Space rail for large space systems
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Corporation, Space Systems Division
InventorEdward J. Hujsak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A space rail (10) having two basic elements, a box structure (12) which is configured to permit installation of payload hardware and payload services hardware along its length and a deployable back structure (14) which provides stiffness to the assembly of space rails when deployed. The box structure (10) is preferably a flat rectangular frame comprising body members (12) and the back structure (14) comprises a plurality of struts (24a-d, 30) pivotally attached to the body member (14) and to each other so as to fold into a retracted deployable position and to be deployed (unfolded) by a suitable mechanism.
Claims9
A space rail for use in connection with the formation of space systems comprising,
- a relatively rigid planar structure parallelogram frame,
- a deployable back structure fixedly attached to said frame structure and capable of being folded substantially coplanar with said frame structure and deployable to form a pyramid configuration on said frame structure when deployed,
- said space rail being adapted to be connected to similar space rails to form an assembly of space rails with said back structures connected together to provide rigidity to the assembly.
An assembly of space rails comprising,
- a plurality of relatively rigid planar parallelogram frame structures connected end-to-end, and a back structure comprising a plurality of tubular struts connected together and fixedly connected to said frame structure in such a manner so as to be foldable and substantially coplanar with said frame structure in an undeployed position and capable of forming pyramids as a space rail structure in a deployed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.