Articulated device for space vehicles, especially for temporarily sealing the aperture of space optical instruments
US5384661A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/0006
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An articulated device for space vehicles, for example, for temporarily sealing the aperture of a space optical instrument. The device includes a fixed support element for mounting on the vehicle and an auxiliary element such as a temporary sealing flap mounted to pivot with respect to the fixed support element around a hinge axis between a first configuration (e.g. wherein the aperture is sealed) and a second configuration. The auxiliary element is attached, by a frangible controlled-break component for making temporary connections, to a hinge shaft whose rotation between the first and second configuration is controlled by an actuator. A torsional resilient return device is secured to the auxiliary element and to the shaft while resiliently biasing the auxiliary element to rotate it around the shaft in a predetermined direction. The shaft is substantially loosely engaged in journal bearings which are rigidly fastened to the auxiliary element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.