SYSTEM OF SIMULATING WEIGHTLESSNESS Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G01M99/00 

FIELD: testing equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to testing equipment, in particular to ground tests of mechanisms designed for operation in weightlessness, and can be used for weightlessness of large size transformable structures. The device consists of a control unit based on computer and a microcontroller and the required number of modules arranged one above the other. Each module comprises two servo drives arranged with its end part, which pulleys operate for the common toothed belt, and a carriage is mounted on it through passive pulleys, which moves on rails, and a trolley, fixed on the common toothed belt and moving on its own rail. At that on the trolley there is a pulley through which the flexible connection passes, connecting the compensating load suspended through the units with the weightlessness element. Also, on the trolley there is a sensor-inclinometer which determines the vertical position of the flexible connection, on the signals from which the control unit actuates the servo drives of the device and moves the carriage and the trolley, maintaining verticality of the flexible connection with respect to the object of weightlessness. The number of modules and the sizes of each module are chosen based on the geometry and the required number of points of application of force of weightlessness relative to the particular object.

EFFECT: simplifying the design, the possibility of simulation of weightlessness for moving elements of transformable mechanisms with a large number of application of force of weightlessness to the movable elements.

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