Tape-Spring Rolling Hinges

This paper presents a new design of a low cost, unlubricated, self-deploying, self-locking hinge whose properties can be easily modified to meet different requirements. A particular implementation is considered, providing a hinge that is 135 mm long, 30 mm high and 45 mm wide, with a deployment moment varying between 0.1 and 0.3 Nm and a locking moment of 13 Nm. Stiffness tests have been carried out on the hinge, in the deployed configuration, and it is shown that the six stiffness coefficients can be estimated using simple analytical models. The moment versus rotation profile of the hinge is shown along with the results found from a finite-element simulation. The results of deployment testing, including shock imparted upon latching of the hinge, are presented for hinges with a variety of damping mechanisms.