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US 11,377,235 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for satellite deployment
AssigneeL2 Solutions, Inc.
InventorsMichael David Johnson, Victor James Dube, Tyler Gerald Holden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for deploying satellites is disclosed a satellite deployment mechanism includes an enclosure having at least one door, a lift table implemented therein, and a spring arranged to apply force to the lift table. A mounting system is arranged to allow for the satellite deployment mechanism to be mounted to a portion of a spacecraft. Responsive to opening the at least one door, the spring may cause the lift table to eject one or more satellites from the enclosure.
Claims16
An apparatus, comprising:
- a satellite deployment mechanism, wherein the satellite deployment mechanism includes:
- an enclosure having at least one door;
- a lift table implemented within the enclosure;
- and
- a spring arranged to apply force to the lift table;
- a guiding mechanism positioned below the lift table, wherein the guiding mechanism [is a scissor lift below the lift table which uses a spring to eject the satellites in a single direction normal to the plane of the lift]:
- and
- a mounting system arranged to mount the satellite deployment mechanism to a portion of a spacecraft, wherein the mounting system comprises a bracket configured to be secured under ribs of the spacecraft:
- wherein, responsive to opening the at least one door, the spring is configured to cause the lift table to eject one or more satellites from the enclosure and wherein the guiding mechanism controls the direction of the lift table.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- attaching a mounting mechanism to a portion of a spacecraft, the mounting mechanism comprising a bracket for securing under ribs of the spacecraft;
- mounting a satellite deployment mechanism to the portion of the spacecraft via the mounting mechanism, the satellite deployment mechanism including an enclosure having at least one door, a lift table within the enclosure, a guiding mechanism positioning below the lift table and forming parallelograms on each side of the lift table, and a spring arranged to apply force to the lift table;
- placing at least one satellite within the enclosure;
- and
- restraining the at least one satellite within the enclosure holding the at least one door in a closed position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.