Modular spatial microbiological test load

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of space tests, and provides a modular space microbiological test load which comprises a shell, a plurality of test devices and a controller, and a plurality of observation holes are formed in the front side of the shell; the plurality of test devices are distributed in the shell in an array manner, correspond to the observation holes and are used for in-orbit in-situ tests of microorganisms; the controller is arranged on the shell, is electrically connected with the test devices and is used for independently controlling the microbiological test process of each test device. According to the utility model, mutual independent control among a plurality of test devices can be realized, and a plurality of same or different types of microbiological tests can be simultaneously carried out according to requirements, so that the microbiological test efficiency and flux are effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of space experiments, in particular to a modular space microbial experiment payload. Background Art

[0002] In related technologies, microorganisms have the advantages of simple structure, short growth cycle, fast reproduction, and easy carrying. They are used as biological models for the study of life phenomena in space environments, extraterrestrial life detection, and planetary protection mission research with microorganisms as the focus.

[0003] However, due to the particularity of the space environment, the existing on-orbit microbial culture test equipment has a small test throughput and low integration, and can only carry out one microbial test at a time, resulting in low efficiency of on-orbit microbial tests and poor parallelism between multiple tests, making it impossible to obtain high-quality research results. Utility Model Content

[0004] The utility model provides a modular space microbial test payload to solve the defects of microbial test devices in related technologies, such as small test throughput, low integration, single test type and low efficiency. It can realize independent control between multiple test devices and carry out multiple microbial tests of the same or different types at the same time according to needs, thereby effectively improving the efficiency and throughput of microbial tests.

[0005] The utility model provides a modular space microbial test payload, comprising:

[0006] A housing, wherein a plurality of observation holes are provided on the front side of the housing;

[0007] A plurality of test devices are distributed in the housing in an array and correspond to the observation holes, and the test devices are used for on-orbit in-situ testing of microorganisms;

[0008] The controller is arranged in the housing and is electrically connected to the test devices, and is used for independently controlling the microbial test process of each of the test devices.

[0009] According to a modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model, the shell includes:

[0010] A first frame, wherein a plurality of first observation holes corresponding to the test devices are provided on the front side of the first frame, and the first frame is detachably connected to the test device;

[0011] A front cover plate is detachably connected to the front side of the first frame, and the front cover plate is provided with a plurality of second observation holes corresponding to the first observation holes one by one;

[0012] The rear cover is detachably connected to the rear side of the first frame.

[0013] According to a modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model, a first sealing ring is respectively provided at the connection between the first frame and the front cover plate and at the connection between the first frame and the rear cover plate;

[0014] A first transparent observation plate is provided between the front cover plate and the first frame.

[0015] According to a modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model, the shell includes:

[0016] A second frame, wherein a plurality of mounting openings are arranged side by side on the front side of the second frame;

[0017] A plurality of module cavity shells are arranged in the second frame and are detachably mounted on the mounting opening one by one; a plurality of the test devices are arranged in the module cavity shell, and observation holes corresponding to the test devices one by one are arranged on the front side of the module cavity shell.

[0018] According to a modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model, the module cavity shell includes:

[0019] A chamber shell, wherein a plurality of third observation holes corresponding to the test devices are provided on the front side of the chamber shell;

[0020] A front side plate, detachably connected to the front side of the cavity shell, and the front side plate is provided with a plurality of fourth observation holes corresponding one-to-one to the third observation holes;

[0021] The rear side plate is detachably connected to the rear side of the cavity shell.

[0022] According to a modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model, a second sealing ring is respectively provided at the connection between the cavity shell and the front side plate and at the connection between the cavity shell and the rear side plate;

[0023] A second transparent observation plate is provided between the front side plate and the cavity shell.

[0024] According to a modular space microbial test payload provided by the utility model, mounting bases are respectively provided at the bottoms of two opposite sides of the shell, and the mounting bases are used to be installed on a spacecraft;

[0025] At least one of the mounting bases is provided with a socket, and the controller is arranged in the socket.

[0026] According to a modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model, the test device comprises:

[0027] A culture assembly, including a sealed culture tank;

[0028] The gas-liquid storage component comprises a storage tank and a reversal membrane, wherein the storage tank is connected to the culture tank and a first accommodating cavity is constructed between the storage tank and the culture tank; the reversal membrane is arranged in the storage tank to separate the inner cavity of the storage tank into a sealed liquid storage cavity and a gas storage cavity;

[0029] The transmission component is arranged in the first accommodating cavity, and includes a liquid inlet pipeline and an air outlet pipeline. The culture tank is connected to the liquid storage cavity via the liquid inlet pipeline, and the culture tank is connected to the air storage cavity via the air outlet pipeline.

[0030] According to a modular space microorganism test load provided by the utility model, the turnover membrane is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the air storage cavity.

[0031] According to a modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model, the culture component also includes:

[0032] A heating film is coated on the outer wall of the culture tank;

[0033] A plurality of heat-insulating blocks are arranged at intervals around the outside of the heating film;

[0034] A temperature sensor is arranged in the culture tank;

[0035] The electrical connector is arranged in the first accommodating cavity and is respectively connected to the controller, the liquid inlet pipeline, the heating film and the temperature sensor.

[0036] The modular space microbial test payload provided by the utility model can realize independent control of multiple test devices by integrating multiple small and independent test devices under effective space and weight constraints, and carry out multiple microbial tests of the same or different types at the same time according to needs, thereby effectively improving the efficiency and throughput of microbial tests. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or related technical descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0038] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the test device provided by the utility model;

[0039] Figure 2 This is the second structural schematic diagram of the test device provided by the utility model;

[0040] Figure 3It is a schematic diagram of the explosion structure of the test device provided by the utility model;

[0041] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the culture pool provided by the utility model;

[0042] Figure 5 It is a flow chart of the control method of the test device provided by the utility model;

[0043] Figure 6 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model;

[0044] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the explosion of the modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model;

[0045] Figure 8 This is the second structural schematic diagram of the modular space microbial test load provided by the utility model;

[0046] Fig. 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of the second frame provided by the utility model;

[0047] Fig.10 It is a structural schematic diagram of the module cavity shell provided by the utility model;

[0048] Fig.11 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the module cavity shell provided by the utility model.

[0049] Reference numerals:

[0050] 1: culture tank; 101: first flange; 102: second flange; 103: second accommodating cavity;

[0051] 104: first support column; 1041: connection hole; 105: second support column;

[0052] 1051: liquid inlet channel; 106: air outlet; 107: first connecting pipe;

[0053] 108: second connecting pipe; 109: connecting column;

[0054] 2: storage tank; 201: liquid storage chamber; 202: third connecting pipe;

[0055] 203: fourth connecting pipe; 204: tank body; 205: cover body; 206: third connecting part;

[0056] 3: flip film; 301: protrusion;

[0057] 4: first accommodating cavity; 5: heating film; 6: heat insulation block; 7: electrical connector;

[0058] 8: sample holder; 801: flow gap; 9: clamping frame; 10: viewing window;

[0059] 11: pump; 12: heat insulation cushion; 121: fixing ring; 122: first connecting part;

[0060] 13: wiring harness seat; 131: first wiring harness hole; 132: second wiring harness hole;

[0061] 14: connecting frame; 141: second connecting portion; 142: weight-reducing hole;

[0062] 15: controller; 161: first frame; 162: front cover; 163: rear cover;

[0063] 164: first observation hole; 165: second observation hole; 166: first sealing ring;

[0064] 167: first transparent observation plate; 168: first reinforcing rib;

[0065] 171: second frame; 172: module cavity shell; 173: installation opening; 174: cavity shell;

[0066] 175: front side panel; 176: rear side panel; 177: third observation hole;

[0067] 178: fourth observation hole; 179: second sealing ring; 180: second transparent observation plate;

[0068] 181: second reinforcing rib; 19: mounting base; 20: socket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the utility model clearer, the technical solution of the utility model will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the drawings in the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0070] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present utility model and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present utility model. In addition, the terms "first", "second" and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0071] In the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0072] In the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "above" and "above" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. The first feature being "below", "below" and "below" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0073] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the utility model embodiment. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0074] Combine the following Figure 1-Figure 11 The utility model describes an on-orbit small integrated microbial test device and a modular space microbial test payload.

