Multiple spheres and cable deployer

Abstract

A sphere and cable deployer apparatus for deploying a cable and associated spheres from a vehicle such as a spinning satellite. The sphere and cable deployer apparatus has a drum for storing the cable that is driven by a drive shaft and gears form a drive motor to deploy the cable and sphere away from the satellite. The drive motor also drives a drive roller through a series of gears and clutch that applies tension to the cable as it is being unwound from the drum. The sphere and cable deployer apparatus also has a housing with an outer and inner pair of shell-like halves that pivot outward due to spring forces to release the spheres. Each pair of pivoting housing halves also provide a storage compartment for a short cable portion that is attached to that sphere. The outer set of pivoting housing halves are held in place by two cables that are under tension and associated pins that fit in holes in the housing halves and are released by cable cutters that cut the cables, and the inner housing halves are held in place by explosive bolts that may be activated by a protrusion on the cable portion located between the spheres and an associated microswitch as the cable portion is deployed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.