Slit Tube Locking Longeron Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deployable structures, such as extendible hollow members with slits, lack longitudinal and torsional rigidity in their deployed state due to flexibility, which is a result of their compact storage design.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating lateral protrusions on the longitudinal edges of the hollow longeron, which interact to inhibit relative motion and provide structural rigidity and stability, including increased stiffness and resistance to twisting and bending, by modifying the edges to create interlocking protrusions during deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the hollow member has a slit running longitudinally to enable compact deployment, then the structure achieves portability and compact storage, but the structure loses longitudinal and torsional rigidity in the deployed state
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal edges are segmented with periodic lateral protrusions that divide the continuous edge into discrete interlocking segments. This segmentation allows the slit to remain open for compact storage while the protrusions provide distributed reinforcement points that restore rigidity when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral protrusions create local quality variations along the longitudinal edges, concentrating material and structural reinforcement at specific intervals rather than uniformly throughout. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary rigidity at critical points while maintaining overall flexibility for deployment
Data Source
AI summary
According to the invention, an extendable member is disclosed. The extendable member may include a structure having a first state and a second state. The structure may be deformable between the first state and the second state. In the first state the structure may include a compact form. In the second state the structure may include a hollow longeron having a slit along the entire length of the hollow longeron. One or both longitudinal edges along the slit of the hollow longeron may have lateral protrusions. The lateral protrusions of a longitudinal edge may act in such a way with the other edge, and possibly its protrusions, to at least partially inhibit relative motion of the edges.