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:
Jan. 30, 1996
Filed:
May. 25, 1994
Michael R Everman, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
David M Murphy, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
James J Wachholz, Goleta, CA (US);
AEC Able Engineering Co., Inc., Goleta, CA (US);
Abstract
A stowable and self-deployable parallelogram-type panel array for solar cells. The array includes two sets of rigid panels, the panels of each set being hinged together, and the sets extending side-by-side along a central axis. The sets are foldable, and are pivoted together at their central points so as to form parallelogram-type structures. A respective yoke is hinged to each set to coordinate the movement of the sets. The yokes are hinged to a base on the opposite side of the axis from their respective set to provide greater structural stability and a higher first node resonant frequency. Deployment force is exerted by self-powered hinges, and are the only source of deployment force. The yokes are joined by gears to coordinate their rotation and thereby the stowing and deploying of the array.