US 12,473,103 B2
Under-constrained deployable systems and components therefor
Jonathan Sauder, La Crescenta, CA (US); Nacer E. Chahat, Altadena, CA (US); and Juan M. Mejia-Ariza, Pasadena, CA (US)
Assigned to California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed by California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/468,611.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/406,904, filed on Sep. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0092509 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B64G 4/00 (2006.01); B64G 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 4/00 (2013.01) [B64G 3/00 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An under-constrained deployment system for deploying structures in space, the deployment system comprising:
a first segment;
a second segment coupled to the first segment by a high strain structure, wherein the high strain structure is bent to store deployment energy in a stowed configuration;
a tensioning system further coupling the first segment to the second segment, wherein the tensioning systems is capable of actuating to translate the first segment along the high strain structure such that the deployment system is transitioned from an expanded configuration to an assembled configuration; and
a locating element;
wherein, in the stowed configuration, the first segment and second segment have a first relative position;
wherein, in the expanded configuration, the high strain structure is straightened relative to the stowed configuration, and wherein the expanded configuration is achieved using energy released as the high strain structure transitions from bent to straightened, and wherein the first segment and the second segment have a second relative position in the expanded configuration; and
wherein the assembled configuration corresponds to the first segment and the second segment having a third relative position, the third relative position constrained by contact between a first portion of the locating element disposed on the first segment and a second portion of locating element disposed on the second segment.