초록 ▼

A joint (10) is described for connecting a pair of beams to pivot them between positions in alignment or beside one another, which is of light weight and which operates in a controlled manner. The joint includes a pair of fittings (16, 18), and at least one center link (20) having opposite ends pivo

A joint (10) is described for connecting a pair of beams to pivot them between positions in alignment or beside one another, which is of light weight and which operates in a controlled manner. The joint includes a pair of fittings (16, 18), and at least one center link (20) having opposite ends pivotally connected to opposite fittings and having axes (36, 38) that pass through centerplanes (36, 38) of the fittings. A control link (24) having opposite ends pivotally connected to the different fittings controls their relative orientations, and a toggle assembly (26) holds the fittings in the deployed configuration wherein they are aligned. The fittings have stops (28, 30) that lie on one side of the centerplane opposite the toggle assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A joint for connecting a pair of deployable structures comprising: a pair of fittings for connecting to the ends of beams that are to be pivotally connected, each fitting having a centerplane, and said centerplanes lying substantially coincident when the fittings are in a deployed position and

1. A joint for connecting a pair of deployable structures comprising: a pair of fittings for connecting to the ends of beams that are to be pivotally connected, each fitting having a centerplane, and said centerplanes lying substantially coincident when the fittings are in a deployed position and lying spaced but substantially parallel when the fittings are in a stowed position, each of said fittings having first and second sides on opposite sides of its centerplane, and said first sides of both fittings lying on the same side of both centerplanes when the fittings are in said deployed position; a center link having opposite ends pivotally connected to first and second of said fittings at axes that each lie substantially on the centerplane of the corresponding fitting; and a toggle assembly which included first and second toggle bars that each have an inner end pivotally mounted about an inner axis on a different one of said fittings and an outer end pivotally connected about an outer axis to the outer end of the other bar, the inner pivot axes of said bars both lying on the first sides of said centerplanes, said bars constructed so when the fittings are deployed, imaginary lines connecting the two pivot axes of each bar are angled by less than 10° from alignment. 2. The joint described in claim 1 wherein: said toggle assembly includes a spring coupled to one of said bars, that urges that bar to pivot about the pivot axis at its inner end, in a direction that urges the bars toward alignment when they are within 10° of alignment, the term alignment denoting the condition wherein said imaginary lines were parallel. 3. The joint described in claim 1 including: a control link having opposite ends pivotally connected to different ones of said fittings, one end of said control link pivotally connected to one of said fittings on the first side of the centerplane thereof, and the other end of said control link pivotally connected to the other fitting on the second side of the centerplane thereof. 4. The joint described in claim 3 wherein: the pivot axis at each end of said control link is spaced the same distance from its corresponding center link axis, and lies on an imaginary line that is angled about 45° from the centerplane of the corresponding fitting and that passes through the corresponding center link axis. 5. The joint described in claim 1 wherein: the length of said center link as measured between the axes of pivoting at its opposite ends, is substantially equal to the maximum width of each fitting as measured perpendicular to its centerplane, whereby the fittings lie closely beside each other in the stowed position. 6. A joint for connecting a pair of deployable structures comprising: first and second fittings, each having an imaginary centerplane and an imaginary fitting axis lying in said centerplane; at least one center link having first and second ends pivotally mounted respectively on said first and second fittings about first and second link axes, each link axis lying substantially in the centerplane of the corresponding fitting; said fittings being pivotable about said center link axes between a deployed position wherein said centerplanes are substantially coincident, and a stowed position wherein said centerplanes are substantially parallel but spaced apart; and a control link having opposite ends pivotally connected to different ones of said fittings, each end of the control link connected to a fitting about a control axis extending parallel to the corresponding center link axis, and the control axes at said opposite ends of said control link positioned so they lie on opposite sides of said substantially coincident centerplanes when the fittings are in the deployed position. 7. The joint described in claim 6 wherein: each of said control axes is located on an imaginary line extending about 45° to the corresponding centerplane and extending through the corresponding center link axis, one of said control axes being located closer to the opposite fitting than the corresponding center link axis, and the other control axis located further from the opposite fitting than the corresponding center link axis. 8. In a joint which includes a pair of fittings having centerplanes, and a center link having opposite ends pivotally mounted on corresponding fittings substantially on their centerplanes, the improvement comprising; a pair of toggle bass, each having an inner end pivotally mounted on a different one of said fittings at a distance from the centerplane thereof, and an outer end pivotally connected to the other bar; and a spring connected between one of said bars and the corresponding fitting, for urging said one bar to pivot in a direction that urges the outer end of said bar away from the centerplane of the corresponding fitting when the bars are close to an alignment orientation wherein a first imaginary line passing through the pivot axes at opposite ends of a first bar is parallel to a second imaginary line passing through the pivot axes at opposite ends of a second of said bars. 9. The improvement described in claim 8 including: means for limiting relative movement of said bars so they cannot move closer to alignment than an orientation wherein they are at least 1° out of alignment.