| 摘要 |
1,231,105. Artificial satellites. POST OFFICE. 6 Nov., 1968 [7 Nov., 1967], No. 52579/68. Heading B7W. [Also in Division H1] A solar cell array for spin-oriented spacecraft comprises a plurality of flexible solar cell panels 12, 12<SP>1</SP> and 12<SP>11</SP>, each having one edge rigidly coupled to the side wall of the spacecraft along a line parallel to the spin axis, and end masses 24, 24<SP>1</SP> and 24<SP>11</SP>, along the free other end, the panels being initially wrapped round the periphery of the spacecraft side wall until after release while the spacecraft is spinning, when they are deployed radially under tension by centrifugal force. The panels are controlled uniformly during unwrapping by multi-arm spider assemblies 58, 60 at either end of the spacecraft, mounted for free rotation about the spacecraft axis and having an arm for each panel, each arm carrying a guide roller 66 at its end. The spiders are fixed in position, until required to deploy the panels, by a latch 84 or exploding bolt, and after release their rotation is controlled by a brake, or dashpot 76. |
