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US 2015/0144740 A1Published application
Extendible boom
AssigneeComposite Technology Development, Inc.
InventorsDana Turse, Robert Taylor, Larry G. Adams, Doug Richardson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An asymmetric mast is disclosed that can be used for solar arrays. The asymmetric mast can have an asymmetry out of the plane of the solar blanket. The mast may include two or more booms that comprise slit tube longerons. In some embodiments, a single mast can be used with one or two solar blankets.
Claims19
An extendible solar array having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the extendible solar array comprising:
- a mast including:
- a first slit tube longeron having a first longitudinal length;
- and
- a second slit tube longeron having a second longitudinal length that is coupled longitudinally along the second longitudinal length with the first slit tube longeron along the first longitudinal length, the mast having a lateral mast axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first slit tube longeron and the second slit tube longeron;
- and
- a solar blanket having a planar shape in the deployed configuration, the solar blanket coupled with the mast along an axis substantially perpendicular to the lateral mast axis.
3 more elements
A mast comprising:
- a first slit tube longeron having a first longitudinal axis and a first slit that extends along a length of the first longitudinal axis;
- a second slit tube longeron having a second longitudinal axis and a second slit that extends along a length of the second longitudinal axis;
- and
- a coupling mechanism that couples the first slit tube longeron with the second slit tube longeron,
- wherein in a stowed configuration the first slit tube longeron is flattened and rolled along the first longitudinal axis;
- wherein in the stowed configuration the second slit tube longeron is flattened and rolled along the second longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein in a deployed configuration the first slit tube longeron is extended along the first longitudinal axis and the second slit tube longeron is extended along the second longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are substantially parallel.
7 more elements
An extendible solar array having a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the extendible solar array comprising:
- a mast including:
- a first slit tube longeron having a slit extend along a first longitudinal axis in the deployed configuration;
- and
- a second slit tube longeron having a slit extend a long a second longitudinal axis in the deployed configuration, wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are parallel;
- and
- a solar blanket having a planar shape in the deployed configuration, the solar blanket coupled with the mast along an axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.