JPH0144558B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tension loading device that applies tension to a flexible panel used in a solar power generator or the like for a spacecraft.

Conventionally, as this type of device, one having a structure as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is known. In the figure, the solar generator consists of a flexible panel 1 and a rectangular frame 2. Inside this frame 2, the flexible panel 1 is stretched under tension, and the above-mentioned panel 1, a solar cell 3 is installed together with its electrical components (not shown).

In this case, the panel 1 is formed of a carbon fiber composite material, and its lower end is held or stretched within the cross beam 4 of the frame 2 by a fixing device 8 that can be stretched by a spring 9. There is.

The horizontal beams 4 are connected to the vertical beams 5 to form a frame 2, and the inside of the frame 2 is divided at predetermined intervals by auxiliary beams 6. Both ends of the auxiliary beams 6 are connected to the vertical beams 5.
is supported by

Further, an alignment member 7 is provided at the lateral end of the cross beam 4.
is provided, supports a pivot shaft (not shown), and a large number of panel frames 2 are assembled via the pivot shaft to constitute one pivotable solar power generator.

On the other hand, the edge 10 of the panel 1 is reinforced with a carbon fiber fabric and integrally connected to a fixture 8, and the top and bottom ends of the fixture 8 are supported by springs 9. Therefore, by changing the amount of expansion and contraction of the spring 9, the tension of the panel 1 can be adjusted. Further, in order to compensate for the amount of expansion and contraction of the spring 9 due to the deformation of the frame 2, a spring set adapted to the deformation is provided.

The tension in this case is for suppressing vibration of the panel 1, but when stress on the panel 1 due to heat or the like is taken into consideration, it is necessary to apply an appropriate value.

However, with the tension loading device configured as described above, the amount of expansion and contraction of the spring 9 cannot be measured when applying tension, so the amount of deformation of the frame 2 is known in advance and a spring set is provided to compensate for this. , and it is necessary to adjust the amount of expansion and contraction of the spring 9, and furthermore, the final amount of expansion and contraction of the spring 9 when tension is applied by a plurality of springs 9, that is, the value of the tension in the final state cannot be determined. There was a drawback.

This invention was made to improve the runner-up problem of the conventional example described above, and by rotating the cylindrical body that supported the panel through the spring, the tension by the spring is adjusted, and the tension provided in the cylindrical body is adjusted. The present invention provides a tension loading device that applies tension to a flexible panel whose value can be detected using a scale.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

In the figures, parts and parts corresponding to those of the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals. 11 has a threaded part 11a on the outer periphery of one end on the opening side, a slit hole 11b on the other end on the bottomed side, and a rectangular window part 11 on the outer periphery.
It is a hollow cylindrical body formed by c, and 12a, 12
b is a pair of disk-shaped spring holding plates with a strip hole in the center. In addition, 13 is the cylindrical body 1
This is a scale provided close to a window portion 11c formed on the outer periphery of 1.

On the other hand, the edge portion 10 of the panel 1 is reinforced with carbon fiber fabric, a gold layer, etc., and has spring retaining plates 12a, 12b.
It is surrounded by a strip hole. At this time, the panel pressing plate 12b is supported by the cylindrical body 11.

Next, the operation of the tension loading device configured as described above will be explained. First, the cylindrical body 11 is connected to the cross beam 4 via a threaded portion 11a,
By rotating this cylindrical body 11, the spring 9
By changing the amount of expansion and contraction, it is possible to apply any tension to the panel 1.

In this case, the amount of expansion and contraction of the spring 9, that is, the value of the tension, can be determined by reading the position of the spring 9 on the scale 13 provided close to the rectangular window 11c on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 11.

In other words, by comparing the specific position of the spring 9 with the scale 13, reading the length of the spring 9 when it is freely extending and when it is expanding and contracting, and then multiplying the difference in length by the spring constant of the spring 9 that has been determined in advance. Therefore, it becomes possible to know the tension applied to the panel 1 by the spring 9.

In the above-described configuration, since the amount of expansion and contraction of the spring 9 can be directly measured, the tension applied to the panel 1 can be detected with high precision without considering the deformation of the frame 2 or the panel 1. The value of the tension in the final state when tension is applied by the spring 9 can also be detected with high precision. Furthermore, the tension adjustment is
This can be easily done by rotating the cylindrical body 11.

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, a cylindrical body housing a spring is screwed onto a cross beam, a panel is supported by this spring, and the cylindrical body detects the amount of expansion and contraction of the spring, that is, the value of tension. It has a structure with a scale that allows it to be applied easily, and has the effect of being able to apply tension with high accuracy. Furthermore, compared to the conventional example, the number of parts is reduced, making it lightweight and inexpensive.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of a conventional panel tension loading device for a solar power generator for a spacecraft, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an embodiment according to the present invention. Main part front view of the tension loading device shown, No. 4
The figure is a side view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line B--B of FIG. 3. 1...Panel, 2...Frame, 3...Solar cell, 4...Horizontal beam, 5...Vertical beam, 6...Auxiliary beam, 7
...Aligning material, 8...Fixing tool, 9...Spring, 10...
...Panel edge, 11...Cylindrical body, 11a...Threaded part, 11b...Slit hole, 11c...Window part, 1
2a, 12b...Spring press plate, 13...Scale.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a tension loading device for a flexible panel, one end of a horizontal beam of a frame consisting of a horizontal beam and a vertical beam is opened,
The opening side of a hollow cylindrical body with a slit hole formed at the other end and a rectangular window with a scale on the outer periphery is screwed onto the cylindrical body, and the edge of the panel is held by a spring between a pair of spring holding plates. The bending device is characterized in that the cylindrical body is supported in a pinching manner, and by rotating the cylindrical body, a desired tension is applied to the panel, and the value of the tension can be detected by a scale provided in a window on the outer peripheral surface of the case. A tension loading device that applies tension to the gender panel.