US3948468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Replaceable solar array panels
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A replaceable solar array panel for spacecraft is formed of two or more panels one of which being visible or exposed to the sun and other surfaces being shielded from the sun. The exposed and shielded surfaces are arranged to be replaced by moving or rotating a shielded surface into an exposed surface orientation and to eject, move or rotate an exposed panel surface. The activation of the movements required may be automatic or remotely controlled from a ground-based station upon appropriate indications of the need for replacement of damaged or otherwise deteriorated exposed surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Anchutin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:03
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/42; B64G1/44; B64G1/443; H; H02; H02S; H02S30/00; H02S30/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In a spacecraft an array of a plurality of geometrical members each member having at least one surface adapted for exposure to the sun and provided with solar cells on said one surface, a first portion of said plurality of members being arranged so that said one surface of each such respective member is initially faced to be exposed to the sun, a second portion of said plurality of members being arranged so that the entire surface of said one surface of each of such respective members of said second portion is covered and thereby prevented from exposure to the sun, means for moving each member of said first portion from its initial position to a second position wherein each said one surface of said second portion of members is exposed to the sun, said moving means replacing the one surface of each such member of said first portion of members with a respective one surface of a member of said second portion of members, the respective position of each of said second portion surfaces being in substantially the initial position of each of said first portion surfaces, and faced to be exposed to the sun whereby said spacecraft is provided with means to store for future use a plurality of solar cell members in a position wherein said one surfaces of said stored members are not initially exposed to the sun.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a spacecraft an array of a plurality of geometrical members each member having at least one surface adapted for exposure to the sun and provided with solar cells on said one surface, a first portion of said plurality of members being arranged so that said one surface of each such respective member is initially faced to be exposed to the sun, a second portion of said plurality of members being arranged so that the entire surface of said one surface of each of such respective members of said second portion is covered and thereby prevented from exposure to the sun, means for moving each member of said first portion from its initial position to a second position wherein each said one surface of said second portion of members is exposed to the sun, said moving means replacing the one surface of each such member of said first portion of members with a respective one surface of a member of said second portion of members, the respective position of each of said second portion surfaces being in substantially the initial position of each of said first portion surfaces, and faced to be exposed to the sun whereby said spacecraft is provided with means to store for future use a plurality of solar cell members in a position wherein said one surfaces of said stored members are not initially exposed to the sun.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An array of members according to claim 1 wherein each of said members has solar cells on each surface of said members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
An array of panels according to claim 2 wherein said members are pivotal panels having each of both their respective surfaces provided with solar cells, said pivotal panels being pivotally connected to a stationary panel along one edge of each of the pivotal panels and arranged to cover a portion of the surface of said stationary panel, said stationary panel having solar cells thereon, said pivotal panels being positioned to cover a portion of the solar cells on the stationary panel in the initial position and to expose said covered cells when said pivotal panels are pivoted to said second position on said stationary panel, whereby selected solar cell surface portions are exposed to the sun and selected other portions are shielded from the sun.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An array of panels according to claim 3 wherein said pivotal panels are rectangular and so disposed over said stationary panel to be parallel and equally spaced from each other a distance double their respective widths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An array of panels according to claim 4 wherein said stationary panel is attached to the cylindrical outer surface of a cylindrical spacecraft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
An array of members according to claim 2 wherein each of said members is a panel having both of their respective surfaces provided with solar cells, said panels being pivotally connected to the corners of a four sided structure, said panels being arranged to be pivoted from one face to an adjoining face of said structure to expose sequentially each surface of each of said panels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An array of panels according to claim 4 wherein said stationary panels are disposed on surfaces of four sides of a prism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
An array of members according to claim 2 wherein each of said members is a many sided rectangular prism, each side of which being provided with solar cells and pivoted about a longitudinal axis so that each of its solar cell surfaces is sequentially exposed to the sun.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
An array of panels according to claim 1 wherein said members are stacked over a body surface, each member having solar cells on one surface remote from said body surface, and said moving means comprising means for ejecting the uppermost member to expose the next member to the sun.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a spacevehicle or the like of the type including a solar panel for providing electrical power when exposed to solar radiation, the improvement comprising: a first solar panel exposed to solar radiation and at least a second solar panel adapted to be exposed to solar radiation; utilization means coupled to said first and second solar panels for receiving power from the exposed panel; and control means for ejecting said first solar panel and for exposing said second solar panel to solar radiation when the power received from said first panel is degraded below a selected value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a spacevehicle or the like of the type including a solar panel for providing electrical power when exposed to solar radiation, the improvement comprising: a first solar panel exposed to solar radiation and at least a second solar panel adapted to be exposed to solar radiation; utilization means coupled to said first and second solar panels for receiving power from the exposed panel; and control means for ejecting said first solar panel and for exposing said second solar panel to solar radiation when the power received from said first panel is degraded below a selected value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 10 wherein said first and second panels define a stack with said first panel being on top of said second panel so that when said first panel is ejected said second panel is automatically exposed to solar radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 11 wherein said improvement comprises a plurality of panel stacks each including a plurality of solar panels with the top panel of each stack being exposed to solar radiation, with each subsequent panel being covered by the preceding panels in the stack whereby when the top panel is ejected the panel below it is exposed to solar radiation while covering the panels thereunder.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
72 words
The method of providing power in a satellite and the like from solar energy, the steps comprising: exposing a first solar panel to solar energy to provide power therefrom; providing a second solar panel which is not exposed to radiation of solar energy; and ejecting the first solar panel when the power provided thereby is degraded below a selected value and thereby exposing said second solar panel to radiation of solar energy.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
72 words
The method of providing power in a satellite and the like from solar energy, the steps comprising: exposing a first solar panel to solar energy to provide power therefrom; providing a second solar panel which is not exposed to radiation of solar energy; and ejecting the first solar panel when the power provided thereby is degraded below a selected value and thereby exposing said second solar panel to radiation of solar energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said first and second panels form a stack with said first panel on top so as to cover said second panel while being exposed to radiation of solar energy, whereby when said first panel is ejected it automatically exposes the second panel below it in the stack to radiation of solar energy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |