Unfoldable electromagnetic reflector
AssigneeEtienne Lacroix Tous Artifices S.A.
InventorsPhilippe Mourry, Lionel Garon, Jean-Luc Pinchot
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a device forming an electromagnetic reflector comprising a deployable support frame (100) carrying at least one cloth element (200) designed, in the deployed state, to form a reflective surface, the device being characterized by the fact that the deployable support frame (100) comprises at least one deployable arm (120) that is telescopic.
Claims44
1/ A device forming an electromagnetic reflector comprising a deployable support frame (100) carrying at least one cloth element (200) designed, in the deployed state, to form a reflective surface, the device being characterized by the fact that the deployable support frame (100) comprises at least one deployable arm (120) that is telescopic.
2/ A device forming an electromagnetic reflector comprising a support frame (100) carrying at least one cloth element (200) designed to form a reflective surface, the device being characterized by the fact that the cloth (200) is formed by a knitted fabric.
3/ A device forming an electromagnetic reflect comprising a support frame (100) carrying a plurality of cloth elements (200) designed in combination to form reflective polyhedra, the device being characterized by the fact that it further comprises aerodynamic behavior control means (310, 322,324) suitable for imposing an orientation on the support frame such that it presents at least one external edge that is horizontal.
4/ A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized by the fact that the support frame (100) is deployable.
5/ A device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by the fact that the support frame (100) comprises at least one deployable arm (120) that is telescopic.
6/ A device according to claim 1 or claim 3, characterized by the fact that the cloth (200) is formed by a knitted fabric.
7/ A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact that it includes means (310, 322, 324) for controlling the orientation and the rotation of the structure.
8/ A device according to claim 2 or claim 7, characterized by the fact that it includes aerodynamic behavior control means (310, 322, 324) suitable for imposing an orientation on the deployable support frame such that it presents at least one external edge that is horizontal.
9/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that the deployable support frame (100) carries a plurality of cloth elements (200) designed, in combination and in the deployed state, to form reflective polyhedra.
10/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the deployable support frame (100) has a central core (110) carrying at least the telescopic deployable arm.
11/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that the support frame (100) comprises a telescopic mast (120) associated with the central core (110) and a plurality of central pivot arms hinged to the central core (110).
12/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that the support frame (100) comprises a telescopic mast (120) having a main segment (122) slidably receiving at least one auxiliary segment (124), the device being characterized by the fact that the main segment (122) is fixed to the central core (110) via its open end through which the auxiliary arm (124) emerges.
13/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that the support frame (100) comprises a telescopic mast (120) and four pivot arms (130).
14/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by the fact that each arm (120, 130) of the support frame (100) is telescopic and is connected to a central core (110).
15/ A device according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that the deployable support frame (100) comprises six telescopic arms.
16/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by the fact that it includes means (170) suitable for urging the pivot arms (130) into an extended position.
17/ A device according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the means urging the pivot arms (130) comprise slings (140).
18/ A device according to claim 16 or claim 17, characterized by the fact that the means urging the pivot arms (130) comprise elastomer blocks (170).
19/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized by the fact that it further comprises means (160) suitable for locking the telescopic arm (120) in the deployed position.
20/ A device according to claim 19, characterized by the fact that the locking means include a resilient retainer ring (160).
21/ A device according to claim 19 or claim 20, characterized by the fact that one of the elements (124) of the telescopic deployable arm is provided with a cone (126) adapted to extend a retainer ring (160) during deployment of the telescopic deployable arm, such that the retainer ring (160) once expanded interferes with grooves provided respectively in each of the two elements capable of relative telescopic displacement.
22/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized by the fact that it defines eight corners of a cube in the form of an octahedron.
23/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized by the fact that the cloth (200) is made of 7-gauge plain stitch knit.
24/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized by the fact that the cloth (200) is made of metallized polyester tulle.
25/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized by the fact that the cloth (200) is made of a thermoplastic yarn, e.g. based on polyester, that is covered in metal, e.g. nickel.
26/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized by the fact that the cloth includes a metal covering foil (244) of elongate section.
27/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 26, characterized by the fact that the cloth (200) is mounted on the arms (120, 130) of the deployable support frame (100) via hems (210) formed along the edges of the cloth (200).
28/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 27, characterized by the fact that it includes means for controlling aerodynamic behavior that are comprised by a support sail (310).
29/ A device according to claim 28, characterized by the fact that the support sail (310) is made of porous cloth.
30/ A device according to claim 28 or claim 29, characterized by the fact that the support sail (310) is secured firstly to two vertices (150, 152) of the deployable support frame (100), and secondly via slings (312, 314) to two ends of a telescopic mast (120).
31/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 30, characterized by the fact that it has aerodynamic behavior control means comprising symmetrical means (322, 324) suitable for imparting rotation to the structure about a vertical axis.
32/ A device according to claim 31, characterized by the fact that the means for controlling rotation comprise two symmetrical pieces of cloth (322, 324).
33/ A device according to claim 31, characterized by the fact that the means for controlling rotation comprise orifices formed through the pieces of cloth of the device.
34/ A device according to claim 32, characterized by the fact that the two pieces of cloth (322, 324) are fixed between a telescopic mast (120) and the slings (140).
35/ A device according to claims 1 to 34, characterized by the fact that it includes means (310, 322, 324) for controlling aerodynamic behavior suitable for imposing an orientation on the deployable support frame such that it presents at least one bottom edge that is horizontal.
36/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 35, characterized by the fact that it comprises means (310, 322, 324) for controlling aerodynamic behavior suitable for imparting an orientation to the deployable support structure (100) such that it has three bottom edges in a horizontal plane.
37/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 36, characterized by the fact that it has control means comprising a pyrotechnical generator (180).
38/ A device according to claim 37, characterized by the fact that the pyrotechnical generator is designed to define two stages:
- an initial stage in which pressure rises slowly, followed by a stage in which pressure rises more quickly.
39/ A device according to claim 37 or claim 38, characterized by the fact that the pyrotechnical generator comprises two pellets of pyrotechnical compositions (190, 192) presenting different combustion properties suitable for defining two successive stages, an initial stage of slow pressure rise and another stage of faster pressure rise.
40/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 39, characterized by the fact that it has slings (140) fixed between pairs of vertices of the deployable structure (100).
41/ A device according to claim 40, characterized by the fact that the slings (140) are placed in hems formed at the edges of the pieces of cloth (200).
42/ A device according to claim 36 or claim 37, characterized by the fact that it has twelve slings (140).
43/ A device according to any one of claims 1 to 42, characterized by the fact that the support frame (100) comprises at least one sling (140) for good deployment of the cloth (200).
44/ A device according to claim 43, characterized by the fact that the sling (140) is disposed along an edge of the piece of cloth (200).