Harmonic Drive
Satellite Paddle Drive
Lightweight component set
Special Circular Spline
Special Wave Generator
Special Design for space lubrication
The Harmonic Drive gear was originally developed for aerospace applications and this field continues to provide interesting design examples. The high single stage reduction ratio, compact design and low weight all combine to make the Harmonic Drive gear the ideal choice for many satellite drives. This design example shows a paddle drive for a telecommunication satellite. The actuator comprises a HFUC component set mounted in a special lightweight housing driven by a frameless motor.
The component set features a special "solid" Wave Generator design and the Flexspline is connected to load via an output flange supported by thin-raced ball bearings. The Circular Spline is also modified to simplify the integration into the housing. The hollow-shaft is used for the passage of cables from the paddle, which incorporates solar panels and is used to charge the batteries of the satellite. The component set is manufactured from stainless steel and uses special space-qualified grease lubrication.
