Space debris engagement and deorbit system
AssigneeL'Garde, Inc.
InventorNathaniel C. Barnes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.
Claims26
An engagement device, comprising:
- a first tape spring;
- a second tape spring;
- a structure defining a surface supported by the first tape spring and the second tape spring;
- and
- one or more actuators to extend the first tape spring and the second tape spring from a stored configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein the stored configuration is configured with the first tape spring and the second tape spring are at least partially rolled and the deployed configuration with the first tape spring and the second tape spring are at least partially extended.
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An engagement device, comprising:
- a trigger system;
- a tape spring having a rolled configuration, an extended configuration, and a retracted configuration, wherein the rolled configuration comprises the tape spring rolled up, the extended configuration comprises the tape spring being extended, and the retracted configuration comprises the tape spring in an intermediate configuration between the rolled configuration and the extended configuration, the tape spring having a stable extended configuration, the tape spring configured to store strain energy as it is unrolled in order to self-retract upon initiation of a trigger system to the retracted configuration;
- the trigger system;
- and
- a deployment system, comprising motors for driving or pulling the tape spring through a straightening mandrel, configured to unroll the tape spring from the rolled configuration to the extended configuration wherein the trigger system is for retracting the tape spring to transition from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, and
An engagement device, comprising:
- a first tape spring extending in a deployed configuration in a first direction;
- a second tape spring extending in a second direction in the deployed configuration, wherein the second direction is at least partially in an opposing direction from the first direction;
- and
- at least one actuator for extending the first tape spring and the second tape spring from a stored configuration where the first tape spring and the second tape spring is at least partially rolled to a deployed configuration in which the first tape spring and the second tape spring is at least partially extended,
- wherein the first tape spring and the second tape spring comprises free terminal ends in the deployed configuration and are configured transition to a retracted configuration to engage a target object.
The engagement device of 21, wherein the first tape spring and the second tape spring are bent in the retracted position in an orientation between the stored configuration and the deployed configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.