The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 1994
Filed:
Apr. 23, 1993
Richard E Kramer, Damascus, MD (US);
Fairchild Space and Defense Corporation, Germantown, MD (US);
Abstract
A sphere and cable deployer apparatus for deploying a cable and associated sphere from a vehicle such as a satellite. The sphere and cable deployer apparatus has a drum for storing the cable that is driven by a drive shaft and gears form a drive motor to deploy the cable/sphere away. The drive motor also drives a drive roller through a series of gears and clutches that applies tension to the cable as it is being unwound from the drum. The sphere and cable deployer apparatus also has a sphere housing with two shell-like halves that pivot outward due to spring forces to release the sphere. The pivoting housing halves also provide a storage compartment for a short cable that is attached to the outer surface of the sphere. The pivoting housing halves are held in place by two cables that are under tension and associated pins that fit in holes in the housing halves and are released by cable cutters that cut the cables.