[0075] According to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present utility model, referring to Figure 1-Figure 4 As shown, the on-orbit small integrated microbial testing device provided by the utility model fully considers the special challenges in the space environment, such as changes in liquid phenomena under microgravity conditions, material transmission difficulties, sealing safety requirements and volume, etc., and proposes corresponding solutions in a targeted manner.

[0076] The on-orbit small integrated microbial testing device of the embodiment of the utility model mainly includes three parts: a culture component, a gas-liquid storage component and a transmission component.

[0077] The culture assembly includes a sealed culture tank 1, which is used for microbial culture experiments. The sealed culture tank 1 design ensures that the microbial experiment process will not cause pollution to the external environment, while preventing the external environment from affecting the experiment process.

[0078] The gas-liquid storage component includes a storage tank 2 and a flip membrane 3. The storage tank 2 is connected to the culture tank 1, and a first accommodating chamber 4 is constructed between the storage tank 2 and the culture tank 1. By constructing the first accommodating chamber 4, a transmission component can be installed to achieve a compact structure, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the overall structure; the flip membrane 3 is arranged in the storage tank 2 to separate the inner cavity of the storage tank 2 into a sealed liquid storage chamber 201 and a gas storage chamber. By dividing the interior of the storage tank 2 into two independent and enclosed spaces, effective isolation of the culture liquid in the liquid storage chamber 201 and the gas in the gas storage chamber is achieved.

[0079] The transmission component is arranged in the first accommodating chamber 4, including a liquid inlet pipeline and an air outlet pipeline. The culture tank 1 is connected to the liquid storage chamber 201 via the liquid inlet pipeline. The liquid inlet pipeline is responsible for transporting the culture solution from the liquid storage chamber 201 to the culture tank 1 to activate the microbial culture. The culture solution can be distilled water, aqueous solution or nutrient solution, etc.; the culture tank 1 is connected to the gas storage chamber via the air outlet pipeline, and the air outlet pipeline allows the excess gas in the culture tank 1 to flow into the gas storage chamber, thereby forming a closed gas-liquid circulation system.

[0080] Specifically, the liquid inlet pipeline can transfer the culture liquid in the liquid storage cavity 201 of the storage tank 2 to the culture tank 1 to provide nutrients for the growth of microorganisms. During the liquid transportation, since the culture tank 1 and the storage tank 2 are both sealed structures, the culture liquid increases the pressure inside the cavity of the culture tank 1, thereby causing the gas in the culture tank 1 to flow autonomously into the gas storage cavity of the storage tank 2 through the gas outlet pipeline, compressing the flip membrane 3 to deform and flip, thereby relieving the pressure in the cavity of the culture tank 1 to ensure the pressure balance inside the entire device, effectively improving the safety of the experiment.

[0081] It is understandable that the design of the flip membrane 3 of the utility model cleverly utilizes liquid pressure. When the gas in the gas storage chamber increases and generates pressure, it will compress the flip membrane 3 to deform, achieve autonomous pressure relief, and thus maintain the pressure balance inside the entire device.

[0082] The on-orbit small integrated microbial testing device provided by the embodiment of the utility model can effectively control the progress of the on-orbit microbial culture experiment by utilizing the culture solution in the transport storage tank 2 as the activation condition for the microbial culture in the culture tank 1; and the pressure inside the device can be automatically released by flipping the membrane 3, without the need for additional operation and auxiliary equipment, thus simplifying the device structure, facilitating the miniaturization of the overall structure, improving the convenience of operation, and achieving the gas-liquid circulation balance requirement inside the rigid closed device, thereby ensuring safety.

[0083] The utility model uses an integrated design to enable microbial cultivation to be carried out automatically in a microgravity environment without the need for additional operating equipment, thus reducing complexity and risk. The small integrated feature is conducive to saving precious space resources of the spacecraft, while ensuring the safety and convenience of the experiment, which is of great significance for on-orbit microbial research.

[0084] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 3 As shown, the reversible film 3 is provided with a protrusion 301 protruding toward the gas storage cavity, and the protrusion 301 can be a hemispherical surface with a curved surface. When the gas in the gas storage cavity squeezes the protrusion 301, it can be deformed and reversed, and completely sunken to one side of the liquid storage cavity 201.

[0085] The embodiment of the utility model provides a hemispherical protrusion 301 protruding toward the gas storage chamber on the flip membrane 3. This special and ingenious design enhances the pressure relief performance of the flip membrane 3: in the actual operation process, as the microorganisms grow and reproduce in the culture tank 1, a certain amount of gas will be generated. When the gas pressure increases to a certain extent, it will act on the protrusion 301 of the flip membrane 3. Since the protrusion 301 adopts a hemispherical design, it has a good responsiveness to the gas pressure and can more effectively convert the pressure received into deformation kinetic energy, so that the protrusion 301 can flexibly be concave and flipped toward the side of the liquid storage chamber 201.

[0086] This deformation and flipping action can quickly release the excess gas in the culture tank 1, thereby achieving the purpose of rapid and complete internal pressure balance adjustment, effectively preventing safety problems that may arise from excessive pressure in the device. At the same time, this design helps to ensure the stability of the microbial culture environment and the accuracy of the experimental results, reflecting the refined consideration of the utility model for the design of microbial test devices in a microgravity environment.

[0087] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the turnover film 3 is preferably a silicone turnover film.

[0088] In the embodiment of the utility model, the silicone flip film is selected as a part of the device with the following characteristics:

[0089] 1. Material properties: Silicone is a polymer elastic material with good high and low temperature resistance and excellent chemical stability. It can maintain stable physical properties in a wide temperature range and adapt to extreme temperature changes in the space environment.

[0090] 2. Flexibility and durability: The silicone flip membrane has excellent flexibility and elasticity. Even in a microgravity environment, it can flexibly deform and reset according to pressure changes, ensuring that it can deform and flip to relieve pressure when the gas pressure in the storage pool increases. At the same time, it can also ensure that it is not easy to be damaged or fatigued during long-term use.

[0091] 3. Sealing performance: Silicone material has excellent air tightness and liquid tightness. When used as a flip membrane, it can effectively prevent cross-contamination between the gas and liquid inside the culture tank and the external environment, and ensure the sealing integrity of the entire test device.

