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US 11,027,500 B1Granted
Construction of structures by joining of pre-formed tape
AssigneeTriad National Security, LLC
InventorsLawrence Eugene Bronisz, Laura Catherine Stonehill, Dominic S. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various components, such as radio frequency (RF) or thermal reflectors, may be constructed from joining of pre-formed tape. For reflectors, this process may reduce the number of ribs, only require partial ribs, or eliminate the use of ribs altogether. To build such a reflector, a spool of tape, a joining tractor, and a foundation ring may be employed.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- a spool comprising tape, the spool configured to dispense the tape;
- a joining tractor configured to receive the tape from the spool and join a newly dispensed section tape to an adjacent inner section of the tape or to a foundation ring;
- and
- juxtaposed rollers on opposite sides of the tape that are configured to guide the tape as the tape is joined, at least one of the juxtaposed rollers configured to provide propulsion for the joining tractor, wherein
- the joining tractor is configured to move along the foundation ring, and subsequently, the adjacent inner section of tape, to attach a next section of the tape outside of the foundation ring or the adjacent inner section of the tape.
2 more elements
A system for creating a structure with tape, comprising:
- a foundation ring that provides a foundation for the structure;
- a spool containing tape, the spool configured to dispense the tape;
- a joining tractor configured to receive the tape and join newly dispensed tape from the spool to an adjacent inner section of the tape or to the foundation ring, the joining tractor configured to move along the foundation ring, and subsequently, the adjacent inner section of the tape to attach the newly dispensed tape outside of the foundation ring or the adjacent inner section of the tape;
- and
- juxtaposed rollers on opposite sides of the tape that are configured to guide the tape as the tape is joined, at least one of the juxtaposed rollers configured to provide propulsion for the joining tractor.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a spool comprising tape, the spool configured to dispense the tape;
- a joining tractor configured to receive the tape from the spool and join a newly dispensed section tape to an adjacent inner section of the tape or to a foundation ring;
- juxtaposed rollers on opposite sides of the tape that are configured to guide the tape as the tape is joined, at least one of the juxtaposed rollers configured to provide propulsion for the joining tractor;
- and
- a computing system configured to control operation of the apparatus, wherein
- the joining tractor is configured to move along the foundation ring, and subsequently, the adjacent inner section of tape, to attach a next section of the tape outside of the foundation ring or the adjacent inner section of the tape.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.