Importance

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Abstract

An orienting device controls two tilt degrees of freedom of one or more suspended objects by raising supporting cables on one or two sides of the objects while lowering the cables on the opposite sides. Two separately controlled sets of tilt cables adjust two independent tilt degrees of freedom. An example is a stack of solar panels hanging below the gondola of a scientific balloon. The panels are automatically pointed in the same direction by the parallelogram-like arrangement of the cables. By manipulation of the cables, the stack of panels can be pointed in essentially any direction despite rotation of the gondola about the vertical axis in a way that eliminates any twisting of cables or need for slip rings. Additional cables deploy the stack of panels as well as restow them very compactly and securely inside the protective base of the gondola. These deployment/retraction cables are arranged to manipulate the tilt cables to prevent tangling or snagging during restowing. Since the 'structure' holding the panels includes cables rather than rigid cantilevered material, this support is very lightweight, a key ingredient for balloon systems. This orienting system could be used to point other such as telescopes, radio dishes, and mirrors.

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First Claim