A spaceborne antenna (30) for a satellite (20) may include antenna sections (40) for the satellite (20), and at least one rolling flex hinge (50) rotatably coupling first and second antenna sections (40(1), 40(2)) together and permitting rotation between a stored position and a deployed position. The first and second antenna sections (40(1), 40(2)) may be stacked in the stored position and extended in end-to-end relation in the deployed position. The at least one rolling flex hinge (50) may include a first hinge body (52) coupled to an end of the first antenna section (40(1)), a second hinge body (54) coupled to an end of the second antenna section (40(2)), and a flexible strap arrangement (60) coupling the first hinge body (52) and second hinge body (54) together to permit rolling contact therebetween. At least one locking linkage (72) may be coupled between the first and second hinge bodies (52, 54) to lock the first and second hinge bodies (52, 54) when the first and second antenna sections (40(1), 40(2)) are in the deployed position.
SPACEBORNE ANTENNA WITH ROLLING FLEX HINGES AND ASSOCIATES METHODS
WELTRAUMGESTÜTZTE ANTENNE MIT ROLLENDEN FLEXIBLEN SCHARNIEREN UND ZUGEHÖRIGE VERFAHREN
ANTENNE SPATIALE AVEC CHARNIÈRES FLEXIBLES ROULANTES ET PROCÉDÉS ASSOCIÉS
2024-12-04
Patent
Electronic Resource
English