Solar heat powered deployable structure
US7759664B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 5, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B5/003
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An embodiment of the present method may comprise: heating up at least one structural element beyond a change state temperature thereof; changing the configuration of the structural element from an extended configuration to a reduced size configuration; cooling the structural element to below the change state temperature thereof; covering the structural element with a thermal protection device; removing the thermal protection device to expose the structural element to heat radiation; and heating, via the heat radiation, at least a portion of the structural element to thereby cause the structural element to change from the reduced size configuration to the extended configuration. In one embodiment each of the structural elements is formed from a thin elastic memory composite material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.