US 11,634,240 B2Granted

Coilable thin-walled longerons and coilable structures implementing longerons and methods for their manufacture and coiling

AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology

InventorsSergio Pellegrino, Harry A. Atwater, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Eleftherios E. Gdoutos, Christophe Leclerc, Fabien A. Royer, Antonio Pedivellano

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Abstract

Multi-functional coilable thin-walled structures that can be implemented within space-based satellite modules, and methods for their manufacture are provided. Multi-functional coilable thin-walled structures are comprised of at least one longeron that is capable of rolling and collapsing upon itself. In some embodiments, the coilable thin-walled longeron is a flange longeron. The flange longeron contains at least two major regions: a web and a plurality of flanges. The web region comprises portions of flanges that are bonded to one another. The plurality of flanges separate from one another on the same end of the web region. The plurality of flanges are similar in thickness and shape.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A coilable flange longeron comprising:

a plurality of elongated flange bodies each defining first and second edges extending in parallel longitudinally along the elongated flange bodies;
and
at least one web region formed from at least one conjoined portion of at least two of the plurality of elongated flange bodies;
wherein each of the plurality of elongated flange bodies exhibits a curvature between the first and second edges;
wherein each of the plurality of elongated flange bodies has a thickness of ≤200 μm;
wherein the at least one web region has a thickness of ≤400 μm;
wherein the coilable flange longeron has three configurations comprising:
a deployed configuration, wherein the coilable structure has a thickness greater than the thickness of the web region;
a flattened configuration, wherein the coilable structure has a thickness less than the thickness of the deployed configuration;
and
a coiled configuration, wherein the flattened configuration is additionally coiled around at least one object, and wherein the length of the at least one object is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the coilable structure;
and
wherein the at least one web region permanently conjoins at least two of the plurality of elongated flange bodies using a temperature-cured resin.

10 more elements

A coilable space structure comprising:

at least two longerons each comprising a longeron body having at least one supporting surface;
at least one functional element disposed on the at least one supporting surface of the at least two longerons;
and
wherein the coilable space structure has three configurations comprising:
a deployed configuration, wherein the coilable structure has a thickness greater than the thickness of the longerons;
a flattened configuration, wherein the coilable structure has a thickness less than the thickness of the deployed configuration;
and
a coiled configuration, wherein the flattened configuration is additionally coiled around at least one object, and wherein the length of the at least one object is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the coilable structure.

5 more elements

A compactible space module comprising:

at least one coilable space structure comprising:
at least two longerons each comprising a longeron body having at least one supporting surface;
at least one functional element disposed on the at least one supporting surface of the at least two longerons;
and
wherein the coilable space structure has three configurations comprising:
a deployed configuration, wherein the coilable structure has a thickness greater than the thickness of the longerons;
a flattened configuration, wherein the coilable structure has a thickness less than the thickness of the deployed configuration;
and
a coiled configuration, wherein the flattened configuration is additionally coiled around at least one object, and wherein the length of the at least one object is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the coilable structure;
and
at least one hub from which the longerons and functional elements extend in a deployed configurations and about which the longerons and functional elements coil in a coiled configuration;
and
wherein the longerons provide the structural support for the compactible space structure.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/514,793Filed 17 Jul 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 17 Jul 2018
Published: US 2020/0024007 A123 Jan 2020
Granted: 25 Apr 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification34 codes

B64G 1/44
Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems: using radiation, e.g. deployable solar arrays
B32B 5/02
Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure , i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam…
B32B 5/024
Characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer: woven fabric
B32B 5/12
Characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer: characterised by the relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of…