Extendable support structure of deformable tube elements

An extensible carrier structure is described here which includes several mutually connected individual elements, where the individual elements are made up of tube elements which are deformable in a reversible manner, and where the tube elements, at their ends, are connected with each other by first elastic elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS As in FIG. 1 , two superposed, deformed tube elements 1 , 11 in the stowed state are shown; the lower tube element 11 , for example, is supported by an additional tube element or supporting surface, not shown. A perpendicularly acting force or prestress F is exerted upon the upper tube element 1 ; this force leads to a deformation of tube elements 1 , 11 , as a result of which the illustrated profile surface changes perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal extent of tube elements 1 , 11 . Similar features are referenced with like reference numerals throughout the Figures. Tube elements 1 , 11 , in FIG. 1 , includes two, each, semicylindrical, hollow subsegments 1 a, 1 b, 11 a, 11 b, which, in each case, have a certain degree of elasticity. These subsegments are made, for example, of a carbon fiber material. On intersection lines 2 , 12 , along surface lines of tube elements 1 , 11 , subsegments 1 a , 1 b , 11 a , 11 b are connected with each other by elastic elements 6 , such as leaf springs or, alternatively, by joints, as shown in FIG. 3 . At their ends 4 , 14 , tube elements 1 , 11 are connected with each other by elastic elements 5 , such as leaf spring arrangements, as is illustrated in the diagram in FIG. 2 . The latter shows an individual strut or an individual mast, that is to say, the mast or the strut would in this case be formed only by an individual row of tube elements 1 , 11 . The special shape of the elastic elements can be adapted depending on the specific requirements for elasticity and rigidity as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6 . FIG. 5 shows a view of a double structure with four tube elements 1 , 11 , 21 , 31 , in the extended state, where tube elements 1 and 21 are arranged behind each other in the longitudinal direction and where tube elements 11 and 31 are also arranged in the longitudinal direction, behind each other, but parallel to tube elements 1 and 21 . This is also shown in the profile in FIG. 4 . The tube elements 1 , 21 and 11 , 31 , that are arranged in series behind each other, are in each case connected with each other by two elastic elements 5 , which are arranged, mutually opposite, on the generated surface of tube elements 1 , 11 , 21 , 31 . Elastic elements 5 , illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6 , comprise retention devices 10 that are firmly connected with tube elements 1 , 11 , 21 , 31 , and (also comprise) leaf spring pairs 9 a , 9 b , which are connected to retention devices 10 and are curved perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. The curvature of leaf spring 9 a is opposite to the curvature of leaf spring 9 b so that, when the structure is in the extended state, in which the leaf springs assume the stretched-out form shown in FIG. 6 , in case of a possible force action upward, leaf spring 9 a and, in case of a possible force action downward, leaf spring 9 b , can guarantee the rigidity of elastic element 5 . Tube elements 1 , 11 , 21 , 31 furthermore are connected with each other at one of their ends 7 , 17 , 27 , 37 , as shown in FIG. 5 . A connection 8 is provided, for example, in the form of two superposed level leaf springs that are connected with each other in their middle, with each of these leaf springs being connected at one of its ends with a tube element 1 , 11 , 21 , 31 . This connection thus forms an X-shaped hinge joint, so that tube elements 1 , 11 , 21 , 31 can be swung against each other. When the structure is in the extended state, tube elements 1 and 11 as well as 21 and 31 , however, adjoin each other in an area of a surface line 3 , as shown in FIG. 4 . To facilitate an additional defined extension of the carrier structure, one can, as shown in FIG. 8 , make provision for additional auxiliary joints 49 with cable rolls 50 to be connected with elastic elements 5 . Cable rolls 50 are connected with a cable gear 52 with, in each case, a neighboring cable roll 50 . Cable gear 52 can be set up so that all tube elements will be extended simultaneously and uniformly, instead of a successive extension of the individual, originally superposed tube elements. FIGS. 7 a - 7 c show the extension of the structure according to FIG. 5 from a stowed state (a) into a partially extended state (c). In the stowed state (a), the tube elements lie on top of each other in two stacks, perpendicular to the direction of extension, and are retained, between an upper cross beam 13 and a lower cross beam 15 , with a prestress that deforms the tube elements in order to achieve the smallest possible stowage volume. The lower cross beam is connected in an articulated manner with a base structure 25 , such as a space vehicle. If the prestress is lifted, then flexible elements 5 , at the ends of the tube elements, cause the unfolding and thus the extension of the structure. The final position (c) is reached here via a state shown in FIG. 7 b . Tube elements 1 , 11 , 21 , 31 , 41 , 51 , etc., are uniformly extended in a manner controlled by the cable gear 52 . Tube elements 1 and 41 are connected with each other at the first ends 4 , 44 , and tube elements 11 and 51 are connected with each other at the first ends 14 and 54 . Tube elements 41 and 51 moreover are flexibly connected with the upper cross beam 13 , as shown in detail in FIG. 9 . Flexible connections 48 are provided for this purpose between cross beam 13 and tube elements 41 , 51 . The cable gear 52 also extends all the way to cross beam 13 where additional cable rolls 47 are provided in the area of the articulated connections. A similar flexible connection can be provided in the area of the base structure 25 . As indicated in FIG. 7 b , tube elements 1 and 11 are connected with each other at their second ends 7 , 17 and are connected with the second ends 27 , 37 of the adjoining tube elements 21 , 31 . Therefore, the structure continues to be held together in the state shown in FIG. 7 b , and tube elements 41 and 51 as well as 1 and 11 automatically are arranged parallel to each other, as shown in FIG. 7 c . The extension procedure is continued up to the complete extension of the double structure. This terminal state is illustrated in FIG. 7 c. The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.