FR2470329A1 - CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT WITH SPACER BARS FOR ASSEMBLY IN SPATIAL STATIONS - Google Patents

Abstract

A. SPACER ASSEMBLY CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT FOR SPACE STATIONS, INCLUDING LONGITUDINAL BARS AND CROSS-RAILS CONNECTING THE CORNER POINTS OF EXTERNAL FACES. B. CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE LONGITUDINAL BARS AND THE CROSSBODIES 1, 2 ARE ASSEMBLED SO AS TO BE FOLDABLE ON ONE OF THE OTHERS, THE CROSSBARS 2 CONTAINING A FOLDABLE MEDIAN TRUNK 4, 15. C. ELEMENT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE SPACE STATIONS .

Description

J 2470329

  The invention relates to a spacer assembly construction element for space stations, comprising longitudinal bars and transverse crosspieces connecting

  the corner points of outer faces.

  When assembling large space stations, it should be borne in mind that these, as a general rule, consist of basic building structures, prefabricated on land and assembled in space. Such elementary assembly structures must therefore - for reasons of air transport

  with a space carrier or spacecraft - to be limited

  relatively small dimensions.

  Known assembly construction structures, however, correspond to relatively bulky construction elements and do not meet the requirements for very small dimensions. In order to allow assembly structures in the form of prefabricated building elements on land can still be used for space stations, it is therefore desirable to reduce such building elements to dimensions corresponding to a congestion suitable for transport, for example by folding. For assembling assembly structures, it has already been proposed to use folding structural elements. Thus, according to US Pat. No. 31,447,215, a construction element known under the name of "STEM" (element with rollable tubular rod that can be unrolled), an element which, however, with regard to its strength and rigidity, can only be exposed to light loads Another element

  of construction of assembly is that known by the name of

  "ASTRO-Mast, which can be both manually

  only automatically deployed. This -ASTRO-Mast "

  laying of longitudinal bars and transverse sleepers together

  by means of separate elastically deformable elements, and which must themselves

  relatively high elasticity to be folded.

  One could certainly meet such a requirement with so-called spring-elastic materials, but not with the materials needed today in space navigation, such as composite materials based on carbon fibers or boron fibers. Since we can not give up for space applications to such

  materials - briefly referred to as synthetic materials -

  for reasons of high stability of shape and low degree of thermal deformation, it is not possible to mount

  materials of this type, because of their lack of

  elasticity, building structures of associations,

  according to the principle of :: ASTROMast.

  The object of the invention is to provide a spacer assembly construction element for space stations.

  which can fall back to occupy only a

  reduced for transport in space.

  The element of the invention is characterized in that the longitudinal bars and transverse cross members constituting the construction element are assembled so

  to be folded on top of one another, the trans-

  versales themselves having a foldable median section.

  The arrangement according to the invention allows the assembly of construction elements which are foldable for

  can be transported under extremely small volumes.

  The foldable sections of the transverse sleepers and the

  connections of these sleepers to longitudinal bars can

  then be made in the form of joints or

  elastic bending joints, for example leaf springs.

  It is also wise to equip the cross sleepers

  locking devices in order to block them in the posi-

  unfolded. In order to increase the bearing strength and rigidity

  In addition, it is possible to provide additional diagonally

  the, for example diagonally arranged cables or counter

  extendable diagonal plugs. It is also possible to gather groups of building elements in the form of large assemblies according to this principle and fold them over each other.

  others by reducing them to occupy only a very small

  necessary for their transport.

  The invention will be better understood by means of

  the following description and accompanying drawings representing

  various embodiments of the invention, drawings in

which: -

  - Figure 1 (la - lb) shows schematically an assembly construction element in unfolded and folded position; - Figures 2 to 4 (2a - 2b; 3a - 3b; 4a

  4b) show different cross-sections for

foldable construction elements.

  - Figure 5 shows an element of construction

  assembly with diagonal reinforcement - FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 (7a - 7b) each show a construction element with diagonal struts - FIG. 8 (8a 8b) shows a construction element with FIG. 9 shows a construction element provided with an elastic bending joint:

  - Figure 10 (10a-lob) shows schematically

  a large assembly constituted by the grouping of several elements of construction of separate assemblies; Figure 11 (11a - 11b) shows a collapsible side surface; - Figure 12 (12a - 12b) shows a surface

rollable side.

  The construction component of assembly

  shown in Figures la and lb consists of three longitudinal bars 1, which are assembled at intervals

  by transverse crosspieces. 2. The longitudinal bars

  tudinal 1 have a form of angle as shown or tube and form the corner points of a cross section

  triangular. Each of the transverse crosspieces 2 is accou-

  to the longitudinal bars 1 by means of articulations 3 provided at its two ends and in addition each crossbar 2

  has in its median section another articulation 4.

  The structural element thus formed constitutes

  also killed, among other things, from composite materials reinforced with fibers, can therefore be folded back on itself. For this purpose the crosspieces 2 are folded into their joints 3 and 4 as indicated by arrows 5, so that the construction element takes the folded position shown in Figure lb. In this state, it occupies considerably less space compared to the position shown in FIG. 1a and is therefore remarkably suitable for a

transport in space.

  The construction elements of spacer assemblies may also have other cross-sections than those in the form of triangles, according to FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, it is possible to mount the construction elements of which it is possible. acts so that they have bar-shaped cross-sections, quadrangular, hexagonal cross-sections

  or any other. Views designated by the index represent

  in the drawings, the extended position and those designated by the index b represent the position after folding. In order to increase the load-bearing capacity, the construction elements described can also be provided with diagonal pliers. FIG.

  construction in which are inserted, as counter-

  diagonal plugs, cables 6. We have also set up,

  between the longitudinal bars 1 and the cross bars

  the 2, and this on an extension part 7, traction springs 8, which give the possibility of automatic deployment, for example after triggering a locking click. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, it is

  It is also possible to insert as diagonal counter-cards

  nales, rods 9 whose length is likely to vary.

