Cover for use with an inflatable modular structure

• US 20050091937A1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bigelow Aerospace
• Original Assignee: Bigelow Aerospace
• Inventors: Bigelow, Robert T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/300
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/12 manned
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/22 Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/2227 Inflating
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/60 Crew or passenger accommodations

Abstract

A cover for an inflatable modular structure is claimed. A plurality of covers fit on the core of an inflatable module. An inflatable shell is attached to the core enclosing the covers and the core. In the pre-deployed configuration, the inflatable shell is folded over the covers and the covers provide a measure of protection for the shell. In the deployed state, the inflatable shell is filled with air and expands to its deployed configuration. The covers can be removed from core and attached to the inside of the shell. The covers then function as a platform to secure items in place.

Claims

1. A cover for use with an inflatable modular structure, the inflatable modular structure having a core with at least two longerons and a plurality of attachment elements disposed thereon for cooperating with a plurality of covers such that each cover is releasably attached to the core in the pre-deployed configuration, an inflatable shell attached to the core, the inflatable shell having an internal surface that generally encloses the longerons and the plurality of covers, and in the pre-deployed configuration the inflatable shell is folded over, and secured to, the covers, and in the deployed configuration the inflatable shell is pumped up with air, unfolded from the covers, the covers subsequently released from the core and the covers being removably attached to a plurality of affixing members disposed on the inside surface of the inflatable shell such that the covers serve as a foundation for securing items in place, the cover comprising:

a first segment having a longitudinal axis, an interior surface, and having an arcuate exterior surface perpendicular to the length of the longitudinal axis, the arcuate exterior surface of the first segment being adapted to provide protection to the inflatable shell from unwanted contact with the core during the pre-deployed configuration and the arcuate exterior surface having at least one affixing member for cooperating with at least one affixing member on the interior surface of the inflatable shell such that the arcuate exterior surface is removably attached to the interior surface of the inflatable shell during the deployed configuration;

a second segment having a substantially flat surface and the second segment being adapted to substantially secure items in place when the arcuate exterior surface is fastened to the interior surface of the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration;

a plurality of ribs disposed between, and joined to, the inner surface of the first segment and the substantially flat surface of the second segment, and a plurality of attachment elements disposed on the ribs adapted to cooperate with the attachment elements on the longeron such that the cover is releasably attached to the core in the pre-deployed configuration.

2. A cover for use with a core of an inflatable modular structure, the core having a plurality of attachment elements, the cover comprising:

a first segment having a longitudinal axis, an interior surface, and having an arcuate exterior surface perpendicular to the length of the longitudinal axis;

a second segment having a substantially flat surface;

a plurality of ribs disposed between, and joined to, the inner surface of the first segment and the substantially flat surface of the second segment and the ribs having a plurality of attachment elements; and

the attachment elements on the ribs cooperating with the attachment elements on the core such that the cover is removably attached to the core.

3. The cover of claim 2 wherein the core further comprises at least two longerons and the cover has a width and each longerons having an outer edge and the width of the cover is substantially the distance between the outer edges of the longerons and the cover fits over the longerons.

4. The cover of claim 2 wherein the second segment is substantially rigid.

5. The core of claim 2 further comprising:

a first affixing member disposed on the arcuate surface of the first segment;

an inflatable shell attached to the core of the inflatable modular structure and the inflatable shell having an interior surface, the interior surface substantially enclosing the cover and core, and a second affixing member disposed on the interior surface of the inflatable shell; and

the first affixing member and the second affixing member cooperating such that the cover is removably affixed to the interior surface of the inflatable shell.

6. The cover of claim 2 wherein the cover is substantially hollow.

7. The cover of claim 2 wherein the first segment has an access opening.

8. The cover of claim 2 wherein the second segment has an access opening.

25. A method of using a cover with a core of an inflatable modular structure having a plurality of attachment elements thereon and an inflatable shell which utilizes the cover of claim 2.

9. A cover for use with at least two braces of a core of an inflatable modular structure, the braces having a plurality of attachment elements, the cover comprising:

a first segment having a longitudinal axis, an interior surface, and having an arcuate exterior surface perpendicular to the length of the longitudinal axis;

a second segment having a substantially flat surface;

a plurality of ribs disposed between, and joined to, the inner surface of the first segment and the substantially flat surface of the second segment and the ribs having a plurality of attachment elements; and

the attachment elements on the ribs cooperating with the attachment elements on the braces such that the cover is removably attached to the braces.

