发明授权
- 专利标题: CAPTURE/BERTHING SYSTEM FOR SPACECRAFT
- 专利标题(中): 在航天系统调整/对接。
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申请号: EP90917083.9申请日: 1990-10-30
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公开(公告)号: EP0498846B1公开(公告)日: 1995-01-25
- 发明人: JOHNSON, Caldwell, C.
- 申请人: Space Industries, Inc.
- 申请人地址: 101 Courageous Drive League City, TX 77573 US
- 专利权人: Space Industries, Inc.
- 当前专利权人: Space Industries, Inc.
- 当前专利权人地址: 101 Courageous Drive League City, TX 77573 US
- 代理机构: Brunner, Michael John
- 优先权: US429632 19891031
- 国际公布: WO9106473 19910516
- 主分类号: B64G1/64
- IPC分类号: B64G1/64
摘要:
A method and apparatus for joining vehicles such as spacecraft is disclosed that utilizes a capture and berthing technique. The coupling apparatus comprises a first coupling unit (12) having a generally rigid extensible structure (34) that is mountable to a first spacecraft (14) and a second coupling unit (16) having a probe-like structure (80) mountable to a second spacecraft (18) which is cooperable with the extensible structure (34) to effect vehicle coupling. The first and second spacecraft are maneuvered so as to generally align the coupling apparatus thereon, after which the extensible structure (34) is extended to engage and capture the probe-like structure (80). Following capture of the second coupling unity by the extensible structure (34), the extensible structure (34) is subsequently retracted to effect berthing of the first and second spacecraft. Once the spacecraft coupling units have been captured and berthed in the foregoing manner, they can be structurally joined by appropriate coupling apparatus.
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