Solar cell arrangement for a spin stabilized vehicle
US3973745A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1974 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S136/292
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spin-stabilized vehicle comprising a body and three deployable panels. The inner ends of the panels are attached to the vehicle body at points equidistant from each other. Furthermore, the panel surfaces are covered with photovoltaic or solar cells. During transport and ascent of the vehicle, the panels are stowed in packages supported on the body of the vehicle. The packages are controllably deployed radially of the body in the presence of centrifugal force which in effect removes the panels from the packages. When deployed, the panels extend radially from the body of the vehicle. The use of three panels results in a relatively small ripple of the power supplied by the cells as the vehicle rotates thereby providing a relatively high efficiency of cell utilization. In addition, the utilization of panels which radiate radially from the body of the vehicle with storage boxes at the outer panel ends increases the spin moment of inertia improving the stability of the vehicle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.