公开(公告)号：US09709793B1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-18

申请号：US14587342

申请日：2014-12-31

申请人： Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

发明人： Aaron J. Seltzer ,  David M Waller ,  Lawrence J. Campbell ,  Ryan T. Thompson ,  Dustin S. Putnam ,  William D. Tandy

IPC分类号： G02B23/20 ,  G02B27/42 ,  G02B5/18

CPC分类号： G02B23/20 ,  B64G2700/66 ,  G02B5/18 ,  G02B7/183 ,  G02B27/4205 ,  G02B2005/1804

摘要： A deployable structure having a plurality of panel elements is provided. Adjacent panel elements are connected to one another by hinges. The hinges allow the panel elements to be placed in a stowed or folded configuration, in which adjacent pairs of panel elements are folded against one another to provide a relatively compact assembly. Biasing members can be provided to transition the deployable structure from the stowed configuration to a deployed configuration. When in the deployed configuration, the relative positions of the panel elements of the deployable structure are maintained, at least in part, by locating interface assemblies. The deployable structure may have a generally annular configuration when deployed.