Redundant deployable lattice column
AssigneeAstro Research Corporation
InventorsJohn M. Hedgepeth, Ronald L. Samuels, John Stammreich
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Abstract
The disclosed deployable lattice column includes a plurality of longeron elements connected together and reinforced by lateral elements including both diagonal members and battens. The diagonal members are cross-connected between laterally opposed points along the longerons and define a bay of the column by the spacing of their attachment points. Adjacent bays of the column substantially overlap each other. By this overlapping relationship, should one of the diagonal elements fail, the strength of the column is substantially maintained by the adjacent, overlapping diagonal elements. Preferably, the longeron elements are integral, coilable elastic members.
Claims10
A deployable lattice column including:
- a plurality of continuous longeron elements,
- a plurality of flexible lateral elements connected between adjacent longeron elements, the lateral elements including flexible diagonal members, pairs of first diagonal members being cross-connected between two pairs of generally laterally opposed points along said longeron elements and defining adjacent bays of the column,
- second flexible diagonal members being connected to the longerons at least one of said connections being intermediate said laterally opposed points, and
- the longeron and lateral elements being constructed and connected to constitute a structure movable between a deployed orientation defining a column of substantial length and a second, coil-collapsed orientation defining a structure of smaller length.
A deployable lattice column including
- three spaced, parallel continuous longeron elements,
- a plurality of flexible lateral elements connected between the longeron elements, the lateral elements including battens and diagonal members, pairs of first diagonal members being cross-connected to generally laterally opposed points along said longeron elements and defining, with the adjacent cross-connected diagonal members of the third longeron, first set of bays of the column, and pairs of second diagonal members being cross-connected between laterally opposed points along said longeron elements and defining a second set of bays positioned substantially midway between and overlapping the first set of bays,
- the lateral elements also including battens connected between said laterally opposed points such that, when the column is in a deployed configuration, they do not touch the diagonal members of the overlapping bays, the battens being substantially perpendicular to the longerons when the column is in a deployed configuration,
- the longerons and lateral elements being constructed and interconnected to constitute a structure movable between a deployed orientation defining a column of substantial length and a second, coil-collapsed orientation defining a structure of a smaller length, the column having a substantially equilateral triangular cross-sectional configuration when deployed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.