Minimech self-deploying boom mechanism

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a simplified storage and dispenser apparatus permitting self-deployment of a boom of any type fabricated from an elongated ribbon of metal adapted for storage on a cylindrical storage spool and wherein the metal ribbon itself has a tendency to unwrap when wound upon the cylindrical storage spool. The present invention is especially suited for deploying any present type of boom including the single element overlap, interlock and bistem. Additionally, the present invention provides a simplified and reliable apparatus permitting self-deployment of such booms by utilizing the mechanical energy potential arising from the stresses present in such booms when wound upon storage rollers.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART

Prior art booms of the self-deploying type are commonly wrapped upon a storage spool. A protruding end of the boom is affixedly secured and the storage spool is unrestrained to rotate and translate away from the secured end of the boom. When the boom becomes fully extended, the storage spool is ejected. Several disadvantages exist in such prior art booms. Ejection of the storage spool prevents retraction of the boom when fully extended. In prior art designs where the storage spool is not ejected only relatively short lengths of the stored boom could be deployed from the storage reel. Special construction was required of the storage spool to insure its translation without a side-slipping or spiraling motion. Ejection of a storage reel made ground testing of the boom deployment difficult. Controlling the unwrapping tendency of a wound selfdeploying-type boom has frequently been a problem in the prior art. A retracting capability of a prior art self-deploying boom requires complicated spool rewinding mechanisms. Of course, no retracting capability could be incorporated if the storage spool was ejected. When a fully deployed boom was no longer needed, a separate mechanism was required to sever the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for storing and dispensing a self-deployed-type boom. Conceptually, the present invention utilizes two cooperating cylindrical rollers, one roller serving as a storage spool upon which a boom is wound, and the other roller acting as a boom restraint and guide. The storage spool is mounted for rotation on the frame, whereas the restraining and guiding roller is mounted for translation as well as rotation in the frame. Also, the spool and guiding roller may be interchanged on the frame. The end portion of the stored boom is initially maintained between the cooperating cylindrical surfaces of the rollers. Spring loading continuously urges the rollers to exert a common line of pressure upon the boom portion therebetween. The thus cooperating rollers maintain the boom tightly wound upon the storage roller as it self-deploys, the guiding and restraining roller insuring that any individual wrap of the boom does not slip with respect to any other wrap on the cylindrical surface of the storage spool as it deploys. Additionally, such cooperating roller structure assures rewinding of the boom without danger of damage thereto or a need for complicated rewinding mechanism. In a modification, the cooperating rollers may be end-supported between elongated arms replacing the frame. In such configuration, the present invention may be utilized as a spool ejection type self deploying boom.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide apparatus for permitting self-deployment of a boom without ejection of a storage spool therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus permitting self-deployment of a boom while simultaneously maintaining the boom tightly wound upon its storage spool.

A further object of the invention is to provide cooperating roller structure permitting self-deployment of a boom and subsequent retraction of the boom without damage thereto and without the need for complicated retracting mechanism.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for storing, permitting deployment and retracting a selfdeploying-type boom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extendable boom wound upon a storage spool with a cooperating roller aiding in deployment, rewinding and wrapping the boom tightly upon the storage spool. Still another object of the invention is to provide an extendable boom wound around a storage spool with a cooperating roller serving to maintain the boom in tightly wrapped condition on the storage spool as the boom self-deploys to an extended condition.

Other objects and other attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with a description of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an assembled self-deploying boom mechanism wherein a sef-deploying boom is wrapped upon a reciprocating spool connected to a pressure roller by a pair of assembly arms;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of another preferred embodiment of the preferred invention illustrating a pair of cooperating boom storage spools each having wound thereon a portion of a selfdeploying boom of the bistem type;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein a self-deploying boom is wrapped upon a fixed roller connected to a reciprocating pressure roller by a U-shaped bracket, and further illustrating in phantom a spool braking and retracting mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating a plurality of self-deploying boom storage spools each provided with a cooperating pressure roller and arranged within minimal space relationship; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another preferred embodiment, illustrating a plurality of spring-loaded reciprocating selfdeploying boom storage rollers each associated with a common single pressure roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With more particular reference to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1, a self-deploying mechanism illustrated generally as 10 and including a generally cylindrical boom storage spool 12 over which is wound a plurality of tightly wrapped turns 14 of a self-deploying boom 16. The particular boom illustrated is of the overlapped type, tub it should be understood that other present types of self-deploying boom may be thus utilized. The spool 12 is end supported for rotation by a pair of spaced, generally similar connecting arms 18. Operatively associated with the spool 12 is a cylindrical pressure roller 20 which is also end-mounted for rotation to the pair of connecting arms 18.

