MECHANICALLY DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

A mechanically deployable, expandable and collapsible structure (21) is provided. The structure (21) includes at least one scissor assembly (23) made up of a first (25) and a second strut (25), a first spacer (31) disposed between the first end (25') of the first strut (25) and the first end (27') of the second strut (27) when the scissor assembly (23) is in the expanded position, and a second spacer (33) disposed between the second end (25") of the first strut (25) and the second end (27") of the second strut (27) when the scissor assembly (23) is in the expanded position. A tension member (35) is connected to the first (35) and second struts (27). The tension member (35) is arranged such that the scissor assembly (23) is moved from the folded position when there is slack in the tension member (35) to the expanded position when the slack in the tension member (35) is taken up.