Reflector with air pressure means

Abstract

This invention relates to large reflectors in particular those used for antennas, solar mirrors and the like having a concave reflector surface. The reflector comprises a membrane having a reflective surface, which membrane in its initial planar state is capable of being deformed in all directions in its plane. The reflector is mounted in a gas-tight chamber as one wall thereof and a differential pressure is exerted across the membrane either by way of increased or reduced pressure applied to the chamber. When deformed to concave shape, such deformation may be sufficient to cause permanent deformation of the membrane to its concave shape when it has been stretched beyond its elastic limit and plastic deformation has occurred. The reflector may then be used removed from the gas-tight chamber and when so used is preferably backed with a rigid foam backing. Alternatively, the differential pressure applied to the membrane may be insufficient to permanently deform the membrane to its concave shape and a rigid foam backing or the like applied thereto while it is in its deformed concave shape. In this circumstance the rigid foam maintains the reflector in its deformed concave shape. Still further, the differential pressure across the membrane whether sufficient to cause permanent deformation or not may be maintained during use of the reflector. In this circumstance the gas-tight chamber becomes a supporting structure for the concave membrane and the differential pressure maintains the shape. A rigid ring serves as the circumferential edge of the chamber and the deformed membrane is maintained in tension by the differential pressure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.