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US 10,256,530 B2Granted
Deployable reflector
AssigneeTendeg LLC
InventorsGregg E. Freebury, Neal J Beidleman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reflector assembly including a truss engaging the first net at a first plurality of points along the first net perimeter edge and engaging a second net at a second plurality of points along the second net perimeter edge. A truss deployment assembly moves the truss between a truss stowed condition and a truss deployed condition, the truss in the truss deployed condition tensioning said first net or said second net to maintain a substantially flat or parabolic net outer surface. A reflector disposed at the first net sends or receives remote data.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first net extending from a first net center to a first net perimeter edge, said first net having a first net inner surface and a first net outer surface;
- a second net extending from a second net center to a second net perimeter edge, said second net having a second net inner surface facing said first net inner surface;
- a first reflector disposed at said first net outer surface;
- a truss engaged to said first net at a first plurality of points along said first net perimeter edge, said truss engaged to said second net at a second plurality points along said second net perimeter edge, each of said first plurality of points being aligned with one of said second plurality of points;
- and
- a truss deployment assembly including:
- a spool disposed centrally in relation to said first or second net perimeter edge;
- a plurality of ribs each having a rib length disposed between a corresponding plurality of rib first ends and rib second ends, said plurality of rib first ends coupled to said spool, said plurality of rib second ends correspondingly coupled to said truss, said plurality of ribs reversibly wound around said spool to radially position each of said plurality of rib second ends to move said truss between a truss stowed condition and a truss deployed condition, said truss in said truss deployed condition tensioning said first net or said second net to maintain a substantially flat or parabolic first or second net outer surface.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.