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US 9,072,184 B2Granted
Carbon fiber spacecraft panel with integral metallic foil power return
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRichard W. Aston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerospace structure that includes a composite member and a conductive element attached to the composite member wherein the conductive element is configured to conduct electricity across at least a portion of the composite member is provided. The aerospace structure may also include a power distribution system and the conductive element is a part of the power distribution system for the aerospace structure.
Claims19
An aerospace structure comprising:
- a composite member comprising an aluminum honeycomb panel covered with a plurality of carbon fiber face sheets, the composite member including a forward surface;
- and a power distribution system, comprising:
- a battery ground disposed along the forward surface of the composite member;
- a conductive element disposed along the forward surface of the composite member, the conductive element being configured to conduct electricity across at least a portion of the composite member and provides a direct path for a DC current to return to the battery ground.
1 more element
A method of returning current through an aerospace structure comprising:
- providing an aerospace structure comprising a power distribution system and a composite member comprising an aluminum honeycomb panel covered with a plurality of carbon fiber face sheets, wherein the power distribution system comprises a battery ground disposed along a forward surface of the composite member, and a conductive element disposed along the forward surface of the composite member;
- and conducting electricity through the conductive element across at least a portion of the composite member and providing a direct path for a DC current to return to the battery ground.
A spacecraft comprising:
- a composite spacecraft panel comprising an aluminum honeycomb panel covered with a plurality of carbon fiber face sheets, the composite member including a forward surface;
- a composite spacecraft panel wherein the a power distribution system comprising a conductive element disposed along the forward surface of the composite spacecraft panel and the conductive element is configured to conduct electricity across at least a portion of the composite spacecraft panel and provide a direct path for a DC current to return to the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.