Messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm Gmbh

Deutsche Aerospace Ag

Messerschmitt-boelkow-blohm Gesellschaft MIT Beschraenkter Haftung

Messerschmitt-bolkow-blohm Gesellschaft MIT Beschrankter Haftung

Helmut Kiendl

Martin Roth

An articulation arrangement connects individual elements of a folding structure which consists of two or more individual elements and is configured to be unfolded and locked in an unfolded position and swivellably disposed on a central body. The arrangement comprises two hinge parts each rigidly fastened at one of two adjacent individual elements and swivellable about a common hinge axle, a slotted disk provided with a slot and forming part of one of the two hinge parts, a lever swivellably disposed on the other of the two hinge parts and provided with a pin. The pin is configured and arranged such that, before the unfolded position is completely reached, the pin slides on an edge of the slotted disk and, in the completely unfolded position at which locking occurs, the pin is engaged in the slot. For unlocking of the folding structure there are provided a rotatable cam plate with an edge curve of changing radius to disengage the pin and pulleys as well as driving and transmitting devices to rotate the cam plate and to transmit the rotation to the respective adjacent elements.

Articulation arrangement for connecting folding structure elements

A joint is provided for the unfolding and locking of space elements, such as solar generator panels. On one joint half, a detent lever is swivellably connected having a clamping nose as well as a finger as the guiding element. During the unfolding operation, the finger slides on a guiding contour of the other joint half. Shortly before the fully unfolded condition is reached, the finger engages in a depression, and the clamping nose runs up onto a cam and clamps down on the latter under the effect of the spring tension directed to the common axis of rotation. A movable stop element, e.g. universal ball joint, simultaneously presses against a stop surface so that both joint halves are braced with respect to one another. An arrangement of high stiffness which is as free from play as possible results.

Unfolding and locking joint for space elements

A locking arrangement for unfoldable solar generators which consist of several panels provides a lockable, partially-unfolded, intermediate position and a lockable, completely unfolded final position. In the partially-unfolded position, a panel is pivoted by 90.degree. so that a lock pin which is acted upon by a radially inwardly directed spring force and which, at first, slides on an outer section of a curve of a guiding contour, locks into an opening of a curved slot in a guiding element having the guiding contour. During the transition into the fully unfolded position, a plate cam, which had stopped at first, is rotated so that its driving groove can accommodate the lock pin which can now continue to slide on an inner section of the curve into the final locking position.

Locking arrangement for unfolded solar generators

An unfolding joint for the panels of a solar generator is constructed for the partial and complete unfolding of the outer solar panel of the solar generator which is connected to the body of a spacecraft. The solar generator includes, in addition to the outer panel a pluraLity of inner panels. The unfolding is controlled by a closed cable loop in a positive manner, whereby primary and secondary hold down devices are provided for the outer panel and for the inner panels respectively. The unfolding joint includes two joint sections which are tiltably connected to each other and are tilting axis of the joint carries a rotatably mounted cable pulley. Two spring biased locking members are mounted in the joint section that is connected to the outer panel. Stop surfaces are provided in the second joint section and in the cable pulley for cooperation with the locking members. In the partially unfolded state both locking members cooperate to provide a formlocking of the unfolding joint. In the fully unfolded state the locking is accomplished by only one of the locking elements in the form of a locking lever. During the transition from the partially unfolded state into the fully unfolded state the other locking member in the form of a locking bolt provides a formlocking connection of the outer or second joint half with the cable pulley for the closed loop cable control.

Joint for unfolding panels of a solar collector

The panel sections of a solar collector, for example of a spacecraft, are ld or mounted in a folded down condition at least during launching and until they are unfolded. For this purpose a hold down device that must be released for the unfolding, is used. The device includes a piece of flexible rope or cable, one end of which is connected to the spacecraft body, while the other end is connected to the outermost panel section to hold all panel sections in the folded condition against forces tending to unfold the panel sections, until the rope or cable is severed by a severing mechanism. The effective cable length is adjustable and an elastic member is so arranged that it can dampen shocks and compensate for different temperature responsive expansions of the rope or cable and of the collector structure.

Mounting device for spacecraft

Foldable panels of a solar collector, for example for a satellite, have a plurality of panel sections hinged to each other. At least one outer panel section of each panel is foldable into a position of about 90.degree. to the yet unfolded panel sections. The power needed for the partial unfolding and subsequent complete unfolding is provided by power storing devices, such as mechanical springs. The inward end, relative to a mounting such as a satellite body, of the outer panel section and an outward end of a further inwardly located panel section, for example the next but one inwardly located panel section, are equipped with rigid stop members extending in an extension of the plane of the respective panel section. The stop member of the outer panel has a cam surface (10) cooperating with a facing surface (12) of the stop member of the inner panel section in such a way that the two stop members will maintain the partially unfolded state in the absence of a further unfolding force application and so that the outer stop member cam surface (10) can clear the facing surface (12) in response to such further unfolding force.

Apparatus for partially unfolding solar collectors

A system for releasably securing support elements in a space vehicle wher a holding element extending through the support elements is pivotally mounted to a lever at the inner end thereof with a spring loaded release lever maintaining the outer end of the holding element in securing position. The inner end of the holding element is pivotally mounted to the lever at a point located eccentrically relative to the point of rotation of the lever and a releasable spring loaded piston operates upon severing of a blocking element to release the spring loaded piston to enable the lever to rotate to move the holding element so that the release lever engaging the outer end thereof may operate to release the holding engagement between the release lever and a support bushing whereupon the support elements will be released for movement. A limitation member is provided to limit the angle of movement of the release lever to 90.degree. when releasing the outer end of the holding element.

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Germany

Helmut Kiendl