US 12,334,865 B2
Passively deployable solar panel array with truss backing and synchronizing linkages
Thomas J. Harvey, Nederland, CO (US); Toby J. Harvey, Enoch, UT (US); Randy J. Rose, Broomfield, CO (US); and Thomas J. Rose, Erie, CO (US)
Assigned to Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/474,149.
Application 18/474,149 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/100,472, filed on Jan. 23, 2023, granted, now 11,799,414.
Prior Publication US 2024/0250638 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. H02S 30/20 (2014.01); B64G 1/44 (2006.01)
CPC H02S 30/20 (2014.12) [B64G 1/443 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A passively deployable array of solar panels, comprising:
a set of solar panels, each solar panel having a front side and a back side, the front side operable to receive sunlight;
a truss backing for attachment to the solar panels and running axially along the back sides of the solar panels, the truss backing having at least:
a series of longerons, each having a length that corresponds to a length of an associated solar panel and having two ends;
linkages operable to attach the ends of longerons to the back sides of the solar panels such that the solar panels, longerons, and linkages define a series of parallelograms operable to fold and unfold in an accordion-like manner;
the truss backing further having springs and diagonals, with at least one spring and one diagonal associated with each parallelograms;
wherein the springs are operable to deploy the solar panels from a folded position to a deployed position; and
wherein each diagonal is operable to become in tension diagonally from one linkage to another of an associated longeron by the action of the springs when the solar panels are deployed into a final position.