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US 11,794,928 B2Granted
Satellite deployer with externally adjustable payload restraint
AssigneeRocket Lab USA, Inc.
InventorsPeter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A satellite dispenser and method of using same are disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser as disclosed herein includes a dispenser body defining an interior cavity to accommodate a payload; and a plurality of externally adjustable restraints positioned within the interior cavity and configured to be extended further into the interior cavity by actuation of a manual interface external to the interior cavity.
Claims20
A satellite dispenser, comprising:
- a dispenser body defining an interior cavity to accommodate a payload;
- a plurality of externally adjustable restraints positioned within the interior cavity and configured to be extended further into the interior cavity by actuation of a manual interface external to the interior cavity;
- and
- an assembly positioned within the interior cavity and is biased to eject the payload from the satellite dispenser;
- wherein:
- the assembly comprises a structure having a plurality of posts;
- and
- the plurality of restraints extends through a wall of the satellite dispenser to engage at least a subset of posts of the structure.
5 more elements
A method of loading a satellite dispenser, comprising:
- inserting a satellite into the satellite dispenser, wherein the satellite dispenser comprises:
- a dispenser body defining an interior cavity to accommodate the satellite;
- a plurality of externally adjustable restraints positioned within the interior cavity;
- and
- an assembly positioned within the interior cavity and is biased to eject the payload from the satellite dispenser;
- wherein:
- the assembly comprises a structure having a plurality of posts;
- and
- the plurality of restraints extends through a wall of the satellite dispenser to engage at least a subset of posts of the structure;
- closing a dispenser door of the satellite dispenser to seal the satellite inside the satellite dispenser;
- and
- adjusting a plurality of externally adjustable manual interfaces, wherein each of the manual interfaces is associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of restraints, each of the manual interfaces is adjusted to corresponding a prescribed torque, and at least a subset of the plurality of restraints are correspondingly adjusted to a position at which the subset of the plurality of restraints secure the satellite.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.