Abstract A collapsible dished paraboloid reflector having an array of petals that surround and have petals that are rotatably connected at their inner ends to a reflector hub. The array of petals comprises a series of substantially spear tip shaped or lanceolate shaped petals that alternate between semi-hour glass shaped petals. Substantially wedge shaped petals are located between and have lateral edges that are rotatably connected in edge to edge relationship to each lanceolate shaped petal and semi-hour glass shaped petal. The edges of the petals when viewed from the focal point of the fully deployed reflector substantially approximates the parabolic radial curvature of the fully deployed reflector. The lanceolate shaped petals and the semi-hour glass shaped petals are of rigid construction lengthwise so that they are not capable of flexing in a lengthwise direction whereas the wedge shaped petals are of relatively flexible construction lengthwise so that they are capable of flexing lengthwise as the reflector assembly is being deployed or collapsed. The construction of the collapsible reflector permits it to be collapsed into a compact package and permits the reflector to be deployed to present a dished rigid paraboloid shaped surface.
A collapsible and deployable reflector comprising: a reflector hub; a plurality of petals surrounding said reflector hub and being adapted to present a dished substantially symetrical reflective surface upon deployment of said reflector, said petals having lateral edges that have a curvature when viewed from the focus of the deployed reflector that substantially approximates the radial curvature of the surface of the petals of the fully deployed reflector; interconnecting means connected to the lateral adjacent edges of said petals for pivotally connecting said petals together in edge to edge relationship; and means connected to said hub and at least some of said petals for pivotally connecting said petals to said hub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A collapsible and deployable reflector comprising: a reflector hub; a plurality of petals surrounding said reflector hub and being adapted to present a dished substantially symetrical reflective surface upon deployment of said reflector, said petals having lateral edges that have a curvature when viewed from the focus of the deployed reflector that substantially approximates the radial curvature of the surface of the petals of the fully deployed reflector; interconnecting means connected to the lateral adjacent edges of said petals for pivotally connecting said petals together in edge to edge relationship; and means connected to said hub and at least some of said petals for pivotally connecting said petals to said hub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 1 wherein said plurality of petals comprise petals being of substantially rigid lengthwise construction and petals being of comparatively flexible lengthwise construction alternately located between said lengthwise rigid petals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 2 wherein said lengthwise rigid petals comprise substantially lanceolate shaped petals alternating with semi-hour glass shaped petals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 2 including reinforcing means connected to the back of each of said lengthwise rigid petals for reinforcing said rigid petals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 4 wherein said reinforcing means comprises a truss member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 1 including means operatively connected to at least some of said petals for collapsing and deploying said petals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 6 wherein said collapsing and deploying means comprises a hydraulic activating unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 1 wherein said petals are adapted to present a paraboloid and the radial curvature of the surface of the petals of the fully deployed reflector is substantially parabolic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 1 wherein said petals have an electromagnetically reflective wire mesh surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The collapsible and deployable reflector of claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises hinge members.