Topological Structural Design of Umbrella-Shaped Deployable Mechanisms Based on New Spatial Closed-Loop Linkage Units

The umbrella linkage is one of the most classical deployable mechanisms. This paper concentrates on topological structural design of a family of umbrella-shaped deployable mechanisms based on new two-layer and two-loop spatial linkage units. First, deployable units are developed systematically from two-layer and two-loop linkage with four revolute pair (4R) coupling chains. Then, mobile connection modes of the deployable units are established based on the conditions of one degree-of-freedom (DOF) and structural symmetry. Finally, umbrella-shaped deployable mechanisms are constructed based on the developed deployable units and the established mobile connection modes. Like umbrellas, the designed deployable mechanisms can be actuated in a simple and reliable way, and those mechanisms have good potential applications in the fields of architecture, manufacturing, space exploration, and recreation.