Deployable antenna reflectors array formed of multiple connected gores

An antenna reflector array having at least a deployed position and a stowed position, the array comprising:

• a thin-shell elastic surface including multiple flexible radial gores discretely connected circumferentially to form a surface of revolution reflective surface on a first side thereof in the deployed position, wherein the surface is formed of two separate concentric gore rings comprised of multiple flexible connected gores and further wherein a first gore ring has a first inner circumference and a first outer circumference and a second gore ring has a second inner circumference and second outer circumference and further wherein the first inner circumference is the smallest circumference of the surface of revolution reflective surface and the second outer circumference is the largest circumference of the surface of revolution reflective surface;
• a deployment mechanism for changing the array between the deployed and stowed positions, the deployment mechanism including multiple first rigid arms, multiple second rigid arms and a central circular hub;
• and
• a backbone structure for supporting the multiple connected, flexible gores in each gore ring, wherein each of the multiple flexible gores in the first gore ring is attached to one of the multiple first rigid arms on a non-reflective side thereof by discrete flexible connectors, each of the multiple first rigid arms including a first hinge at a first end thereof, the first hinge being further connected to the central circular hub and a second hinge at a second end thereof, and further wherein each of the multiple flexible gores in the second gore ring is attached to one of the multiple second rigid arms on a non-reflective side thereof by discrete flexible connectors, each of the multiple second rigid arms being further connected to the second hinge of one of the multiple first rigid arms of a flexible gore in the first gore ring;
• wherein in the stowed position, each of the multiple flexible gores assumes a serpentine shape having at least one or more lobes.

A system for stowing a deployed antenna reflector array comprising:

• a first circular central hub having multiple first pushrods connected thereto and second circular central hub having multiple second pushrods connected thereto, wherein each of the multiple first pushrods is mechanically connected to one of the multiple second pushrods;
• further wherein, the first circular central hub, the multiple first push rods and the multiple second push rods are located on a reflective side of a surface of revolution reflective surface of an array of multiple connected flexible radial gores and the second circular hub is located on an opposite side of the surface of the array;
• and
• the second circular central hub further being connected to multiple third pushrods at first ends thereof, wherein each of the multiple third pushrods is connected to the multiple second pushrods by links at second ends thereof;
• the first, second and third pushrods and links being capable of folding the deployed antenna array for stowing into a substantially cylindrical configuration with the multiple flexible connected gores each forming a serpentine shape with one or more lobes.