Folding retractable protective dome for space vehicle equipment
First Claim
1. A folding retractable covering on a space vehicle for protecting a feature disposed on an exterior surface of the vehicle, wherein the covering comprises:
- a plurality of semicircular ribs, each having opposite ends respectively pinioned at opposite sides of the feature at about the exterior surface of the vehicle for rotational movement about an axis of rotation extending through the opposite ends thereof and through a hemispherical path of revolution extending over the feature;
a continuous, flexible cover attached to each of the ribs in such a way that, in a fully deployed position of the covering, in which adjacent ribs are rotated apart from each other at a maximum relative angle therebetween, the cover is stretched generally tangentially between the adjacent ribs to form a generally hemispherical shield over the feature, and in a fully retracted position of the covering, in which adjacent ribs are rotated together at a minimum relative angle therebetween, the flexible covering is collapsed to form a plurality of folded pleats of substantially the same size, each disposed between a respective pair of adjacent ribs;
an annular bezel disposed on the exterior surface of the vehicle and aligned generally concentrically with the feature; and
each rib having an external periphery larger than the external periphery of the feature and smaller than the internal periphery of the bezel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A folding, retractable dome for protecting a feature, such as a docking mechanism, a hatch or other equipment at an exterior surface of a space vehicle, includes a plurality of arcuate ribs, each having opposite ends respectively pinioned at opposite sides of the feature at the surface of the vehicle for rotational movement about an axis of rotation extending through the opposite ends and through an arcuate path of revolution extending over the feature, and a flexible cover attached to each of the ribs such that, in a deployed configuration of the dome, in which adjacent ribs are rotated apart from each other at a maximum relative angle therebetween, the cover is stretched generally tangentially between the adjacent ribs to form a generally arcuate shield over the feature, and in a retracted position of the dome, in which adjacent ribs are rotated together at a minimum relative angle therebetween, the cover is collapsed to define folded pleats between the adjacent ribs.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A folding retractable covering on a space vehicle for protecting a feature disposed on an exterior surface of the vehicle, wherein the covering comprises:
a plurality of semicircular ribs, each having opposite ends respectively pinioned at opposite sides of the feature at about the exterior surface of the vehicle for rotational movement about an axis of rotation extending through the opposite ends thereof and through a hemispherical path of revolution extending over the feature;
a continuous, flexible cover attached to each of the ribs in such a way that, in a fully deployed position of the covering, in which adjacent ribs are rotated apart from each other at a maximum relative angle therebetween, the cover is stretched generally tangentially between the adjacent ribs to form a generally hemispherical shield over the feature, and in a fully retracted position of the covering, in which adjacent ribs are rotated together at a minimum relative angle therebetween, the flexible covering is collapsed to form a plurality of folded pleats of substantially the same size, each disposed between a respective pair of adjacent ribs;
an annular bezel disposed on the exterior surface of the vehicle and aligned generally concentrically with the feature; and
each rib having an external periphery larger than the external periphery of the feature and smaller than the internal periphery of the bezel.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 23)
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11. A folding retractable covering on a space vehicle for protecting a feature disposed on an exterior surface of the vehicle, wherein the covering comprises:
a plurality of arcuate ribs, each having opposite ends respectively pinioned at opposite sides of the feature at about the surface of the vehicle for rotational movement of the rib about an axis extending through the opposite ends and through an arcuate path of revolution extending over the feature;
a continuous, flexible cover attached to each of the ribs in such a way that, in a fully deployed position of the covering, in which adjacent ribs are rotated apart from each other at a maximum relative angle therebetween, the cover is stretched generally tangentially between the adjacent ribs to form an arcuate shield over the feature, and in a fully retracted position of the covering, in which adjacent ribs are rotated together at a minimum relative angle therebetween, the flexible cover is collapsed to form a plurality of folded pleats of substantially the same size, each disposed between a respective pair of adjacent ribs;
a bezel disposed on the exterior surface of the vehicle and aligned generally concentrically with the feature; and
each rib having an external periphery larger than the external periphery of the feature and smaller than the internal periphery of the bezel.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for protecting a feature disposed on an exterior surface of a space vehicle, the method comprising:
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disposing a protective bezel on the exterior surface of the space vehicle and aligned generally concentrically with the feature; attaching opposite ends of a plurality of generally arcuate ribs to respective ones of a pair of pivot points respectively disposed on opposite sides of the feature, each rib having an external periphery larger than the external periphery of the feature and smaller than the internal periphery of the bezel; attaching a flexible cover to each of the ribs; and
, pivoting the ribs about the pivot points such that, in a closed position, the ribs stretch the cover into a generally arcuate protective covering over the feature, and in an open position, the ribs fold the cover into a plurality of pleats of substantially the same size, each disposed between a respective pair of adjacent ribs, and the ribs nest in radial alignment with each other at the exterior surface of the space vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24)
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Specification