Anti-twist Joint for Continuous Payload Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for orienting payloads, such as satellite solar panels, struggle to continuously track objects without twisting connections, especially in low earth orbit applications where 2 or higher degrees of freedom are needed, while maintaining low complexity, volume, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A positioning system comprising a base, rotating member, pivoting member, anti-twist member, and coupling apparatus that allows continuous orientation of a payload without twisting connections, using a low complexity, low volume, and low cost design, with the anti-twist member being rotably mounted to the pivoting member and coupled to the base to maintain constant rotational orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If electrical slip rings or rotary fluid couplings are used to prevent twisting of connections, then continuous rotation is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex electrical slip rings or rotary fluid couplings from the system entirely. Instead, it uses a cable management system with sufficient cable length and proper routing that allows the antenna to rotate multiple times (e.g., 720 degrees or twice) without requiring any special continuous-rotation components. This extraction of the problematic component directly reduces device complexity while maintaining continuous tracking capability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If cable length is increased to allow more rotations, then continuous tracking is enabled, but the antenna must unwind after a certain number of rotations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-planning the cable routing and selecting appropriate cable length before the antenna begins rotation. The cable is routed through guides and tensioning mechanisms in advance, allowing the antenna to rotate through its full required range (e.g., 720 degrees for overhead object tracking) without encountering cable constraints. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need to unwind or stop during operation, ensuring continuous tracking.
3Device complexity
If a 1 degree of freedom solar tracking system is used, then system complexity is reduced, but solar panel orientation efficiency decreases in low earth orbit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic two-degree-of-freedom solar tracking system that adapts to the specific orbital conditions of low earth orbit. The system includes both azimuth and elevation adjustment capabilities, allowing solar panels to dynamically reorient themselves to maintain optimal perpendicular alignment with the Sun throughout the satellite's orbit. This dynamic adaptation maximizes solar power generation efficiency while the overall system remains relatively simple through the use of basic mechanical actuators and control algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning system is provided for orienting a payload. The system may continuously orient the payload relative to another object without twisting connections of the payload. The positioning system may be provided with a base, a rotating member, a pivoting member, an anti-twist member, and a coupling apparatus. The rotating member may be rotatably mounted to the base such that the rotating member rotates about a first axis. The pivoting member may be pivotably mounted to the rotating member such that the pivoting member pivots about a second axis. The anti-twist member may be rotatably mounted to the pivoting member. The coupling apparatus may rotationally couple the anti-twist member to the base such that the rotational orientation of the anti-twist member relative to the base remains constant regardless of a rotational orientation or a pivoting orientation of the pivoting member relative to the base.