Folding retractable protective dome for space vehicle equipment

Details Folding retractable protective dome for space vehicle equipment Folding retractable protective dome for space vehicle equipment

2004-10-20

2008-12-16

Mansen, Michael R. (Department: 3644)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

With shield or other protective means

C244S121000, C244S159500, C244S129400, C160S056000, C160S132000, C114S361000, C089S036010, C052S005000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07464900

ABSTRACT:
A folding, retractable dome for protecting a feature, such as a docking mechanism, a hatch or other equipment at an exterior surface of a space vehicle, includes a plurality of arcuate ribs, each having opposite ends respectively pinioned at opposite sides of the feature at the surface of the vehicle for rotational movement about an axis of rotation extending through the opposite ends and through an arcuate path of revolution extending over the feature, and a flexible cover attached to each of the ribs such that, in a deployed configuration of the dome, in which adjacent ribs are rotated apart from each other at a maximum relative angle therebetween, the cover is stretched generally tangentially between the adjacent ribs to form a generally arcuate shield over the feature, and in a retracted position of the dome, in which adjacent ribs are rotated together at a minimum relative angle therebetween, the cover is collapsed to define folded pleats between the adjacent ribs.

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