초록 ▼

Flexible, lightweight reflective sheets are positioned to concentrate solar radiation upon spacecraft solar panels. The sheets are held with inner and outer spring members which urge each sheet from a gathered edge-stowed configuration towards a deployed, planar configuration. The outer spring membe

Flexible, lightweight reflective sheets are positioned to concentrate solar radiation upon spacecraft solar panels. The sheets are held with inner and outer spring members which urge each sheet from a gathered edge-stowed configuration towards a deployed, planar configuration. The outer spring members further urge each fully extended sheet to rotate about an axis along the panel's edge in a direction away from the solar panel's face. Restraint members in the form of tethers limit this rotation to place the sheet in a stable deployed position and orientation chosen by design to reflect solar radiation onto the panel face. The increased incident radiation permits a reduction of the number of solar cells needed to satisfy a power requirement, and allows consequent savings in spacecraft cost and weight. The outer spring members are resilient, elongate members which flex to a stowed position behind a respective panel or inerleavably gather with the flexible sheet into a compact stowed configuration adjacent a panel edge.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A solar reflector for concentrating solar radiation upon a panel face of a solar panel which extends to a panel edge, comprising:at least one flexible, reflective sheet having an inner part and an outer part and gatherable between a substantially planar configuration and a gathered

[ We claim:] [1.] A solar reflector for concentrating solar radiation upon a panel face of a solar panel which extends to a panel edge, comprising:at least one flexible, reflective sheet having an inner part and an outer part and gatherable between a substantially planar configuration and a gathered configuration adjacent said panel edge;at least one securement member arranged to releasably secure said reflective sheet in a stowed position adjacent to said panel edge when said reflective sheet is in said gathered configuration;at least one inner spring member coupling said inner part to said panel, said inner spring member arranged to urge said inner part towards said panel when said reflective sheet is in said planar configuration;at least one outer spring member coupling said outer part to said panel, said outer spring member arranged to urge said reflective sheet to release said securement member and extend from said gathered configuration and further arranged to urge said outer part away from said panel so that said inner and outer spring members cooperatively urge said reflective sheet into said planar configuration, said outer spring member also arranged to urge said reflective sheet in a rotation away from said panel face; andat least one restraint member arranged to limit said rotation and restrain said reflective sheet in a deployed position in which it defines an angle with said panel sufficient to cause said reflective sheet to reflect solar radiation onto said panel face.