Spacecraft capture mechanism
US9669950B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
22References
35Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 6, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G2004/005
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a capture mechanism for capturing and locking onto the Marman flange located on the exterior surfaces of spacecraft/satellites. The capture mechanism achieves its goal of quickly capturing a client spacecraft by splitting the two basic actions involved into two separate mechanisms. One mechanism performs the quick grasp of the target while the other mechanism rigidises that grasp to ensure that the target is held as firmly as desired.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.