IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0361700
(2009-01-29)
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등록번호 |
US-8259033
(2012-09-04)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Taylor, Robert
- Barrett, Rory
- Francis, Will
- Turse, Dana
- Keller, Phil
- Adams, Larry
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Composite Technology Development, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
32 |
초록
▼
A shape-memory reflector is provided according to various embodiments. The shape-memory reflector may comprise any of various shapes; for example, the shape-memory reflector may comprise an off-axis paraboloid or a non-asymmetric shape. The shape-memory reflector may include a plurality of panel sha
A shape-memory reflector is provided according to various embodiments. The shape-memory reflector may comprise any of various shapes; for example, the shape-memory reflector may comprise an off-axis paraboloid or a non-asymmetric shape. The shape-memory reflector may include a plurality of panel shape-memory stiffeners and a plurality of longitudinal stiffeners. In a stowed configuration, the shape-memory reflector is stowed with reversing bends in the panel shape-memory stiffeners. In a deployed state, the panel shape-memory stiffeners may be unfolded and/or extended. The reflector transitions between the stowed and deployed states by heating the panel shape-memory stiffeners. Various methods for stowing and deploying the shape-memory reflector are also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. A shape-memory reflector configured to maintain both a first stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the shape-memory reflector comprising: a reflector surface comprising a non-shape memory material; anda plurality of noncircular shape-memory stiffeners having a first end and a second
1. A shape-memory reflector configured to maintain both a first stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, the shape-memory reflector comprising: a reflector surface comprising a non-shape memory material; anda plurality of noncircular shape-memory stiffeners having a first end and a second end and substantially parallel with each other, wherein the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are coupled with the reflector surface and the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners extend from the first end to the second end across a portion of the reflector surface, wherein the shape-memory stiffeners comprise a shape memory polymer; andwherein in the deployed configuration the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are unpleated and the reflector surface defines a deployed three dimensional geometry;wherein in the stowed configuration the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are pleated into a first plurality of pleats, and the reflector surface is pleated into a second plurality of pleats; andwherein when one or more of the shape-memory stiffeners in the stowed configuration are heated to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the shape-memory material the shape memory stiffeners actuate the reflector surface into the deployed configuration. 2. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, wherein the deployed three dimensional geometry of the reflector surface comprises a non-axially symmetric geometry. 3. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, wherein the deployed three dimensional geometry of the reflector surface comprises an off axis paraboloid. 4. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, including a subset of the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners arranged substantially parallel to one another. 5. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of linear stiffeners coupled with the reflector surface. 6. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 5, including a subset of the plurality of linear stiffeners arranged substantially parallel to one another. 7. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 5, including a subset of the plurality of linear stiffeners arranged perpendicular to a subset of the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners. 8. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of linear stiffeners comprise a laminate material. 9. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of linear stiffeners comprise a solid material. 10. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, wherein the reflector surface includes a graphite composite laminate. 11. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, wherein the shape-memory stiffener comprises a shape-memory polymer having a glass transition temperature that is less than a survival temperature of the shape-memory polymer. 12. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, wherein the shape-memory stiffener comprises a composite panel including a first face sheet of elastic material, a second face sheet of elastic material, and a shape-memory polymer core sandwiched between the first face sheet and the second face sheet, wherein the first face sheet includes a portion of the reflector surface. 13. The shape-memory reflector according to claim 1, further comprising heaters coupled with the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners. 14. A method for stowing a shape-memory reflector, the method comprising: fabricating a shape-memory reflector in a deployed configuration, wherein the shape-memory reflector includes a reflector surface, and a plurality of noncircular shape-memory stiffeners coupled with the reflector surface and substantially parallel with each other, wherein the shape-memory stiffeners comprise a shape-memory material and the reflector surface comprisesa non-shape-memory material, wherein the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners have a first end and a second end and extend from the first end to the second end across a portion of the reflector surface;heating the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the shape-memory material;applying mechanical loads to deform the shape-memory stiffeners and the reflector surface into a stowed configuration;cooling the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the shape-memory material; andremoving the mechanical loads. 15. The method according to claim 14, coupling heaters with the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the applying mechanical loads further comprises pleating the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners. 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the deployed configuration comprises a non-axially symmetric geometry. 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the deployed configuration comprises an off-axis paraboloid. 19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fabricating further comprises fabricating at least a subset of the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners parallel to one another. 20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the applying mechanical loads further comprises curving a plurality of linear stiffeners coupled with the reflector surface into reversing bends. 21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fabricating further comprises coupling a plurality of linear stiffeners with the reflector surface parallel to one another. 22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fabricating further comprises coupling a plurality of linear stiffeners with the reflective surface perpendicular to at least a subset of the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners. 23. A method for deploying a shape-memory reflector from a stowed configuration, wherein the shape-memory reflector includes a reflector surface comprising non-shape-memory material, and a plurality of noncircular shape-memory stiffeners comprising shape-memory material and substantially parallel with each other coupled with the reflector surface and the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners include a first end and a second end, wherein in the stowed configuration the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are pleated into a plurality of pleats, and the reflector surface is pleated into a plurality of pleats, the method comprising: heating the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the shape-memory material;actuating the reflector surface into the non-pleated configuration using the shape-memory stiffeners, wherein in the non-pleated configuration the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners extend across a portion of the reflector surface from the first end to the second end; andcooling the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the shape-memory material. 24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising releasing launch restraints. 25. The method according to claim 23, wherein a subset of the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are straightened parallel to one another. 26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising releasing one or more linear stiffeners coupled with the reflector surface from reversing bends. 27. The method according to claim 23, wherein a subset of the plurality of shape-memory stiffeners are straightened in a configuration perpendicular to one or more linear stiffeners coupled with the reflector surface.
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