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US 9,214,892 B2Granted
Solar arrays
AssigneeOrbital ATK, Inc.
InventorsStephen F. White, Mark V. Douglas, Ronald S. Takeda, Brian R. Spence, Noel T. Gregory, Jason Z. Schmidt, Peter Sorensen, T. Jeffrey Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar array including a solar array assembly, hub assembly, and wing assembly.
Claims20
A solar array comprising:
- gores having solar cells thereon, the gores configured to form a generally circular shape when the solar array is deployed;
- and
- a hub assembly about which the gores rotate during deployment, the hub assembly located at a center of the generally circular shape when the solar array is deployed, the hub assembly including a plurality of end spar fittings, each end spar fitting of the plurality of end spar fittings including a first end having a clevis and a second end extending radially away from the first end and the hub assembly, the clevis on the first end of each end spar fitting of the plurality of end spar fittings having at least one pin, the at least one pin of the clevis on the first end of each end spar fitting of the plurality of end spar fittings being connected by a link to the at least one pin of the clevis on the first end of an immediately adjacent end spar fitting of the plurality of end spar fittings,
- wherein each respective at least one pin of the clevises is parallel to each other respective at least one pin of the clevises.
1 more element
A solar array comprising:
- a hub assembly comprising:
- a pair of split timing gears attached to and positioned at an upper portion of the hub assembly and having a rotational axis coaxially aligned with a rotational axis of a lower gear attached to and positioned at a lower portion of the hub assembly;
- and
- another gear engaged with the pair of split timing gears;
- a first spar having a length extending radially away from the hub assembly including a spring having one end thereof attached directly to the first spar and the other end of the spring attached directly to an adjacent second spar that extends radially from the hub assembly;
- and
- solar panel gores extending radially away from the hub assembly, one of the solar panel gores being coupled to the adjacent second spar,
- wherein the spring is directly attached to the first spar and to the adjacent second spar and configured to apply tension to the gores when the solar array is deployed.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.