With more particular reference to FIG. 2, the particular construction of the assembled device illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown in greater detail. The spool 12 is of generally hollow construction with an inner bore diameter 22. Each end of the spool 12 receives therein a cylindrical outer race of a roller bearing, one of which is illustrated at 24. Each inner race 26 of the bearing 24 fixedly receives therein an end portion 28 of a reduced diameter shaft 30 which extends completely through the spool 12. The shaft 30 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 32 intermediate of its terminal ends. A remaining end portion 34 of the shaft 30 is provided with a protruding

3,608,844 machine screw 36. In similar fashion, the cylindrical pressure roller 20 is of hollow construction with an inner bore diameter 38. Each end of the roller 20 is provided with a bearing 40, the outer race of each bearing being received in the bore 38. The inner race 42 of each bearing receives therein an end portion 44 of a reduced diameter cylindrical shaft 46, extending completely through the roller 20 and provided with a reduced diameter portion 48 intermediate of its terminal ends thereof. The remaining end portion 50 of the shaft 46 is provided with a protruding machine screw 52. Still reference to FIG. 2, each connecting arm 18 is generally elongated vertically and provided with a vertically extending parallel sidewall notch 54 located generally in the uppermost portion of each connecting arm 18. A lowermost portion 56 of the connecting arm 18 is provided with a generally central aperture 58, generally aligned with the major axis of said elongated notch 54. When the device is assembled, the end portion 28 of the shaft 30 is received within the inner race 26 of the bearing 24. Additionally, each shaft portion 28 partially protrudes from the bearing inner race and is received for reciprocation in the slot 54 of a connecting arm 18. The reduced portion 32 of the shaft 30 receives a generally E-shaped retaining clip 60 which partially surrounds the shaft 30 and overlaps the adjacent side margins of the elongated slot 54, thereby retaining the spool 12 in position between the spaced-opposed connecting arms 18. In similar fashion, the end portion 44 of the shaft 46 is received through the aperture 58 of a connecting arm 18 and is received within the inner race 42 of a corresponding bearing 40. The reduced diameter portion 48 of the shaft 46 receives a generally E-shaped retaining clip 62, similar in construction and function to the clip 60, whereby the pressure roller 20 is maintained in position between the opposed retaining arms 18. Additionally, the protruding screws 36 and 52 are connected by a coil spring 64, the ends of which are connected to the screws by any well-known technique.

In operation, the coil springs 64 resiliently urge the wrapped turns 14 of the boom 16 against the cylindrical surface of the roller 20. More particularly, the spool 12 and the roller 20 are forced together along a common line of pressure along their corresponding cylindrical surfaces with an unwrapped end portion of the boom 16 initially compressed therebetween. Initially, the end portion of the boom may be fixed to any available mounting surface, not shown. Also, the spool 12 is constrained to prevent its rotation by any well-known device, not shown. When it is desired to deploy the boom to an elongated length, the constraining device releases the spool 12 for rotation upon its bearings 24. The wound turns 14 of the boom 16 possess a well-known tendency to unwind when wrapped upon the storage spool 12. However, since the boom is constrained between the storage spool and the pressure roller 20, the wellknown storage energy of the wrapped turns 14 is utilized to rotate the storage spool 12 and produce a counterrotation in the pressure roller 20. Such counterrotation forces the boom 16 to unwind tangentially to the cylindrical surfaces of both the storage spool 12 and the pressure roller 20. As the boom 16 thus unwinds, the cooperating spool and pressure roller are free to translate along the length of the self-deploying boom 16. Also, the coil springs 64 continuously urge the spool 12 to reciprocate within the slot 54 of the connecting arms 18 in order to maintain engagement of the pressure roller 20 against the turns 14 of the remaining wrapped portion of the selfdeploying boom 16. Thus, the pressure roller 20 initially acts to constrain the tendency of the wrapped turns 14 to unwind from the spool 12 and additionally, as the boom 16 selfdeploys, maintains the turns 14 remaining on the spool in tightly wrapped position on the spool 12. The spool 20 further serves to guide the boom 16 as it self-deploys from the rotating spool 12. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment shown and described in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly adapted for a selfdeploying boom mechanism of the type which may be ejected after complete deployment of the boom.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The embodiment of FIG. 3 is a modifica4 tion of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A first generally cylindrical storage roller or spool 66 is provided thereover with a plurality of closely wrapped turns 68 of a first boom portion 70. A second storage roller or spool 72 is provided similarly with a plurality of closely wrapped turns of an elongated boom ribbon portion 76. The spools 66 and 72 are mounted for counterrotation and resilient engagement along a common line of pressure, in similar fashion to the spool 12 and pressure roller 20 of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. With the spools 66 and 72 thus mounted, the boom portions 70 and 76 are maintained in parallel abutting relationship in compression between the spools 66 and 72. In operation, the boom portions 70 and 76 simultaneously self-deploy with the spools 66 and 72 in counterrotation, permitting the plurality of turns 68 and 74 to unwrap from the counterrotating spools. Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the spools 66 and 72 each function as a storage spool. Additionally, each roller 66 and 72 additionally serve as guiding and restraining rollers for each other. More particularly, the spool 66 is resiliently urged in compression against the spool 72 by coil springs (not shown) similar in function and construction to the coil springs 64 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the spool 66 initially restrains the boom portion 76, preventing its tendency to unwind from the spool 72. Additionally, the spool 66 guides the boom 76 as it selfdeploys, thereby insuring that it deploys tangentially from the storage spool 72. Additionally, as the boom portion 76 selfdeploys, the roller 66 applies pressure upon the spool 72 in order to maintain the plurality of remaining turns 74 in closely wrapped relationship over the spool 72. In turn, the spool 72 provides the same restraining and guiding functions, enabling self-deployment of the boom portion 70 from the boom portion 76. Accordingly, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is especially suited for a storage and deploying mechanism for a bistem-type boom.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly illustrated in FIG. 4. Such embodiment is similar in construction to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, the corresponding parts will be indicated by like numbers differing only by primed designations.