[0092] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the culture assembly also includes: a heating film 5, a plurality of heat-insulating blocks 6, a temperature sensor, an electrical connector 7 and other components. The heating film 5 is coated on the outer wall of the culture tank 1, and is used to heat the culture tank cavity to provide the temperature required for the growth of microorganisms; a plurality of heat-insulating blocks 6 are arranged at intervals around the outside of the heating film 5 to achieve heat insulation; the temperature sensor is arranged on the outside of the bottom of the culture tank 1 to detect the temperature of the culture tank cavity; the electrical connector 7 is arranged in the first accommodating cavity 4, and is respectively connected to the liquid inlet pipeline, the heating film 5 and the temperature sensor, and is used to receive remote instructions and control the microorganism culture process, including real-time temperature acquisition, heating film 5 control, pump 11 control, etc.

[0093] The culture assembly in the embodiment of the utility model not only includes a culture pool 1 with a sealed design, but also realizes precise control and automatic management of the microbial growth environment by integrating multiple functional components. Specifically, it includes the following components and their functions:

[0094] 1. Heating film 5: attached to the outer wall of the culture tank 1, it converts electrical energy into thermal energy to heat the internal space of the culture tank 1, ensuring that a constant temperature condition suitable for the growth and reproduction of microorganisms is maintained.

[0095] 2. Heat insulation block 6: arranged around the heating film 5, used to reduce heat loss, ensure effective use of energy, and prevent external temperature from affecting the microecological environment in the culture tank 1.

[0096] 3. Temperature sensor: A thermistor can be used, directly embedded or set at the bottom of the culture tank 1, which can monitor and feedback the actual temperature data in the cavity of the culture tank 1 in real time, ensuring that the culture process is always within the preset precise temperature control range, for example, the temperature control range is 25°C to 37°C, and the temperature control accuracy is ±1°C, which meets the normal growth and sterilization requirements of microorganisms.

[0097] 4. Electrical connector 7: As a communication interface and power controller, it receives instructions from the controller and controls the working state of the liquid inlet pipeline (such as the start-up and injection operation of the pump 11), adjusts the heating power of the heating film 5, and reads the data information of the temperature sensor.

[0098] The design of the entire device in the embodiment of the utility model embodies a high degree of integration and intelligence, and optimizes and integrates the complex microbial culture process in a limited space. All test steps such as liquid injection and temperature control can be executed through remote instructions or automatic programs without the direct participation of astronauts, which greatly reduces the risk and difficulty of human operation and improves the safety, reliability and effectiveness of on-orbit microbial experiments. In addition, the compact design also fully considers the preciousness of spacecraft space resources and adapts to the needs of miniaturization of equipment in the space environment.

[0099] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heating film 5 is preferably a polyimide heating film, the height of the heating film 5 is 18 mm, the unfolded length is 90 mm, and the power consumption is 1 W.

[0100] In the embodiment of the utility model, the polyimide material is very suitable for making heating elements in spacecraft due to its excellent properties, such as high temperature resistance, high insulation, high mechanical strength, good chemical stability and strong thermal stability.

[0101] In terms of specific parameter settings, the height of the heating film 5 is 18mm and the unfolded length is 90mm. Such a size design can effectively fit and cover the outer wall of the culture pool 1, ensuring that the heat is evenly distributed to the entire culture area and meeting the temperature conditions required for microbial growth. The power consumption is designed to be 1W, which not only ensures the heating efficiency, but also takes into account the limitations of the space station's energy supply, achieving the goal of low-power and high-efficiency heating, which is conducive to the long-term stable operation and energy management of on-orbit equipment. This precise and energy-saving design concept is of great significance to experimental equipment in a space environment.

[0102] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, a first flange 101 and a second flange 102 are respectively provided at both ends of the culture pool 1 , and a second accommodating cavity 103 is constructed between the first flange 101 and the second flange 102 ; the heating film 5 and the insulation block 6 are located in the second accommodating cavity 103 .

[0103] The design of the culture pool 1 of the utility model embodiment further embodies the characteristics of compact structure and miniaturization:

[0104] A first flange 101 and a second flange 102 are specially designed at the top and bottom ends of the culture tank 1, and the two flanges are arranged opposite to each other to form an independent second accommodating cavity 103. The heating film 5 and the heat insulating block 6 are cleverly arranged in the second accommodating cavity 103, and such a layout enables the heating component and the main part of the culture tank to form a nested space utilization structure.

[0105] Through this design, on the one hand, it can ensure that the heating film 5 is in close contact with and effectively heats the culture tank 1, and on the other hand, the insulation block 6 can effectively prevent heat from being lost to the outside of the device, while not occupying the space inside the culture tank 1, thereby ensuring the effectiveness and stability of the microbial culture environment. In addition, integrating the heating assembly (heating film 5 and insulation block 6) in the second accommodating cavity 103 between the end flanges of the culture tank 1 not only realizes the integration of functional modules, but also greatly saves space resources, which is conducive to the miniaturization and lightweight of the entire microbial test device, and adapts to the strict restrictions on equipment volume and weight in the space environment.

[0106] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the culture assembly also includes: a sample holder 8, a pressing frame 9 and a window 10. The sample holder 8 is detachably arranged in the culture tank 1. The sample holder 8 is provided with a fixing hole for fixing the test material sheet to the sample holder 8 by two fixing screws. The fixing screws are M2 screws with gaskets and washers. The test material sheet is a metal or non-metal material sheet. The test microorganism is inoculated on the surface of the test material sheet. The sample holder 8 is provided with a flow gap 801 to facilitate the gas-liquid circulation in the culture tank 1. The pressing frame 9 is detachably connected to the first flange 101 at the top of the culture tank 1. The window 10 is arranged between the first flange 101 at the top of the culture tank 1 and the pressing frame 9. The test microorganism can be Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Micrococcus and / or Pseudomonas.

[0107] In the design of the culture assembly of the embodiment of the utility model, key components such as the sample holder 8, the pressing frame 9 and the window 10 are further introduced to optimize the microbial in-orbit culture experiment function, as follows:

[0108] 1. Sample holder 8: It is detachably mounted inside the culture tank 1 and is provided with fixing holes for stably carrying the test material sheet. The material sheet is usually treated with surface inoculation of microorganisms so that the microorganisms can be grown and reproduced under simulated space environment conditions. The sample holder 8 is also specially designed with a flow gap 801 to ensure that the gas and liquid in the culture tank 1 can flow freely, which is conducive to the full contact between the microorganisms and the nutrient solution and their metabolic activities.

[0109] 2. The compression frame 9: It is also detachable and connected to the first flange 101 at the top of the culture tank 1. The compression frame 9 is used to firmly position the window 10 and to seal the window 10 to ensure the integrity of the culture environment and prevent liquid leakage or gas escape.

[0110] 3. Window 10: It is arranged between the first flange 101 at the top of the culture tank 1 and the clamping frame 9, so that researchers can observe the growth of microorganisms on the sample holder 8 and the changes in the entire culture process through the window 10 without opening the device. This not only maintains the requirements of sterile operation, but also reduces the potential risks caused by frequent opening and closing of the equipment.

[0111] This structural design enables the microbial experimental device of the utility model to have a high degree of operational convenience and observation convenience, while ensuring the accuracy and safety of the experiment, reflecting the efficient use and scientific consideration of biological experimental equipment in a microgravity environment.

[0112] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the window 10 is preferably a polycarbonate window.

[0113] In the embodiment of the utility model, the window 10 is made of polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate is very suitable for the microbiological test device of the utility model due to its unique performance characteristics, as follows:

[0114] 1. High optical transparency: Polycarbonate has excellent light transmittance, which allows the growth of microorganisms on the sample holder 8 inside the culture tank 1 to be clearly observed, ensuring the accuracy of experimental observation.

