Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With spaced or external radio wave refractor
Patent
1981-02-17
1983-04-12
Lieberman, Eli
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With spaced or external radio wave refractor
343840, 343DIG2, 244173, H01Q 128, H01Q 108
Patent
active
043800130
ABSTRACT:
Disclosed is an expandable panel and truss structure capable of being stowed in a storage container (canister) for transportation into space and deployed to form structures such as antennas, solar panels or similar space or terrestial structures. The antenna formed comprises the panels stored as hinged pairs (sets) folded in accordian-like fashion together with the expandable trusses and other devices necessary for antenna space operation, such as attitude control and antenna feed. The panel sets are deployed from the canister to form a toroidal ring, circular in cross-section when deployed, for supporting the antenna lens and to form a feed support boom utilizing the canister as part of the antenna structure. The canister is connected to the ring and support boom in the deployed state by the expandable trusses. A fully automatic system is included for deploying the antenna and for holding the antenna structure in its deployed state. By adding a second (back) boom and reflector screen, a paraboloidal antenna is formed.
In a second embodiment, utilizing the same storage and deployment principle but with panel sets which are triangular in cross-section, when deployed, either an offset (asymmetrical) paraboloidal or a feed horn type antenna structure is formed.
In another embodiment of the invention, utilizing the same principle and with panel sets which are triangular in cross-section, when deployed, a solar panel array is formed.
Also disclosed is a foldable truss geostationary platform and package for transfer into a geostationary orbit.
Finally, an alternate mechanism is disclosed in the form of a pantograph for deploying panel sets to form a truss.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3690080 (1972-09-01), Dillard
patent: 4015653 (1977-03-01), Slysh et al.
patent: 4116258 (1978-09-01), Slysh et al.
patent: 4155524 (1979-05-01), Marello et al.
Duncan John R.
General Dynamics Corp./Convair Division
Gilliam Frank D.
Lieberman Eli
LandOfFree
Expandable panel and truss system/antenna/solar panel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Expandable panel and truss system/antenna/solar panel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Expandable panel and truss system/antenna/solar panel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-940422