University of Limerick

Robert Telford

Paul Weaver

Ciarán Mchale

Deployable structures, methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure comprises a lattice element arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The lattice element comprises a pre-stressed strip arranged in a clockwise helix, a pre-stressed strip arranged in an anticlockwise helix, and a plurality of fasteners for rotatably coupling the strips to one another at a plurality of positions distributed along the length of the strips. The fasteners are provided at unequal spacings along the length of the strips such that on deployment the lattice element bends to a curved deployed configuration.

Deployable curved lattice structures

The present disclosure relates to deployable structures, to methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and to associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure () comprises a first lattice () arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The deployable structure also comprises a second lattice () arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein with the lattices arranged in the stowed configuration the second lattice () nests in the first lattice ().

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Limerick, Ireland

Robert Telford