Articulated joint for deploying and locking a solar generator or a reflector
A joint for unfolding and locking a solar generator or a reflector, or other aerospace components that can be unfolded, includes two half joints, a joint axis, and a drive. A drive spring of the drive has a progressive characteristic curve over the unfolding angle of the two half joints, which increases over the unfolding, to compensate for a frictional torque that varies over the unfolding angle.
1. A joint for unfolding and locking a solar generator, a reflector, or other aerospace components that can be unfolded, consisting of:
two half joints;
a joint axis; and
a drive, wherein a drive spring of the drive has a spring characteristic curve that compensates for a frictional torque that varies over the unfolding angle, the characteristic curve increasing over the unfolding progressively, over the unfolding angle of the two half joints.
2. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the spring characteristic curve corresponds, over the entire unfolding angle, to at least a predetermined multiple of the frictional torque.
3. The joint of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined multiple of the frictional torque is triple of the frictional torque of the half joints rotated against each other.
4. The joint of claim 2 , wherein the spring characteristic curve corresponds, over the entire unfolding angle, exactly to the predetermined multiple of the frictional torque.
5. The joint of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined multiple of the frictional torque is triple of the frictional torque of the half joints rotated against each other.
6. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the drive is a constant force spring B-motor, wherein the drive spring is arranged on a drive roll, and a fixed end of the drive spring is fixed to the drive roll, and a free end of the drive spring runs around the joint axis.
7. The joint of claim 6 , wherein the drive spring has a non-rectangular shape when it is extended.
8. The joint of claim 7 , wherein the drive spring has a trapezoidal shape that is narrower towards its free end.
9. The joint of claim 6 , wherein a natural radius of the drive spring is greater towards its free end.
10. The joint of claim 6 , wherein the drive spring is formed from multiple leaves of different lengths.
11. The joint of claim 6 , wherein the drive spring has one or more recesses along its center line.