Importance

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Abstract

To hold a solar panel array of a satellite in a folded position, cable runs from a support on the outside panel through the four corners of the array to a tie down device. Each tie down device has a rotatable shaft with a hook for holding a loop at the end of a cable offset slightly from the center of rotation of the shaft. A lever arm depending from the shaft extends a significant distance from the center of rotation so that the force required to hold the shaft in the tie down position with a cable hooked on the hook is relatively small. Furthermore, because of this relatively small force, the lever arm may be readily released whereupon the small torque applied by the cable to the shaft rotates the shaft thereby releasing the cable. In this way, the satellite solar panel array is released for deployment.

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First Claim