[0115] 2. High impact resistance: Compared with traditional materials such as glass, polycarbonate has extremely high impact resistance. It is particularly suitable for use in special space environments that may be affected by vibration, microgravity, etc., and can effectively prevent safety risks caused by window breakage.

[0116] 3. Light weight: As a component on a spacecraft, reducing weight is crucial. The relatively low density of polycarbonate helps to achieve the goal of miniaturization and lightweighting of the equipment.

[0117] 4. Good weather resistance: Polycarbonate has good weather resistance and can resist ultraviolet radiation and other harsh environmental conditions in space, ensuring long-term and stable operation of the window.

[0118] 5. Excellent processability: Polycarbonate can be easily processed into various shapes and sizes to meet the requirements of complex spatial structures, and its wear resistance and scratch resistance can be improved through surface treatment.

[0119] Therefore, the embodiment of the utility model selects polycarbonate as the window material, which not only meets the visualization requirements during the microbial culture experiment, but also fully considers the strict requirements on materials in the space environment.

[0120] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the culture pool 1 and the clamping frame 9 are preferably made of aluminum alloy, which can significantly reduce the mass of the entire test device and meet the requirements of the spacecraft for strict control of the payload weight. After the aluminum alloy is properly alloyed, it can obtain good mechanical strength and hardness, ensuring that the structure of the culture pool 1 is stable and reliable, and the clamping frame 9 can firmly fix the window 10 to prevent loosening or deformation in a microgravity environment. At the same time, the aluminum alloy has good corrosion resistance and can maintain a good working condition in a long-term space environment.

[0121] In a specific example, threaded holes are respectively provided at the four top corners of the first flange 101 at the top of the culture pool 1, the pressing frame 9 and the window 10, and four M2 screws are used for fastening and assembly. In the actual process, a sealing gasket can be provided at the connection to ensure the sealing of the culture pool 1.

[0122] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 4 As shown, the interior of the culture pool 1 is provided with a first support column 104 and a second support column 105 which are spaced apart from each other, the first support column 104 is provided with a connecting hole 1041, and the second support column 105 is provided with a liquid inlet channel 1051; the sample holder 8 is located on the first support column 104 and the second support column 105, the sample holder 8 is connected to the connecting hole 1041 of the first support column 104 via a fastener, and the liquid inlet pipeline is connected to the flow gap 801 of the sample holder 8 via the liquid inlet channel 1051 of the second support column 105; and an air outlet hole 106 is provided at the bottom of the culture pool 1, and the air outlet hole 106 is connected to the air outlet pipeline.

[0123] For example, two first support columns 104 and one second support column 105 are respectively located on opposite sides of the culture pool 1 , which is beneficial to improving the stability of the sample bracket 8 .

[0124] The internal design structure of the culture pool 1 in the embodiment of the utility model embodies the characteristics of precision and high efficiency, as follows:

[0125] 1. Support column design: A first support column 104 and a second support column 105 are provided inside the culture tank 1. A connecting hole 1041 is provided on the first support column 104 for fixing the sample holder 8. The sample holder 8 is tightly connected to the first support column 104 by fasteners such as screws to ensure that the sample holder 8 and the test material sheet are stable and immobile during the culture process to avoid movement or flipping due to the influence of the microgravity environment.

[0126] 2. Liquid inlet channel design: In addition to supporting function, the second support column 105 is also provided with a liquid inlet channel 1051, which directly connects the liquid inlet pipeline and the flow gap 801 on the sample holder 8. The culture fluid can be directly delivered to the sample holder 8 from the liquid inlet channel 1051, so that the microorganisms can quickly contact the fresh culture fluid after being inoculated on the surface of the test material sheet, thereby improving the culture efficiency and the possibility of maintaining the activity of the microorganisms.

[0127] In summary, this design ensures the effective transmission and management of liquids and gases during microbial experiments, achieves precise control of the microbial growth environment, simplifies the operation process, and reduces the complexity of microbial experimental operations on the space station. In addition, due to the high degree of integration of the internal components of the equipment and the reasonable functional layout, the safety and reliability of the entire microbial experimental device in orbit have been greatly improved.

[0128] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the liquid inlet pipeline mainly includes: a liquid inlet pipe, a pump 11 and a heat-insulating buffer pad 12 and other components. Among them, the liquid inlet pipe is connected to the liquid storage cavity 201 of the culture tank 1 and the storage tank 2 respectively; the pump 11 is sandwiched in the first accommodating cavity 4 between the culture tank 1 and the storage tank 2, and the pump 11 is located in the liquid inlet pipe; the heat-insulating buffer pad 12 is arranged between the pump 11 and the storage tank 2, that is, located at the bottom of the pump 11.

[0129] In the embodiment of the present utility model, the design of the liquid inlet pipeline fully considers the special requirements in the space environment and the precise control requirements of the microbial culture test, as follows:

[0130] 1. Liquid inlet tube: As a key component for liquid transmission, its two ends are respectively connected to the liquid storage chamber 201 of the culture tank 1 and the storage tank 2, ensuring that the culture liquid can be accurately transported from the storage tank 2 to the culture tank 1 according to experimental requirements.

[0131] 2. Pump 11: Installed in the first accommodating chamber 4 and sandwiched between the culture tank 1 and the storage tank 2. This design not only enhances the detachable assembly stability of the entire device, but also allows the pump 11 to be compactly integrated into the system. Through the operation of the pump 11, the timing of microbial culture start-up and the flow rate of the culture solution can be accurately controlled, which is crucial for on-orbit biological experiments.

[0132] 3. Heat insulation cushion 12: It is arranged between the pump 11 and the storage tank 2 and mainly plays two roles:

[0133] a. Heat insulation function: Since the culture tank 1 generates heat due to the heating film 5, the heat insulation cushion 12 can effectively prevent heat from being transferred to the storage tank 2, thereby preventing the stored culture solution from evaporating due to heat, maintaining the temperature of the culture solution stable, and protecting the experiment from interference.

[0134] b. Buffering and vibration reduction effect: There is microgravity in the space environment, and the equipment is easily affected by vibration. By adding the thermal insulation cushion 12, the vibration generated by the pump 11 during operation can be absorbed and reduced, protecting the pump 11 and its accessories from damage, while also ensuring the stability and reliability of the overall operation of the device.

[0135] Therefore, the liquid inlet pipeline design in this embodiment achieves an organic combination of compact structure, miniaturization and functionality, and meets the requirements of the on-orbit microbial testing device for high efficiency, precision and safety.

[0136] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe are latex tubes or silicone tubes, and the pump 11 is preferably a peristaltic pump.

[0137] Specifically, both latex tubes and silicone tubes have good elasticity and resilience. When the peristaltic pump is working, liquid is transported by squeezing the hose. After the squeezing stops, the hose can quickly return to its original state, thereby ensuring a continuous, uniform and controllable liquid flow output. It can achieve precise control of the liquid transfer volume, which is very important for the quantitative addition and replacement of culture fluid during microbiological experiments. And the working principle of the peristaltic pump is to use rollers or sliders to squeeze the liquid inside the hose to move forward. The liquid does not directly contact any parts inside the pump body, effectively avoiding cross-contamination problems. It is particularly suitable for microbial culture experiments with high cleanliness requirements. In addition, compared with hard pipes, latex tubes and silicone tubes are lighter, which helps to reduce the weight of the entire device and meet the strict standards of spacecraft for lightweight payloads.

