4.4 Mechanism Design and Verification of Lunar Lander
137
Fig. 4.23 Status of lift mechanism. (a) Pre-deformed when hold-down; (b) lifting after release
(3) Hold-down and release mechanism for wheels: to hold down and release the
locomotion subsystem of the lunar rover, and withstand part of the loads during
launch and landing of the lunar rover.
(4) Lift mechanism: to be installed on the top plate of the lander structure at the
position of the lunar rover wheels. The lift spring undergoes pre-deformation
under Earth gravity of the lunar rover when the lunar rover is connected with
the lunar lander. On lunar surface, after the lunar rover was released, the lift
spring deformed and recovered to provide lift and support for the lunar rover
during release. The principle of life mechanism is shown in Fig. 4.23.
(5) Guidance mechanism: to provide guidance to move to the deployment
mechanism after release of the lunar rover.
The operation modes of separation mechanism for the Chang’E-3 lunar rover were
as follows:
(1) From launch phase to landing phase, the lunar rover was connected reliably
with the lunar lander by the separation mechanism for rover body and the
hold-down and release mechanism for wheels, and the lift spring undergoes a
pre-deformation under the lunar rover connection state;
(2) After landing, the hold-down and release mechanism for wheels was released
and then the separation mechanism for rover body was released by ground
command to release the lunar rover by separation of the connection between the
lunar rover and the lunar rover bracket; the lift spring pre-deformed recovered
to lift the lunar rover to a certain height; with the aid of the track and guidance
mechanism, the lunar rover moved on the top of the lander structure to reach
the deployment mechanism and was deployed to lunar surface.
137
Fig. 4.23 Status of lift mechanism. (a) Pre-deformed when hold-down; (b) lifting after release
(3) Hold-down and release mechanism for wheels: to hold down and release the
locomotion subsystem of the lunar rover, and withstand part of the loads during
launch and landing of the lunar rover.
(4) Lift mechanism: to be installed on the top plate of the lander structure at the
position of the lunar rover wheels. The lift spring undergoes pre-deformation
under Earth gravity of the lunar rover when the lunar rover is connected with
the lunar lander. On lunar surface, after the lunar rover was released, the lift
spring deformed and recovered to provide lift and support for the lunar rover
during release. The principle of life mechanism is shown in Fig. 4.23.
(5) Guidance mechanism: to provide guidance to move to the deployment
mechanism after release of the lunar rover.
The operation modes of separation mechanism for the Chang’E-3 lunar rover were
as follows:
(1) From launch phase to landing phase, the lunar rover was connected reliably
with the lunar lander by the separation mechanism for rover body and the
hold-down and release mechanism for wheels, and the lift spring undergoes a
pre-deformation under the lunar rover connection state;
(2) After landing, the hold-down and release mechanism for wheels was released
and then the separation mechanism for rover body was released by ground
command to release the lunar rover by separation of the connection between the
lunar rover and the lunar rover bracket; the lift spring pre-deformed recovered
to lift the lunar rover to a certain height; with the aid of the track and guidance
mechanism, the lunar rover moved on the top of the lander structure to reach
the deployment mechanism and was deployed to lunar surface.