Patent ID: 11958638
Assignee: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A system for deploying a solar array blanket portion relative to a spacecraft and supporting the solar array blanket portion in a deployed position, the system comprising:
an extendable frame moveable between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration, comprising:
a first support arm having first and second opposing distal ends;
a second support arm having first and second opposing distal ends;
a third support arm having first and second opposing distal ends;
a fourth support arm having first and second opposing distal ends;
a first pivot pin assembly defined at an intersection of the first and third support arms and a second pivot pin assembly defined at an intersection of the second and fourth support arms;
a first hinge assembly defined between the second distal end of the first support arm and the first distal end of the second support arm;
a second hinge assembly defined between the second distal end of the third support arm and the first distal end of the fourth support arm; and
a first biasing member having a first end coupled to the first support arm and a second end coupled to the second support arm, the first biasing member extending between the second and first distal ends of the first and second support arms along an exterior portion of the first hinge assembly.