[0138] Therefore, choosing latex tubes or silicone tubes in combination with peristaltic pumps as the liquid inlet and gas outlet components in the microbial testing device not only achieves efficient and precise liquid transmission control, but also fully considers the special needs under on-orbit experimental conditions.

[0139] In addition, the flow rate of the pump 11 is set to 3 ml / min with an accuracy of 0.1 ml. The control of the pump 11 is achieved through the electrical connector 7, and the selection of parameters is mainly based on the following considerations:

[0140] 1. Microbial growth requirements: The flow rate setting needs to meet the demand for nutrient supply during the growth of microorganisms, ensuring that the microorganisms can obtain sufficient nutrients for normal metabolism and reproduction. A flow rate of 3ml / min can provide a moderate liquid renewal rate, which is neither too fast to cause the microorganisms to have no time to utilize the nutrients in the culture solution, nor too slow to cause the accumulation of metabolites and affect the health of the microorganisms.

[0141] 2. Adaptability to space environment: Taking into account the special conditions in the space environment, such as microgravity and limited resources, appropriately reducing the flow rate will help save resources and reduce the mechanical vibration and energy consumption generated during the operation of the device.

[0142] 3. Experimental precision control: Under certain specific experimental conditions, the liquid inlet rate needs to be precisely controlled to achieve stable experimental conditions. A flow rate of 3 ml / min allows researchers to better understand the interaction process between microorganisms and the test material sheet and ensure the accuracy and repeatability of experimental data.

[0143] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 3 As shown, the liquid inlet pipeline of the utility model also includes: a harness seat 13, the harness seat 13 is clamped on the side of the first accommodating cavity 4 between the second flange 102 at the bottom of the culture tank 1 and the insulation buffer pad 12, and the harness seat 13 is provided with a plurality of first harness holes 131 and second harness holes 132. The first harness holes 131 are used for passing through and fixing the liquid inlet pipe, and the second harness holes 132 are used for passing through and fixing the wires of components such as the temperature sensor, the electrical connector 7, and the pump 11.

[0144] In this embodiment of the utility model, the design of the liquid inlet pipeline takes into account the integration of wiring harness management and space utilization efficiency, as follows:

[0145] 1. Wire harness seat 13: It is arranged on the side of the first accommodating cavity 4 between the culture tank 1 and the heat-insulating buffer pad 12. This layout helps to integrate wires, cables and other wire harnesses in an orderly manner, thereby keeping the internal structure of the device compact and facilitating overall miniaturization.

[0146] 2. Harness holes: The harness seat 13 is provided with a plurality of harness holes, which are used to fix different wires. Some harness holes are used for the liquid inlet pipe, so that the liquid inlet pipe can be stably and reasonably arranged inside the device; the other part provides a threading channel for electronic components such as the temperature sensor, the electrical connector 7 and the pump 11, ensuring that the electrical connection between the components is stable and reliable.

[0147] 3. Structural optimization: By integrating the harness seat 13 into the interior of the device and allocating dedicated harness holes, it not only simplifies the complexity of the line layout and reduces the difficulty of assembly, but also improves the convenience and safety of device maintenance and avoids potential safety hazards caused by cluttered cables.

[0148] In summary, the design of the harness seat 13 in the embodiment of the utility model fully reflects the engineering optimization idea under the space-limited space environment conditions, which not only meets the functional requirements, but also takes into account the lightweight and compact principles required by spacecraft applications.

[0149] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, a fixing ring 121 is respectively provided on the left and right sides of the heat-insulating buffer pad 12 , and a liquid inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe are respectively correspondingly passed through the fixing ring 121 .

[0150] Specifically, a first connecting tube 107 and a second connecting tube 108 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the bottom of the culture pool 1. The first connecting tube 107 is connected to the liquid inlet channel 1051 of the second supporting column 105 inside the culture pool 1, and the second connecting tube 108 is connected to the air outlet 106 at the bottom of the culture pool 1; a third connecting tube 202 connected to the liquid storage cavity 201 and a fourth connecting tube 203 connected to the air storage cavity are provided on the storage pool 2; the first connecting tube 107, the left fixing ring 121 and the third connecting tube 202 are correspondingly arranged along the height direction, and the second connecting tube 108, the right fixing ring 121 and the fourth connecting tube 203 are correspondingly arranged along the height direction.

[0151] One end of the liquid inlet pipe is connected to the first connecting pipe 107 at the bottom of the culture tank 1, and the other end of the liquid inlet pipe is passed through the harness seat 13 and the left fixing ring 121, and then connected to the third connecting pipe 202 of the liquid storage chamber 201; one end of the air outlet pipeline is connected to the second connecting pipe 108 at the bottom of the culture tank 1, and the other end of the air outlet pipeline is passed through the right fixing ring 121, and then connected to the fourth connecting pipe 203 of the air storage chamber.

[0152] In this embodiment of the present invention, the design of the thermal insulation cushion 12 further reflects the concern for the stability and durability of the space equipment, as follows:

[0153] 1. Fixed ring design: The left and right sides of the thermal insulation cushion 12 are equipped with fixed rings 121, which are designed to accurately locate and fix the liquid inlet pipe and the gas outlet pipe. By passing through the fixed rings 121, the pipes are ensured to be firmly installed inside the device to avoid displacement or loosening caused by vibration, microgravity environment and other factors.

[0154] 2. Anti-vibration function: The fixing ring 121 can not only provide the supporting points required by the pipeline, but also effectively absorb and reduce the vibration caused by the operation of the pump or other mechanical movements, thereby protecting the pipeline connection from the influence of additional stress and enhancing the stability of the entire microbiological test device during operation.

[0155] 3. Improve assembly efficiency and reliability: The fixing ring 121 is used to position and fix the pipeline, which simplifies the assembly steps and improves the convenience and accuracy of the overall assembly. At the same time, such a structural design also enhances the sealing performance of the pipeline connection part, prevents liquid or gas leakage, and ensures the reliability and safety of the experimental data.

[0156] Therefore, this unique design detail is of great significance for optimizing the overall performance of the on-orbit microbial testing device and ensuring its long-term stable operation.

[0157] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, a connecting frame 14 is provided between the thermal insulation buffer pad 12 and the storage pool 2, and the connecting frame 14 is detachably connected to the storage pool 2, and a plurality of connecting columns 109 are provided at intervals on the bottom edge of the culture pool 1, and the connecting columns 109 are detachably connected to the connecting frame 14 via the thermal insulation buffer pad 12, so that a first accommodating cavity 4 can be constructed between the culture pool 1 and the thermal insulation buffer pad 12.

[0158] For example, the four vertices of the heat-insulating cushion 12 are provided with first connection parts 122, the four vertices of the connecting frame 14 are provided with second connection parts 141, the four vertices of the cover 205 of the storage pool 2 are provided with third connection parts 206, and the four vertices of the bottom of the culture pool 1 are provided with connection posts 109. During assembly, the second connection part 141 of the connecting frame 14 is fastened to the third connection part 206 of the cover 205 of the storage pool 2 by screws; at the same time, the second connection part 141 of the connecting frame 14, the first connection part 122 of the heat-insulating cushion 12 and the connection post 109 at the bottom of the culture pool 1 are pierced from bottom to top by screws.

