Compact, self-deploying structures and methods for deploying foldable, structural origami arrays using a compression column
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H02S-030/20
F16M-011/20
F16M-011/38
출원번호
16147729
(2018-09-29)
등록번호
10734941
(2020-08-04)
발명자
/ 주소
Jeon, Sungeun K.
Footdale, Joseph N.
출원인 / 주소
LOADPATH
대리인 / 주소
Watson, Robert D.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
0
초록▼
The Structural Origami ARray (SOAR) concept is an extremely high performance, deployable solar array system that delivers high power output and exceeds state-of-the-art packaging efficiencies. Unlike existing Z-folding panels or rolled architectures, this approach utilizes an origami-inspired two-di
The Structural Origami ARray (SOAR) concept is an extremely high performance, deployable solar array system that delivers high power output and exceeds state-of-the-art packaging efficiencies. Unlike existing Z-folding panels or rolled architectures, this approach utilizes an origami-inspired two-dimensional packaging scheme of a flexible blanket/substrate that is coupled with a simple and compact deployable supporting structure that stabilizes the array by external tension or internal support. This enables large deployed areas populated with high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells or antenna elements, which compactly stows in a square form factor with thin stack height that minimizes impingement on spacecraft bus internal volume.
대표청구항▼
1. A structural origami array, comprising: a plurality of semi-rigid triangular panel elements disposed on a thin, flexible substrate in a structural origami pattern; wherein each panel element has a thickness=t; anda compression column attached to proximal and distal ends of the array that is capab
1. A structural origami array, comprising: a plurality of semi-rigid triangular panel elements disposed on a thin, flexible substrate in a structural origami pattern; wherein each panel element has a thickness=t; anda compression column attached to proximal and distal ends of the array that is capable of spreading out the array into a substantially flat, tensioned membrane when deployed;wherein the compression column comprises one or more hinges; and wherein each hinge comprises a self-locking, high-strain composite tape hinge. 2. A structural origami array, comprising: a plurality of semi-rigid triangular panel elements disposed on a thin, flexible substrate in a structural origami pattern; wherein each panel element has a thickness=t;a first compression column attached to proximal and distal ends of the array that is capable of spreading out the array into a substantially flat, tensioned membrane when deployed; andfurther comprising a second compression column, disposed parallel to the first column, and attached to distal and proximal ends of the array;wherein each compression column comprises one or more hinges; and wherein each hinge comprises a self-locking, high-strain composite tape hinge. 3. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein the substrate is continuously disposed on a bottom surface of the panel elements, and wherein adjacent panel elements are spaced apart from each other with a gap distance that is greater than or equal to twice the panel's thickness, t. 4. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein the first and second compression columns form a picture frame structure surrounding an outer perimeter of the array when the array is deployed. 5. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein each panel element comprises one or more photovoltaic cells. 6. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein each panel element comprises one or more antenna elements. 7. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein the flexible membrane substrate comprises a polyamide material. 8. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein the array is stowed by collapsing and folding the array into a compact, square package; and wherein the compression columns are bent at their hinges and wrapped around an outer perimeter of the square package when the system is folded in a stowed configuration. 9. The structural origami array of claim 2, further comprising a pair of lateral spar stringers attached to leading edges of corner panels of the array at proximal and distal ends of the array, respectively. 10. The structural origami array of claim 9, wherein each end of each compression column is attached to a 5-axis main hub that is attached to the proximal and distal ends of the array, respectively. 11. The structural origami array of claim 10, wherein each 5-axis main hub comprises a spar hub that is hingedly pinned to a column hub with a clevis hinge pin. 12. The structural origami array of claim 11, wherein the spar hub is configured to rotate 90 degrees relative to the column hub when the array is completely unfolded or folded. 