Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Reusable or returnable
Patent
1992-05-12
1993-12-21
Focarino, Margaret A.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Reusable or returnable
264166, 198804, B64G 110
Patent
active
052715833
ABSTRACT:
A high-speed automated method and operating system is disclosed for constructing continuous-walled tubular structures in space having unlimited dimensions. The system comprises a relatively short tubular conveyor with a flexible endless conveying surface sliding in a longitudinal direction around a smooth cylindrical inner guide tube, and a plurality of wrapping wheels containing wrapping material moving in transverse directions. By moving the conveyor and simultaneously moving the wrapping wheels around the conveyor, sheets of material are wrapped around the outer conveying surface made firm by the inner guide tube to continuously manufacture a rigid multi-layered laminated walled cylindrical structure with an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the tubular conveyor. By varying the conveyor speed-to-wrapping wheel speed ratio, any wall thickness is obtained. The wrapping material is rolled into spools, mounted inside cartridges, and loaded into the wrapping wheels for easy insertion and replacement. Thus, the manufacturing process can be continued indefinitely to obtain a tubular structure having any dimensions desired. Since the sheets of wrapping material are transported to orbit in rolls with very high packing density, the machine can construct huge structures in orbit with relatively few trips.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3255284 (1966-06-01), Meislohn
patent: 3284259 (1966-11-01), Galloway et al.
patent: 4472335 (1984-09-01), Meyer et al.
patent: 4587777 (1986-05-01), Vasques et al.
patent: 4601389 (1986-07-01), Minovitch
patent: 4730797 (1988-03-01), Minovitch
patent: 4758397 (1988-07-01), Schreiner
patent: 5132070 (1992-07-01), Paul et al.
Ellis Christopher P.
Focarino Margaret A.
LandOfFree
Automatic method and operating system for space construction does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automatic method and operating system for space construction, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automatic method and operating system for space construction will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-304493