[0159] In this embodiment of the utility model, a connecting frame 14 is used as an important connecting structure between the culture tank 1 and the storage tank 2 to achieve multiple functions, as follows:

[0160] 1. Removable connection: The connection frame 14 not only fixes the heat insulation cushion 12 in a proper position, but also plays a role of connection and support, so that the connection between the storage tank 2 and the culture tank 1 is detachable. This design facilitates the installation, maintenance and replacement of the equipment.

[0161] 2. Constructing the first accommodating chamber 4: A plurality of connecting columns 109 are arranged at the bottom edge of the culture tank 1, and are detachably connected to the connecting frame 14 via the heat insulating cushion 12, thereby forming the first accommodating chamber 4. The pump 11 and other key components can be placed in this accommodating chamber, achieving a compact structure and facilitating the miniaturization of the overall structure.

[0162] 3. Insulation and buffering: The first-level insulation buffering can be achieved through the insulation buffer pad 12, and the connecting frame 14 is located between the insulation buffer pad 12 and the storage tank 2. In addition to playing a physical connection role, more importantly, it can further effectively isolate the heat source, prevent heat from being transferred to the culture liquid in the storage tank 2, and maintain its stable temperature. At the same time, it can also absorb possible mechanical vibrations, protect the precision components inside the device from damage, and improve the stability and service life of the entire microbiological test device, that is, to achieve a second-level insulation buffering.

[0163] Therefore, this structural design fully takes into account the special requirements of the space environment, ensuring flexible and convenient assembly between components while taking into account thermal management and vibration reduction requirements. It is of significant significance for improving the overall performance of on-orbit microbial experimental equipment.

[0164] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting frame 14 is provided with a plurality of weight-reducing holes 142 to reduce the overall mass.

[0165] According to one embodiment of the utility model, the volume of the storage tank 2 can be 3 ml, and the storage tank 2 includes: a tank body 204 and a cover body 205 detachably connected by four screws, a flip membrane 3 is provided between the tank body 204 and the cover body 205, a liquid storage chamber 201 is formed between the tank body 204 and the flip membrane 3, and an air storage chamber is formed between the cover body 205 and the flip membrane 3.

[0166] In addition, the cell body 204 is provided with a third connecting pipe 202 communicating with the liquid storage chamber 201 , and the cover body 205 is provided with a fourth connecting pipe 203 communicating with the gas storage chamber.

[0167] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the cavity of the culture pool 1 is a cylindrical cavity with an inner diameter of 30 mm and a depth of 20 mm, and is made of aluminum alloy, providing space for microbial culture, and the space volume is about 14 ml, which can accommodate an appropriate amount of microbial culture fluid and test material sheets, meeting the requirements of specific microbial experiments for the culture environment capacity. At the same time, the compact design is also conducive to the miniaturization and integration of the entire microbial test device.

[0168] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 3 As shown, four insulation blocks 6 are provided, respectively disposed at the four vertices of the culture tank 1, and each insulation block 6 is an isosceles trapezoid, the inner side of which is an arc surface adapted to the cylindrical culture tank 1, so that the outer side surface of the insulation block 6 is tangent to the outer wall of the cylindrical culture tank 1 to form a cube.

[0169] This shape design allows the insulation block 6 to fit tightly against the outer wall of the cylindrical culture pool 1, ensuring a good contact area. It can effectively block the impact of the external environment on the temperature inside the culture pool and reduce heat loss. It also prevents the high temperature inside the culture pool 1 from posing potential safety risks to external equipment or astronauts.

[0170] Since the insulation block 6 adopts an isosceles trapezoidal structure tangent to the outer wall of the culture pool 1 and forms a cube shape that wraps a part of the culture pool 1, this helps to improve the utilization rate of the device space and achieve the goals of miniaturization and compactness, which is particularly important for the limited space station environment.

[0171] In summary, the design of the insulation block 6 not only meets the demand for efficient insulation of the on-orbit microbial experimental device, but also fully considers the requirements for equipment volume and weight restrictions in the space environment, reflecting the characteristics of high integration and optimized design.

[0172] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 1 As shown in the figure, the culture component, transmission component and gas-liquid storage component of the microbial test device of the utility model are stacked in the height direction, and the shape of the overall device is roughly a cuboid of 60mm (length) * 60mm (width) * 900mm (height), that is, the volume is only 324cm 3 , which enables multiple devices to carry out parallel tests simultaneously in a limited space.

[0173] The working principle of the on-orbit small integrated microbial testing device provided by the utility model is described below with reference to specific examples, which generally include:

[0174] 1. Microbial culture experiment process control: Before the microbial culture experiment is started, the inoculated microorganisms are dry spores of microorganisms, which are in a dormant state and have no growth and reproduction. When the culture needs to be started, the culture fluid is used as the activation condition, and the temperature control function is started at the same time. After the microorganisms have the growth conditions, they begin to grow and reproduce.

[0175] 2. Liquid delivery working process: Liquid delivery is powered by a micro peristaltic pump. After the micro peristaltic pump is turned on, the culture liquid flows out of the liquid storage cavity 201 of the storage tank 2 through the liquid inlet tube and the micro peristaltic pump, and finally reaches the cavity of the culture tank 1, providing nutrients for the growth of microorganisms. During the liquid delivery, since the culture tank 1 and the storage tank 2 are sealed structures, the pressure in the cavity of the culture tank 1 will increase, and the gas in the cavity of the culture tank 1 will automatically flow into the gas storage cavity of the storage tank 2 through the gas outlet pipe, compressing the silicone flip membrane to deform and flip, thereby relieving the pressure in the cavity of the culture tank 1 and ensuring the balance of the internal pressure of the entire device. After the test, the storage tank 2 is disassembled, and it can be observed that the silicone flip membrane is completely sunken to one side of the liquid storage cavity 201.

[0176] The following continues to describe the control method of the on-orbit small-scale integrated microbial testing device provided by the present invention. The control method of the on-orbit small-scale integrated microbial testing device described below and the on-orbit small-scale integrated microbial testing device described above can be referenced to each other.

[0177] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 5 As shown, the utility model also provides a control method for the on-orbit small integrated microbial testing device of the above embodiment, which mainly includes the following steps:

[0178] S501, obtaining a test start instruction in a microgravity sealed state;

[0179] S502, in response to the test start instruction, controlling the liquid inlet pipeline to transfer the culture liquid in the liquid storage cavity 201 of the storage tank 2 to the culture tank 1;

[0180] Under the pressure of the culture solution, the gas in the culture tank 1 flows autonomously into the gas storage cavity of the storage tank 2 through the gas outlet pipeline, and compresses the turnover membrane 3 to deform and flip.

[0181] The control method provided by the embodiment of the utility model is an automatic start-up and pressure balance adjustment process for an on-orbit small integrated microbial testing device in a microgravity sealed environment. The details are as follows:

[0182] First, ensuring that the entire device is in microgravity and completely sealed, the start-up instruction to start the microbial culture test is obtained through remote instructions or preset programs.

[0183] When the test start instruction is received, the pump 11 of the liquid inlet pipeline is automatically controlled to start working, and the microbial culture solution stored in the storage tank 2 is accurately transferred to the inside of the culture tank 1, providing the necessary nutritional environment for the growth of microorganisms.

[0184] As the culture liquid is injected into the culture tank 1, the gas originally existing in the culture tank 1 is squeezed because the liquid occupies space and generates a certain pressure, and naturally flows out to the gas storage cavity of the storage tank 2 through the gas outlet pipeline. This process cleverly utilizes the fluidity principle of gas in a closed system to achieve an autonomous exhaust function without external power drive.

