JPH04160803A - Expansion type parabolic antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the mechanism keeping a mirror surface without making the expansion mechanism complicated by devising the antenna such that an expansion arm is expanded by an expansion force of an expansion boom and a mirror surface mesh is restricted by the expansion arm deformed elastically and plural hoops. CONSTITUTION:The restriction of an expansion arm 2 is released by a command from ground and then the restriction of an expansion boom 6. The expansion boom 6 able to be expanded thereby obtains an expansion force by filling a gas into an air bug and is expanded, the expansion force is delivered to the expansion 2 via an expansion wire 9, and the expansion boom 6 and the expansion arm 2 start expansion. The rotation of the arm 2 is locked in the state of the end of expansion, the arm 2 is deformed elastically in this state to be a mirror surface form, a mirror surface mesh 4 supported by the arm 2 and the hoop 3 keeps the mirror surface face without provision of a complicated mirror surface maintenance mechanism. Thus, the mechanism is simplified.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention by simplifying the deployment mechanism.

This invention relates to a deployable parabolic antenna that is highly lightweight, highly reliable, and highly storable.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, the performance and reliability of space shuttles, Ariane rockets, etc. have improved, creating economic benefits for space use. In particular, large deployable antennas are necessary for mobile communications on ships, vehicles, and the like.

Its development has been underway. Figure 9 (a), (b)
c) For the above deployable antenna, the European Space Agency's journal
Proc, Workshop on Mechanic
al technology for antennas
This is a diagram showing a conventional deployable parabolic antenna shown in JSP-225 volume (1984).

In the figure, (1) is the lower arm, (2) is the deployment arm, (4)
is a mesh mirror surface, (11) is a mechanism provided on the arms of (1) and (2) to maintain the shape of the mesh mirror surface, and (7) is a center hub that serves as a fulcrum for the expansion of the arms. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the arm of the deployable antenna is stored, and in the figure (8) is a rotating hinge equipped with a spiral spring for deployment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the expanded state of the lower arm (1) and the extension arm (2).

Next, the operation will be explained. The lower arm, which is restrained by a holding wire not shown in the initial storage configuration diagram (FIG. 10), begins to deploy when the holding wire is cut by a detonator or the like in response to a command from the ground.

The deployment arm (2) also deploys in the same way, or its deployment force is the rotational force of the spiral spring of the spring-loaded rotation hinge (8).

A method is adopted in which the information is transmitted via a wire (not shown).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional deployable parabolic antennas have the above configuration, so when the antenna size increases in the future.

In the two-stage type shown in the figure, the length of the arm becomes too long in the stored state, and to avoid this, if you use a multi-stage type, the wires etc. for transmitting the unfolding force will become complicated, and the mirror mesh In order to maintain the shape, the mechanism for maintaining the shape and mirror surface of each arm becomes complicated and requires a large number of mechanisms. Furthermore, due to the complexity, there were problems such as increased costs and decreased reliability.

This invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

To obtain a deployable parabolic antenna whose deployable mechanism does not become complicated even when the antenna is increased in size and whose mechanism for maintaining a mirror surface can be simplified.

[Means to solve the problem]

The deployable parabolic antenna according to the present invention simplifies the deployment mechanism by extending the extendable arm by the extension force of the extendable boom, and the mirror mesh is restrained by a plurality of hoops and an arm that is elastically deformed into a mirror shape. The shape maintaining mechanism is simplified so that the shape can be maintained.

[Effect]

The extendable arm according to the present invention is extended by the extension force of the extendable boom, and the mirror mesh is restrained by the extendable arm elastically deformed into a mirror shape and a plurality of hoops.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 8.

In the figure, (1) is a lower arm, (2) is an extension arm that extends to the upper part of the lower arm, and (3) is a deployable hoop, which is supported at multiple points on the arm (1) or (2). , are held parallel to each other. (4) is a mirror mesh, which is restrained at multiple points by the lower arm (1), the extension arm (2), and the expandable hoop. (5) is a sub-reflector or a power supply unit, and (6) extends the above-mentioned extension arm when deployed.

