公开(公告)号：US09970517B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-15

申请号：US14811747

申请日：2015-07-28

Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Inventor： Brendan J. D. Irwin

IPC: B64G1/22 ,  F16H21/44 ,  F16G13/20 ,  E05F15/627 ,  E05D3/04 ,  E05D5/04 ,  E05F15/619

CPC classification number: F16H21/44 ,  B64G1/222 ,  E05D3/02 ,  E05D3/04 ,  E05D5/04 ,  E05F15/619 ,  E05F15/627 ,  E05Y2201/724 ,  E05Y2600/41 ,  E05Y2900/502 ,  F16G13/20 ,  F16H35/18

Abstract: A flex-drive actuator for a satellite boom hinge or other hinge applications. Using a motor-driven cog and a unique drive chain, the hinge can be reversibly driven between open and closed positions, thereby deploying or stowing the boom and attached payload. The chain includes links designed so that, when bent in one direction, the chain pre-buckles into a rigid circular arc form that matches the deployment path of the hinge. This pre-buckling essentially converts the chain into a rigid gear segment that can carry a moment to actuate the hinge. As the cog retracts the chain and the hinge closes, the circular shape of the chain de-buckles on the free side of the cog, where the chain can be stored as a straight section inside of a boom tube or folded into a magazine. The flex-drive actuator can accommodate any desired actuation angle by addition of links to the chain.