Guideless resilient androgynous serial port docking mechanism
AssigneeCU Aerospace, LLC
InventorsNeil Hejmanowski, Alex Ghosh, David L. Carroll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The Guideless Resilient Androgynous Serial Port (GRASP) mechanism provides an androgynous mechanical and electrical interface that can be tailored to the meet the requirements of a given application. Each mechanism is equipped with physical connections (spring pins) for both power and data transmission between modules.
Claims23
A first guideless resilient androgynous serial port (GRASP) mechanism for a spacecraft docking system and for use with a second GRASP mechanism, wherein each of the first and second GRASP mechanisms comprising:
- a base plate having an opening bored through, wherein the base plate has an outward facing connection surface configured to position against a second base plate of the second GRASP mechanism when the first and second GRASP mechanisms are docked together;
- a two-piece housing unit secured to the base plate over the opening, the two-piece housing unit defined by a lower housing and an upper housing, the lower housing includes a lip surrounding the opening and a ridge extending from the lip to a circular surface wall extending away from the base plate, and a channel cut out is further defined along a portion of the circular surface wall;
- a docking nut being positioned against the ridge and over the opening, the docking nut having a threaded interior surface and an exterior lower ratchet toothed section rotatably situated within the circular surface wall of the lower housing;
- a pawl mechanism being positioned in the channel cut out and biased to engage the exterior lower ratchet toothed section to permit rotation of the docking nut in a single direction;
- a docking screw threaded into the docking nut, the docking screw having an interior channel keyed to receive a drive shaft;
- a motor mechanism configured to rotate the docking screw via the drive shaft;
- and
- wherein the docking screw has a screw length configured to extend through the docking nut and through the base plate when the docking screw is in an extension position and wherein the docking nut has a nut length configured to define a receiving space below the docking screw when the docking screw is un-extended through the docking nut whereby the receiving space of the docking nut is further configured to receive a portion of a second docking screw in the extension position when the first and second GRASP mechanisms are docked together.
A first guideless resilient androgynous serial port (GRASP) mechanism for a spacecraft docking system and for use with a second GRASP mechanism, wherein each of the first and second GRASP mechanisms comprising:
- a base plate having an opening bored through, wherein the base plate has an outward facing connection surface configured to position against a second base plate of the second GRASP mechanism when the first and second GRASP mechanisms are docked together;
- a two-piece housing unit secured to the base plate over the opening, the two-piece housing unit defined by a lower housing and an upper housing, the lower housing includes a lip surrounding the opening and a ridge extending from the lip to a circular surface wall extending away from the base plate;
- a docking nut being positioned against the ridge and over the opening, the docking nut having a threaded interior surface;
- a rotational restriction mechanism being positioned against the docking nut within the circular surface wall to engage the docking nut and configured to permit rotation of the docking nut in a single direction;
- a docking screw threaded into the docking nut, the docking screw having an interior channel keyed to receive a drive shaft;
- a motor mechanism configured to rotate the docking screw via the drive shaft;
- and
- wherein the docking screw has a screw length configured to extend through the docking nut and through the base plate when the docking screw is in an extension position and wherein the docking nut has a nut length configured to define a receiving space below the docking screw when the docking screw is un-extended through the docking nut whereby the receiving space of the docking nut is further configured to receive a portion of a second docking screw in the extension position when the first and second GRASP mechanisms are docked together.
A docking system configured to dock two surfaces defined on separate spacecraft, the docking system comprising at least a pair of opposing guideless resilient androgynous serial port (GRASP) mechanisms, wherein each of the GRASP mechanisms being positioned on the separate spacecraft and which connect to each other to dock the separate spacecraft together, the docking system further comprising:
- a mounting platform configured on a side of separate spacecraft, wherein the sides of the separate spacecraft being configured for docking to each other;
- at least one GRASP mechanism secured to the mounting platform of the sides of the separate spacecraft, and wherein each of the GRASP mechanisms including:
- a base plate having an opening bored through, wherein the base plate has an outward facing connection surface configured to position against a second base plate of the opposing GRASP mechanism when the separate spacecraft are docked together;
- a docking nut being positioned over the opening, the docking nut having a threaded interior surface;
- a rotational restriction mechanism being positioned against the docking nut to engage the docking nut and configured to permit rotation of the docking nut in a single direction;
- a docking screw threaded into the docking nut;
- a motor mechanism configured to thread the docking screw through the docking nut;
- and
- wherein the docking screw has a screw length configured to extend through the docking nut and through the base plate when the docking screw is in an extension position and wherein the docking nut has a nut length configured to define a receiving space below the docking screw when the docking screw is un-extended through the docking nut whereby the receiving space of the docking nut is further configured to receive a portion of a second docking screw in the extension position when the opposing GRASP mechanisms are docking together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.