Multi-arm forming device for space on-orbit composite braiding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12186970-B2
Application number	US-202418776250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2024
Priority date	Mar 3, 2023
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A multi-arm forming device for space on-orbit composite braiding is provided. Through the rotary movement of a combination of circularly arranged mechanical arm-type laying apparatuses relative to a mold, a plurality of hot press laying heads are controlled together to implement high-efficiency and high-freedom winding and braiding formation of a composite member. The retraction and expansion deformation of the gasbag mold is achieved by inflating and deflating based on design, and the overall device is lightened by switching its structural volume in an operating/non-operating state, thereby achieving the purpose of facilitating the lift-off of rockets and the demolding, repair and weight reduction of winding and braiding structural members for operation in space. Additionally, gas in a gasbag can be used as emergency kinetic energy for the movement and attitude adjustment of the overall device in space. High-quality and efficient winding and braiding formation of composites in space are achieved ultimately.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-arm forming device for space on-orbit composite braiding, comprising a shell, wherein a ring rail is provided on an outer ring of the shell, a plurality of magnetic levitation motion stages uniformly arranged in a circumferential array are provided on the ring rail, a combination of the plurality of magnetic levitation motion stages moves circumferentially along the ring rail, and the plurality of magnetic levitation motion stages are mounted with mechanical arm laying apparatuses, respectively; a retractable multi-segment connection pipe is provided at a center of the shell, and a gasbag mold is connected to an end of the retractable multi-segment connection pipe, wherein the gasbag mold achieves deformation operations of inflation and deflation through a first compressed gas source, and the first compressed gas source and a second compressed gas source are both arranged inside the shell; the first compressed gas source is connected to a retractable filling pipe through a first filling pipe segment, and the retractable filling pipe is arranged inside the retractable multi-segment connection pipe; the second compressed gas source is used for supplying gas to a spray pipe at a bottom of the shell.

2. The multi-arm forming device for space on-orbit composite braiding according to claim 1 , wherein a motion body of each of the mechanical arm laying apparatuses is a six-axis mechanical arm; an execution end is a hot press laying head, comprising a storage silo and two hot press rollers; the storage silo stores a thermoplastic prepreg strip; the mechanical arm laying apparatuses move circumferentially based on the combination of the plurality of magnetic levitation motion stages along the ring rail, and perform synergetic winding and braiding operations on the gasbag mold in a fully filled state to form a winding and braiding structural member ultimately.

3. The multi-arm forming device for space on-orbit composite braiding according to claim 1 , wherein the retractable multi-segment connection pipe comprises an upper pipe, a middle pipe and a lower pipe, wherein the retractable multi-segment connection pipe is controlled for retractable deformation under a drive of an electric control board through a data line, and the upper pipe is connected to the gasbag mold; in an operating state, the retractable multi-segment connection pipe undergoes extension deformation, and the gasbag mold is pushed out to a suitable position for inflating deformation to facilitate winding and braiding by the mechanical arm laying apparatuses; in a non-operating state, the retractable multi-segment connection pipe undergoes retraction deformation, and the gasbag mold releases gas to shrink a volume of the gasbag mold for pull-back placement.

4. The multi-arm forming device for space on-orbit composite braiding according to claim 1 , wherein a controllable gas valve is provided at a connection of the first filling pipe segment on the first compressed gas source and a second filling pipe segment on the second compressed gas source, the first compressed gas source is used for inflating and deflating the gasbag mold, and the second compressed gas source is used for supplying gas to the spray pipe; in emergencies, the first compressed gas source is allowed to supply power to the spray pipe through the controllable gas valve.

Assignees

• Univ Nanjing Aeronautics & Astronautics

Inventors

• Zheng Jinghua
• Chen Yiwei
• Fan Congze
• Song Wenzhe
• Song yaxing
• Shan Zhongde

Classifications

• B29C53/56 Primary

  Winding and joining, e.g. winding spirally {(winding in general B65H)} · CPC title

• B29C33/0083

  Electrical or fluid connection systems therefor · CPC title

• B29C53/8016 Primary

  Storing, feeding or applying winding materials, e.g. reels, thread guides, tensioners · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title

• B29C70/34

  and shaping or impregnating by compression {, i.e. combined with compressing after the lay-up operation} · CPC title