US 12,459,674 B2
Inflatable structures of or for spacecraft
Maximillian Philip Daniels, Auckland (NZ); and William Richard Hunter, Central Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to ASTRIX ASTRONAUTICS LIMITED, Auckland (NZ)
Appl. No. 18/721,578
Filed by ASTRIX ASTRONAUTICS LIMITED, Auckland (NZ)
PCT Filed Dec. 22, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/062654
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 18, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/119209, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 29, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2021904233 (AU), filed on Dec. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0066043 A1, Feb. 27, 2025
Int. Cl. B64G 1/22 (2006.01); B64G 1/44 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/2227 (2023.08) [B64G 1/443 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inflatable deployment system suitable for use with or on a spacecraft, the inflatable deployment system comprising:
an inflatable structure comprising a plurality of inflatable ribs attached to a flexible and foldable sheet;
an electronics module that is configured to trigger the transformation of the inflatable deployment system from a stowed condition in which the plurality of ribs are deflated and the inflatable structure is folded, to a deployed condition in which the plurality of ribs are inflated and the sheet is caused by the ribs to form an approximately planar surface;
a support panel for the inflatable structure, the inflatable structure being secured to the support panel in a manner such that when the ribs are deflated the inflatable structure is retained by/to the support panel and when the ribs are inflated the ribs project beyond the support panel to extend in different directions along the sheet, the support panel supporting the ribs along at least a portion of their length and being parallel to the sheet in the deployed condition such that the support panel supports the ribs in keeping the sheet approximately planar; and
an inflation system comprising:
a gas source; and
a flow control mechanism to control flow of gas to the ribs and comprising an outlet in fluid communication with the inflatable structure, wherein the flow control mechanism is configured to allow the ribs to be inflated by gas from the gas source when triggered by the electronics module;
wherein the support panel is a hinged panel held in an initial position in the stowed condition and that moves to a final position in the deployed condition.