[0185] In this process, the flip membrane 3, as a key pressure regulating component, deforms and flips as the gas pressure in the gas storage chamber increases, thereby relieving pressure, maintaining the pressure balance inside the entire device, preventing damage to the equipment due to overpressure, and ensuring that microorganisms can grow and reproduce normally in a stable environment.

[0186] In summary, this control method realizes the automated start-up and adaptive pressure management of microbial cultivation experiments in an on-orbit environment through intelligent operation procedures, embodies a highly integrated and refined design concept, and greatly improves the safety and efficiency of space biological experiments.

[0187] In Example 1, the tested material sheet is a metal material, the tested microorganism is a fungus, and the liquid storage cavity of the storage tank contains sterile water.

[0188] Aspergillus niger was used as the test microorganism and aluminum alloy sheet was used as the test material sheet for the material microbial corrosion test. First, the prepared Aspergillus niger spores were fixed on the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet by spraying. After natural drying, the test material sheet was fixed on the sample holder. The culture tank cavity was initially dry, and the Aspergillus niger spores were in a dormant state and would not germinate. When the corrosion test needs to be started, the micro peristaltic pump is turned on, and sterile water flows out of the liquid storage cavity of the storage tank through the liquid inlet pipe and finally reaches the culture tank cavity. Then, the entire culture tank cavity is turned into a humid environment through natural evaporation, and the polyimide heating film is started to control the temperature at about 28°C. The environmental conditions cause the Aspergillus niger spores to germinate and begin to grow on the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet, and the corrosion test is started. After 90 days of testing, the results show that Aspergillus niger can grow evenly on the surface of the aluminum alloy sheet.

[0189] In Example 2, the test material layer is a polymer material, the test microorganism is a fungus, and the liquid storage cavity of the storage tank contains a nutrient solution.

[0190] Aspergillus niger was used as the test microorganism and polyimide sheet was used as the test material sheet to carry out the material microbial corrosion test. First, the prepared Aspergillus niger spores were fixed on the surface of the polyimide sheet by spraying. After natural drying, the material was fixed on the sample holder. The culture tank cavity was initially dry, and the Aspergillus niger spores were in a dormant state and would not germinate. When the corrosion test needs to be started, the micro peristaltic pump is turned on, and the nutrient solution flows out of the liquid storage cavity of the storage tank through the liquid inlet pipe and finally reaches the culture tank cavity. Then, the entire culture tank cavity is turned into a humid environment through natural evaporation, and the polyimide heating film is started to control the temperature at about 32°C. Under environmental conditions, Aspergillus niger spores begin to germinate and begin to grow on the surface of the polyimide sheet, and the corrosion test is started. After 60 days of testing, the results show that Aspergillus niger can grow evenly on the surface of the polyimide sheet.

[0191] The modular space microorganism test load provided by the present invention will be described below. The test load adopts the test device described in the above embodiment.

[0192] According to the embodiment of the second aspect of the present utility model, referring to Figure 6-Figure 11 As shown, the utility model also provides a modular space microbial test payload, which mainly includes: a shell, a plurality of test devices and a controller 15. Among them, the front side of the shell is provided with a plurality of observation holes; a plurality of test devices are distributed in the shell in an array and correspond to the observation holes, and the test devices are used for on-orbit in-situ tests of microorganisms; the controller 15 is arranged on the shell and is electrically connected to the test devices, and is used to independently control the microbial test process of each test device.

[0193] Specifically, by adopting a modular structural layout, multiple small independent test devices are integrated in an array distribution form in a shell. This modular design greatly improves space utilization and allows the number of test devices to be flexibly increased or decreased according to research needs.

[0194] At the same time, ensure that each test device has a corresponding observation hole to facilitate real-time monitoring of the growth status of microorganisms in each device and provide intuitive and diverse experimental data.

[0195] Furthermore, the controller 15 can independently adjust and control parameters such as the temperature and the liquid inlet volume in each test device, thereby achieving synchronous cultivation of microorganisms of different types or of the same species under different conditions.

[0196] Therefore, compared with the traditional single culture method, the utility model has high-throughput culture capability, can realize independent control between multiple test devices, and conduct multiple microbial tests at the same time, significantly improving test efficiency and throughput, which is conducive to shortening the research cycle. The test load of the utility model is a high-throughput microbial experimental equipment applied to space environment.

[0197] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the shell includes: a first frame 161, a front cover plate 162 and a rear cover plate 163; the front side of the first frame 161 is provided with a plurality of first observation holes 164 corresponding one-to-one to the test device, and the first frame 161 is detachably connected to the test device; the front cover plate 162 is detachably connected to the front side of the first frame 161, and the front cover plate 162 is provided with a plurality of second observation holes 165 corresponding one-to-one to the first observation holes 164, that is, the first observation holes 164 and the second observation holes 165 are also distributed in an array; the rear cover plate 163 is detachably connected to the rear side of the first frame 161.

[0198] For example, a plurality of screw holes are provided around the first observation hole 164 of the first frame 161, which is connected to the clamping frame 9 at the top of the test device by screws; a plurality of screw holes are provided on the edges of the front cover plate 162 and the rear cover plate 163, respectively, which are fixed to the first frame 161 by screws.

[0199] In this embodiment of the present invention, a detachable connection is adopted between the first frame 161 and the test device, so that each test device can be flexibly installed, replaced or maintained according to actual needs.

[0200] The front cover 162 is detachably connected to the front side of the first frame 161, and is provided with a second observation hole 165 corresponding to the first observation hole 164, thus forming an observation channel, allowing the user to clearly see the culture process from the outside without opening the front cover 162, thereby ensuring the stability and sterility of the experimental environment. The rear cover 163 is also detachably connected to the rear side of the first frame 161, providing closed protection for the rear of the entire device.

[0201] The first observation hole 164 and the second observation hole 165 are distributed in an array. This layout feature not only meets the needs of high-throughput multi-unit parallel experiments, but also ensures the independence and non-interference between the units, which is beneficial for researchers to simultaneously conduct microbial culture research under various conditions.

[0202] Therefore, the shell design in the utility model fully considers the needs for rapid installation, convenient operation and efficient use of space resources in the space environment. Through modular assembly and optimized observation window configuration, the flexibility and practicality of on-orbit microbial experiments are greatly improved.

[0203] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 7 As shown, first sealing rings 166 are respectively provided at the connection between the first frame 161 and the front cover plate 162 and at the connection between the first frame 161 and the rear cover plate 163 ; and a first transparent observation plate 167 is provided between the front cover plate 162 and the first frame 161 .

[0204] Specifically, the first sealing ring 166 is made of a high molecular polymer material, and the front and rear side edges of the first frame 161 and the edges of the front cover plate 162 and the rear cover plate 163 are respectively provided with corresponding grooves, and the first sealing ring 166 is embedded in these grooves, which can ensure the overall sealing performance of the shell after assembly, effectively prevent the external environment from affecting the internal microbial culture test, and also avoid the leakage of culture fluid or gas.

[0205] Furthermore, the first transparent observation plate 167 is made of a highly transparent high molecular polymer material, and the growth of microorganisms inside each test device can be clearly observed through the first transparent observation plate 167 .

[0206] This design not only meets the needs of experimental observation, but also maintains the sealing integrity of the equipment, achieving the effect of high integration and overall sealing of multiple samples in a compact space.

