Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1997-01-28
1999-01-12
Grant, William
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
52109, 52121, B64G 166
Patent
active
058576487
ABSTRACT:
A precision deployable boom assembly 10 for terrestrial and celestial applications comprises an extendable and retractable boom 12 having a fixed end 14, a movable distal end 20 and three or more cables 30 attached to the distal end to form a tripod configuration of the deployed boom. The boom is spring biased to urge extension of the boom and to produce a tensile pre-load in the cables. The cables are wound and unwound by cable drums 28 selectively driven by precise motors such as stepping motors 33. The cables are preferably formed of graphite which provides high stiffness, light weight and a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. The position of the distal end is highly stable at all deployed lengths of the boom and is also precisely repeatable.
REFERENCES:
patent: 370833 (1887-10-01), Van Order
patent: 418827 (1890-01-01), St. Marie
patent: 775158 (1904-11-01), Wenig
patent: 797077 (1905-08-01), Shaw
patent: 818304 (1906-04-01), Shaw
patent: 836868 (1906-11-01), Dangerfield
patent: 967116 (1910-08-01), Dupuis
patent: 1003967 (1911-09-01), Magliocca
patent: 1025972 (1912-05-01), Geisel
patent: 1078759 (1913-11-01), Wichertjes
patent: 1113158 (1914-10-01), Hale
patent: 1708113 (1929-04-01), Allen
patent: 2363784 (1944-11-01), Gerich
patent: 3496687 (1970-02-01), Greenberg et al.
patent: 3588050 (1971-06-01), Black et al.
patent: 4237662 (1980-12-01), Kinzler
patent: 4337560 (1982-07-01), Slysh
patent: 4480415 (1984-11-01), Truss
patent: 4524552 (1985-06-01), Hujsak
patent: 4529063 (1985-07-01), Kishi
patent: 4555585 (1985-11-01), Behrens et al.
patent: 4557083 (1985-12-01), Zanardo
patent: 4725025 (1988-02-01), Binge et al.
patent: 4850161 (1989-07-01), McGinnis
patent: 4900891 (1990-02-01), Vega et al.
patent: 4969301 (1990-11-01), Warden
patent: 5228644 (1993-07-01), Garriott et al.
Dailey Dean R.
Gilman Larry N.
Parker A. Dale
Grant William
TRW Inc.
Yatsko Michael S.
LandOfFree
Precision deployable boom assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Precision deployable boom assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Precision deployable boom assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1507150