Cube-shaped primary structure module
OwnerDavid Michael Whiteinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus provides cube-shaped satellite primary structures, each comprised of six identical, or nearly identical, rectangular truss panels and internal struts. The struts, all adjustable in length, connect, and are directed between all cube opposite corners and all cube opposite panel centers. All struts meet at the cube center where they attach rigidly to either a block called the “nucleus fitting” or to a hollow sphere. Each strut attaches to either a ball-socket corner fitting located at the interior corner of the cube, or to a ball-socket panel center fitting located at the panel center interior to the cube.
Claims18
A cube-shaped satellite structure comprising:
- six truss panels each formed using one continuous metallic material, the six truss panels coupled together to form a cube shape with a hollow interior;
- wherein each truss panel further comprises:
- opposing first and second surfaces forming a rectangular panel,
- four edges, each edge tapered approximately 45 degrees to make contact with an edge of four adjacent truss panels, and
- an internal lattice structure comprised of internal slats disposed perpendicular to the first and second surfaces, the internal slats forming a diamond shaped beam coupling midpoints of adjacent edges of the truss panel, a T-shaped beam coupling the midpoints of opposite edges the truss panel, an X-shaped beam coupling opposite corners of the truss panel, and a rectangular shaped beam formed along the perimeter of the truss panel;
- four corner struts, each corner strut coupled to opposite corners of the cube-shaped satellite structure;
- three side struts, each side strut coupled to the center of opposite truss panels;
- and
- a nucleus fitting disposed proximate the center of the cube-shaped satellite structure, wherein each corner strut is comprised of first and second portions coupled between a corner of the cube-shaped satellite structure and the nucleus fitting, and wherein each side strut is comprised of first and second portions coupled between a center of a truss panel of the cube-shaped satellite structure and the nucleus fitting.
A method of forming a cube-shaped satellite structure, the method comprising:
- providing six truss panels formed using one continuous metallic material, wherein each truss panel further comprises:
- opposing first and second surfaces forming a rectangular panel,
- four edges, each edge tapered approximately 45 degrees to make contact with an edge of four adjacent truss panels, and
- an internal lattice structure comprised of internal slats disposed perpendicular to the first and second surfaces, the internal slats forming a diamond shaped beam coupling midpoints of adjacent edges of the truss panel, a T-shaped beam coupling the midpoints of opposite edges the truss panel, an X-shaped beam coupling opposite corners of the truss panel, and a rectangular shaped beam formed along the perimeter of the truss panel;
- coupling the six truss panels together to form a cube shape with a hollow interior;
- providing a nucleus fitting disposed proximate the center of an assembled cube-shaped satellite structure;
- providing four corner struts having first and second portions;
- coupling each corner strut portion to a corner of the cube-shaped satellite structure and the nucleus fitting;
- providing three side struts having first and second portions;
- and
- coupling each side strut portion to the center of a truss panel and the nucleus fitting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.