Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8167247 | Space-based occulter A space-based occulter is selectively movable between stowed and deployed configurations. A base hub has a longitudinally oriented center axis. A plurality of petals are provided, each petal extending radially outward from, and spaced radially apart from, the base h... | 05/01/2012 |
| 7988098 | Actuator for systems for guiding space equipment with a variable rate of rotation Actuator for a device for the rotary positioning of a movable element for space equipment comprising a part attached to the fixed portion of said equipment, a bearing, a sleeve designed to actuate the movable portion of said equipment and mounted on an output shaft ... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7850124 | Long-service-life rotary positioning device for space applications A rotary positioning device of a movable element for space equipment comprising a part attached to a fixed portion of the equipment and a handle actuating the movable portion of the equipment, said handle being rigidly connected to a first race of a ball or roller a... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7708228 | Sequencing device for deploying a structure as a function of the kinematics of one mobile body thereof A device is disclosed for sequencing the deployment of a deployable structure comprising a first body, at least one second body mobile relative to the first body, and at least one third body mobile relative to either the first body or the second body and disposed, i... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7644890 | Low-energy locking hinge mechanism for deployable devices A low-energy locking hinge mechanism operable with a spacecraft to support a deployable device, and to facilitate the deployment and locking of the deployable device, the hinge mechanism comprising: (a) a support base configured to couple to a structure of the space... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7513461 | Articulated assembly of solar generator panels and space vehicle The invention relates to an articulated assembly (1) comprising at least two panels (4-7) which are positioned close to a solar generator. The aforementioned panels are articulated in pairs such they can pivot between a stacked configuration, in... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7407137 | Dual voltage integrated power and attitude control system and method An integrated power and attitude control system and method for a vehicle efficiently supplies electrical power to both low voltage and high voltage loads, and does not rely on relatively heavy batteries to supply power during the vehicle initialization process. The ... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7343228 | Transient cancellation technique for spacecraft solar wing stepping A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of solar panels of a spacecraft is described. The method comprises the steps of providing a first step command to a first solar panel, and providing a second step command to a second solar panel at a time of a trans... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7337499 | Knuckle arm A knuckle arm interconnects a machine body and a top cover of a machine, and includes a base fixed on the machine body, and a pivot seat connected pivotally to the base and attached to the top cover. A biasing unit is disposed between the base and the pivot seat so ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7295884 | System and method of designing a load bearing layer of an inflatable vessel A computer-implemented method is provided for designing a restraint layer of an inflatable vessel. The restraint layer is inflatable from an initial uninflated configuration to an inflated configuration and is constructed from a plurality of interfacing longitudinal... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7278612 | Swaged cable deployment in space A cable restraint/deployment mechanism is disclosed for deploying an object in space from a spacecraft. To deploy the object, the cable restraint/deployment mechanism cuts a cable attached to the spacecraft and the object. For example, a spacecraft may include a sol... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7275285 | Deployment hinge A deployment hinge for deploying an appendage, including a movable portion affixed to the appendage, and a stationary portion affixed to a stationary body. In a non-deployed state, the movable portion is mechanically engaged with the stationary portion and a mechani... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7270303 | Pincer apparatus for nanosat transport across a satellite A pincer system is comprised of an array of pincers. Each pincer includes an inner disk having legs that are pushed downwards onto a pliable material to cause protuberances, while an outer disk is rotated to simultaneously squeeze the extruded material between its l... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7270304 | Isolating positioning boom for instrument platform A positioning boom disposed between a space-based observatory platform and its instrument payload provides thermal and dynamic isolation as well as fine pointing and momentum control. The inventive system isolates a sensitive payload from a warm, dynamically noisy s... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7207525 | Apparatus for grasping objects in space A remotely controlled apparatus for grasping an object such as a satellite in space includes a free-flying grasper unit connected by a selectively extendable cable to an orbital platform. The orbital platform and the grasper unit are preferably each independently pr... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7188558 | Pyromechanical separating element The invention relates to a pyromechanical separating element having a hermetically sealed pyrotechnic pressure element (2), which is installed in a housing (1) and has a gas-forming pyrotechnic charge, and a detachable latching pin (5) which is ... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7185848 | Mass transfer system for stabilizing an airship and other vehicles subject to pitch and roll moments The invention relates to a mechanism to control the pitch and/or roll and/or center of gravity of a vehicle. The first embodiment is a track-based mass transfer system in which pathways are positioned along or radially terminate at a central horizontal plane of the ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7118077 | Platform and system for mass storage and transfer in space A platform for storage and transfer of payloads in space includes a plate for supporting a payload, and a transfer mechanism for transferring the payload to and from the plate. A groove extends diametrically between two edges of the plate for receiving a rail provid... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7102579 | Satellite antenna with photovoltaic elements for electric power supply A satellite antenna station composed of: a dish for concentrating received electromagnetic energy; photovoltaic elements for supplying electric power to the station; and a positioning device controlled by a control unit. The positioning device is adjustable at least... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7096540 | Fold-type data processing apparatus having a hinge A fold-type cellular phone has a top unit, a bottom unit and a hinge coupling together the top unit and the bottom unit while allowing the top unit to turn and swivel with respect to the bottom unit. The top unit is first unfolded from a first folded position to an ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7097133 | Articulated folding wing structure and method An articulated wing (20) is readily deployable from a stowed configuration that occupies minimal volume to an extended configuration for flight. The wing (20) includes a frame (24) having a pair of beams (30) spaced by one or more ribs ( | 08/29/2006 |
