US4747567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spacecraft with articulated solar array
Assignee: SPACE INDUSTRIES Inc 711 WEST BAY AREA BOULEVARD STE 320 HOUSTON TEXAS 77598 A CORP OF TEXAS
•
Filing: 1985-03-20
•
Granted: 1988-05-31
•
Expires: 2005-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A spacecraft is disclosed which comprises a spacecraft body, at least one solar array extendible outwardly from the spacecraft body, and articulation means for adjusting the position of the solar array relative to the spacecraft body independently about three axes, each of which is orthogonal to the axis adjacent to it. Each articulation means comprises a first rotatable coupling for permitting rotation of the solar array about a first axis substantially parallel to the surface of the spacecraft body, a second rotatable coupling for permitting rotation of the solar array about a second axis normal to the first axis, and a third rotatable coupling for permitting rotation of the solar array about a third axis normal to the second axis and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the array.
Inventors
- 👤 Caldwell C. Johnson
- 👤 Maxime A. Faget
- 👤 David J. Bergeron, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:19
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/42; B64G1/44; B64G1/443; B64G1/10; B64G1/1078; B64G1/222; B64G1/2221; B64G1/2222; B64G1/2224; B64G1/12; B64G1/24; B64G1/34; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291; Y10S136/292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A spacecraft comprising: a spacecraft body; at least one solar array extendible outwardly from the spacecraft body; and articulation means for adjusting the position of the solar array relative to the spacecraft body independently about three axes, each of which is orthogonal to the axis adjacent to it, said articulation means comprising first, second and third single-axis rotatable couplings arranged in series, each of said rotatable couplings permitting rotation of the solar array about a different one of said three axes; said first rotatable coupling connected between the spacecraft body and the second rotatable coupling for permitting rotation of the solar array about a first axis which has a fixed orienation with respect to the spacecraft body; said second rotatable coupling connected between the first and third rotatable couplings for permitting rotation of the solar array about a second axis normal to the first axis, said second rotatable coupling being connected to each of said first and third rotatable couplings without any intervening degrees of rotational freedom; and said third rotatable coupling connected between the second rotatable coupling and the solar array for permitting rotation of the solar array about a third axis normal to the second axis, said third axis having a fixed orientation relative to the array which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A spacecraft comprising: a spacecraft body; at least one solar array extendible outwardly from the spacecraft body; and articulation means for adjusting the position of the solar array relative to the spacecraft body independently about three axes, each of which is orthogonal to the axis adjacent to it, said articulation means comprising first, second and third single-axis rotatable couplings arranged in series, each of said rotatable couplings permitting rotation of the solar array about a different one of said three axes; said first rotatable coupling connected between the spacecraft body and the second rotatable coupling for permitting rotation of the solar array about a first axis which has a fixed orienation with respect to the spacecraft body; said second rotatable coupling connected between the first and third rotatable couplings for permitting rotation of the solar array about a second axis normal to the first axis, said second rotatable coupling being connected to each of said first and third rotatable couplings without any intervening degrees of rotational freedom; and said third rotatable coupling connected between the second rotatable coupling and the solar array for permitting rotation of the solar array about a third axis normal to the second axis, said third axis having a fixed orientation relative to the array which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spacecraft of claim 1 wherein the spacecraft body comprises a compartment for stowage of the solar array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The spacecraft of claim 1 wherein the spacecraft body comprises an inner chamber having a generally cylindrical shape which is located within the spacecraft body in a position such that the longitudinal axis of the inner chamber is parallel to and displaced from the longitudinal axis of the spacecraft body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The spacecraft of claim 3 wherein the spacecraft body comprises a compartment for stowage of the solar array which is located within the spacecraft body and outside of the inner chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spacecraft of claim 4 wherein the solar array is stowable in and deployable from the compartment by means of the first rotatable coupling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
189 words
A spacecraft comprising: a spacecraft body; at least one solar array extendible outwardly from the spacecraft body; articulation means for adjusting the position of the solar array relative to the spacecraft body independently about two orthogonal axes, said articulation means comprising first and second single-axis rotatable couplings arranged in series, each of said rotatable couplings permitting rotation of the solar array about a different one of said two axes; said first rotatable coupling permitting rotation of the solar array about a first axis, and being connected to the spacecraft body with no more than one degree of rotational freedom therebetween; and said second rotatable coupling connected between the first rotatable coupling and the solar array for permitting rotation of the solar array about a second axis normal to the first axis, said second rotatable coupling being connected to said first rotatable coupling with no intervening degrees of rotational freedom, and said second axis having a fixed orientation relative to the array which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the array, wherein the first rotatable coupling is located inboard of the second rotatable coupling relative to the spacecraft body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
189 words
A spacecraft comprising: a spacecraft body; at least one solar array extendible outwardly from the spacecraft body; articulation means for adjusting the position of the solar array relative to the spacecraft body independently about two orthogonal axes, said articulation means comprising first and second single-axis rotatable couplings arranged in series, each of said rotatable couplings permitting rotation of the solar array about a different one of said two axes; said first rotatable coupling permitting rotation of the solar array about a first axis, and being connected to the spacecraft body with no more than one degree of rotational freedom therebetween; and said second rotatable coupling connected between the first rotatable coupling and the solar array for permitting rotation of the solar array about a second axis normal to the first axis, said second rotatable coupling being connected to said first rotatable coupling with no intervening degrees of rotational freedom, and said second axis having a fixed orientation relative to the array which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the array, wherein the first rotatable coupling is located inboard of the second rotatable coupling relative to the spacecraft body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2596632A
Cited
US3315918A
Cited
US3893573A
Cited
US4133501A
Cited
US4133502A
Cited
US4373690A
Cited
FR2470727A1
Cited
US4306108A
Cited
EP0047213A2
Cited
US4375878A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-31 | 1991-11-30 | 1992-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-31 | 1995-11-30 | 1996-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-31 | 1999-11-30 | 2000-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |