US 8,683,755 B1Granted

Directionally controlled elastically deployable roll-out solar array

AssigneeDeployable Space Systems, Inc.

InventorsBrian R Spence, Stephen F White

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Abstract

A directionally-controlled roll-out elastically deployable solar array structure is disclosed. The structure includes one or more longitudinal elastic roll out booms that may be closed section or open section to allow for efficient rolled packaging onto a lateral mandrel. A flexible photovoltaic blanket is attached to a tip structure and to a lateral base support structure, but remains uncoupled from the longitudinal booms. The solar array system may be stowed simultaneously into a rolled package comprised of the roll out booms and the flexible planar blanket together, or onto independent rolls. Alternatively, the system may be stowed by rolling the booms, and accordion Z-folding the hinged flexible photovoltaic blanket into a flat stack. Structural deployment is motivated by the elastic strain energy of the roll out booms, and several methods of deployment direction control are provided to ensure a known, controlled, and unidirectional deployment path of the elastically unrolling booms.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An elastic deployable structure comprising:

a. at least one elastic roll out boom, wherein said at least one elastic roll out boom comprises a thin-wall tubular, elongated structure, having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a longitudinal axis,
b. a boom mandrel, said boom mandrel being a substantially cylindrical structure, said cylindrical structure also having a longitudinal axis upon which said mandrel is able to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel,
c. a yoke support structure, said yoke support structure providing a fixed base for deployment of said at least one elastic roll out boom,
d. wherein said at least one elastic roll out boom is attached at said first end to said boom mandrel, and at said second end to said yoke support structure wherein said longitudinal axis of said roll out boom is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel, wherein said elastic roll out boom cross section can be flattened and rolled tightly around said boom mandrel to form a stowed roll, said stowed roll having a diameter, wherein said stowed roll confines elastic strain energy for powering deployment, and
e. a deployment control device, wherein said deployment control device prevents expansion of said diameter of said stowed roll and insuring unidirectional deployment of said at least one elastic roll out boom wherein said deployment control device comprises (i) stabilizer arms and boom control rollers, wherein said stabilizer arms connect said boom control rollers to said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel, (ii) a frictionless tensioned containment strap, and a strap cross bar, wherein said frictionless tensioned containment strap surrounds said stowed roll, wherein said frictionless tensioned containment strap has a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said stabilizer bar, said second end being connected to said strap cross bar, (iii) wherein said frictionless tensioned containment strap controls said stowed roll diameter during deployment such that unidirectional boom deployment is effected.

2 more elements

An elastic deployable structure comprising:

a. at least one elastic roll out boom, wherein said at least one elastic roll out boom comprises a thin-wall tubular, elongated structure, having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a longitudinal axis,
b. a boom mandrel, said boom mandrel being a substantially cylindrical structure, said cylindrical structure also having a longitudinal axis upon which said mandrel is able to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel,
c. a yoke support structure, said yoke support structure providing a fixed base for deployment of said at least one elastic roll out boom,
d. wherein said at least one elastic roll out boom is attached at said first end to said boom mandrel, and at said second end to said yoke support structure wherein said longitudinal axis of said roll out boom is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel, wherein said elastic roll out boom cross section can be flattened and rolled tightly around said boom mandrel to form a stowed roll, said stowed roll having a diameter, wherein said stowed roll confines elastic strain energy for powering deployment, and
e. a deployment control device, wherein said deployment control device prevents expansion of said diameter of said stowed roll and insuring unidirectional deployment of said at least one elastic roll out boom wherein said deployment control device comprises (i) stabilizer arms and boom control rollers, wherein said stabilizer arms connect said boom control rollers to said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel, and (ii) a rotary damping mechanism, wherein said rotary damping mechanism is connected in-line with said mandrel axis, wherein said rotary damping mechanism controls the rate of mandrel rotation during deployment such that unidirectional boom deployment is effected.

2 more elements

An elastic deployable structure comprising:

a. at least one elastic roll out boom, wherein said at least one elastic roll out boom comprises a thin-wall tubular, elongated structure, having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and a longitudinal axis,
b. a boom mandrel, said boom mandrel being a substantially cylindrical structure, said cylindrical structure also having a longitudinal axis upon which said mandrel is able to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel,
c. a yoke support structure, said yoke support structure providing a fixed base for deployment of said at least one elastic roll out boom,
d. wherein said at least one elastic roll out boom is attached at said first end to said boom mandrel, and at said second end to said yoke support structure wherein said longitudinal axis of said roll out boom is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel, wherein said elastic roll out boom cross section can be flattened and rolled tightly around said boom mandrel to form a stowed roll, said stowed roll having a diameter, wherein said stowed roll confines elastic strain energy for powering deployment, and
e. a deployment control device, wherein said deployment control device prevents expansion of said diameter of said stowed roll and insuring unidirectional deployment of said at least one elastic roll out boom wherein said deployment control device comprises (i) a stabilizer bar, stabilizer arms, and boom control rollers, wherein said stabilizer arms connect said boom control rollers to said longitudinal axis of said boom mandrel, and (ii) a deployment lanyard and a rotating pulley, wherein said deployment lanyard has a first end and a second end opposite said first end, wherein said first end of said deployment lanyard is attached to said stabilizer bar, wherein said second end of said deployment lanyard is attached to said rotating pulley, and wherein said rotating pulley is attached to said yoke support structure such that unidirectional boom deployment is effected.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/010,739Filed 20 Jan 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 21 Jan 2010
Granted: 1 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B64G 1/443
Using radiation, e.g. deployable solar arrays: photovoltaic cell arrays
B64G 1/2225
Characterised by the manner of deployment: rolling or unfurling
B64G 1/2229
For deploying structures between a stowed and deployed state: characterised by the deployment actuating mechanism
B64G 1/2228
For deploying structures between a stowed and deployed state: characterised by the hold-down or release mechanisms