Foam rigidized inflatable structural assemblies
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsMichael L. Tinker, Andrew R. Schnell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflatable and rigidizable structure for use as a habitat or a load bearing structure is disclosed. The structure consists of an outer wall and an inner wall defining a containment member and a bladder. The bladder is pressurized to erect the structure from an initially collapsed state. The containment member is subsequently injected with rigidizable fluid through an arrangement of injection ports. Exhaust gases from the curing rigidizable fluid are vented through an arrangement of exhaust ports. The rate of erection can be controlled by frictional engagement with a container or by using a tether. A method for fabricating a tubular structure is disclosed.
Claims16
A rigidizable structure comprising:
- a collapsible containment member, said containment member being formed of flexible material, having at least one outer wall defining a closed interior space and at least one sealable opening and at least one flexible inner wall;
- said outer wall having a thickness;
- said outer wall having at least one exhaust port adapted to venting excess pressure and gas byproducts of injected fluid rigidization material;
- said inner wall spaced interiorly from said outer wall by a pre-determined distance, said inner wall having a thickness;
- an inflatable bladder, said bladder being disposed within and attached to said containment member and erecting said containment member when inflated;
- said bladder having at least one pressurizing port for inflating said bladder;
- said bladder enclosing a volume bounded by said inner wall;
- and
- a rigidizable fluid, said fluid being introduced into said containment member through said at least one sealable opening and subsequently rigidized to provide structural support for said structure.
A method for erecting and rigidizing a structure including the steps of:
- selecting at least one structure having an inflatable bladder disposed within and attached to a collapsible containment member;
- said containment member being formed of flexible material and having an inner wall and an outer wall;
- inflating said bladder to erect said structure;
- introducing rigidizable fluid uniformly into said containment member between said inner wall and said outer wall;
- allowing said rigidizable fluid to distribute uniformly throughout said containment member;
- curing said rigidizable fluid;
- and
- venting excess fluid and gases produced during fluid rigidization from said structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.