| 7080681 | Heat pipe component deployed from a compact volume A component of a heat pipe assembly (100) has hollow fluid transport sections (108) communicating with hollow bendable fluid transport sections (110); the bendable fluid transport sections (110) being bendable to deploy the transport sect... | 07/25/2006 |
| 6682020 | Unfolding joint for satellite solar generators A joint is provided for unfolding systems, e.g. for satellite solar generators that permits sufficiently large unfolding torque, low weight and small dimensions. A drive on one joint half acts on a small pulley to wind a cord on it. The other end of the c... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6669147 | Deployable radiator for a space vehicle The invention provides a deployable radiator for a space vehicle such as a satellite. The radiator of the invention has two radiating faces, one of which is insulating over a portion of its area so that during launch and while the satellite is being moved... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6637702 | Nested beam deployable solar array A solar array includes a plurality of panels that are individually supported by beams that nest within each other in the stowed position to minimize the volume of the structure prior to deployment. The beams are pivotally connected to each other are deplo... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6634601 | Attitude sensor for spacecraft A spacecraft is provided that includes a communications payload having an antenna support structure and an antenna boom coupled to the antenna support structure. An attitude sensor may be mounted to the antenna boom. The attitude sensor (such as an Earth ... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6626231 | Heat transfer device A heat transfer device includes a capillary-pumped first fluid loop including an evaporator situated on a satellite in the vicinity of a source of dissipated heat and a condenser connected by heat transfer members to the evaporator and situated on a deplo... | 09/30/2003 |
| 4865514 | Manipulator system with small arm removably attachable at points along large arm In this manipulator system, a small arm is coupled with an arm portion of a large arm excepting the tip, and the large arm and the small arm are independently controlled to operate. For coupling the small arm with the arm portion of the large arm, a captu... | 09/12/1989 |
| 4842106 | Rate controllable damping mechanism A rate controllable damping mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a chamber disposed within a housing; an element mounted for movement within the chamber; a damping material, preferably a low melting temperature metal alloy, in the chamber for pr... | 06/27/1989 |
| 4834325 | Modular spacecraft system A modular spacecraft system adapted for orbital flight is capable of expansion by the connection of at least two substantially identical spacecraft modules, each of which is capable of independent operation. Each spacecraft module comprises a spacecraft b... | 05/30/1989 |
| 4815525 | Deployable space radiator with condenser A deployable radiator panel system for use in spacecraft or the like for rejecting power when exposed to space. A plurality of panels are mounted in stacked juxtaposition in stored condition for rotation from the stored condition about a common axis in a ... | 03/28/1989 |
| 4787580 | Large solar arrays with high natural frequencies A solar array structure for use with satellites requiring large areas of solar arrays. Each array is a single continuous structure having continuous longitudinal members which in a stowed condition enable the panel to be wrapped around the satellite withi... | 11/29/1988 |
| 4779712 | Equipoise assembly A non-linear torque produced by an offset mass rotating on a shaft is balanced over 360° of revolution by a lever arm mounted to the shaft extending in a direction opposite that of the offset mass and a spring means for generating a constant force in the... | 10/25/1988 |
| 4750692 | Satellite retrieval apparatus Apparatus for capturing and retrieving objects from space. A tethered grappling unit having deployable arms with catching ropes and Velcro hook strips at the ends thereof is spun and propelled towards the target. On impact, the catching ropes envelop the ... | 06/14/1988 |
| 4747567 | Spacecraft with articulated solar array A spacecraft is disclosed which comprises a spacecraft body, at least one solar array extendible outwardly from the spacecraft body, and articulation means for adjusting the position of the solar array relative to the spacecraft body independently about t... | 05/31/1988 |
| 4727932 | Expandable pulse power spacecraft radiator An expandable heat rejection system for radiating heat generated by a source of heat on a spacecraft or like vehicle is described and comprises a fluid heat exchange medium in operative heat exchange contact with the source for absorbing heat by evaporati... | 03/01/1988 |
| 4725025 | Deployment system A plurality of indexing brackets having indexing apertures are secured to a retractable boom in spaced relation. A like plurality of indexing bulkheads are hinged to a foldable panel array (or collapsible spiral antenna) at spaced hinge axes. The bulkhead... | 02/16/1988 |
| 4703907 | Mechanism for the automatic extension of an appendage of a space vehicle performing a rotary movement on itself The extension mechanism acts on each of the panels of the appendage, in such a way that the distance separating the center of gravity of said appendage from the rotation axis O of the space vehicle permanently increases from the initial position in which ... | 11/03/1987 |
| 4666107 | Deployable space panel structure A deployable space panel structure for use in connection with space vehicles such as satellites and the like. The deployable space panel structure includes a first series of interconnected substantially flat panel members and a second series of interconne... | 05/19/1987 |
| 4634086 | Solar ray collecting device for use in a spacecraft A solar ray collecting device suitable for being loaded and employed in a spacecraft. The device is made of a cylindrical cover, a plurality of round solar ray collecting portions, the light-receiving surface of which is equal in size to said cylindrical ... | 01/06/1987 |
