Elastic Rib Expandable Antenna for Accurate Parabolic Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional expandable antennas face challenges in ease of expansion in outer space and achieving a desired shape due to complex structures and stress issues during rib attachment to hubs in both rib/hinge and wrap-rib types.
Innovation Solution
An expandable antenna design featuring a hub with radially arranged ribs and metal meshes, where ribs are fixed to the hub's outer circumferential portion, allowing for simple expansion and accurate shape realization without the need for additional mechanisms, utilizing elastic materials and a parabolic segment design to maintain tensile force and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If ribs are attached perpendicular to the hub outer peripheral surface in wrap-rib type antennas, then compact storage is achieved, but large stress is generated at attachment portions making assembly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional attachment orientation by attaching ribs substantially parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the hub instead of perpendicular to it. This inversion allows the ribs to be attached in a direction that reduces stress concentration while still enabling compact folding and storage of the antenna.
2Ease of operation
If rib/hinge type expandable antennas use multiple hinges and springs for expansion, then expandability is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs elastic ribs that can autonomously expand and maintain their shape without requiring external mechanisms like hinges or springs. The elastic properties of the ribs themselves provide the necessary force for deployment and shape maintenance, making the structure self-sufficient and eliminating complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the ribs from rigid to elastic, allowing them to deform and store energy. This parameter change enables the ribs to automatically expand when released from the folded state and maintain the desired parabolic shape without additional mechanical assistance.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional expandable antennas use complex mechanisms for shape control, then shape accuracy can be maintained, but ease of operation in outer space deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic ribs inherently possess the ability to return to their predetermined parabolic shape after deformation during folding. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex shape control mechanisms, allowing astronauts to easily deploy the antenna by simply releasing the folded structure, which then automatically assumes its accurate parabolic form.
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
Enables easy expansion in outer space with a simple structure and achieves a desired parabolic shape after expansion, reducing stress and complexity while maintaining mirror surface accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of ribs 3 is formed of an elastic material
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An expandable antenna includes: a plurality of ribs arranged with a regulated angular pitch at an outer circumferential portion of a hub; and a metal mesh installed between the plurality of adjacent ribs, wherein each of the plurality of ribs is formed in a horizontally elongated thin flat plate shape with elasticity, and a segment to which the metal mesh is attached is formed in a parabolic shape. A flat plane of each of the plurality of ribs is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to a central axis of the hub. The object of the present invention is to provide the expandable antenna which can be easily expanded in outer space with a simple structure and can realize a desired shape after expansion.