Folding perimeter truss reflector

A deployable truss for a reflector comprising:

• a truss structure comprising a plurality of rectangular shaped bays each comprising a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members defining a rectangular frame, each said vertical member being common to two adjacent frames, said bays being serially connected to define a generally hollow cylindrical figure;
• a first plurality of first deployable spars, each said spars having a proximal end and a distal end;
• said first plurality being equal in number to the number of said vertical frame members;
• each of said first deployable spars being pivotally connected at a proximal end to an upper end of a respective one of said vertical frame members for pivotal movement of said distal end between a stowed position and a deployed position outwardly extended above said vertical frame member;
• a first plurality of second deployable spars, each said spars having a proximal end and a distal end;
• each of said second deployable spars being pivotally connected at a proximal end to a lower end of a respective one of said vertical frame members for pivotal movement of said distal end between a stowed position and a deployed position outwardly extended below said vertical frame member;
• spring means for deploying said first deployable spars to said deployed position of said first deployable spars;
• spring means for deploying said second deployable spars to said deployed position of said second deployable spars;
• a first tension line extending in a closed loop about the distal ends of said first deployable spars and coupled to a distal end of each of said first deployable spars;
• a second tension line extending in a closed loop about the distal ends of said second deployable spars and coupled to a distal end of each of said second deployable spars;
• and deployment means for moving said structural frame and said deployable spars from a stowed position to a deployed position.

A foldable perimeter truss reflector, comprising:

• a first plurality of horizontal longerons connected together in end to end relationship to form a first closed loop;
• a second like plurality of horizontal longerons connected together in end to end relationship to form a second closed loop of like size to said first closed loop;
• said first and second closed loops being coaxially and angularly aligned with one another, whereby said longerons of said first plurality of horizontal longerons overlie and are aligned with associated horizontal longerons of said second plurality of horizontal longerons;
• a plurality of vertical struts, said plurality being equal in number to said first plurality of horizontal longerons;
• each said vertical strut being connected between adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of said horizontal longerons of said first closed loop and an underlying adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of said horizontal longerons of said second closed loop that underlie said two adjacent ones of said horizontal longerons of said first closed loop to define a plurality of four side polygonal frames positioned in side by side relationship arranged in a cylindrical ring with each said frame including upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right corners;
• a first plurality of deployable spars, each said spar in said first plurality being pivotally supported at one end by a respective one of said upper left corners;
• spring biased pivot means at each said upper left corner for biasing a respective deployable spar to pivot to a deployed position with a distal end of said associated deployable spar positioned outwardly of the adjacent four sided polygonal frame;
• a second plurality of deployable spars, each said spar in said second plurality being pivotally supported at one end by a respective one of said lower left corners;
• and
• spring biased pivot means at each said lower left corners for biasing a respective deployable spar to pivot to a deployed position with a distal end of said associated deployable spar positioned outwardly of the adjacent four sided polygonal frame;
• a plurality of flexible tension lines, each tension line being connected between the outer ends of an adjacent pair of said first plurality of deployable spars and collectively defining a circular hoop as a front edge to the truss;
• a second plurality of flexible tension lines, each tension line being connected between the outer ends of an adjacent pair of said second plurality of deployable spars and collectively defining a second circular hoop as a rear edge to the truss;
• a first plurality of catenary lines, said first plurality of catenary lines being supported from said distal ends of said first plurality of deployable spars;
• and
• a second plurality of catenary lines, said second plurality of catenary lines being equal in number to said first plurality and said second plurality of catenary lines being supported from said distal ends of said second plurality of deployable spars.

A foldable perimeter truss reflector, comprising:

• a first plurality of horizontal longerons connected together in end to end relationship to form a first closed loop;
• a second like plurality of horizontal longerons connected together in end to end relationship to form a second closed loop of like size to said first closed loop;
• said first and second closed loops being coaxially and angularly aligned with one another, whereby said longerons of said first plurality of horizontal longerons overlie and are aligned with associated horizontal longerons of said second plurality of horizontal longerons;
• a plurality of vertical struts, said plurality being equal in number to said first plurality of horizontal longerons;
• each said vertical strut being connected between adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of said horizontal longerons of said first closed loop and an underlying adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of said horizontal longerons of said second closed loop that underlie said two adjacent ones of said horizontal longerons of said first closed loop to define a plurality of rectangular frames positioned in side by side relationship arranged in a cylindrical ring with each said frame including upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right corners;
• a first plurality of deployable spars, each said spar in said first plurality being pivotally supported at one end by a respective one of said upper left corners;
• spring biased pivot means at each said upper left corner for biasing a respective deployable spar to pivot to a deployed position with a distal end of said associated deployable spar positioned outwardly of the adjacent rectangular frame;
• a second plurality of deployable spars, each said spar in said second plurality being pivotally supported at one end by a respective one of said lower left corners;
• and
• spring biased pivot means at each said lower left corner for biasing a respective deployable spar to pivot to a deployed position with a distal end of said associated deployable spar positioned outwardly of the adjacent rectangular frame;
• a plurality of flexible tension lines, each tension line being connected between the outer ends of an adjacent pair of said first plurality of deployable spars and collectively defining a circular hoop for a front edge to the truss;
• a second plurality of flexible tension lines, each tension line being connected between the outer ends of an adjacent pair of said second plurality of deployable spars and collectively defining a second circular hoop for a rear edge to the truss;
• a first plurality of catenary lines, said first plurality of catenary lines being supported from said distal ends of said first plurality of deployable spars;
• a second plurality of catenary lines, said second plurality of catenary lines being equal in number to said first plurality and said second plurality of catenary lines being supported from said distal ends of said second plurality of deployable spars;
• a plurality of first fitting means, said first fitting means for connecting one end of one of said vertical struts and an end of each of said two adjacent horizontal longerons of said first closed loop, and a spring biased pivot means associated with one of said first plurality of deployable spars;
• and
• a second plurality of first fitting means, said first fitting means in said second plurality for connecting a second end of said one of said vertical struts and an end of each of said two adjacent horizontal longerons of said second closed loop, and a spring biased pivot means associated with one of said second plurality of deployable spars.

