Self-mating modular satellite bus
AssigneeVector Launch Inc.
InventorRaymond Edward Fraze
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-mating modular satellite bus includes a plurality of side panels each having a front surface flanked by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, wherein the first longitudinal edge of each side panel is nested with the second longitudinal edge of an adjacent side panel. The longitudinal edges, when superimposed, form a joggle. A method of producing the modular satellite bus includes forming a plurality of the panels, aligning the first longitudinal edge of each side panel with the second longitudinal edge of an adjacent side panel, such that the first longitudinal edge of each side panel is nested with the second longitudinal edge of the adjacent side panel, and securing the first longitudinal edge of each side panel to the second longitudinal edge of the adjacent side panel.
Claims7
A satellite bus comprising:
- a plurality of side panels arranged into a hexagonal arrangement by at least nesting flanged longitudinal edges of each side panel into flanged longitudinal edges of adjacent side panels;
- each of the plurality of side panels comprising a compressed composite material forming a front surface flanked by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge;
- the first longitudinal edge of each side panel comprising a flange forming an angle with the front surface;
- the second longitudinal edge of each side panel comprising a flange forming an angle with the front surface;
- and
- wherein a surface of the flange along the first longitudinal edge of each side panel nests with a surface of the flange along the second longitudinal edge of the adjacent side panel to form a joggle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.