Solar array with self-erecting, self-rigidizing roll-up sheets

Claim 2

A deployable folding panel construction comprising: a rectangular folding panel having parallel hinge lines normal to the longitudinal sides of said panel and defining intervening rectangular panel sections having adjacent edges along said hinge lines and side edges along said panel sides, such that said panel is contractable to a folded configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed in confronting faceto-face relation, and said panel is extendable to an unfolded configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed in substantially coplanar relation; resiliently flexible sheets secured along one edge to said panel sections along selected edges of said sections; and said sheets being preformed to curl into a tubular configuration and being confined in a flat configuration between said panel sections when said panel occupies its folded configuration, whereby the confined flat sheets store elastic strain energy for curling said sheets to their tubular configuration to provide tubular rigidizing beams along said selected panel section edges when said panel is extended to its unfolded configuration.

Claim 3

A panel construction according to claim 1 wherein: said selected panel section edges are said side edges of said panel sections.

Claim 4

A panel construction according to claim 1 wherein: said sheets bridge hinge lines of said panel in a manner such that curling of said sheets under the action of said strain energy aids extension of said panel, and said beams rigidize the extended panel against folding on the bridged hinge lines.

Claim 5

A panel construction according to claim 3 including: spring clips secured to said panel sections along said hinge lines which are stressed in said folded configuration of said panel to store elastic strain energy for aiding the strain energy in said sheets to extend said panel to its unfolded configuration.

Claim 6

A panel construction according to claim 1 wherein: said selected panel section edges are adjacent edges of said panel sections, whereby said beams rigidize said panel sections along said hinge lines.

Claim 7

A panel construction according to claim 1 wherein: said selected panel section edges are said side and adjacent edges of said panel sections, whereby said beams rigidize said panel sections along all four edges thereof.

Claim 8

A panel construction according to claim 6 wherein: the sheets secured to the side edges of said panel sections bridge hinge lines of said panel, whereby curling of the latter sheets under the action of said strain energy aids extension of said panel, and the beams formed by the latter sheets when curled to their tubular configuration rigidize said panel against folding on the bridged hinge lines.

Claim 9

A panel construction according to claim 7 including: spring clips secured to said panel sections along said hinge lines which are stressed in said folded configuration of said panel to store elastic strain energy for aiding the strain energy in said sheets to extend said panel to its unfolded configuration.

Claim 10

A panel construction according to claim 8 wherein: said panel comprises a solar panel mounting solar cells on the sides of said panel sections adjacent said sheets; and said sheets in their fLat configuration overlie said cells to provide protective covers for said cells.

Claim 11

A panel construction according to claim 1 wherein: said panel comprises a solar panel mounting solar cells on the sides of said panel sections adjacent said sheets; and said sheets in their flat configuration overlie said cells to provide protective covers for said cells.

Claim 12

A deployable panel structure comprising: a rectangular folding panel having parallel hinge lines normal to the longitudinal sides of said panel and defining intervening rectangular panel sections having adjacent edges along said hinge lines and side edges along said panel sides, such that said panel is contractable to a folded configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed in confronting face-to-face relation, and said panel is extendable to an unfolded configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed in substantially coplanar relation: resiliently flexible sheets secured along one edge to said panel sections along selected edges of said sections; said sheets being preformed to curl into a tubular configuration and being confined in a flat configuration between said panel sections when said panel occupies its folded configuration, whereby the confined flat sheets store elastic strain energy for curling said sheets to their tubular configuration to provide tubular rigidizing beams along said selected panel section edges when said panel is extended to its unfolded configuration; a support secured to one end of said panel on a hinge line parallel to said first mentioned hinge lines; and a deployment mechanism on said support including deployment boom means secured to the opposite end of said panel on a hinge line parallel to said first mentioned hinge lines for deploying said panel from its folded configuration against the adjacent side of said support to its deployed configuration in the plane of said boom means.

Claim 13

A deployable panel structure comprising: a rectangular folding panel having parallel hinge lines normal to the longitudinal sides of said panel and defining intervening rectangular panel sections having adjacent edges along said hinge lines and side edges along said panel sides, such that said panel is contractable to a folded configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed in confronting face-to-face relation, and said panel is extendable to an unfolded configuration wherein said panel sections are disposed in substantially coplanar relation: resiliently flexible sheets secured along one edge to said panel sections along selected edges of said sections; said sheets being preformed to curl into a tubular configuration and being confined in a flat configuration between said panel sections when said panel occupies its folded configuration, whereby the confined flat sheets store elastic strain energy for curling said sheets to their tubular configuration to provide tubular rigidizing beams along said selected panel section edges when said panel is extended to its unfolded configuration; a support secured to one end of said panel on a hinge line parallel to said first mentioned hinge lines; and a deployment mechanism on said support including deployment boom means secured to the opposite end of said panel on a hinge line parallel to said first mentioned hinge lines for deploying said panel from its folded configuration against the adjacent side of said support to its deployed configuration in the plane of said boom means.

Claim 14

A deployable panel structure according to claim 11 wherein: said selected panel section edges are said side edges of said panel sections.

Claim 15

A deployable panel structure according to claim 11 wherein: said sheets bridge hinge lines of said panel, whereby curling of said sheets under the action of said strain energy aids extension of said panel, and said beams rigidize the extended panel against folding on the bridged hinge lines.

Claim 16

A deployable panel structure according to claim 13 including: spring clips secured to said panel sections along said hinge lines which are stressed in said folded configuration of said panel to store elastic strain energy for aiding the strain energy in said sheets to extend said panel to its unfolded configuration.

Claim 17

A deployable panel structure according to claim 11 wherein: said selected panel section edges are adjacent edges of said panel sections, whereby said beams rigidize said panel sections along said hinge lines.

Claim 18

A deployable panel structure according to claim 11 wherein: said selected panel section edges are said side and adjacent edges of said panel sections, whereby said beams rigidize said panel sections along all four edges thereof.

Claim 19

A deployable panel structure according to claim 16 wherein: the sheets secured to the side edges of said panel sections bridge hinge lines of said panel, whereby curling of the latter sheets under the action of said strain energy aids extension of said panel, and the beams formed by the latter sheets when curled to their tubular configuration rigidize said panel against folding on the bridged hinge lines.

Claim 20

A deployable panel structure according to claim 17 including: spring clips secured to said panel sections along said hinge lines which are stressed in said folded configuration of said panel to store elastic strain energy for aiding the strain energy in said sheets to extend said panel to its unfolded configuration.

Claim 21

A deployable panel structure according to claim 18 wherein: said panel comprises a solar panel mounting solar cells on the sides of said panel sections adjacent said sheets; and said sheets in their flat configuration overlie said cells to provide protective covers for said cells.

Claim 22

A deployable panel structure according to claim 11 wherein: said panel comprises a solar panel mounting solar cells on the sides of said panel sections adjacent said sheets; and said sheets in their flat configuration overlie said cells to provide protective covers for said cells.