Actuated resettable shockless hold down and release mechanism (AReS HDRM)

A resettable and shockless hold-down and release mechanism, comprising:

• a) an active housing assembly having a first housing having a distal end which includes an attachment feature configured to be attached to a first object, and including a first interface, a locking mechanism mounted in said housing which includes a movable member, and a pair of engagement members having proximal ends mounted in said first housing and distal ends extending out of said first housing beyond said first interface, said locking mechanism configured such that the movable member is moveable between said pair of engagement members and when moved towards said active assembly distal end it bears against inner surfaces of said engagement member distal ends and drives them radially outwards;
• b) a passive housing assembly having a second housing having a distal end which includes an attachment feature to configured to attach it to a second object, said second housing have a second interface complimentary to said first interface to form a coupling between it and said first interface to give a structural connection between said first and second housings, said second housing being configured to receive said distal ends of said engagement members prior to them being engaged by said movable member and having an internal structure complimentary with outer surfaces of said engagement member distal ends such that when said first and second housings are structurally connected, movement of said movable member towards said second housing drives said engagement members radially outwards into physical contact with said complimentary internal housing structure thereby locking said active and passible housing assemblies together in a shockless manner, and upon moving said movable member back away from said second housing said engagement members physically disengage from said complimentary internal housing structure to release said active and passible housing assemblies together in a shockless manner.

An actuated resettable and shockless hold-down and release mechanism, comprising:

• a) an active housing assembly including an active housing having a distal end which includes an attachment feature to attach it to a first object, said active housing having a first interface, including a collet including at least two arcuate-shaped elongate arms, a proximal end of said elongate arms structurally engaged with said active housing, a distal end of each elongate arm having a collet wedge attached thereto;
• a lead screw having a plunger engaged therewith, an actuator including electrical connections for being connected to a control mechanism for controlling actuation of said actuator, a proximal end of said lead screw operably connected to said actuator, a distal end of said lead screw located between said collet wedges, said arcuate-shaped elongate arms configured such that said collet wedges are inclined towards said distal end of said lead screw;
• b) a passive housing assembly including a passive housing having a distal end which includes an attachment feature to attach it to a second object, said passive housing have a second interface to form a coupling between it and said first interface on said active assembly housing to give a structural connection between said passive housing and said active housing with said first and second interfaces mated to each other, said passive housing having an internal structure complimentary with said collet wedges;
• and
• c) said passive housing assembly having an internal housing structure configured so that, upon said plunger being driven towards said passive housing assembly, said plunger engages said collet wedges to drive them radially outwards into physical contact with said internal housing structure so that upon engagement said actuator ceases movement thereby locking said active and passible housing assemblies together in a shockless manner, and wherein the active and passive housing assemblies are released in a shockless manner by withdrawing said plunger away from said passive housing assembly.

A method of resettably and shocklessly mating and decoupling releasable assemblies, comprising:

• a) affixing an active housing to a first object, said active housing having a distal end having a first interface and a reversible locking mechanism including engagement members mounted in said active housing which extend beyond said first interface, said reversible locking mechanism configured to move said engagement members laterally outwards;
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• b) affixing a passive housing to a second object, said passive housing having a distal end having a second interface complimentary to said first interface to form a coupling between it and said first interface to give a structural connection between said active and passive housings, said passive housing being configured to receive therein said engagement members when a structural connection is formed between said active and passive housings, said passive housing having an internal structure complimentary to said engagement members;
• c) aligning said active and passive housing and forming a structural connection between said active and passive housings such that said engagement members are positioned within said passive housing;
• d) activating the reversible locking mechanism to move said engagement members radially outwards and into physical engagement with and internal housing structure of said passive housing complimentary to said engagement members so that when said engagement members are in physical contact with said internal housing structure the active and passive housings are locked together in a shockless manner, and
• e) if it is desired to release the active and passive housing, activating the reversible locking mechanism to move said engagement members inwards away from physical contact with said internal housing structure thereby releasing the active and passive housings in a shockless manner.