Accordingly, with more particular reference to FIG. 4, with reference being made to both FIGS. 1 and 2, a modified selfdeployed mechanism is generally indicated as 80 and comprises a generally U-shaped bracket having a base 82 and two parallel-spaced laterally projecting sidewalls 84 and 86. The sidewalls 84 and 86 are provided with opposed aligned vertically downward projecting parallel sidewall notches 88 and 90 in spaced relationship from the base 82. The U-shaped bracket is purposely constructed to be substituted for the connecting arms 18 of the previously described embodiment of the present invention. A boom storage spool 12' and a cooperating pressure roller 20' are mounted for rotation in the bracket, said spool and pressure roller being mounted in inverted relationship with their corresponding relationships in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. More particularly, the storage spool 12' is provided with a projecting shaft 30'. Said shaft 30' has attached thereto a protruding screw 36'. Similarly, the pressure roller 20' is provided with a shaft 46', carrying a projecting screw 52'. The screws 36' and 52' are connected by a coil spring 64'. In addition, the storage spool 12' is provided thereover with a plurality of tightly wrapped turns 14' of an extendable self-deploying boom 16'.

In operation, the storage spool 12' and the storage roller 20' are maintained in compression by the coil spring 64' the boom end portion being initially maintained in compression between the spool and roller along a common line of pressure. In such manner, the pressure roller 20' serves to prevent the wellknown tendency of the boom to unwrap from the storage spool. Any well-known braking and retracting drive mechanism, generally illustrated in phantom line at 92 is adapted to initially engage and restrain the storage spool 12' from rotation. When deployment of the boom 16' is desired, the mechanism 92 will, in the well-known manner, release its

3,608,844 restraint upon the spool 12', allowing it to rotate upon its shafts 30'. The storage energy of the boom 16' creates a tendency thereof to unwind from the storage spool 12'. However, the cooperating resiliently urged pressure roller 20' will guide the unwinding boom to deploy tangentially to both the cylindrical surfaces of he spool 12' and the roller 20'. As the boom deploys, it creates counterrotation of the spool and pressure roller, the latter being continuously maintained in pressurized engagement upon the remaining turns 14' of the deploying boom by the resilient action of the springs 64'. Such action thus guides the boom 16' forcing it to deploy in the desired tangential relationship without slipping off the ends of the spool 12’ and serving further to maintain the wrappings 14' remaining on the spool 12' in tightly wrapped condition upon the spool 12'. When it is desired to retract the self-deploying boom 16', the mechanism 92 may be utilized as a drive mechanism for rotating the spool 12' in a direction opposite to that occurring during deployment of the boom 16'. Such reverse rotation retracts the deployment boom 16' in wrapped condition over the storage spool 12'. During such rewinding, the pressure roller 20' is continuously urged in pressurized abutment upon the wrapped portion 14' of the boom 16' as it rewinds. Such pressure accordingly maintains the wrapped portions in tightly wrapped condition upon the storage spool 12' and further guides the boom 16' forcing it to wrap in even alignment upon the spool 12'. Accordingly, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is a simplified and reliable storage and retracting mechanism for a self-deploying boom heretofore, not available in the prior art. It should be understood from a perusal of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 4, that the boom storage spool may be mounted for rotation with a cooperating pressure roller mounted for both translation and rotation, or alternatively, the pressure roller may be mounted for rotation with a cooperating boom storage roller mounted for both translation and rotation in either embodiment.

