General Dynamics Corporation

General Dynamics Corporation/convair Div.

LeRoy E Siden

Paul Slysh

Edward J Hujsak

Disclosed is an orbital space transfer vehicle comprises essentially a composite hollow cylindrical body structure enclosing a spherical oxygen tank suspended and spaced from the inner wall of the cylindrical body structure, a hollow toroidal hydrogen tank suspended from and spaced from said cylindrical body structure, a main thrust rocket engine, and an aerobrake located at the aft end of the vehicle. This arrangement provides a vehicle with a very short length, lowers the required aerobrake size and maximizes vehicle controllability that may otherwise occur due to non-uniform distribution of the propellants during operation of the vehicle. Thus disclosed is a vehicle which can fully benefit from space basing, easily maintained while stationed in orbit, and transportable in a fully assembled state from earth to low earth orbit. Also disclosed is a space station with which the orbital transfer vehicle may cooperate while in space.

Space based orbit transfer vehicle

A device for docking or joining large structures or vehicles in earth orbit under automatic and remote sensing and control. A thin flexible boom extending from one vehicle contacts the inner surface of a large open cone on the other as the two vehicles approach each other. The conical surface guides the boom end towards the apex where a reel for drawing in the boom engages the boom. As the boom is drawn in, and the vehicles come into close proximity, a mechanical latch is engaged for final rigidizing and securing.

Space platform docking device

A system for joining or docking large structures in space under remote, automatic control. As the two structures approach each other, a telescoping rigid boom on one structure is extended toward a socket on the other. The boom mount includes mechanisms providing a multidegree of freedom in pointing the boom. The end of the boom is directed into the socket whereupon a locking device holds it in place. Damping apparatus damps the relative motion between the structures. Boom retraction brings the structures together so that a final latching device can clamp the structures rigidly together.

Docking system for space structures

A mechanism for deploying and retracting an isogrid structure particularly suited for use in supporting low weight reflective or absorbtive surfaces, characterized by a plurality of hinged isogrid panels stowed in an accordion folded stack arranged for automatic deployment into a long continuous strip or array. Two deployment arms in contact with the stack of panels are rotated to a position perpendicular to the stack, carrying with them a perforated deployment tape that is attached to the first panel. The tape is engaged to sprocket drives which draw the first panel from the stack. Thereafter, the panels are extended by the powered sprockets which engage perforations in the panel edges. A shutter sequentially releases pairs of panels during deployment. For retraction, the sprockets drive the panels back toward the stack where a creaser arm hinges pairs of panels which are thereafter folded into a stack by means of the shutter capturing and stowing each folded pair of panels.

Panel deployment system

A mechanism for deploying and retracting an isogrid structure particularly suited for use in supporting low weight reflective or absorbtive surfaces, characterized by a plurality of hinged isogrid panels stowed in an accordian folded stack arranged for deployment into a long continuous strip or array. Two deployment frames in contact with the stack of panels are rotated to a position perpendicular to the stack. Attached at the outermost ends of each panel hinge are panel rollers. In the accordian folded position, these rollers are alternately located near the top and bottom of the folded stack. The deployment frames each contain an arced raceway for engagement of the upper panel rollers and a straight raceway for engagement of the lower rollers. An upper roller travels down the arced raceway thereby progressively unfolding a pair of hinged panels until they are flat and lie in the deployment plane where they are subsequently extended into the deployed position. For retraction the panels are driven back toward the stack where the upper rollers travel up the arced raceway causing a hinged pair of panels to be refolded together and thereafter be moved into the stack stowage container.

Panel deployment and retraction system

A mechanism for deploying and retracting an isogrid structure particularly suited for use in supporting low weight reflective or absorbtive surfaces, characterized by a plurality of hinged isogrid panels stowed in an accordian folded stack arranged for automatic deployment into a long continuous strip or array. Two deployment arms in contact with the stack of panels are rotated to a position perpendicular to the stack, carrying with them the first panels. Thereafter the panels are extended by powered sprockets which engage the panel edges. A shutter bar sequentially releases pairs of panels during deployment. For retraction, the sprockets drive the panels back toward the stack where a creaser bar hinges pairs of panels which are thereafter folded into a stack by means of the shutter bar capturing and stowing each folded pair of panels.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

LeRoy E Siden