Deployable Sheet Material Tensioning for Mass Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deployable sheet material systems for spacecraft and terrestrial applications lack efficient mechanisms to deploy and stabilize flexible sheet materials like solar arrays, which require additional structural support to maintain a deployed configuration due to lack of rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A deployable sheet material system comprising a primary beam member, masts, boom members, and guy wires, where the system can transition from a stowed to a deployed configuration by extending the boom members and sheet material away from the primary beam member, with guy wires providing tension to maintain the sheet material in a planar configuration and distribute loads through a truss-like structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional rigid structural support is used to maintain deployed sheet material, then stability and rigidity are improved, but system mass and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible sheet material that can be deployed and maintained in a stable configuration without rigid structural support. The sheet material itself, when tensioned through the guy wire system, provides sufficient structural integrity to maintain its deployed state, eliminating the need for heavy rigid frameworks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the sheet material's own properties and the tensioning mechanism to maintain its deployed configuration. The guy wires create a self-supporting structure where the sheet material and supporting elements work together to maintain stability without requiring additional active control systems or heavy reinforcement.
2Reliability
If additional structural support elements are added to maintain deployed configuration, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into discrete functional elements: masts, guy wires, and anchor points. Each element performs a specific function, and together they create a reliable deployed configuration. This modular approach allows for simplified assembly and maintenance while ensuring structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guy wires act as intermediary elements that transfer and distribute loads between the sheet material, masts, and anchor points. This load distribution mechanism enhances reliability by preventing stress concentration while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Area of moving object
If sheet material is deployed to larger surface area, then functionality is improved, but structural support requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the inherent flexibility and lightness of the sheet material to achieve large surface areas without proportionally increasing support structure mass. The flexible nature allows the material to be deployed to large dimensions while the tensioning system maintains structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet material, when deployed and tensioned, provides its own structural support to a significant degree. The large surface area configuration is maintained through the self-supporting tensioned structure rather than requiring additional heavy reinforcement as the area increases.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively deploys and stabilizes sheet materials by distributing loads efficiently, reducing the mass required for support and increasing reliability through passive deployment and load distribution, while allowing for a larger surface area in the deployed configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of guy wires extending from the distal region of the one or more masts to the plurality of boom members
Implementation Method 2
The one or more masts may be biased to move relative to the primary beam member
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary deployable sheet material systems may be configured to stow and deploy sheet material. The systems may include one or more masts, one or more extendable booms, and one or more guys wires configured to function in conjunction with each other to deploy the sheet material and then to maintain the sheet material in the deployed configuration.