Deployable reflector structures, deployable antenna structures, and associated components and methods
A deployable reflector structure includes a base in a central portion of the deployable reflector structure. The deployable reflector structure further includes one or more arms configured to extend from the base. The deployable reflector structure also includes an expandable structure coupled to the one or more arms. The deployable reflector structure further includes a reflector coupled between the one or more arms and the base. A drive mechanism may be configured to extend one or more of the arms and the expandable structure with a drive cable.
1 . A deployable reflector structure comprising:
a base in a central portion of the deployable reflector structure;
a cable drive system secured to the base in the central portion of the deployable reflector structure;
at least two arms configured to extend from the base, the at least two arms secured to the base through a hinge structure;
a hinge pulley secured to the base in a position offset from a pivot of the hinge structure, a cable passing from the cable drive system over the hinge pulley and secured to an anchor in the at least two arms, where the cable drive system is configured to rotate the at least two arms away from the central portion of the deployable reflector structure through tension in the cable;
an expandable structure coupled to the at least two arms;
a driving cable coupled to the cable drive system on a first end of a first arm of the at least two arms, the driving cable passing around a pulley at a second end of the first arm of the at least two arms opposite the first end before passing into a carrier positioned on a second arm of the at least two arms through the expandable structure; and
a reflector mesh coupled between the one or more arms and the base.
2 . The deployable reflector structure of claim 1 , wherein the carrier couples the expandable structure to the second arm of the at least two arms.
3 . The deployable reflector structure of claim 2 , wherein the carrier is configured to move along the second arm of the at least two arms.
4 . The deployable reflector structure of claim 2 , further comprising a cable configured to pull the carrier in a direction toward a distal end of the second arm of the at least two arms.
5 . The deployable reflector structure of claim 1 , wherein the hinge pulley is positioned a distance from a pivot of the hinge structure, wherein tension in the cable about the hinge pulley is configured to generate a moment on the hinge structure to drive the hinge structure to an expanded configuration.
6 . An expandable antenna structure comprising:
at least two arms;
an expandable structure coupled to the at least two arms;
a reflector mesh coupled between the at least two arms and a base;
a first carrier slidably coupled to a first arm of the at least two arms, the first carrier coupled to a section of the expandable structure on a first end of the section of the expandable structure;
a second carrier slidably coupled to a second arm of the at least two arms, the second carrier coupled to a second end of the section of the expandable structure opposite the first end;
a cable drive apparatus; and
a driving cable coupled to the cable drive apparatus on a first end of an arm of the at least two arms, the driving cable passing around a pulley at a second end of the arm of the at least two arms opposite the first end before passing into at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier and through diagonal truss structures in the section of the expandable structure, the diagonal truss structures defining an alternating diagonal path through the section of the expandable structure from the first end of the section of the expandable structure to the second end of the expandable structure.
7 . The expandable antenna structure of claim 6 , wherein the driving cable passes through the first carrier into the section of the expandable structure.
8 . The expandable antenna structure of claim 6 , wherein the driving cable terminates at the second carrier.
9 . The expandable antenna structure of claim 6 , wherein the driving cable passes through the second carrier at the second end of the section of the expandable structure and terminates at a distal end of the second arm.
10 . The expandable antenna structure of claim 6 , wherein the driving cable passes through the second carrier at the second end of the section of the expandable structure and terminates at a central portion of the expandable antenna structure.
11 . The expandable antenna structure of claim 6 , further comprising a synchronizing cable extending between the first carrier and the second carrier.
12 . A method of extending an antenna, the method comprising:
rotating at least two arms away from a base of a tower;
spooling a drive cable onto a spool;
sliding a first carrier along a first arm of the at least two arms;
sliding a second carrier along a second arm of the at least two arms;
pulling at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier along at least one of the first arm and the second arm with the drive cable driven by a cable drive apparatus on a first end of at least one of the first arm and the second arm, where the drive cable passes around a pulley at a second end of at the least one of the first arm and the second arm of the at least two arms opposite the first end before passing into at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier; and
shortening a diagonal truss member of an extendable structure with the drive cable, where the diagonal truss member defines an alternating diagonal path through the extendable structure, the extendable structure is coupled to the at least two arms through the first carrier and the second carrier, and the drive cable passes through the diagonal truss member of the extendable structure causing the extendable structure to expand away from the tower stretching a reflector mesh coupled between the rotating at least two arms and the base.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein pulling at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier along at least one of the first arm and the second arm comprises pulling the at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier toward a drive cable termination positioned at a distal end of the at least one of the first arm and the second arm.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein pulling at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier along at least one of the first arm and the second arm comprises: pulling the at least one of the first carrier and the second carrier toward the pulley.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein shortening the diagonal truss member of the extendable structure comprises shortening a length of the drive cable between the first arm and the second arm.