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Design of a telescoping tube system for access and handling equipment
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Littlefield, Alan C. |
| Copyright Year | 1990 |
| Description | Spacecraft processing presents unique problems for the design of ground support equipment. A telescoping tube system consists of a number of nested structural tubes that can be extended and retracted (telescoped) while supporting a load. A typical telescoping tube system provides lateral, torsional, and vertical support for an access platform. Several concepts for improved telescoping tubes were developed with emphasis placed on reliability, ease of maintenance, and cost effectiveness. The most promising prototype design utilizes adjustable rollers running on tracks bolted to the tube sections. A wire rope deployment system ensures that all tube sections are controlled during extension and retraction. Track shimming and roller adjustment allow for fabrication of a high precision tube assembly that does not require extensive machining or unusually large shop equipment. The use of rolling contact eliminates the contamination problems encountered with sliding tubes in previous designs. The prototype design is suitable for indoor or outdoor use. A prototype tube assembly was fabricated and tested for strength, stiffness, maintainability, and endurance. |
| File Size | 583904 |
| Page Count | 16 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19900012786 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t6741p90p |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1990-04-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Man/system Technology And Life Support Retractable Equipment Service Life Rollers Deployment Expandable Structures Maintainability Pipes Tubes Contamination Adjusting Cost Effectiveness Handling Equipment Folding Structures Stiffness Ground Support Equipment Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports ServerĀ (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |