Actuation Mechanism With Three-Dimensional Rectilinear Guide

An actuation mechanism with linear guide implementing a three-dimensional rectilinear guide able to move an antenna reflector with high rectilinear features, providing adequate stiffness and strength during a transportation phase by means of a retention and release system (3) equipped with a controlled release device (6),

• characterized by:
• a) comprising a kinematic system, constituted by the TYPE 1, TYPE2 and TYPE3 kinematisms and actuated by an electromechanical linear actuator (1) placed along the symmetry axis z0 of the kinematism itself, wherein
• the kinematism of TYPE 1 is constituted by four links, Link 1, Link 2, Link 3 and Link 4, and appears equal in three planes π1 belonging to the beam having the axis z0 as support and rotated by 120° there between, Links 3 and 4 are constrained in fixed mutual position and hinged together in a fixed point in the space;
• the kinematism of TYPE 2 is constituted by three pairs of links (Links 5) which lie in three planes π2 rotated by 30° with respect to the respective π1, said planes forming the side faces of a prism with a equilateral triangular base having lower vertices thereof the ends of the three Links 4 of FIG. 16, constrained to the Links 5 by means of a suitable articulated joint, to allow each Link 4 to actuate a pair of Links 5 belonging to two different spiders.
• the kinematism of TYPE 3 is a mechanical leverage which transmits the motion to the upper Platform (5) and the contemporary action of the three Links 6 in the respective planes x I obliging the platform to translate along the axis z0;
• and by the fact that
• b) the retention and release system (3) comprises three identical V-like structures placed at 120 degrees and equipped with the controlled release device (6) wherein the controlled release is obtained by means of shape-memory alloys technology and connected to the supporting structure (4) by means of elastic hinges (7).