13. The structural origami array of claim 10, wherein the 5-axis main hub comprises: first and second set of hinge pins embedded in a spar hub that constrain a pair of lateral spar stringers to rotate about axes of the first and second set of pins, respectively; wherein first and second pin axes are oriented at 90 degrees relative to each other;third and fourth set of hinge pins embedded in a column hub that constrain a pair of compression columns to rotate about axes of the third and fourth set of pins, respectively; wherein third and fourth pin axes are oriented parallel relative to each other; anda fifth hinge pin that constrains the spar hub to rotate about an axis of the fifth pin relative to the column hub;wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth hinge pins rotate during folding or unfolding of the array. 14. The structural origami array of claim 13, further comprising a torsion spring coupled with each of the first, second, third, and fourth hinge pins. 15. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein each compression column comprises a thick-walled column. 16. The structural origami array of claim 2, further comprising a tripod base support frame with adjustable-length legs for supporting the array on uneven ground. 17. The structural origami array of claim 16, further comprising three sets of tripod base support frames with adjustable-length legs for supporting the array on uneven ground. 18. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein the array is retractable, and can be retracted after having been partially deployed into a cylindrical shape with a radius=R. 19. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein each panel element has a pair of foldable truss elements deployed on a backside of the panel element. 20. The structural origami array of claim 2, further comprising one or more electrical wiring harnesses disposed along diagonals disposed in-between adjacent panel elements. 21. The structural origami array of claim 20, wherein each electrical wiring harness comprises an electrically conductive ribbon that is oriented substantially perpendicular to a plane of the array. 22. The structural origami array of claim 21, wherein each ribbon has a Zigzag or S-shape when not tensioned. 23. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein every corner of each triangular panel element is chamfered. 24. The structural origami array of claim 2, further comprising a rigid structural yoke attached to a proximal end of the array. 25. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein strain energy stored in bent, high-strain, composite hinges of a folded and stowed array of panel elements is sufficiently large so as to make the array self-deploying when the stowed array is released and deployed. 26. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein the one or more self-locking, high-strain composite hinges are selected from the group consisting of: a tubular integrated folding hinge, a dual-concave composite tape hinge, an integrated composite Triangular & Rollable Collapsible (TRAC) boom, a dual-convex tape hinge, or a combination of single-convex and single-concave tape hinges. 27. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein each triangular panel element is a right triangular panel element. 28. The structural origami array of claim 27, wherein a repeating rectangular unit of the origami pattern comprises six full-sized triangular panel elements and four half-sized triangular panel elements, with two of the half-sized elements being disposed at a proximal end of the repeating unit, and another two of the half-sized elements being disposed at a distal end of the repeating unit. 29. The structural origami array of claim 2, wherein each high-strain composite tape hinge further comprises a viscoelastic polymeric insert disposed in a middle of the hinge. 30. A structural origami array, comprising: a plurality of semi-rigid triangular panel elements disposed on a thin, flexible substrate in a structural origami pattern; wherein each panel element has a thickness=t; anda compression column attached to proximal and distal ends of the array that is capable of spreading out the foldable array into a substantially flat, tensioned membrane when deployed;wherein the substrate is continuously disposed on a bottom surface of the panel elements, and wherein adjacent solar panels are spaced apart from each other with a gap distance that is greater than or equal to twice the panel's thickness, t;further comprising a pair of parallel compression columns attached to distal and proximal ends of the array;wherein each panel element comprises one or more photovoltaic cells;wherein each compression column is hinged with one or more self-locking, high-strain composite tape hinges;wherein the array is stowed by folding the array into a compact, square package;and the compression columns are bent at their hinges and wrapped around an outer perimeter of the square package when folded in a stowed configuration;further comprising a pair of lateral spar stringers attached to leading edges of corner panels of the array at proximal and distal ends of the array, respectively; andwherein each end of each compression column is attached to a 5-axis main hub that is attached to the proximal and distal ends of the array; andwherein strain energy stored in bent, self-locking, high-strain, composite hinges of a folded and stowed stack of panels is sufficiently large so as to make the array self-deploying when the array is released and deployed.
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