JP2003170900A - Rocket assembly and launching method and equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a rocket assembling and launching method and equipment capable of performing a preparation work for assembling and launching a rocket by working on the ground surface and quickly launching the rocket. A linear guide rail for mounting a rocket with a longitudinal direction of the rocket along a rail surface instead of a conventional rocket assembling and launching method, and a work floor enabling work around the linear guide rail. Prepare a rocket support mechanism having, and assemble the rocket so that it is mounted on the linear guide with the rail surface horizontal,
After the assembly of the rocket is completed, the rear side of the linear guide rail is dropped into a hole below the rocket support mechanism, the rocket is set at a predetermined launch angle, the linear guide rail is fixed, and the rocket is mounted on the rocket support mechanism. Fired from above.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rocket assembly and launch method and apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional rocket assembling and launching method will be described. The mobile launch pad, rocket assembly building, satellite fairing assembly building, and rocket launch building are used for rocket assembly and launch. The rocket units produced in various places are transported and collected in the rocket assembly building. In the rocket assembly building, a large crane is used to assemble the rocket unit on the mobile launch pad with its axis vertical. When the assembly is completed, a rocket with vertical axis is completed on the mobile launch pad. Pull out the mobile launch pad with the rocket from the rocket assembly building and move to the rocket launch building. Assemble the payload (eg, the satellite's combined satellite fairing) in the satellite fairing assembly building. The separately assembled payload is moved to the rocket launching wing and joined to the rocket. Fill the rocket with fuel and launch the rocket.

[0003]

In the case of the rocket assembling and launching method and the apparatus therefor described above, in the rocket launch wing, the foundation is dug deep in order to install a structure on the ground surface, and a high-rise building is placed on top. Had to build. Occasionally, rocket assembly and launch required work at heights, and workability was poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and replaces the conventional rocket assembling and launching method and its device, and prepares for rocket assembling and launching by working on the ground surface. An attempt is made to provide a rocket assembling method and a launching method and equipment capable of working and launching quickly.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a rocket assembling and launching method according to the present invention is a linear guide rail for mounting a rocket with the longitudinal direction of the rocket along a rail surface, and the linear guide. Assembly preparatory step of preparing a rocket support mechanism having a work floor that enables work around the rail, and rocket assembly step of assembling the rocket to be mounted on the linear guide with the rail surface horizontal. And a launch preparation step of fixing the linear guide rail by dropping the rocket rear side of the linear guide rail into a hole under the rocket support mechanism to set the rocket at a predetermined launch angle after the assembly of the rocket is completed, A rocket launching step of launching a rocket from above the rocket support mechanism.

With the above-described structure of the present invention, a linear guide rail for mounting the rocket in the longitudinal direction of the rocket along the rail surface in the assembly preparation step and a work floor that enables work around the linear guide rail are provided. A rocket supporting mechanism is prepared, and the rocket is assembled in the rocket assembling process so that the rocket is mounted on the linear guide with the rail surface being horizontal. After the rocket is assembled in the launch preparation process, the rocket rear part of the linear guide rail is assembled. Since the side is dropped into the hole under the rocket support mechanism, the rocket is set to a predetermined launch angle and the linear guide rail is fixed, and the rocket is launched from above the rocket support mechanism in the rocket launching process. After assembling with the longitudinal direction horizontal, the rocket can be launched at a predetermined launch angle. , Aerial work platforms and aerial work equipment is not required.

Further, in the rocket assembling and launching method according to the present invention, in the rocket launching process, the axial movement of the rocket on the linear guide rail is restrained, and when the rocket engine thrust reaches a predetermined value, the rocket is launched. The above-mentioned constraint is to be released. According to the configuration of the present invention, in the rocket launching process, the axial movement of the rocket is constrained by the linear guide rails, and when the rocket thrust reaches a predetermined value, the constraint of the rocket is released. After the thrust is generated, the rocket can be launched, and the distance that the linear guide rail slides can be shortened, and the linear guide rail can be short.

In order to achieve the above object, the rocket assembly / launch equipment used for assembling and launching a rocket according to the present invention is a linear guide rail for mounting a rocket with the longitudinal direction of the rocket along a rail surface. A rocket support mechanism having a work floor that enables work around the linear guide rails, and a hole provided below the rocket support mechanism and on which the rocket rear side of the linear guide rails can be dropped. A rocking mechanism capable of dropping the linear guide into the hole so that the rail surface changes from a horizontal posture to a posture in which the rail surface is tilted with the rear side of the rocket facing down. It is assumed that the can be fired from above the linear guide rail.