A cable management system for a deployable perimeter truss reflector, said perimeter truss reflector including a catenary system, a plurality of structural members and at least one inextensible tension member connected between two of said plurality of structural members for supporting said catenary system, and said structural members having a stowed position and a deployed position, comprising:

• at least one hollow cylinder;
• said cylinder being attached to one of said structural members;
• said inextensible tension member having first and second end portions for connection to respective ones of said structural members, and, when in the stowed condition, a helical shaped intermediate portion;
• said helical shaped intermediate portion being stored within said hollow cylinder for withdrawal by pulling on said end portions;
• and
• said structural members pulling on said first and second end portions of said inextensible tension member when changing from said stowed position to said deployed position to unfurl said helical shaped intermediate portion from said cylinder and transform said helical shape to a straight shape.

In a deployable perimeter truss reflector, said perimeter truss reflector comprising a plurality of like structural members, each of said structural comprising a hollow tube;

• said structural members lying in parallel when in the stowed condition and oriented at an angle relative to one another and defining a zig-zag configuration when in the deployed condition;
• and including a plurality of fittings for pivotally connecting together an end of a respective pair of said plurality of structural members, whereby said structural members may pivot in opposite directions a limited extent about said fitting;
• one-half said plurality of fittings being connected to a first end of said structural members and the other half of said fittings being connected to the opposed end of said structural members, a deployment system wherein:
• all of said plurality of fittings includes a passage therethrough leading into said hollow of said tubes;
• and
• all of said plurality of fittings, except one fitting further comprises:
• a pulley, a shaft, and said pulley mounted for rotation about said shaft;
• and
• a cord containing first and second ends;
• said cord extending in a serial path through each of said plurality of structural members and said fitting and around said pulley in each said fitting;
• said first and second ends of said cord entering said serial path and exiting from said serial path through said one fitting, whereby a pulling force on said cord exerted relative to said one fitting translates into individual forces on the axle of said pulleys to force said structural members to pivot relative to said fitting in opposite directions, whereby said structural members attain said zig-zag configuration.

A deployable perimeter truss, deployable between a stowed position to a deployed position, comprising:

• a pair of vertical struts and a pair of horizontal longerons located at right angles to said vertical struts to define a four-sided polygonal frame when in deployed position;
• each said strut being pivotally connected to adjacent horizontal longerons wherein one of said struts is positioned in a line with one of said longerons and the other of said vertical struts is positioned in another line with the other of said longerons and both said lines lie adjacent one another when in the stowed position;
• a telescoping diagonal member, said telescoping diagonal member being of a first predetermined length when in the stowed condition and being of a second predetermined length, less than than said first predetermined length, when in the deployed condition;
• said telescoping diagonal member including a latch for latching said telescoping diagonal member to a predetermined length;
• said telescoping diagonal member being pivotally connected at one end to the juncture of one of said vertical struts with one of said longerons and being pivotally connected at an opposed end to the juncture of said other one of said vertical struts with said other one of said longerons;
• first and second struts, said struts being of equal length;
• first pivot means connecting a first end of each of said first and second struts;
• said first pivot means permitting said struts to pivot relative to one another between a first position in which said first and second struts are oriented colinearly and a second position in which said first and second struts are oriented at a ninety degree angle to one another;
• second pivot means for pivotally connecting said second end of one of said struts to said pivotal connection at one end of said telescoping diagonal member;
• and
• third pivot means for connecting said second end of the other of said first and second struts to said pivotal connection at the other end of said telescoping diagonal member;
• wherein said first and second struts and said telescoping diagonal member pivot together relative to said vertical struts and longerons and define with said telescoping member a triangle figure when in the deployed position.