Foldable low concentration solar array
AssigneeAstro Aerospace Corporation
InventorGeoffrey W. Marks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low concentration solar array for spacecraft and other uses which has a series of solar panels which can be deployed from a folded stowed configuration to a planar configuration. When the solar panels are stowed, the padding of reflector panels cushions and protects the solar panels from the stresses and vibrations of launch and space flight. Once the solar panels are extended into a deployed planar configuration, the reflector panels are raised to concentrate sunlight upon the solar panels. These reflector panels are constructed from rigid honeycomb substrates and therefore are the active structural members of the solar array, providing the structural rigidity for the solar array.
Claims18
A solar array comprising:
- a plurality of first support panels coupled end-to-end by hinge connectors, each first support panel having a side edge;
- a plurality of second support panels coupled end-to-end by hinge connectors, each second support panel having a side edge;
- and
- a plurality of solar panels coupled between the first and second support panels;
- each solar panel having at least one solar collector disposed thereon, a first side edge coupled to said side edge of a respective first support panel and a second side edge coupled to said side edge of a respective second support panel, wherein said first and second support panels support said solar panels therebetween.
A solar array comprising:
- a deployment boom;
- a plurality of first support panels supported by the deployment boom and arranged in a first row;
- a plurality of second support panels supported by the deployment boom and arranged in a second row;
- a plurality of solar panels arranged in a third row, between said first and second row, each solar panel in said third row being spaced apart from each adjacent panel in the third row;
- each solar panel coupled to and supported by a respective one of said first support panels and a respective one of a second support panels.
A method of supporting a plurality of solar panels comprising the steps of:
- providing a deployment boom;
- supporting a plurality of first support panels in a first row with the deployment boom;
- supporting a plurality of second support panels in a second row with the deployment boom;
- arranging a plurality of solar panels in a third row, between said first and second row, with each solar panel in said third row being spaced apart from each adjacent panel in the third row;
- coupling and supporting each solar panel with a respective one of said first support panels and a respective one of a second support panels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.