Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – With payload accommodation
Patent
1997-07-21
2000-04-18
Poon, Peter M.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
With payload accommodation
136245, B64G 144
Patent
active
060505265
ABSTRACT:
A reflector system for a solar wing is provided in which adjacent reflector panels are inhibited from relative movement by coupling tethers. Each reflector panel rotates to be in a stored position adjacent a backface of a respective solar panel. From this stored position, each reflector panel then rotates to be in a deployed position in which it forms a reflection angle with a solar cell face of the respective solar panel. Because of the inhibition of the tethers, the reflector panels deploy together so that one of them does not move past another of them and damage its reflection surface. Upon deployment of a solar wing, a set of spring-biased reflector sheets are automatically urged to cover respective apertures which facilitate installation of restraint structures that maintain the solar wing in its stored configuration.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3232795 (1966-02-01), Gillette et al.
patent: 3600257 (1971-08-01), Reinhardt
patent: 4282394 (1981-08-01), Lackey et al.
patent: 4394529 (1983-07-01), Gounder
patent: 4513734 (1985-04-01), Butler
patent: 5131955 (1992-07-01), Stern et al.
patent: 5487791 (1996-01-01), Everman et al.
patent: 5520747 (1996-05-01), Marks
Sokolsky, Ilene, et al., "Thin Film Solar Concentrator", Naval Research Laboratory, thin film pp. 1-8.
B. R. Spence, et al: "Development of the Astro Edge Solar Array", World conference on Photovoltaic Energy, Waikoloa, Dec. 5-9, 1994, vol. 2, No. Conf. 1, Dec. 5, 1994, pp. 2108-2021, XP000680186, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
E. L. Ralph, et al.: "Retractable Planar Space Photovoltaic Array" Record of the Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Kissimimee, May 21-25, 1990, vol. 2, No. Conf. 21, May 21, 1990, pp. 1369-1373, XP000480387, Institute of Electrical and Elecotronics Engineers, p. 1369, col. 2, Paragraph 2.
J. T. Renshall, G. W. Marks: "The AstroEdge Solar Array for the NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative "Clark"satellite" Conference Record of the 25.sup.th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Confernece 1996, May 13-17, 1996, pp. 271-176, XP002095601.
Comer Vagnola K.
Grunebach Georgeann S.
Hughes Electronics Corporation
Poon Peter M.
Sales M. W.
LandOfFree
Solar reflector systems and methods does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Solar reflector systems and methods, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solar reflector systems and methods will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2330366