Mini-truss thin-sheet panel assembly
AssigneeGossamer Space Frames
InventorsGlenn Alan Reynolds, Dean Robert Hackbarth, Gary Noble Curtis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mini-truss thin-sheet panel assembly. In one embodiment, a substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly having a non-rigid thin-sheet component includes the thin-sheet component which has selected plan area and shape, a backer having a plan shape and area substantially similar to the thin-sheet component, and plural riser elements of selected height and configuration each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component, the riser elements being configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantial rigidity in a selected direction in the thin-sheet component.
Claims28
A substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly configured as a truss and having a non-rigid thin-sheet component, the thin-sheet panel assembly comprising the thin-sheet component which as selected plan area and shape and is a first chord of the truss, a backer having a plan area and shape substantially similar to the thin-sheet component and being a second chord of the truss, and plural riser elements of selected height and configuration each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component to maintain a curvature of the thin-sheet panel assembly against a restorative force therein, the backer being defined by a backer sheet, and the riser elements being defined by portions of the backer sheet that are bent away and partially separated from the backer sheet and have integral connections to the backer sheet, the riser elements being diagonal elements of the truss and configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantially rigidity in a selected direction in the thin-sheet component, wherein the riser elements include apertures near the distal ends.
A support structure for supporting a thin panel to have a substantially rigid configuration, the support structure comprising a backer sheet, and a plurality of riser elements defined by portions of the backer sheet that are bent away and partially separated from the backer sheet and have integral connections to the backer sheet at proximal ends, the riser elements having heights extending in a first direction from the proximal ends to distal ends and having lengths along rows in substantially parallel riser planes, the distal ends of the riser elements being attachable to the thin panel to maintain a curvature of the thin panel against a restorative force therein and for supporting the thin panel and increasing rigidity of the thin panel in a second direction substantially parallel to the riser planes, wherein the backer sheet is configured to be a first chord of a truss and the riser elements are configured to be diagonal elements of the truss, the thin panel being a second chord of the truss, wherein the riser elements includes apertures near the distal ends.
In a solar-trough solar power generation facility in which each one of a plurality of curved reflective surfaces supported by a trough frame of a plurality of trough frames has a selected curvature, and the curved reflective surfaces having the selected curvature are configured to direct and concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, wherein the improvement comprises a substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly including:
- a non-rigid thin-sheet component having a first surface;
- a backer;
- and plural riser elements of selected height and configuration each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component to maintain a curvature of the thin-sheet panel assembly against a restorative force therein, the reverse surface opposite the first surface, the backer being defined by a backer sheet, and the riser elements being defined by portions of the backer sheet that are bent away and partially separated from the backer sheet and have integral connections to the backer sheet, the riser elements being configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantial rigidity in a selected direction in the thin-sheet component, the first surface of the thin-sheet component including at least a portion of one of the plurality of curved reflective surfaces having the selected curvature, the riser elements having substantially triangular configurations and being in substantially parallel planes, the parallel planes being in first and second groups, the parallel planes in the first group being substantially normal to the parallel planes in the second group, and the integral connections to the backer sheet being located at bases of the triangular configurations and spaced along substantially parallel lines.
A method of forming a thin-sheet panel assembly having a thin-sheet component and a backer including a plurality of risers extending from the backer to distal ends, the backer being defined by a backer sheet, and the risers being defined by portions of the backer sheet that are bent away and partially separated from the backer sheet and have integral connections to the backer sheet, the method comprising:
- applying an adhesive to the distal ends of the risers;
- attaching the thin-sheet component to the distal ends of the risers via the adhesive;
- and
- shaping the thin-sheet panel assembly to have a selected curvature while the adhesive cures from an uncured state in which the adhesive does not adhere the thin-sheet component and the backer to one another to a cured state in which the adhesive adheres the thin-sheet component and the backer to one another and maintains the selected curvature against a restorative force.
A substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly configured as a truss and comprising a thin-sheet component having selected plan area and shape and being a first chord of the truss, a backer having a plan area and shape substantially similar to the thin-sheet component and being a second chord of the truss, and plural riser elements each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component, the riser elements being diagonal elements of the truss and configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantial rigidity in a selected direction, the riser elements connected to the reverse surface of the thin-sheet component via an adhesive which maintains a curvature of the thin-sheet panel assembly against a restorative force therein, the thin-sheet component comprising a glass layer and structural fibers for providing strength to the thin-sheet component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.