초록 ▼

The power to weight ratio obtained with a spacecraft's solar array (3) is enhanced by a factor of at least two to five through use of support structure for individual solar panels or solar arrays (31a-17a) containing a curved outwardly bowed surface as deployed that packs essentially flat for storag

The power to weight ratio obtained with a spacecraft's solar array (3) is enhanced by a factor of at least two to five through use of support structure for individual solar panels or solar arrays (31a-17a) containing a curved outwardly bowed surface as deployed that packs essentially flat for storage. Defining a D-shaped wing (15a) in cross-section as deployed, the support structure (4 & 6) for a string of solar cells (10, FIG. 3) provides greater inertia and thereby greater rigidity than prior designs. One member (4) to the support structure is relatively flexible. One-hundred and eighty degree strain energy hinges (19) carried by the other support member (6) outwardly bows that flexible to define a curved sector when the support structure is released from the stowed condition in which the support structure is held relatively thin and flat.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a deployable solar panel containing a plurality of solar cells, said deployable solar panel having a stowed condition and a deployed condition, said deployable solar panel being of a generally flat two-dimensional shape when in said stowed condition the improvement comprising in combination th

1. In a deployable solar panel containing a plurality of solar cells, said deployable solar panel having a stowed condition and a deployed condition, said deployable solar panel being of a generally flat two-dimensional shape when in said stowed condition the improvement comprising in combination therewith:inertia enhancing means for automatically increasing the moment of inertia of said deployable solar panel upon transition of said deployable solar panel from said stowed condition to said deployed condition, whereby said deployable solar panel assumes a shape other than said generally flat two-dimensional shape.