The extendable boom (7), which becomes a support structure for the sub-reflector or the power supply unit after deployment, is a central knob that supports the extendable boom and the lower arm. (8) is a rotating hinge with screws that provides deployment force to the lower arm.

(9) connects the extensible arm at the tip and the boom, and transmits the extensible force of the extensible boom to the extensible arm when deployed. Deployment wire,
(10) is an airbag that applies an extension force to the extension boom.

Next, the operation will be explained using diagrams.

Initially, it is in the stowed state as shown in Figures 2 and 4, where the extendable arm (2), extendable boom (6) and deployable hoop (3) are restrained by a restraining mechanism not shown in the figures. ing. In the first stage of deployment, the extension arm (2) is first unrestrained by a command from the ground, and then the extension boom (6) is unrestrained. As a result, gas is injected into the extensible boom (6) and the air lug (10) to obtain an extensible force and extend the extensible boom (6). (2), and the extension boom (6) and extension arm (2) begin to extend as shown in Figure 5.

When the advancing arm (2) finishes advancing, the end arm (2)
are locked together by a locking mechanism not shown in FIG. 1, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3. After this.

The deployment wire (9) is cut by a deployment wire cutting mechanism (not shown). Also, deployable hoop (3)
The restraint mechanism is also released. Then, the spring-loaded rotating hinge (
The entire arm consisting of the extension arm (2) and the lower arm (1) begins to unfold due to the spring force of 8). This deployment force also deploys the deployable hoop (3) via the arm. FIG. 6 shows this state. The deployable hoop (3) forms a ring-shaped hoop when it is fully deployed.

The entire arm is restrained by the hoop (3) and deforms elastically. As shown in FIG. 7, the arm completes deployment from the upper hoop, and the arm begins to elastically deform from the upper part.

The rotation of the arm is locked when the deployment is completed.

In this state, the arm is elastically deformed into a mirror-like shape, and the mirror-like mesh (4) supported by the arm and the hoop can maintain its mirror-like shape without a complicated mirror-like shape maintaining mechanism.

In the above embodiment, the force for deploying the entire arm is generated by the spring force of the spring-equipped rotating hinge (8), but an electric motor may be used instead.

Furthermore, instead of the expandable hoop, a hoop that expands and maintains its shape by injecting gas may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the mechanism can be simplified by advancing the arm using the advancing force of the advancing boom, and by restraining the arm with a plurality of hoops, it can be elastically shaped into a mirror-like shape. By deforming and restraining the mirror surface to the hoop and arm, the mirror surface shape can be maintained without a complicated mirror surface maintenance mechanism.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a deployed state of a deployable parabolic antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a stored state of a deployable parabolic antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a stored state of a deployable parabolic antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. A deployable parabolic antenna according to an embodiment of
FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the retractable arm and extendable boom in the retracted state of the deployable parabolic antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing a state in which the extendable arm and the extendable boom are in the middle of being extended, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the entire arm and hoop of the deployable parabolic antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention in the middle of being extended, and FIG. . FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the deployable boom of the deployable parabolic antenna according to the embodiment of the present invention; Figures 9(a) and 9(b) are diagrams showing the deployed state of a conventional deployable parabolic antenna.
FIG. 0 is a diagram showing the conventional deployable parabolic antenna in the middle of deployment, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the arm of the conventional deployable parabolic antenna in the deployed state. In the figure, (1) is the lower arm and (2) is the extension arm. (3) is a deployable hoop, and (4) is a mirrored mesh. (5) is the power supply section or sub-reflector. (6) is an extendable boom, and (7) is a center hub. (8) is a rotating hinge with a spring. (9) is the deployment wire, and (10) is the airbag. (11) is a mirror maintenance mechanism. shows. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a plurality of extendable arms each having an unfolding mechanism at the lower end; a deployable hoop supported by the extendable arms after deployment; a mirror mesh supported by the extendable arms and the deployable hoop;
A deployable parabolic antenna comprising: an extendable boom that applies an extension force to the extendable arm; and an airbag that provides an extension force to the extendable boom.