Solar generator with energy damping for satellites
First Claim
1. A solar generator comprising a support structure and a plurality of solar cells mounted on said support structure, wherein said support structure comprises a first cover skin, a second cover skin, a honeycomb cell structure core arranged between said first and second cover skins such that honeycomb cells of said core are oriented with lengthwise axes of said cells extending perpendicular to at least one of said cover skins, and a plurality vibration of damping elements respectively arranged in respective holes in said core.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar generator for use in satellites or spacecraft includes a plurality of solar cells mounted on a support structure panel. The support structure panel includes a honeycomb cell structure core (4) sandwiched between a bottom cover skin (5) and a top cover skin (2). Vibration damping elements (11) are incorporated and bonded into the honeycomb core, and vibration damping film strips (10) are adhesively bonded onto an outer surface of at least one of the outer cover skins. The damping elements (11) respectively include a damping ring (13) made of an elastomeric material, between inner and outer structural rings (14, 12), whereby the outer ring is bonded to the honeycomb core and the inner ring provides a mounting location. The damping film strips are positioned at locations of maximum vibrational excitation in the panel due to noise pressure loading. The damping elements damp vibrations in the range from 30 Hz to 100 Hz, and the damping film strips damp noise pressure loads in the frequency range from 150 Hz to 500 Hz.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A solar generator comprising a support structure and a plurality of solar cells mounted on said support structure, wherein said support structure comprises a first cover skin, a second cover skin, a honeycomb cell structure core arranged between said first and second cover skins such that honeycomb cells of said core are oriented with lengthwise axes of said cells extending perpendicular to at least one of said cover skins, and a plurality vibration of damping elements respectively arranged in respective holes in said core.
- 28. A composite sandwich structural panel with vibration damping, comprising first and second cover skins of resin impregnated fiber composite material, a honeycomb cell structure core sandwiched between said first and second cover skins, vibration damping elements arranged in holes in said core and respectively bonded to said core, and vibration damping film strips adhesively bonded onto an outer surface of at least one of said first and second cover skins.
Specification