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US 6,284,967 B1Granted
Solar generator with foldable panels especially for a spacecraft
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsAlo Hakan, Frank Seifert
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsAlo Hakan, Frank Seifert
Estimating the term…
A solar generator especially for a spacecraft or space flight body has a plurality of first collector panels hinged to each other in a column extending in a first direction (D1) when the first collector panels are unfolded and a plurality of second panels coupled to the first panels so that the second panels can be unfolded in a second direction (D2) only after the first panels have been unfolded. The second panels are coupled to the first panels by journal struts or by hinges so that at least one first panel forms with at least one second panel, preferably with two or more second panels, a panel packet. The hinges (40) that articulate the first panels to each other permit unfolding the panel packets in said first direction (D1), whereupon the second panels in the individual packets can be unfolded in the second direction (D2).
A solar generator comprising a plurality of first collector panels, articulating means (40) interconnecting said first collector panels to one another for folding and unfolding said first collector panels in a first direction (D1), at least one second collector panel, couplers (50, 60, 70) journaling said at least one second collector panel to one of said first collector panels, wherein said couplers enable said at least one second collector panel to follow a compound motion including a lateral linear motion component extending in a second direction (D2) for laterally shifting said at least one second collector panel when said at least one second collector panel is folded or unfolded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.