According to the above-mentioned configuration of the present invention, the rocket support mechanism includes a linear guide rail for mounting the rocket along the longitudinal direction of the rocket along the rail surface and a work floor for enabling work around the linear guide rail. The rocket rear side of the linear guide rail is provided so that the hole can be dropped below the rocket support mechanism, and the drop mechanism moves the rail surface to the rocket rear side from a posture in which the rail surface is horizontal. The linear guide can be dropped into the hole so that the rocket can be launched from above the linear guide rail so that the rocket can be tilted downwards, so that the longitudinal direction of the rocket remains horizontal. After assembly, the rocket can be set up and launched at a predetermined launch angle, eliminating the need for work at height and work equipment at height.

Further, the rocket assembly / launch equipment according to the present invention is a rocket fixing mechanism capable of restraining the longitudinal movement of the rocket on the linear guide rail against the engine thrust of the rocket and releasing the restraint by a predetermined operation. Was prepared. With the above-described configuration of the present invention, the rocket fixing mechanism restrains the movement of the rocket in the longitudinal direction on the linear guide rail against the thrust of the rocket engine, and the restraint can be released by a predetermined operation. After the thrust is generated, the rocket can be launched and the distance that the linear guide rail slides can be shortened, and the linear guide rail can be short.

Further, the rocket assembling / launching equipment according to the present invention is provided with a frame deflector having a tunnel penetrating from the inner lower part of the hole to the outer peripheral part of the hole. With the above-described configuration of the present invention, the tunnel of the frame deflector penetrates from the inner lower portion of the hole to the outer peripheral portion of the hole, so that the rocket frame at the time of launch of the tunnel can be reliably guided to the outer peripheral portion of the hole.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The structure of the rocket assembly and launch facility according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bird's-eye view of the embodiment of the present invention.

The rocket assembling / launching equipment 3 is equipment used for assembling and launching the rocket 1, and comprises a rocket supporting mechanism 10, a hole 20, a dropping mechanism 30, a rocket fixing mechanism 40 and a frame deflector 50.

The rocket support mechanism 10 is a mechanism for supporting the rocket, and includes a linear guide rail 11 and a work floor 1.
2 and 13. Here, for convenience of description, the front end direction of the installed rocket is referred to as the front and the rear end side is referred to as the rear.

The linear guide rail 11 is a rail on which the rocket is mounted with the longitudinal direction of the rocket along the rail surface, and the rocket can slide on the upper surface thereof, such as a slide guide rail or a magnetic levitation rail. .
Here, the slide guide rail is a rail that slides by rolling such as rollers, and the magnetic levitation rail is a rail that slides by magnetic levitation. When assembling the rocket, individual rocket units can be freely moved in the longitudinal direction on the linear guide rails, and the rocket can be easily assembled. When launching a rocket, the integrated rocket can be slid on a linear guide rail, and can be launched at launch angles other than vertical.

The work floors 12 and 13 are linear guide rails 1
1 is a work floor that enables work around 1, and has a front work floor 12 and a rear work floor 13. The linear guide rail 11 is supported by the front work floor 12 and has an integral structure. Rear part of front work floor 12 and rear work floor 13
The front part of the is rotatably connected by the central hinge mechanism 15. The rear work floor 13 has an opening portion 51 (hereinafter, referred to as a frame opening portion 51) at a substantially central portion, and has a frame opening portion opening / closing lid 17 on an upper surface thereof. The opening / closing lid 17 for the frame opening allows the frame opening 51 to be closed and opened by a drive mechanism (not shown). A work handrail 18 is provided around the frame opening 51.

The holes 20 are so-called pits, which are recesses provided under the rocket support mechanism and into which the rocket rear side of the linear guide rails 11 can be dropped. The hole 20 is an approximately hexahedral void formed in the ground.
A front part of the hole 20 is rotatably connected to a front part of the front work floor 12 by a front hinge mechanism 14. The front hinge mechanism 14 is movable back and forth. The upper rear part of the hole 20 is provided at the rear part of the rear work floor 13 by the rear hinge mechanism 1.
6 is rotatably connected.

The dropping mechanism 30 is a mechanism capable of dropping the linear guide into the hole so that the rail surface is changed from a horizontal posture to a posture in which the rail surface is inclined with the rocket rear side facing down. And, for example, the hydraulic cylinder 30. The hydraulic cylinder 30 has a lower end of a cylinder portion rotatably fixed to a bottom portion of a hole, and a tip of a rod rotatably fixed to a lower surface of an integral structure of the linear guide rail 11 and the front working floor 12. When the hydraulic cylinder 30 extends the rod, the rail surface of the linear guide rail 11, the floor surface of the front work floor 12 and the floor surface of the rear work floor 13 are supported horizontally. When the hydraulic cylinder 30 contracts the rod, the integral structure of the linear guide rail 11 and the front work floor 12 and the rear work floor 13 are folded around the center hinge mechanism, and the rear side of the rocket of the linear guide 11 has a hole. 20
Be dropped into.

