Development of a Testing System for Torque Characteristics of Folding Hinges

Abstract

After reaching the preset orbit, the spacecraft needs to deploy sun wings to provide continuous power supply for the spacecraft. Using spring force of folding hinges to provide driving moment for solar wing is a kind of common deployment method. After processing and assembling, the driving moment and frictional resistance moment of the folded hinge need to be tested to verify whether the driving capacity of the hinge meets the design requirements. In order to realize the automatic measurement of the moment characteristics of folding hinges, a testing system for the moment characteristics of folding hinges with a measuring range of 0-5 Nm and a measuring accuracy better than 1% F.S. was developed by using high precision torque sensor and angle sensor. In the speed mode, the servo motor slowly drives the hinge to expand or close, and the torque sensor and the angle sensor measure the corresponding torque and angle in real time respectively. After the prototype of the testing system is built, the testing functions of angle, moment measurement accuracy and hinge moment characteristics are tested and verified. The results show that the developed testing system can realize automatic and high-precision measurement of moment characteristics of folding hinges.