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An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an a

An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.

대표청구항 ▼

An expandable double tapered structural strut having a substantially circular cross-section along a portion of its length and capable of being compressed flat for storage comprising; two independent half-shells, each half-shell having first and second longitudinal edges; said shells being double tap

An expandable double tapered structural strut having a substantially circular cross-section along a portion of its length and capable of being compressed flat for storage comprising; two independent half-shells, each half-shell having first and second longitudinal edges; said shells being double tapered with the largest cross-section substantially at mid-length and tapering in both directions to flat ends; a longitudinal hinge connecting the first longitudinal edges of each of said half-shells; a second longitudinal hinge connecting the second longitudinal edges of each of said half-shells; and biasing means for holding said strut in an expanded position; whereby the walls of said half-shells are relatively rotatable about said hinge between a first, strut-compressed position where said walls are substantially parallel with each other and a second, expanded, position where said walls lie along a continuous generally conical surface.