Method and equipment for deploying an envelope around an object, in particular a satellite
US4770374A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 1987 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/2227
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for deploying an airtight envelope (8) around an object (1) comprising providing a cylindrical, elongated envelope with two mutually opposite poles (3, 9) at each of its ends, inverting this envelope on itself and longitudinally pleating it accordion-wise when in this inverted position, the pole (9) of this envelope (8) being in the inverted part and being solidly joined to the object (1), the opposite pole (3) being connected to the object (1) by a link mast (2) comprising a cylindrical balloon initially in the deflated state, the deployment of the envelope (8) comprising inflating the link mast until it is full, then inflating the envelope (8) until it is full and at which time it will be deployed around the object (1).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.