Patent ID: 9714519
Date: 2017-07-25
CPC Classifications: B64G,E04H

Claim:
1. An extendable structure arranged for use in space-based applications, the structure being extendable along a central axis and being movable between a fully-collapsed configuration and a fully-extended configuration, the structure comprising: a plurality of walls each comprising a plurality of repeating units, the walls being arranged such that in the fully-extended configuration, each wall is substantially planar and the structure has a polygonal cross-section, and each side of the polygonal cross-section is formed by one of the plurality of walls; wherein each repeating unit comprises a plurality of panels connected by a plurality of first hinges located along side edges of the panels, a gap formed between each adjacent connected panels; wherein repeating units within each wall are connected by a plurality of second hinges, wherein in the fully-extended configuration, each of the first hinges has a first hinge axis which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal edge of the wall, wherein in both the fully-collapsed configuration and the fully-extended configuration, the plurality of walls are arranged around the central axis to form a tubular structure, wherein each of the first and second hinges comprise tape-spring hinges arranged on both sides of the panels attached to the respective first or second hinge, the tape springs on opposite sides having opposing curvatures, and the tape springs being arranged to store elastic strain energy in the stowed configuration such that the first and second hinges exert a force on the structure which urges the structure towards the extended configuration, wherein in both the fully-collapsed configuration and the fully-extended configuration each one of the plurality of walls is connected on both sides to adjacent walls, and is configured to remain directly connected to both of said adjacent walls as the structure is moved between the fully-collapsed configuration and the fully-extended configuration, and wherein the plurality of panels in each repeating unit are further connected by a plurality of third hinges, each of the first hinges lying between two third hinges and the third hinges having hinge axes which are inclined with respect to said first hinge axis.