Aec-able Engineering Co., Inc.

Robert M Warden

A mast which is retractable to a lesser height and volume, and deployable to a greater height, and which when deployed can survive a very high temperature event. All structural elements which are required for structural integrity while the mast is deployed are rigid members made of high temperature resistant material. Where the ends of structural diagonals must move toward one another during retraction, that diagonal is provided as a rigid body of two relatively sliding parts which can be latched in an extended condition when the mast is deployed. A lanyard is provided for unlatching and retraction purposes, which may be sacrificed to a high temperature event.

Survivable deployable/retractable mast

A deployable and retractable mast which can be rotated while deployed, using only one drive means for all three functions. Flexible longerons carry followers which pass through guides in a storage cannister for transition between a coiled retracted condition and an extended deployed condition. The followers pass through a gate opening, past a gate, and when the mast is rotated, the gates enable or prevent followers from taking the longerons into the retracted condition, and entitles rotation of the mast when retraction is disabled.

Deployable/retractable mast independently rotatable when deployed

A deployable boom is constructed of springly flexible members so that it is self-biased toward a long length deployed state. A drive mechanism is operative to actuate a reel and lanyard device to retract the boom to a short length storage state and to controllably permit the boom to be extended to its long length deployed state. Latches are operated by the drive mechanism to releasably hold the boom in the short length storage state.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Robert M Warden