LARGE-SIZE SPACE COLLAPSIBLE REFLECTOR Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: optics. SUBSTANCE: proposed large-size space collapsible reflector has flat or parabolic screen several tens of meters in diameter. Reflector can be employed as antenna as reflector of sunlight for illumination of surface of the Earth in night time, as reflector of wave energy radiated by the Sun and as solar sail. Reflector can automatically transform from rolled transportation position into unrolled working position. It includes central frame with pulling drum, radial plates fastened to drum, bent plates joined to frame, bracing wires fastening plates, system of mounts expanding bent plates to pull reflector together with drive, reduction gear rotating pulling drum. Assemblage of thin restoring elongated profiled radial and bent plates is used to anchor flexible elastic screen of light and radio wave reflecting material on them. Large dimensions, sufficient flexibility, possibility of accurate reproduction of specified shape of screen are base of effective usage of reflector in system of global radio communication and in some other fields of technology. EFFECT: expanded application field and increased functional reliability. 2 cl, 18 dwg