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:
May. 18, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 01, 2001
David P. Cadogan, Middletown, DE (US);
ILC Dover, Inc., Frederica, DE (US);
Abstract
A space frame ( ) capable of facilitating the deployment, and subsequent support, of a space structure includes a packageable, deployable, and rigidizable frame assembly ( ), a packageable, deployable, and inflatable frame assembly shell ( ) disposed around the frame assembly ( ); means for attaching the frame assembly shell ( ) to the frame assembly ( ); and a shell inflator. The method of packaging and deploying the space frame ( ) includes (a) collapsing the frame assembly ( ) by packaging the shell ( ) to provide a packaged frame assembly/shell; (b) controllably deploying the frame assembly ( ) and the shell ( ) from the packaged frame assembly/shell by employing the shell inflator to inflate the shell ( ) while imparting a resistance to the shell ( ) to resist deployment such that the internal gas pressure required to continue deployment is sufficient to fully inflate that portion of the shell ( ) to which gas has been introduced; (c) continuing to resist deployment until the frame assembly ( ) and the shell ( ) are deployed; (d) terminating the introduction of gas into the shell ( ); (e) rigidizing the frame assembly ( ); (f) depressurizing the shell ( ).