Actuation mechanism with three-dimensional rectilinear guide
AssigneeFinmeccanica S.p.A.
InventorAlberto Meschini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuation system which implements a three-dimensional rectilinear guide with high rectilinear features and it provides stability and stiffness to the moved object by supporting it in a not operating initial phase, particularly suitable to the translation of reflectors for satellite antennas along a predetermined axis in order to obtain the zooming effect thereof on the radiation diagram of the antenna itself.
Claims6
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), comprising:
- a) a kinematic system, constituted by the first, second and third TYPEs (TYPE1, TYPE2 and TYPE3) of kinematisms and actuated by an electromechanical linear actuator (1) placed along a first symmetry axis (z0) of the kinematisms themselves, wherein
- i) the kinematism of the first TYPE, each is constituted by first, second, third and fourth links (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3 and Link 4), appear equal in first three planes (π1) belonging to the beam having the first axis (z0) as a common axis and located 120° respective to each other, the third and fourth links are constrained in fixed mutual position and hinged together in a fixed point in the space;
- ii) the kinematisms of the second TYPE are constituted by three pairs of fifth links (Links 5) which lie in second three planes (π2) rotated by 30° with respect to the respective first three planes (π1), said second three planes forming the side faces of a prism with a equilateral triangular base having vertices thereof, the ends of the three fourth links constrained to the fifth links by means of a suitable articulated joint, to allow each of the fourth links to actuate a pair of the fifth links belonging to two different spiders;
- iii) the kinematism of the third TYPE is a mechanical leverage which transmits the motion to an upper Platform (5) and a contemporary action of the three sixth links in the respective first three planes (π1) obliging the platform to translate along the first axis (z0);
- and
- b) the retention and release system (3) comprises three identical V-like structures placed at 120 degrees with respect to each other and equipped with the controlled release device (6) wherein the controlled release is obtained by means of shape-memory alloys and connected to a supporting structure (4) by means of elastic hinges (7).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.