Deployable curved lattice structures

Abstract

Deployable structures, methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure comprises a lattice element arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The lattice element comprises a pre-stressed strip arranged in a clockwise helix, a pre-stressed strip arranged in an anticlockwise helix, and a plurality of fasteners for rotatably coupling the strips to one another at a plurality of positions distributed along the length of the strips. The fasteners are provided at unequal spacings along the length of the strips such that on deployment the lattice element bends to a curved deployed configuration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.