10. The cover of claim 9 wherein the core further comprises at least two longerons and the cover has a width and each longeron having an outer edge and the width of the cover is substantially the distance between the outer edges of the longerons and the cover fits over the longerons.

11. The cover of claim 9 wherein the second segment is substantially rigid.

12. The core of claim 9 further comprising:

a first affixing member disposed on the arcuate surface of the first segment;

an inflatable shell attached to the core of the inflatable modular structure and the inflatable shell having an interior surface, the interior surface substantially enclosing the cover and braces, and a second affixing member disposed on the interior surface of the inflatable shell; and

the first affixing member and the second affixing member cooperating such that the cover is removably affixed to the interior surface of the inflatable shell.

13. The cover of claim 9 wherein the cover is substantially hollow.

14. A cover for use with at least two longerons of a core of an inflatable modular structure, the longerons having a plurality of attachment elements, the cover comprising:

a first segment having a longitudinal axis, an interior surface, and having an arcuate exterior surface along the length of the longitudinal axis;

a second segment having a substantially flat surface;

a plurality of ribs disposed between, and joined to, the inner surface of the first segment and the substantially flat surface of the second segment and the ribs having a plurality of attachment elements; and

the attachment elements on the ribs cooperating with the attachment elements on the longerons such that the cover is removably attached to the longerons.

15. The cover of claim 14 wherein the cover has a width and each longeron having an outer edge and the width of the cover is substantially the distance between the outer edges of the longerons.

16. The cover of claim 14 wherein the second segment is substantially rigid.

17. The cover of claim 14 wherein the first segment has an access opening.

18. The cover of claim 14 wherein the second segment has an access opening.

19. The core of claim 14 further comprising:

a first affixing member disposed on the arcuate surface of the first segment;

an inflatable shell attached to the core of the inflatable modular structure and the inflatable shell having an interior surface, the interior surface substantially enclosing the cover and longerons, and a second affixing member disposed on the interior surface of the inflatable shell; and

the first affixing member and the second affixing member cooperating such that the cover is removably affixed to the interior surface of the inflatable shell.

20. The cover of claim 14 wherein the cover is substantially hollow.

29. The method of claim 28 utilizing the cover of claim 14.

21. A cover for being removably attached to a core of an inflatable modular structure having attachment elements disposed thereon, the cover comprising:

a first segment having a longitudinal axis, an interior surface, and having an arcuate exterior surface perpendicular to the length of the longitudinal axis;

a second segment having a substantially flat surface; and

a plurality of ribs disposed between, and joined to, the inner surface of the first segment and the substantially flat surface of the second segment and the ribs having a plurality of attachment elements for cooperating with the attachment elements on the core.

22. A core of an inflatable modular structure having at least two longerons and a plurality of attachment elements disposed on the longerons for cooperating with, and being removably attached to, the attachment elements of the cover of claim 21.

23. A core of an inflatable modular structure having at least two braces and a plurality of attachment elements disposed on the braces for cooperating with, and being removably attached to, the attachment elements of the cover of claim 21. attachment elements of the cover of claim 21.

24. A method of using a cover with a core of an inflatable modular structure having an inflatable shell comprising the steps of;

attaching a plurality of covers to the core in a pre-deployed configuration;

folding the inflatable shell about the covers in the pre-deployed configuration;

unfolding the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration;

inflating the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration;

detaching the covers from the core in the deployed configuration; and

attaching the covers to the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration.

26. A method of using a cover with a core of an inflatable modular structure having a plurality of braces and attachment elements disposed thereon and an inflatable shell comprising the steps of;

attaching a plurality of covers to the core in a pre-deployed configuration;

folding the inflatable shell about the covers in the pre-deployed configuration;

unfolding the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration;

inflating the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration;

detaching the covers from the core in the deployed configuration; and

attaching the covers to the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration.

27. The method of claim 26 utilizing the cover of claim 9.

28. A method of using a cover with a core of an inflatable modular structure having a plurality of longerons and attachment elements disposed thereon and an inflatable shell comprising the steps of;

attaching a plurality of covers to the core in a pre-deployed configuration;

folding the inflatable shell about the covers in the pre-deployed configuration;

unfolding the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration;

inflating the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration;

detaching the covers from the core in the deployed configuration; and

attaching the covers to the inflatable shell in the deployed configuration.