Abstract
In the space folding mechanism, the function of rotation can be provided by the traditional hinge, and additional driving and locking functions are completed by the unfolded and locking mechanism. Thus, such a mechanism is not only of high quality and volume, but also of complex structure. In this paper, a kind of folding hinge mechanism, which is composed of three springs for the expansion of solar canvas, has been designed and analysed. It can perform automatic expansion by the strain energy accumulated after bending and automatic locking by its inherent critical bending moment. The additional locking devices are not required. By using ABAQUS, the influence of tape spring's space layout and bending mode on the bending moment of the combined hinge with three springs in unfolding process has been researched. An optimal combined hinge which has better bending performance is then obtained. The problem of dead point which may exist in the process of expansion in this kind of hinge was successfully avoided.
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