Patents by Inventor George N. Young

George N. Young has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5833176
    Abstract: A constrained solar array (24) for a satellite (20) and method for making the same are disclosed. The solar array (24) includes a superstructure (30) with solar cells (80) mounted thereon to provide power to a main satellite body (22) and instruments mounted thereon. A flexible tensile member (40) extends relative to the superstructure (30) and is placed under tension to place the solar array (24) in a constrained condition which reduces thermal transients in and increases the bending frequency of the solar array (24). Preferably, a pair of support arms (34,36) are cantilevered from the superstructure (30). The flexible tensile member (40) pulls upon the support arms (34,36) to apply bending moments to the superstructure (30) to maintain the solar array (24) in a distorted shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles P. Rubin, John A Fabbri, George N. Young
  • Patent number: 5620529
    Abstract: A rigid panel solar array for a spacecraft. The layers of materials for the panels are selected and oriented to control the net coefficient of thermal expansion in the array's longitudinal direction. Some of the layers are discontinuous and softly coupled to the others by flexible adhesive materials. The panels are interconnected with hinge members which are positioned at appropriate locations and with appropriate degrees of freedom so that thermally induced transverse bending does not cause transverse motion of the center-of-mass of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventors: Samir F. Bassily, Stuart F. Bockman, George N. Young