  In Figure 6 are provided for this purpose rods 9 which are

  mated so as to be of invariable length on the

  3 of a cross-member 2, and a length likely to

  vary at a point of articulation located diagonally opposite.

  It is furthermore provided, on each of the ends of the rods 9 which can move lengthwise, a stop 10

  which, in the unfolding position, is placed on the

culation 3 associated with it.

  In the case of Figure 7, the rods 9 can

  to vary in length which are inserted as counter-

  diagonal plugs are coupled to the joints 3 without being able to vary in length and, for the purpose intended, are provided in their central zone with an extension member 11. The folding - as the unfolding - of a construction element thus provided

  diagonal braces are not in any way

influenced.

  As can be seen in Figure 8, the crossings

  transversals 2 may also be provided with a device

  12 in order to block the unfolded position In the exemplary embodiment shown, a hooking collar 13 has been mounted on one of the crosspieces 2, in which a portion 14 another crosses. The crosspieces 2 can also be coupled to the longitudinal bars 1 by means of hinge joints in the form of elastic bending joints 15 (FIG. 9) and likewise having in their median section an elastic bending joint 15. effect for example leaf springs, which can also fill a

  function to perform an automatic deployment.

  The spacer assembly construction elements which are illustrated in the views of FIGS. 1 to 9 can also be mounted by grouping a plurality of these

  elements of construction so as to constitute a subset

  ble spacer. The advantage of folding - as of unfolding - remains then, as shown in FIG. 10, so that

  even such large sets of building elements can

  can be prefabricated on land for use

  in space and be folded so as to occupy only a very small space for transport. The various respective cross-sections of the building elements

  thus grouped do not have any influence on this assembly.

  The spacer assembly construction elements which have just been described above may have their lateral faces also covered, in part or in full, with foldable or rollable surfaces. FIG. 11 shows the cross section of a building element covered on its lateral face by a folding surface 16,

  whose folding sections 17 are assembled by means of

  culations 18 so that they can fold back on themselves. Figure 12 shows another embodiment used for the overlap of the side faces. In this case, these lateral faces 19 consist of materials that can be wound, for example metal sheets, wire meshes or

  individual metal wires. These foldable or wound surfaces

  lables can be used either directly as antenna surfaces or as cell reception structures

  solar or any other equipment.

  The compliant spacer assembly construction

  the invention may be embodied as an element of

  truction with a high static load capacity

  very high rigidity and be folded so as to be extremely

  space-saving for transporting space. There are no limitations to the use of modern materials, such as for example composite materials based on carbon fiber fibers boron fibers or glass fibers. Apart from their use in special navigation, that is to say in the space of the collapsible construction elements of the kind in question may well be

  have also been established on land wherever structures

  construction of assemblies with a high degree of

  The so-called high rigidity must be folded up to occupy only a very small volume for transport or storage, while retaining their structural properties almost completely.

Claims (3)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S   1) Construction element of assembly   for space stations, with longitudinal bars   dinals and cross ties connecting the points of   gles of outer faces. characterized in that the longitudinal bars and transverse crosspieces (1, 2) are assembled so as to be foldable on one another,   the sleepers 2 having a foldable median section (4, 153.   ) Construction element according to the   cation 1, characterized in that the collapsible sections of the crosspieces (2> and the connection of these crosspieces (2) to the longitudinal bars (1) are formed in the form of articulations (3. 4).   ) Construction element according to the   cation 1, characterized in that the collapsible section of the   (2) and connecting these sleepers (2) to the bars   longitudinal members (1) are formed as flange joints elasticity (15).   ) Construction element according to a   of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the   transverse sleepers (2) are provided with a   locking (12) to block the unfolded position.   ) Construction element according to a   one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   springs (8) are associated with the sleepers (2) for deployment   automatic construction elements.   ) Construction element according to a   one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, in view   to increase the bearing capacity and / or rigidity, this element of   construction is provided with diagonal braces (6, 9).   ) Construction element according to the   cation 6, characterized in that it is provided as counter diagonal plugs, cables (6).   ) Construction element according to the   cation 6, characterized in that it is intended, as a counter   diagonal plugs, rods (9) whose length is likely to vary.   ) Construction element according to the   8, characterized in that a stop (10) is associated with   rods (9) whose length is likely to vary. ) Element conque claims 1 ç   cross section present) Element any of claims 1 to   cross section present) Element any of claims 1 to   cross section presents 130) Element any of claims 1 to of construction according to any 9, characterized in that a triangular shape.   construction according to any one = 9, characterized in that its a quadrangular shape. of construction according to any 9, characterized in that a hexagonal shape. of construction according to any   12, characterized in that one or more side faces are additionally covered,   partly and / or wholly by folding surfaces (16).   ) Construction element according to the   13, characterized in that the additional surfaces are in the form of rigid bending plates for absorbing forces and / or receiving equipment elements and are optionally further locked to separate joints (18).   150) Construction element according to any one   one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that   side faces are covered in whole and / or in part   by individual wires, wire mesh   elastic metal sheets or sheets (19).   160) Construction element according to the   cation 15, characterized in that the covering materials (19) are wound in the folded position of the construction element.   ) Construction element according to a   conque of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it is.   coupled with groups of other spacer assembly construction elements to form a large assembly assembly assembly retaining the ability to fold like unfolding.