Self-stowing arrangement for structural tension members with taper latch

Abstract

A compact, deployable support structure arrangement includes a collapsible truss structure having tension cable members formed of specifically configured tension tapes. These tension tapes diagonally cross one another as they extend between respective pairs of longeron support truss members. The tension tapes are preformed to have two straight sections joined together by a plurality of loops. Because of the nature of the topological surface defined by such shapes, the tapes, when relaxed, will automatically refold into a stable, non-tangled condition. The hinge joints that pivotally interconnect successive longeron subsections employ a novel, effectively zero-backlash, taper latch hinge mechanism. As the portions of the hinge are rotated about a pivot axis, a locking pin is caused to contact an outer cam surface of a hinge contact plate face so as to be driven against the bias action of a spring, and to travel along the outer cam surface. Eventually, the longeron subsections rotate to a point where the longerons are in substantially end-to-end abutment causing the locking pin to be captured by the inner surface of a hook plate so that the locking pin thereby creates a wedge effect that locks the now abutting longerons subsections together.