Composite Technology Development, Inc.

Rory Barrett

Robert Taylor

Will Francis

Dana Turse

Gregg E Freebury

Neal J Beidleman

Larry Adams

Mark S Lake

Philip N Keller

Phil Keller

A shape-memory reflector is provided according to various embodiments. The shape-memory reflector may comprise any of various shapes; for example, the shape-memory reflector may comprise an off-axis paraboloid or a non-asymmetric shape. The shape-memory reflector may include a plurality of panel shape-memory stiffeners and a plurality of longitudinal stiffeners. In a stowed configuration, the shape-memory reflector is stowed with reversing bends in the panel shape-memory stiffeners. In a deployed state, the panel shape-memory stiffeners may be unfolded and/or extended. The reflector transitions between the stowed and deployed states by heating the panel shape-memory stiffeners. Various methods for stowing and deploying the shape-memory reflector are also disclosed.

Furlable shape-memory spacecraft reflector with offset feed and a method for packaging and managing the deployment of same

A deployable structure is disclosed. The deployable structure may include one or more slit-tube longerons; and one or more flat sheets coupled with the one or more slit-tube longerons. The one or more slit-tube longerons and the one or more flat sheets may be stowed by rolling the one or more slit-tube longerons and the one or more flat sheets together into a roll. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the one or more slit-tube longerons may be exposed when stowed. In another embodiment, the one or more slit-tube longerons may be manufactured from a shape memory material. These slit-tube longerons unroll into to a straight configuration when exposed to heat.

Large-scale deployable solar array

A shape-memory reflector is disclosed along with methods for manufacturing, packaging and deploying the same. The shape-memory reflector may include an elastic reflector material, a shape-memory stiffener, and a plurality of radial stiffeners. The shape-memory stiffener may be coupled with the elastic reflector material in a band that encloses at least a portion of the elastic reflector surface, for example, the exterior of a paraboloid reflector. The plurality of radial stiffeners is coupled with the bottom surface of the elastic reflector material and extends radially from a central portion of the elastic reflector surface toward the outer edge of the elastic reflector surface. The shape-memory reflector may be packaged in a packaged configuration that includes a plurality of pleats within the elastic reflector material and/or the shape-memory stiffener, and the shape-memory reflector is configured to deploy into a deployed configuration (i.e. a paraboloid) by heating the shape-memory stiffener.

Furlable shape-memory reflector

Growing community of inventors

Erie, CO, United States of America

Rory Barrett