With more particular to FIG. 5, there is shown a practical application of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 5, there is particularly illustrated eight self-deploying mechanisms radially spaced about a common central axis 94 of a generally circular plate 96. A representative one of the plurality of self-deploying boom mechanisms will now be explained in greater detail. Each mechanism includes a cylindrical storage roller or spool 98 and a cooperating pressure roller 100 resiliently urged together by a pair of connecting coil springs one of which is shown at 104. An extendable boom portion 102 is compressed between the rollers 98 and 100. Accordingly, each mechaniam as described is fabricated similarly to the previously described embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. Additionally, each self-deploying boom mechanism of FIG. 5 is mounted between a pair of circular plates 96, which plates correspond to the spaced sidewalls 84 and 86 of the U-shaped bracket. More particularly each plate 96 is provided with an elongated slot 106 corresponding to the elongated notch 90 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, in order to slidably receive the storage spool 98. Alternatively, the spool 98 and pressure roller 100 may be mounted in reverse, with the pressure roller 100 being adapted for reciprocation within the slot 106. Each additional self-deploying mechanism of FIG. 5 is similarly constructed, the assembled device thus providing a plurality of boom mechanisms which may be actuated for allowing simultaneous or selected separate deployment of individual booms. The device illustrated in FIG. 5 particularly illustrates an advantage residing in the present invention permitting a plurality of separately deploying boom mechanisms but within a minimum space requirement, limited only by the sizes of the individual storage spools and cooperating pressure rollers and the clearances between separate mechanisms.

With more particular reference to FIG. 6, another practical application of the preferred embodiment is illustrated. In the FIGURE, a pair of spaced mounting plates, one of which is shown at 96', has mounted therebetween a plurality of self50 deploying boom mechanisms, a representative one of which will be explained in greater detail. A generally central roller 108 is rotatably carried by a supporting shaft 110 which is mounted to the center of a corresponding disc plate 96'. An inwardly, radially directed parallel sidewall wall 112 is provided for each of a corresponding desired individual boom deployment mechanism. A boom storage roller 114 is received in each notch 112 and is end-supported between the mounting plates 96'. A tiedown point 117, which may comprise, for example, a dowel or aperture, is radially in line with each elongated notch 112 and the central shaft 110 and is provided to fixedly receive the end of a coil spring 118. The remaining end of the coil spring 118 is secured to one end portion of a shaft of a corresponding storage roller 114. The other plate also is provided with corresponding similar features. Accordingly, the end-mounted springs resiliently urge each storage roller 114 into pressurized engagement upon the outer cylindrical periphery of the central mounted roller 108. The cylindrical spool 114 is provided with a plurality of turns of an extensible boom 116, which boom is maintained compressed between the circular peripheries of the central roller 108 and its corresponding cooperating storage spool 114. Each additional desired boom deployment and storage mechanism is fabricated in similar fashion. The tendency for each of the booms 116 to unwind from their corresponding storage rollers 114 simultaneously produces a counterclockwise rotation in a corresponding storage spool and a corresponding clockwise rotation of the central roller 108. Additionally, the device of FIG. 6 illustrates a mechanism for simultaneously deploying a plurality of extensible booms utilizing but a single pressure roller common to each of a plurality of desired boom storage spools.

The structure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be modified by either adding or subtracting individual storage rollers to deploy any desired number of booms. In actual practice, for example, a structure corresponding to that of FIG. 6 was modified with two storage rolls, thereby permitting deployment of two booms which could be used in a dipole antenna system. When provided with four storage rollers, the structure may be used to deploy four booms which may serve as four antennas extending 90° with respect to one another.

Many other embodiments and modifications of the preferred embodiments are contained within the spirit of the invention as defined in the scope of the appended claims.