Deployable panel array and related assemblies and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12296986-B2
Application number	US-202217571369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2022
Priority date	Jan 7, 2022
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

A panel array and associated deployment system may include a first cable extending along a first row of panels and coupled to each panel of the first row of panels. The array and system may further include a second cable extending along a second row of panels and coupled to each panel of the second row of panels. The array and system may also include a first column of panels comprising a panel from the first row of panels and a panel from the second row of panels. The system may further include a spool positioned adjacent the first column of panels. The spool may be coupled to at least one of the first cable and the second cable and configured to apply tension to the first cable and/or the second cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A panel array comprising:
a plurality of panels arranged in one or more columns and one or more rows;
a first cable extending along a column of the one or more columns to a first row of the one or more rows, the first cable extending around a first pulley and along the first row and coupled to each of the plurality of panels in the first row;
a second cable extending along the column of the one or more columns past the first row to a second row of the one or more rows, the second cable extending around a second pulley and along the second row and coupled to each of the plurality of panels in the second row; and
interlocking features on adjacent panels of the plurality of panels in the first row;
wherein the first cable is configured to apply tension between the plurality of panels in the first row and cause the interlocking features to engage.

2. The panel array of claim 1 , wherein the interlocking features comprise a recessed feature and a complementary protruding feature.

3. The panel array of claim 2 , wherein the recessed feature comprises a tapered recess.

4. The panel array of claim 2 , wherein the complementary protruding feature comprises a tapered protrusion.

5. The panel array of claim 4 , wherein the tapered protrusion comprises a cone.

6. The panel array of claim 4 , wherein the tapered protrusion comprises a pyramid.

7. The panel array of claim 1 , wherein the interlocking features are configured to substantially prevent the adjacent panels of the plurality of panels from moving in a radial direction relative to an axis of the interlocking features.

8. The panel array of claim 1 , wherein the interlocking features comprise a receiving element and a latching element.

9. The panel array of claim 8 , wherein the receiving element comprises a cavity configured to receive a hook of the latching element.

10. The panel array of claim 8 , wherein the receiving element comprises a latch disposed within the receiving element configured to interlock with a hook of the latching element.

11. A panel array deployment system including:
a main body;
a first cable extending along a first row of panels and coupled to each panel of the first row of panels;
a second cable extending along a second row of panels and coupled to each panel of the second row of panels;
a first column of panels extending from the main body, the first column of panels comprising a panel from the first row of panels and a panel from the second row of panels, each of the first cable and the second cable extending to the main body through the first column of panels; and
a spool positioned in the main body adjacent the first column of panels, the spool coupled to the first cable and the second cable, the spool configured to apply tension to the first cable and the second cable.

12. The panel array deployment system of claim 11 , wherein the first cable is coupled to an end panel of the first row of panels through a tension element.

13. The panel array deployment system of claim 12 , wherein the tension element comprises a spring.

14. The panel array deployment system of claim 11 , wherein the first cable extends from the spool around a pulley coupled to the panel from the first row of panels in the first column and along the first row of panels to an end panel in the first row of panels.

15. The panel array deployment system of claim 14 , wherein the second cable extends from the spool around a second pulley coupled to the panel from the second row of panels in the first column and along the second row of panels to an end panel in the second row of panels.

16. The panel array deployment system of claim 11 , wherein the panel from the first row of panels in the first column is coupled to the panel from the second row of panels in the first column through a hinged connection.

17. The panel array deployment system of claim 11 , wherein each panel in the first row of panels is configured to be secured to an adjacent panel in the first row of panels through tension in the first cable and complementary interlocking features.

18. A method of deploying a panel array comprising:
providing a panel array comprising multiple panels coupled to one another through hinged connections, the hinged connections configured to create multiple rows and columns of panels in an expanded configuration;
applying tension to a first cable and a second cable through a spool positioned in a main body;
extending a row of panel sets, each panel set comprising a plurality of the multiple panels;
extending the panel sets, to form a column of the multiple panels from each extended panel set through the tension in the first cable;
engaging first interlocking features between adjacent panels of a first row of panels in the row of panel sets through the tension in the first cable; and
engaging second interlocking features between adjacent panels of a second row of panels in the row of panel sets through the tension in the second cable.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising extending the panel sets into the columns of panels after engaging the first interlocking features between the adjacent panels of the first row of panels and engaging the second interlocking features between the adjacent panels of the second row of panels.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein extending the row of panels sets comprises rotating each panel set relative to an adjacent panel set about a hinged connection between the adjacent panel sets.

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Fasanella Nicholas
• Firstbrook George
• Thiem R Christopher

Classifications

• B64G1/2222

  Folding · CPC title

• B64G1/446

  Thermal solar power generation · CPC title

• B64G1/443 Primary

  Photovoltaic cell arrays · CPC title

• B64G1/42

  Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems · CPC title

• B64G1/66

  Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for · CPC title