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US 12,759,733 B2Granted
Payload separation device and method
AssigneeReprise Space Solutions, LLC
InventorMichael David Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure relates generally to a payload separation system utilizing a circular arch connective mechanism for connecting and releasing a payload from a launch vehicle. The apparatus of the invention is particularly useful for spacecraft and other vehicular separation mechanisms.
Claims19
A satellite separation system, said satellite separation system comprising in combination:
- a first ring comprising a plurality of first bolt holes;
- a second ring comprising a plurality of second bolt holes;
- and
- a compression band,
- wherein said first ring contains a set of spaced voussoirs arranged in a circular arch,
- said second ring contains a set of spaced voussoirs arranged in a circular arch,
- wherein said spaced voussoirs of said first ring interleave with said second ring spaced voussoirs,
- said compression band encircles said rings and compresses said voussoirs together to prevent separation of said rings,
- wherein when said compression band is released, said second ring separates from said first ring along a cylindrical axis of said rings, and
- wherein the number of said spaced voussoirs on each of said rings are equal to half of the number of said bolt holes in each of said rings.
7 more elements
A satellite separation system, said satellite separation system comprising in combination:
- a stay-behind ring comprising a plurality of first bolt holes circumferentially arranged at equal angular intervals for attachment to a launch vehicle;
- a flyaway ring comprising a plurality of second bolt holes circumferentially arranged at equal angular intervals for attachment to a payload;
- and
- a compression band;
- said stay-behind ring contains a set of spaced voussoirs arranged in a circular arch,
- wherein said flyaway ring contains a set of spaced voussoirs arranged in a circular arch,
- wherein said spaced voussoirs of said stay-behind ring interleave with said flyaway ring spaced voussoirs,
- said compression band encircles said rings and compresses said voussoirs together to prevent separation of said rings,
- wherein when said compression band is released, said flyaway ring separates from said stay-behind ring along a cylindrical axis of said rings,
- wherein the number of said spaced voussoirs on each of said rings are equal to half of the number of said bolt holes in each of said rings, and
- wherein an angular width of each of said spaced voussoirs is equal to 360/(number of said bolt holes*0.5) degrees.
8 more elements
A method of providing a satellite separation system, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first ring comprising a plurality of first bolt holes;
- providing a second ring comprising a plurality of second bolt holes;
- providing a compression band;
- arranging a set of spaced voussoirs contained in said first ring in a circular arch;
- arranging a set of spaced voussoirs contained in said second ring in a circular arch;
- configuring the number of said spaced voussoirs on each of said rings to be equal to half of the number of said bolt holes in each of said rings;
- configuring said spaced voussoirs of said first ring to interleave with said second ring spaced voussoirs;
- configuring said compression band to encircle said rings and compressing said voussoirs together to prevent separation of said rings;
- and
- releasing said compression band such that said second ring separates from said first ring along a cylindrical axis of said rings.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.