Rolling Flex Hinge for Spaceborne Antenna Deployment Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spaceborne antennas face challenges in transitioning from a compact, collapsed form to a fully deployed shape while maintaining stiffness and precise geometry, requiring a rotation axis that deploys and locks without exceeding the final locked dimension to avoid overstretching components and ensuring panel deployment without gaps.
Innovation Solution
A rolling flex hinge system comprising a first and second hinge body coupled with a flexible strap arrangement and locking linkages, including magnets and adjustable hard stops, allows for rotation between stored and deployed positions, locking in place without exceeding the final dimension and preventing panel separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional hinges are used to fold antenna sections, then the antenna can be collapsed to fit in the launch vehicle, but the hinge may exceed the final locked dimension and overstretch other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curved rolling surface instead of a traditional linear hinge axis. The rolling contact between the curved surface of the first hinge body and the flat surface of the second hinge body allows the antenna section to fold during deployment while the rolling contact point remains within the final locked dimension, preventing overstretching of components.
2Ease of operation
If multiple thick panels are folded back and forth, then the antenna can be deployed, but gaps may form between adjacent panels
Solution Approach 1:
The curved rolling surface guides the rotation of thick panels during deployment, ensuring that the panels remain aligned and adjacent throughout the motion. This curved path prevents gaps from forming between panels while still allowing full deployment capability.
3Length of moving object
If a rotation axis is used to deploy antenna sections, then the sections can be extended in end-to-end relation, but the rotation axis may cause overstretching of tension truss structures
Solution Approach 1:
The curved rolling contact surface ensures that the rotation occurs in a controlled manner that keeps the contact point within the final locked dimension. This prevents the tension truss structures from being overstretched while still achieving full end-to-end extension of the antenna sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling contact surface acts as an intermediary between the hinge bodies, mediating the rotation motion to ensure it occurs within the acceptable range. This intermediary surface controls the deployment path to prevent overstretching of the tension truss structures.
4Reliability
If traditional locking mechanisms are used, then the antenna sections can be locked in position, but the mechanism may be complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling flex hinge is designed to automatically lock when the rolling contact reaches the end of the curved surface. The geometry of the rolling surfaces and the flexible strap arrangement create a self-locking condition without requiring additional complex locking mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
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
The rolling flex hinge system enables efficient deployment and locking of antenna sections, maintaining stiffness and precise geometry while avoiding overstretching and panel gaps, ensuring reliable operation in spaceborne applications.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible strap arrangement coupling the first hinge body and second hinge body together to permit rolling contact therebetween
Implementation Method 2
Each locking linkage may comprise a first magnet carried by the first linkage, and a second magnet carried by the second linkage. The first and second magnets couple together to lock the first and second hinge bodies
Data Source
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AI summary
A spaceborne antenna (30) for a satellite (20) may include antenna sections (40) for the satellite (20), and at least one rolling flex hinge (50) rotatably coupling first and second antenna sections (40(1), 40(2)) together and permitting rotation between a stored position and a deployed position. The first and second antenna sections (40(1), 40(2)) may be stacked in the stored position and extended in end-to-end relation in the deployed position. The at least one rolling flex hinge (50) may include a first hinge body (52) coupled to an end of the first antenna section (40(1)), a second hinge body (54) coupled to an end of the second antenna section (40(2)), and a flexible strap arrangement (60) coupling the first hinge body (52) and second hinge body (54) together to permit rolling contact therebetween. At least one locking linkage (72) may be coupled between the first and second hinge bodies (52, 54) to lock the first and second hinge bodies (52, 54) when the first and second antenna sections (40(1), 40(2)) are in the deployed position.