The rocket fixing mechanism 40 moves the rocket 1 in the longitudinal direction on the linear guide rail 11.
Is a mechanism that can be restrained against the thrust of the engine and can be released by a predetermined operation, for example, a fixing ring that is divided into two in the center and an explosion bolt that connects the ring. The fixed ring 40 surrounds the rocket 1 installed on the linear guide rail 11 in a swirl shape,
Closed with an explosion bolt. The explosive bolt is a bolt having an explosive charged therein, and the explosive explosive causes the bolt to be cut. The predetermined operation is, for example,
This is the input of the ignition signal to the explosive powder.

The frame deflector 50 has a tunnel penetrating from the inner lower part of the hole to the outer peripheral part of the hole, and the tunnel safely rockets the fumes (hereinafter referred to as the frame) ejected from the rocket engine when the rocket 1 is launched. Guide to the outside of the assembly and launch facility. When launching a rocket,
The rocket frame passes through the frame opening 51 of the rear working floor 13, passes through the tunnel, and is exhausted to the outer periphery of the hole.

Next, a procedure for assembling and launching a rocket using the rocket assembling / launching equipment of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a rocket assembly and launch procedure.

Assembly preparation step S10: A rocket support mechanism having a linear guide rail on which the rocket can be mounted with the longitudinal direction of the rocket parallel to the rail surface and a work floor which enables work around the linear guide rail. prepare. With the drop-in mechanism 30, the linear guide rail 1
1 and the front work floor 12 and the rear work floor 13 are made horizontal (S11). For example, when the rod of the hydraulic cylinder 30 is extended, the linear guide rail 11, the front work floor 11, and the rear work floor 12 are supported horizontally. A linear guide is prepared so that each rocket unit can be mounted so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the rail surface (S12).

Rocket assembly step S20: Assemble the rocket on the linear guide with the rail surface horizontal. Each rocket unit is placed on the linear guide rail 11 and the rocket units are coupled (S21). At this time, since the rocket unit is normally loaded with its axis horizontal, the rocket unit can be mounted on the linear guide rails while maintaining the posture during transportation without changing the direction of the rocket unit. Further, the rocket unit can be moved back and forth along the linear guide rail to perform an assembly operation. Next, the payload (for example, the satellite fairing to which the satellite is coupled) is placed on the linear guide rail, moved in the longitudinal direction, and coupled to the rocket (S22).

Launch preparation step (S30): After the assembly of the rocket is completed, the rocker rear side of the linear guide rail is dropped into a hole under the rocket support mechanism to set the rocket at a predetermined launch angle and the linear guide rail is set. To fix. After the assembly of the rocket is completed, the rear part of the rocket is dropped into the hole by the drop mechanism 30 (S31). For example, when the rod of the hydraulic cylinder 30 is contracted, the integrated structure of the linear guide rail 11 and the front work floor 12 and the rear work floor 13 are bent centering around the central hinge mechanism, and the rear portion of the linear guide 11 is broken. It is dropped into the hole 20. The linear guide rail 11 is tilted so that the rocket tilts at a predetermined angle by adjusting the amount of expansion and contraction of the rod of the hydraulic cylinder 20 (S32). The frame opening / closing lid 17 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) to open the frame opening 51 (S33).

Rocket launching step (S40): A rocket is launched from above the rocket support mechanism. The rocket 1 on the linear guide rail 11 is fixed by the rocket fixing mechanism 40 (S41). The engine of the rocket 1 is ignited (S42). The frame of the rocket 1 passes through the frame opening 51 of the rear working floor 13, passes through the tunnel, and is exhausted to the outer periphery of the hole. The rocket fixing mechanism fixes the rocket until the thrust of the rocket engine rises, and when the thrust reaches a predetermined value, an ignition signal is input to the explosion bolt (S43). When the explosion bolt is broken, the rocket fixing mechanism 40 opens the rocket. Rocket 1
Is supported on the upper surface of the linear guide rail and is launched while sliding on the linear guide rail 11 (S4
4).

