SOLAR ARRAY DUST REMOVAL

Described herein are apparatuses and methods for use therewith that can be used to remove dust and other types of particulates from a solar array of a spacecraft, a lander, a rover, or the like. Such an apparatus can include a main body and a solar array extending from the main body. One or more pie...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser:	Yates, Harry A, Campos, Roselin
Format:	Patent
Sprache:	eng
Schlagworte:	CLEANING CLEANING IN GENERAL CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER ELECTRICITY FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL GENERATION GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-REDRADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, E.G. USINGPHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICALVIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY PERFORMING OPERATIONS PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL TRANSPORTING
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	Described herein are apparatuses and methods for use therewith that can be used to remove dust and other types of particulates from a solar array of a spacecraft, a lander, a rover, or the like. Such an apparatus can include a main body and a solar array extending from the main body. One or more piezoelectric devices is/are attached to the solar array. The piezoelectric device(s), when activated, is/are configured to vibrate at least a portion of the solar array to thereby loosen particulates adhered thereto. The apparatus also includes one or more linear actuators that when actuated is/are configured to at least one of bump against, push on, or pull on at least a portion of the solar array to thereby jettison from the solar array at least some of the particulates that were loosened by the one or more piezoelectric devices.