초록 ▼

A tether having the special technical feature of multiple primary load-bearing lines and normally slack secondary lines. These primary and secondary lines are connected together with knotless, slipless interconnections so the tether maintains high strength and some of the lines can be cut without fa

A tether having the special technical feature of multiple primary load-bearing lines and normally slack secondary lines. These primary and secondary lines are connected together with knotless, slipless interconnections so the tether maintains high strength and some of the lines can be cut without failure of the tether when it is operated near the ultimate failure load of the material from which it is constructed. This tether can safely carry load hundreds of times longer than prior art tethers in harsh environments where a single-line tether experiences a substantial risk of failure. The specific industrial applications of an electrodynamic tether system to deorbit satellites and a low Earth orbit to lunar surface tether transport system are all part of the general innovative concept of the invention.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A Hoytether comprising a plurality of primary lines, said primary lines being disposed equidistant around the circumference of a circle; and having a number of secondary lines equal to the number of primary lines, each of said secondary lines zigzagging diagonally betwe

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A Hoytether comprising a plurality of primary lines, said primary lines being disposed equidistant around the circumference of a circle; and having a number of secondary lines equal to the number of primary lines, each of said secondary lines zigzagging diagonally between and interconnected by knotless slipless interconnections to adjacent primary lines.