US 6,484,972 B1Granted

Articulated set of sequentially opened solar generator panels

AssigneeAlcatel

InventorDaniel Viale

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

At least three stacked panels are articulated by means of adjacent members so that they can pivot toward a deployed configuration. A mechanism includes an immobilizer mounted on a first member, cooperating with a second member to lock the two panels in the deployed configuration and constrained to rotate with a lug which can rotate on the first member and is abutted against a surface of a member constrained to rotate with the second member and configured so that, when the deployed configuration is reached, the lug escapes from it and brings the immobilizer into contact with the second member to bring about locking. A first finger of the mechanism, which is constrained to rotate with the lug, cooperates with a second finger of the third panel to hold it stacked until the two panels reach the deployed configuration, at which time rotation of the lug releases the second finger.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An articulated system, comprising:

a first inline panel (1);
a second inline panel (3);
an articulation (11) having a first articulated member (12) connected to said first inline panel (1), and a second articulated member (13) connected to said second inline panel (3), said first articulated member-and said second articulated member rotate relative to each other about a first articulation axis (16) for deployment of at least said second inline panel from a stacked configuration to a deployed configuration;
a first side panel (4) connected to said second inline panel (3), said first side panel rotates about a side panel axis for deployment of said first side panel with respect to said second inline panel from a stacked configuration to a deployed configuration, said first side panel having a first restraining member (28);
and
said articulation (11) further having a locking mechanism, including:
a first control surface (22) that rotates with said first articulated member (12) about the first articulation axis (16);
a first locking surface (25) that rotates with said first articulated member (12) about the first articulation axis (16);
a second control surface (19′) that rotates about a second articulation axis (20) and abuts said first control surface (22) during deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed,configuration;
a second locking surface (18′) that rotates about the second articulation axis (20) and abuts said first locking surface (25) after deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed configuration to prevent said first inline panel from rotating back to said stacked configuration;
and
a support arm (27) having a second restraining member (26), said support arm (27) and second restraining member (26) rotate about the second articulation axis (20), said second restraining member (26) couples with said first restraining member (28) during deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed configuration, said second restraining member (26) uncouples with said first restraining member (28) after deployment of said first inline panel and said second inline panel from the stacked configuration to the deployed configuration to allow deployment of said first side panel with respect to said second inline panel.

9 more elements

An articulated system, comprising:

first (1) and second (3) inline panels movable with respect to one another from a folded configuration to a deployed configuration;
at least one side panel (4) movable with respect to said second inline panel from a folded configuration to a deployed configuration;
and
a lock and release mechanism movable between a first position preventing said side panel from moving to its deployed configuration and a second position in which first and second inline panels are locked to prevent movement thereof toward said folded configuration and in which said side panel is not prevented from moving to its deployed configuration, said lock and release mechanism including:
a first locking surface coupled to said first inline panel and movable with respect to said second inline panel, and
a second locking surface, wherein, when said first and second inline panels are in the deployed configuration, said second locking surface engages said first locking surface in compression to prevent said first and second inline panels from reverting back to the folded configuration.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/126,660Filed 22 Apr 2002 · continuation
Priority: FR 99 137974 Nov 1999
Granted: 26 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F24S 30/40
Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules: for rotary movement
B64G 1/2222
Characterised by the manner of deployment: folding
B64G 1/443
Using radiation, e.g. deployable solar arrays: photovoltaic cell arrays
Y02E 10/47
Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers: mountings or tracking