Patents Represented by Attorney Georgeann S. Grunebach
  • Patent number: 6050526
    Abstract: A reflector system for a solar wing is provided in which adjacent reflector panels are inhibited from relative movement by coupling tethers. Each reflector panel rotates to be in a stored position adjacent a backface of a respective solar panel. From this stored position, each reflector panel then rotates to be in a deployed position in which it forms a reflection angle with a solar cell face of the respective solar panel. Because of the inhibition of the tethers, the reflector panels deploy together so that one of them does not move past another of them and damage its reflection surface. Upon deployment of a solar wing, a set of spring-biased reflector sheets are automatically urged to cover respective apertures which facilitate installation of restraint structures that maintain the solar wing in its stored configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ray A. Stribling, Jr.