Joints and connections – Articulated members – Pivoted
Patent
1995-07-21
1997-09-16
Kim, Harry C.
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Pivoted
403 81, 403109, 2423903, 52108, 182 41, F16C 1104
Patent
active
056673256
ABSTRACT:
A joint for a storable tubular extendible member comprises an input housing with sets of rollers which progressively deform the storable tubular extendible member from its tubular state to a tape-like flat state. An output housing includes rollers allowing the tape-like member to recover to its tubular state. A pivot joins the input and output housings and a plurality of confining members such as nip rollers are provided between the input and output housings to maintain the member in its flat state. The nip rollers are supported by link arms much that some of the rollers may pivot about a pivot on the input housing and others may pivot about a pivot on the output housing. A medial set of nip rollers is constrained to remain medially positioned between the input housing and output housing by having link arms extending from both the input housing pivot and the output housing pivot. A drive is provided to cause the joint to selectively bend. Telescoping cylinders extend from the output housing with the innermost cylinder frictionally engaging the storable tubular extendible member such that the telescoping cylinders act as a support for the storable tubular extendible member. Telescoping cylinders extend between a storage base for the storable tubular extendible member and the joint for supporting the joint and limiting the distance it may move away from the base.
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M.W. Thomson, "Deployable and Retractable Telescoping Tubular Structure Development", NASA Conference Publication 3260, 28th Aerospace Mechanisms Sypmposium, May 18-20, 1994.
Edwards Keith William
Kaushal Deepack
Millard Julian W. F.
Tucker Howard J.
Kim Harry C.
Spar Aerospace Limited
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