Patent · US Expired

Redeployable furlable rib reflector

US5446474A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
11References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 1994
Grant dateAug 29, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 19, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01Q15/161
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A redeployable, furlable rib reflector which is furlable and unfurlable between a first stowed position and a second deployed position. The reflector includes a hub assembly having spaced apart top and bottom plate members adapted to receive an antenna feed assembly mounted thereon and a plurality of attachable modular rib assemblies spaced about a periphery thereof. Each modular rib assembly includes a rib member for supporting a metalized mesh reflector surface attached thereto, a channel section base member, and a hinge assembly for pivotally connecting the rib members to their respective channel section base members. The channel section base members, in turn, are attachable between the top and bottom plate members of the hub assembly and also form a portion of the peripheral wall of the hub assembly. The invention further includes a manually actuable rib furling apparatus which includes an annular ring assembly rotatably mounted to the hub and a plurality of rib furling elements extended therefrom and interposed between selected adjacent pairs of rib members. The annular ring assembly also includes handles to facilitate rotation of the annular ring assembly in order to bring th…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.