Folded rib truss structure for reflector antenna with zero over stretch
First Claim
1. A foldable and expandable antenna reflector support structure to support an expandable generally dish shaped reflector, the reflector support structure comprising:
- a hub assembly to provide a force to the support structure;
a hub tower extending from the hub assembly;
a plurality of drive strut assemblies, each drive strut assembly having an inner drive strut, an outer drive strut and a strut hinge assembly so that the inner drive strut can pivot with respect to the outer drive strut so that each drive strut assembly can fold or expand, and at least one drive strut assembly is connected to the hub assembly and is configurable to receive a force from the hub assembly; and
a plurality of rib assemblies, each rib assembly having an inner rib, an outer rib, and a multi-piece rib hinge assembly so that the inner rib can pivot with respect to the outer rib, and each inner rib is pivotably connected to the hub tower,wherein the support structure has a first folded configuration and a second expanded configuration and each drive strut assembly is pivotably connected to one of the rib assemblies and is configured to apply a force to that rib assembly to rotate the outer rib with respect to the inner rib in response to the hub assembly applying the force to the at least one of the drive strut assemblies to thereby fold or expand the reflector support structure from the first folded configuration to the second expanded configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A foldable and expandable antenna reflector, and method of making and using the same are disclosed. The antenna reflector includes a reflector and a support structure where the support structure includes a hub assembly; a hub tower extending from the hub assembly; a plurality of drive strut assemblies that are connected to the hub assembly; and a plurality of rib assemblies connected to the hub tower and to the plurality of drive strut assemblies. Each rib assembly has a multi-piece rib hinge assembly so that each drive strut assembly is pivotably connected to one of the rib hinge assemblies and applies a force to expand the rib assembly in response to the hub assembly applying a force to at least one of the drive strut assemblies to thereby fold or expand the antenna reflector from a first folded configuration to a second expanded configuration.
127 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A foldable and expandable antenna reflector support structure to support an expandable generally dish shaped reflector, the reflector support structure comprising:
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a hub assembly to provide a force to the support structure; a hub tower extending from the hub assembly; a plurality of drive strut assemblies, each drive strut assembly having an inner drive strut, an outer drive strut and a strut hinge assembly so that the inner drive strut can pivot with respect to the outer drive strut so that each drive strut assembly can fold or expand, and at least one drive strut assembly is connected to the hub assembly and is configurable to receive a force from the hub assembly; and a plurality of rib assemblies, each rib assembly having an inner rib, an outer rib, and a multi-piece rib hinge assembly so that the inner rib can pivot with respect to the outer rib, and each inner rib is pivotably connected to the hub tower, wherein the support structure has a first folded configuration and a second expanded configuration and each drive strut assembly is pivotably connected to one of the rib assemblies and is configured to apply a force to that rib assembly to rotate the outer rib with respect to the inner rib in response to the hub assembly applying the force to the at least one of the drive strut assemblies to thereby fold or expand the reflector support structure from the first folded configuration to the second expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An antenna reflector system comprising:
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a reflector; a support structure comprising; a multi-component hub assembly configured to provide a force to the support structure; a hub tower extending from the hub assembly and including a pivot ring; a plurality of drive strut assemblies, each drive strut assembly comprising an inner drive strut, a drive strut hinge assembly, and an outer drive strut, wherein the inner drive strut is pivotably connected to the outer drive strut by the drive strut hinge assembly, and each inner drive strut is connected to the hub assembly; and a plurality of rib assemblies, each rib assembly including an inner rib, an outer rib, and a rib hinge assembly, wherein the inner rib of each rib assembly is pivotably connected to the pivot ring and each rib hinge assembly comprises multiple pieces and the rib hinge assembly has seven articulating connections; wherein the hub assembly rotates the inner drive strut which in response rotates the outer drive strut which in response applies a force to the rib hinge assembly which in response rotates the outer rib with respect to the inner rib which expands or collapses the support structure and the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An antenna reflector system comprising:
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a mesh reflector; a support structure comprising; a hub assembly comprising a rotatable screw, a carrier mounted on and translatable with respect to the screw, a plurality of pull rods pivotably connected to the carrier, each pull rod pivotably connected to a pivot link; a hub tower extending from the hub assembly and including a pivot ring; a plurality of drive strut assemblies, each drive strut assembly comprising an inner drive strut, a drive strut hinge assembly, and an outer drive strut, wherein the inner drive strut is pivotably connected to the outer drive strut by the drive strut hinge assembly, and each inner drive strut is connected to the pivot link of the hub assembly; and a plurality of rib assemblies, each rib assembly including an inner rib, an outer rib, and a rib hinge assembly, wherein the each rib hinge assembly comprises multiple pieces and the rib hinge assembly has seven articulating connections, wherein the inner rib of each rib assembly is pivotably connected to the pivot ring and the rib hinge assembly includes an outer drive strut fitting connected to the outer drive strut, with the outer drive strut fitting having two of the articulating connections, and wherein the pivot link of the hub assembly rotates the inner drive strut which in response rotates the outer drive strut which in response applies a force to the rib hinge assembly which in response rotates the outer rib with respect to the inner rib which expands or collapses the antenna reflector.
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Specification