Hold-down apparatus for unfoldable functional elements

Details Hold-down apparatus for unfoldable functional elements Hold-down apparatus for unfoldable functional elements

1983-07-18

1985-01-01

Barefoot, Galen L.

Freight accommodation on freight carrier

Particular article accommodation

Grouped

244173, 410 79, 410103, B60P 164, B64G 122

Patent

active

044914466

ABSTRACT:
A hold-down apparatus clamps functional elements, for instance solar cell nels which are unfoldable from a carrying body, possibly a spacecraft, in their folded condition. The folded functional elements (15) rest on a counter support (3) provided on the carrying body. A pressure piece (4) is mounted on the outermost functional element (15a). A swingable retaining arm or bail (5) rests with its one end on the pressure piece (4). In order to produce a high biasing force in the locked position, and in order to be able in an easy and reliable manner to reverse at any time from the unlocked to the locked position, the hold-down apparatus has the following features. A lever arm (7) is articulated or journalled to the counter support (3) and may be rotated by means of a drive element (10). The lever (7) is rotatably connected at one of its ends to the retaining arm or bail (5) which is biased by a spring (9) pressing in the direction toward the pressure piece (4). Through pulling the lever arm (7) the retaining arm or bail (5) comes into the locked position, in which it rests on the pressure piece (4), and in which it comes under tensile stress due to its purposely chosen short length for clamping the functional elements in their folded condition.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2583053 (1952-01-01), Kestner et al.
patent: 3270801 (1966-09-01), Richter et al.
patent: 4419033 (1983-12-01), Roth et al.

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