Deployable Antenna Frame Using Six-Bar Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deployable antenna frames face challenges in achieving a lightweight, compact, and modular structure with high accuracy reflector profiles while maintaining stiffness and modularity, especially in transitioning between stowed and deployed states.
Innovation Solution
The six-bar linkage structure with guiding means, such as pulleys or rollers, and centralizing driving mechanisms, including motors and drums, allows for a compact configuration and efficient deployment, with synchronizing gears and connection cables forming a conical shape to enhance stiffness and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a deployable antenna frame uses a traditional structure, then it can provide structural support, but it results in increased weight and reduced compactness when stowed
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna frame is divided into multiple first bars and second bars that form modular six-bar linkage structures. These segmented bars can be folded relative to each other, enabling compact stowing while maintaining structural support functionality. The segmentation allows the frame to collapse into a compact configuration when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The six-bar linkage structures enable the second bars to be nested or folded against the first bars during stowing. The guide means and hinges allow one bar to be positioned within or alongside another bar, creating a compact nested configuration that reduces stowed volume while keeping the overall structure lightweight.
2Weight of moving object
If the antenna frame uses a lightweight structure, then it reduces weight, but it compromises structural stiffness when deployed
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna frame employs dynamic six-bar linkage structures that transition from a compact stowed state to a rigid deployed state. When deployed, the linkage structures form stable geometric configurations that provide structural stiffness. The guide means and hinges enable controlled movement, allowing the structure to maintain rigidity in the deployed position while remaining lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide means and hinges are pre-configured to guide the second bars into specific positions relative to the first bars during deployment. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the structure is deployed, the bars form geometrically stable configurations that inherently provide stiffness without requiring additional heavy reinforcement.
3Ease of operation
If the antenna frame uses a modular design, then it improves ease of deployment and stowing, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design segments the antenna frame into repeating six-bar linkage units, each with standardized hinges and guide means. This segmentation allows for systematic deployment where each module follows the same motion pattern, simplifying the overall deployment process despite the modular complexity. The repetition of standardized components actually reduces operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide means act as intermediaries that simplify the interaction between the first bars and second bars. By providing predetermined guidance paths, the guide means reduce the complexity of coordinating multiple moving parts during deployment and stowing, making the modular structure easier to operate despite its segmented nature.
4Measurement precision
If the antenna frame achieves high accuracy reflector profile, then it improves measurement precision, but it increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The six-bar linkage structures provide dynamic geometric stability that maintains precise relative positions between bars during deployment. This dynamic configuration ensures that the reflector profile accuracy is achieved through the kinematic constraints of the linkage mechanism rather than requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronous deployment mechanism provides feedback control during the deployment process, ensuring that all six-bar linkage structures deploy uniformly and maintain their geometric relationships. This feedback mechanism helps achieve high reflector profile accuracy by correcting minor deviations during deployment rather than requiring perfect manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables a lightweight, compact, and modular antenna frame that can be easily deployed and stowed, maintaining high accuracy and stiffness, and allows for various shapes and configurations, such as cylindrical or conical, to accommodate different antenna designs.
Implementation Method 1
the guiding means may be a pulley or roller and the elongated member may be a cable
Implementation Method 2
the second end of the elongated member may be coupled to the another first bar by a spring
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-faceted deployable antenna frame including a six-bar linkage structure in a lateral facet of the antenna frame, the six-bar linkage structure being convertible from a folded state into a deployed state and having two first bars and four second bars, each bar being coupled to two others by a hinge to form a closed loop, where in the deployed state, the six-bar linkage structure has a quadrilateral shape. The antenna frame also includes a deployment means for deploying the antenna frame by moving the six-bar linkage structures from the folded state into the deployed state, the deployment means including: a flexible, elongated member of a substantially inextensible material; a first guiding means provided at an end portion of one of the first bars and coupled to the elongated member; a storage means provided at the first bar that includes the first guiding means for storing a part of the elongated member; a driving means that is coupled to the elongated member to pull the elongated member to the storing means when deploying the antenna frame; and a second guiding means between two adjacent second bars, the elongated member being coupled to the second guiding means. A first end of the elongated member is attached to the storing means and a second end of the elongated member is coupled to another first bar, and wherein the elongated member is extending between said first end and said second end along a plurality of second bars.