초록 ▼

Structures and methods are disclosed regarding deployable structures with expandable longerons adjustably coupled with supporting structures such that an angle between the supporting structures can be adjusted. Such structures can include and/or be used for solar arrays, bridges, support structures,

Structures and methods are disclosed regarding deployable structures with expandable longerons adjustably coupled with supporting structures such that an angle between the supporting structures can be adjusted. Such structures can include and/or be used for solar arrays, bridges, support structures, and more. These structures can be easily transported to a new location and deployed from the stowed configuration into a larger functional structure. In some embodiments these structures can use one or more longerons that can have two resting states: deployed and rolled.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A deployable structure comprising: a first longeron having a slit along a longitudinal length of the first longeron; anda second longeron having a slit along a longitudinal length of the second longeron and coupled with the first longeron;wherein the deployable structure includes a stowed configu

1. A deployable structure comprising: a first longeron having a slit along a longitudinal length of the first longeron; anda second longeron having a slit along a longitudinal length of the second longeron and coupled with the first longeron;wherein the deployable structure includes a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein in the stowed configuration the deployable structure is rolled along a longitudinal length of longeron, wherein in the deployed configuration the longerons are extended longitudinally without the use of a base structure, and wherein the deployed structure is rolled along at least half the longitudinal length of the longeron. 2. The deployable structure according to claim 1, further comprising a restraint mechanism that secures the deployable structure as a roll. 3. The deployable structure according to claim 1, wherein in the stowed configuration the first longeron and the second longeron are flattened. 4. The deployable structure according to claim 1, further comprising a first plurality of support elements coupled with both the first longeron and the second longeron. 5. The deployable structure according to claim 4, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of support elements comprise elongated members having a first end coupled with the first longeron and a second end coupled with the second longeron. 6. The deployable structure according to claim 4, further comprising an third longeron coupled with the first plurality of support elements between the first longeron and the second longeron. 7. The deployable structure according to claim 4, further comprises: a third longeron having a slit along a longitudinal length of the longeron; anda second plurality of support elements coupled with the third longeron and the second longeron. 8. The deployable structure according to claim 7, wherein deployable structure includes a setup configuration having an A-frame shape. 9. The deployable structure according to claim 7, wherein the deployable structure includes a setup configuration wherein the second longeron is positioned above both the first longeron and the third longeron. 10. The deployable structure according to claim 4, wherein the first plurality of support elements comprise a composite material. 11. The deployable structure according to claim 1, wherein either or both the first longeron and the second longeron comprise a composite material. 12. A method for manufacturing a deployable structure, the method comprising: providing a first longeron and a second longeron, wherein the first longeron and the second longeron each include a slit along its longitudinal length;coupling a first plurality of support structures with the first longeron;coupling the first plurality of support structures with the first longeron; androlling the deployable structure along the longitudinal length of the first longeron and the second longerons into a rolled configuration, without the use of a base structure, and, wherein the first longeron and the second longeron are rolled along substantially all the longitudinal length of the longeron. 13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising storing the deployable structure in the rolled configuration. 14. The method according to claim 9, securing the deployable structure in the rolled configuration. 15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: providing a third longeron having a slit along its longitudinal length; andcoupling a second plurality of support structures with the third longeron and the second longeron. 16. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: providing a fourth longeron having a slit along its longitudinal length; andcoupling the fourth longeron with the first plurality of support structures between the first longeron and the second longeron. 17. A deployable structure comprising: a plurality of longerons having a slit along a longitudinal length of each longeron; anda plurality of support elements, wherein each of the plurality of support elements are coupled with a subset of the plurality of longerons,wherein the deployable structure includes a stowed configuration, wherein in the stowed configuration the deployable structure is rolled along a longitudinal length of the plurality of longerons, wherein the deployable structure includes a deployed configuration, wherein in the deployed configuration the plurality of longerons are extended longitudinally without the support of a base structure, and, wherein the plurality of longerons are rolled along substantially all the longitudinal length of the longerons. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein in the deployed configuration the slit along the longitudinal length of each longeron has gap measured at the circumference of the longeron that is greater than one-quarter of the circumference of the longeron. 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein in the deployed configuration the slit along the longitudinal length of each longeron has gap measured at the circumference of the longeron that is less than one-quarter of the circumference of the longeron. 20. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of support elements comprise a composite material. 21. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of support elements comprise a plurality of longerons having a slit along a longitudinal length of each longeron. 22. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of longerons comprise a composite material. 23. The method according to claim 17, wherein in the stowed configuration the plurality of longerons are flattened.