Rollable tape spring solar array
US11936335B2 · kind B2 · utility
0Cited by
6References
23Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2021 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/52
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for harvesting solar energy on a spacecraft includes a stiff substrate layer and a working layer disposed on the substrate layer to provide at least one of a photovoltaic or a reflective function. In a first operational state, the substrate layer is arranged as a tape spring to store potential energy which causes the substrate layer to uncoil and provide, in a second operational state, a photovoltaic module and/or a solar concentrator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.