By using the rocket assembling and launching method and the equipment therefor according to the above-described embodiment, the rocket can be assembled and the payload can be loaded without performing work at a high place. In addition, the rocket can be assembled and the payload can be loaded without using a special scaffold or workbench for working at height. Also, by adjusting the drop mechanism, the launch angle of the rocket can be freely set. Also, when the work of assembling and launching the rocket is not performed, another work can be performed on the work floor. In addition, since the rocket assembly and launch facility does not become a high building, no special management is required in the sky.
In addition, the rocket can be assembled and launched at the same place. Further, since the rocket is fixed by the rocket fixing mechanism until the engine thrust reaches a predetermined value when the rocket is launched, the sliding distance on the linear guide rail is short and the linear guide rail can be short.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Although the dropping device has been described as a hydraulic cylinder, the present invention is not limited to this, and the work floor may be hung from above with a cable, for example. Also, the case where the rocket is assembled and launched at the same place has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and after assembling the rocket on the rocket support mechanism, move to the rocket launching place where the hole is provided. , You may fire a rocket. Further, the rocket has been described as sliding on the linear guide rail at the time of launch, but the rocket is not limited to this and may be guided by another guide mechanism. Further, in the figure, the rocket has been described as being set and fired at a predetermined angle which is not vertical. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rocket may be fired with the longitudinal direction being vertical.

[0029]

As described above, the rocket assembling and launching method of the present invention has the following effects depending on its configuration. After assembling the rocket with the longitudinal direction horizontal, the rocket can be launched at a predetermined launch angle, which eliminates the need for aerial work and aerial work equipment. In addition, it is possible to shorten the distance that the linear guide rail slides by launching the rocket after sufficient thrust is generated by the rocket engine, and the linear guide rail can be short. Further, as described above, the rocket assembly / launch equipment of the present invention has the following effects due to its configuration. After assembling the rocket with the longitudinal direction horizontal, the rocket can be launched at a predetermined launch angle, which eliminates the need for aerial work and aerial work equipment. In addition, it is possible to shorten the distance that the linear guide rail slides by launching the rocket after sufficient thrust is generated by the rocket engine, and the linear guide rail can be short. In addition, the tunnel of the frame deflector can safely guide the rocket frame at launch to the outer periphery of the hole. Therefore, it is possible to provide a rocket assembling method and a launching method and an apparatus therefor which can perform a rocket assembling work and a preparatory work for launching by a work on the ground surface and can quickly launch.

[0030]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bird's-eye view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an assembly launch procedure flow according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 rocket 2 frames 3 Rocket assembly and launch equipment 10 working floor 11 Linear guide rail 12 Front work floor 13 Rear work floor 14 Front hinge mechanism 15 Central hinge mechanism 16 Rear hinge mechanism 17 Frame opening / closing lid 18 safety handrail 20 holes 30 Drop mechanism (hydraulic cylinder) 40 Rocket fixing mechanism 50 frame deflector 51 Frame opening

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for assembling and launching a rocket, comprising: a linear guide rail on which the rocket is mounted with the longitudinal direction of the rocket along a rail surface; and a work floor which enables work around the linear guide rail. An assembly preparation step of preparing a rocket support mechanism having a rocket, a rocket assembly step of assembling the rocket so as to be mounted on the linear guide having the rail surface horizontal, and a rocket of the linear guide rail after completion of the rocket assembly. A launch preparation step in which the rear side is dropped into a hole under the rocket support mechanism to set the rocket at a predetermined launch angle and the linear guide rail is fixed, and a rocket launch in which the rocket is launched from above the rocket support mechanism. A method for assembling and launching a rocket, comprising: 2. The rocket launching step, wherein the longitudinal movement of the rocket on the linear guide rail is restrained, and the restraint of the rocket is released when the engine thrust of the rocket reaches a predetermined value. A method for assembling and launching a rocket according to Item 1. 3. A rocket assembly / launch facility used for assembling and launching a rocket, the linear guide rail mounting the rocket with the longitudinal direction of the rocket along a rail surface, and work around the linear guide rail. A rocket support mechanism having a work floor that enables the operation of the rocket, a hole in which the rocket rear side of the linear guide rail is provided so as to be located below the rocket support mechanism, and the rail surface is horizontal. And a rail mechanism that allows the linear guide to be dropped into the hole so that the rear surface of the rocket changes to a tilted posture, and the rocket can be launched from the linear guide rail. A rocket assembly and launch facility that is characterized by 4. A rocket fixing mechanism for restraining movement of a rocket in a longitudinal direction on a linear guide rail against the thrust of an engine of the rocket and releasing the restraint by a predetermined operation. The rocket assembly and launch facility according to Item 3. 5. The rocket assembling / launching equipment according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a frame deflector having a tunnel penetrating from a lower inner portion of the hole to an outer peripheral portion of the hole.