[0207] In addition, components such as the front cover plate 162, the first frame 161 and the rear cover plate 163 are made of high-strength materials such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, carbon fiber, etc., to improve the overall structural strength.

[0208] The front cover plate 162 is designed to reduce weight, and components such as the first frame 161 and the rear cover plate 163 may also be provided with first reinforcing ribs 168, so that the shell can reduce weight while ensuring overall strength and rigidity.

[0209] Different from the above embodiment, Figure 8-Figure 11 As shown, the shell provided by the embodiment of the utility model is a quick-plug design, mainly including: a second frame 171 and a plurality of module cavity shells 172, the front side of the second frame 171 is provided with a plurality of mounting ports 173 side by side; the plurality of module cavity shells 172 are arranged in the second frame 171, and are detachably installed in the mounting ports 173 one by one by screws, so as to realize quick disassembly and assembly; a plurality of test devices are arranged in each module cavity shell 172, and the front side of each module cavity shell 172 is provided with an observation hole corresponding one by one to the test device.

[0210] The embodiment of the utility model can realize the rapid installation or removal of multiple groups of standardized test modules under limited space and weight constraints. Each standard test module contains multiple small, independent microbial test devices, each device is completely isolated from the other, and the liquid supply and temperature of the device are independently controlled, which ensures the independence and non-interference of each test, and can run multiple microbial tests at the same time.

[0211] Therefore, the design concept of the quick-insert microbial test module of the utility model is to achieve standardization, modularization and efficient use of resources, which greatly improves the operational flexibility of the experiment and helps to speed up the experimental process.

[0212] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Fig.10 and Fig.11 As shown, the module cavity shell 172 is roughly in the shape of a cuboid, including: a cavity shell 174, a front side plate 175 and a rear side plate 176. The front side of the cavity shell 174 is provided with a plurality of third observation holes 177 corresponding to the test devices one by one; the front side plate 175 is detachably connected to the front side of the cavity shell 174, and the front side plate 175 is provided with a plurality of fourth observation holes 178 corresponding to the third observation holes 177 one by one; the rear side plate 176 is detachably connected to the rear side of the cavity shell 174. With such a design, each test device can be flexibly installed, replaced or maintained according to actual needs.

[0213] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Fig.11 As shown, a second sealing ring 179 is respectively provided at the connection between the cavity shell 174 and the front side plate 175 and at the connection between the cavity shell 174 and the rear side plate 176 ; and a second transparent observation plate 180 is provided between the front side plate 175 and the cavity shell 174 .

[0214] Specifically, the second sealing ring 179 is made of a high molecular polymer material, and the front and rear side edges of the cavity shell 174 and the edges of the front side plate 175 and the rear side plate 176 are respectively provided with corresponding grooves, and the second sealing ring 179 is embedded in these grooves, which can ensure the overall sealing performance of the module cavity shell 172 after assembly, effectively prevent the external environment from affecting the internal microbial culture test, and also avoid the leakage of culture fluid or gas.

[0215] Furthermore, the second transparent observation plate 180 is made of a highly transparent polymer material, and the growth of microorganisms inside each test device can be clearly observed through the second transparent observation plate 180. This design not only meets the needs of experimental observation, but also maintains the sealing integrity of the equipment.

[0216] In addition, components such as the front side plate 175, the cavity shell 174 and the rear side plate 176 are made of high-strength materials such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, carbon fiber, etc., to improve the overall structural strength.

[0217] A second reinforcing rib 181 may also be provided on the second frame 171 to ensure overall strength and rigidity.

[0218] According to one embodiment of the utility model, referring to Figure 6-Figure 9 As shown, mounting bases 19 are respectively provided at the bottom of the left and right opposite sides of the shell, and the mounting bases 19 are used to be installed on the corresponding parts of the spacecraft through captive screws; and at least one mounting base 19 is provided with a socket 20, and the socket 20 is provided with a controller 15.

[0219] It is understandable that the controller 15 may also be replaced by an electrical connector to implement signal transmission control with a remote control system. The electrical connector may be a sealed connector that can ensure the sealing of the interface position.

[0220] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the utility model, rather than to limit it. Although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the utility model.

Claims

1. A modular space microbial test payload, characterized in that: include: A housing, wherein a plurality of observation holes are provided on the front side of the housing; A plurality of test devices are distributed in the housing in an array and correspond to the observation holes, and the test devices are used for on-orbit in-situ testing of microorganisms; The controller is arranged in the housing and is electrically connected to the test devices, and is used for independently controlling the microbial test process of each of the test devices.

2. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing comprises: A first frame, wherein a plurality of first observation holes corresponding to the test devices are provided on the front side of the first frame, and the first frame is detachably connected to the test device; A front cover plate is detachably connected to the front side of the first frame, and the front cover plate is provided with a plurality of second observation holes corresponding to the first observation holes one by one; The rear cover is detachably connected to the rear side of the first frame.

3. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 2 is characterized in that: A first sealing ring is respectively provided at the connection between the first frame and the front cover plate and at the connection between the first frame and the rear cover plate; A first transparent observation plate is provided between the front cover plate and the first frame.

4. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing comprises: A second frame, wherein a plurality of mounting openings are arranged side by side on the front side of the second frame; A plurality of module cavity shells are arranged in the second frame and are detachably mounted on the mounting opening one by one; a plurality of the test devices are arranged in the module cavity shell, and observation holes corresponding to the test devices one by one are arranged on the front side of the module cavity shell.

5. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 4 is characterized in that: The module cavity shell comprises: A chamber shell, wherein a plurality of third observation holes corresponding to the test devices are provided on the front side of the chamber shell; A front side plate, detachably connected to the front side of the cavity shell, and the front side plate is provided with a plurality of fourth observation holes corresponding one-to-one to the third observation holes; The rear side plate is detachably connected to the rear side of the cavity shell.

6. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 5, characterized in that: A second sealing ring is respectively provided at the connection between the cavity shell and the front side plate and at the connection between the cavity shell and the rear side plate; A second transparent observation plate is provided between the front side plate and the cavity shell.

7. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottoms of two opposite sides of the shell are respectively provided with mounting bases, and the mounting bases are used to be mounted on the spacecraft; At least one of the mounting bases is provided with a socket, and the controller is arranged in the socket.

8. The modular space microbial test payload according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The test device comprises: A culture assembly, including a sealed culture tank; The gas-liquid storage component comprises a storage tank and a reversal membrane, wherein the storage tank is connected to the culture tank and a first accommodating cavity is constructed between the storage tank and the culture tank; the reversal membrane is arranged in the storage tank to separate the inner cavity of the storage tank into a sealed liquid storage cavity and a gas storage cavity; The transmission component is arranged in the first accommodating cavity, and includes a liquid inlet pipeline and an air outlet pipeline. The culture tank is connected to the liquid storage cavity via the liquid inlet pipeline, and the culture tank is connected to the air storage cavity via the air outlet pipeline.

9. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 8, characterized in that: The turnover film is provided with a protrusion protruding toward the air storage cavity.

10. The modular space microbial test payload according to claim 8, characterized in that: The culture component also includes: A heating film is coated on the outer wall of the culture tank; A plurality of heat-insulating blocks are arranged at intervals around the outside of the heating film; A temperature sensor is arranged in the culture tank; The electrical connector is arranged in the first accommodating cavity and is respectively connected to the controller, the liquid inlet pipeline, the heating film and the temperature sensor.

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