Deployment test apparatus of a folded solar panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10917045-B2
Application number	US-201816191635-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a deployment test apparatus including a fixing frame configured to fix a first portion of a target object in which the first portion is hingedly coupled to a second portion, a rotation axis module including a rotary shaft and disposed on one side of the fixing frame, a rotary arm radially extending from the rotary shaft in an upper portion of the fixing frame, and a support module connected to the rotary arm to clamp the second portion of the target object to be floated, wherein when deploying the target object, the deployment test apparatus is configured to reduce an external force applied to the target object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A deployment test apparatus comprising:
a fixing frame configured to fix a first portion of a target object in which the first portion is hingedly coupled to a second portion;
a rotation axis module comprising a rotary shaft and disposed on one side of the fixing frame;
a rotary arm radially extending from the rotary shaft in an upper portion of the fixing frame; and
a support module connected to the rotary arm to clamp the second portion of the target object to be floated,
a horizontal compensation module connecting the support module and the rotary arm, including a guide bar connected to the rotary arm and a horizontal bearing assembly connected to the support module and configured to move along the guide bar,
wherein when deploying the target object, the deployment test apparatus is configured to reduce an external force applied to the target object.

2. The deployment test apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the support module is moveable along the guide bar in a longitudinal direction of the rotary arm such that the second portion radially moves in response to the target object being deployed.

3. The deployment test apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the horizontal compensation module further comprises a horizontal adjustment member configured to adjust the guide bar to be level.

4. The deployment test apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the horizontal compensation module comprises a horizontal scale configured to indicate a displacement of the support module or the rotation axis module comprises a rotary scale configured to indicate a displacement of the rotary shaft.

5. The deployment test apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotation axis module comprises a first self-aligning bearing,
the first self-aligning bearing comprises:
a bearing element configured to enclose the rotary shaft;
a housing disposed to be spaced apart from the bearing element; and
a plurality of vertical adjustment elements arranged to penetrate the housing in a radial direction of the rotary shaft such that the bearing element is spaced apart from the housing, and
the vertical adjustment elements are configured to adjust a distance between the housing and the bearing element such that the rotary shaft is disposed in parallel to a gravity direction.

6. The deployment test apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the rotation axis module further comprises:
a second self-aligning bearing configured to enclose a lower portion of the rotary shaft to prevent a horizontal movement of the rotary shaft; and
a rotation sensing member configured to sense a quantity of rotation angle or an angular velocity of the rotary shaft.

7. The deployment test apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support module comprises:
a clamping member configured to clamp the second portion; and
a rotation bearing configured to allow the second portion to rotate in response to the target object being deployed.

8. The deployment test apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support module comprises:
a length adjustable member configured to be adjusted in length;
a weight sensing member configured to sense a weight of the second portion; and
a spring configured to allow the second portion to vertically move in response to the target object being deployed, and
a length of the support module is adjusted based on a change in length of the length adjustable member such that an elevation height of the second portion of the target object is adjusted.

9. The deployment test apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a horizontal adjustment cable configured to perform leveling to prevent the rotary arm from tilting,
wherein the horizontal adjustment cable further comprises:
a wire diagonally connecting the rotary arm and the rotary shaft; and
a wire length adjusting member configured to adjust a length of the wire.

Assignees

• Korea Aerospace Res Inst

Inventors

• Oh Shi Hwan
• Moon Hong Youl

Classifications

• B64G1/2222

  Folding · CPC title

• H02S30/00

  Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion (semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H10F10/00, H10F19/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00) · CPC title

• H02S20/30

  Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment · CPC title

• G01M99/008 Primary

  by doing functionality tests · CPC title

• B64G1/443

  Photovoltaic cell arrays · CPC title