of the two magnetic rods 152 to the two rotating rods 153 is released, thereby controlling the clamping plates 154 to clamp different parts of the solar wing 3 in sequence. When wrinkles appear during the deployment of the solar wing 3, air is drawn from the air intake hole 211 through the air intake device (not shown in the figure) to attract the wrinkled parts and avoid damage to the solar wing 3.

Claims

1. A ground deployment verification device for a roll-up flexible solar array, characterized in that, include: Support truss (1); A rotating support assembly is mounted on the support truss (1) for winding up and accommodating the solar array (3) and driving it to unfold. The rotating support assembly includes a rotatable support disk (23) and a drive mechanism that is pulsatorically connected to the support disk (23). The bottom support and avoidance assembly is connected to the carrier plate (23). The bottom support and avoidance assembly includes a support member (22) and a plurality of liftable load-bearing members (234) provided on the carrier plate (23). The load-bearing members (234) are used to support the bottom of the solar wing (3) in the initial stage of its deployment and can descend to avoid it as the solar wing (3) continues to deploy. The hoisting and lifting assembly is installed on the hoisting plate (15) of the support truss (1) and located above the deployment path of the solar wing (3). The hoisting and lifting assembly includes multiple clamping units, each of which is arranged along the deployment direction of the solar wing (3) and is used to clamp the deployed part of the solar wing (3) in sequence and lift it in sections to simulate the deployment state under weightlessness. The clamping units can release the deployed part of the solar wing (3) by magnetic attraction.

2. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The load-bearing rotation assembly also includes an auxiliary rotation mechanism (13), which is mounted on the support truss (1) via a first mounting plate (11) and can move horizontally along the support truss (1). The driving mechanism includes a drive motor (135) and a telescopic transmission rod (136). The drive motor (135) is mounted on the auxiliary rotating mechanism (13). One end of the telescopic transmission rod (136) is connected to the output end of the drive motor (135), and the other end is fixedly connected to the center rod (31) of the solar wing (3). The drive motor (135) drives the center rod (31) to rotate through the telescopic transmission rod (136), thereby driving the carrier disk (23) connected to the center rod (31) to rotate synchronously, so as to realize the deployment of the solar wing (3).

3. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 2, characterized in that, The auxiliary rotating mechanism (13) includes a second mounting plate (131), a third mounting plate (132), a hydraulic mechanism (133), and a fourth mounting plate (134). The third mounting plate (132) is fixed below the second mounting plate (131); The hydraulic mechanism (133) is installed below the third mounting plate (132), and the output end of the hydraulic mechanism (133) is connected to the fourth mounting plate (134) to drive the fourth mounting plate (134) to rise and fall. The drive motor (135) is fixed on the third mounting plate (132), and the telescopic transmission rod (136) is rotatably mounted on the fourth mounting plate (134).

4. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom support and avoidance assembly also includes a guide mechanism and a support member (22), the guide mechanism including a guide rod (221) and a pressing member (223); The guide rod (221) is fixed to the support member (22), and a guide groove (2211) is provided on the guide rod (221). The pressing member (223) is slidably disposed in the guide groove (2211). One end of the pressing member (223) is provided with a pressing part (2231), and the other end is provided with a guide post (2232). The bearing plate (23) has a multi-layer structure with control grooves (232) between its layers, and the guide column (2232) slides in conjunction with the control grooves (232); When the bearing plate (23) rotates, the control groove (232) pushes the guide column (2232) to drive the pressing member (223) to move along the guide groove (2211), so that the pressing part (2231) presses against the load-bearing member (234) to descend.

5. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bearing plate (23) is provided with multiple limiting grooves (233), and the load-bearing component (234) is vertically installed in the limiting grooves (233); The upper end of the load-bearing component (234) is provided with a load-bearing part (2341) for supporting the solar panel (3), and a pressing block (235) is provided on the side near the guide rod (221). The pressing part (2231) can abut against the pressing block (235) to drive the load-bearing member (234) to descend along the limiting groove (233).

6. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping unit includes a mounting component (151), two rotating rods (153), a clamping plate (154), and a magnetic suction rod (152). The two rotating rods (153) are rotatably mounted on the mounting member (151); The clamping plate (154) is fixed on the rotating rod (153). The clamping plate (154) is a magnetic plate that can attract each other or attract the hanging plate (15) above. The magnetic suction rod (152) is disposed between adjacent mounting parts (151) and is used to attract or release the rotating rod (153) by electromagnetic control, so as to control the opening and closing of the clamping plate (154).

7. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a fastener (21), which is fixedly connected to the third mounting plate (132) that carries the rotating assembly via a first connecting plate (212) and can move horizontally synchronously with it; The fastener (21) is provided with a plurality of air intake holes (211), each of which is connected to an external air intake device for adsorbing the wrinkled part when the solar wing (3) unfolds and wrinkles appear.

8. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support truss (1) is provided with a fifth mounting plate (14), and the unfolded end of the solar wing (3) is provided with a tension plate (32), which is fixedly connected to the fifth mounting plate (14).

9. The ground deployment verification device for the roll-up flexible solar array according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support truss (1) is provided with the hoisting plate (15) on the front side, and the hoisting and lifting assembly is installed on the hoisting plate (15).

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