Reusable, separable, structural connector assembly

A spacecraft system comprising:

• a first vehicle,
• a second vehicle,
• a coupler that is configured to couple the first vehicle to the second vehicle, and
• a decoupler that is configured to decouple the first vehicle from the second vehicle;
• wherein:
• the first vehicle comprises a plurality of leaf elements,
• each leaf element of the plurality of leaf elements having a leaf lip that includes a mating surface that substantially corresponds to an inverse of a receiving surface on the second vehicle,
• the coupler includes:
• a band that is configured to urge each leaf lip of the plurality of leaf elements into the receiving surface, via an expansion of a circumference of the band, and
• the decoupler includes decoupling elements that are configured to urge each leaf lip away from the receiving surface.

A method of attaching a first vehicle to a second vehicle,

• the first vehicle comprising a plurality of leaf elements,
• each leaf element of the plurality of leaf elements having a leaf lip that includes a mating surface that substantially corresponds to an inverse of a receiving surface on the second vehicle,
• the leaf lips of the plurality of leaf elements forming a first lip perimeter that substantially corresponds to an inclined receiving perimeter about the receiving surface on the second vehicle,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• positioning the first vehicle and the second vehicle so as to align the first lip perimeter with the inclined receiving perimeter,
• urging the first vehicle and the second vehicle together so as to deform the plurality of leaf elements via the inclined receiving perimeter to form a second lip perimeter that is larger than the first lip perimeter, and
• urging each of the leaf lips into the receiving surface via an expansion of a circumference of a band within a perimeter formed by the plurality of leaf elements, thereby substantially reforming the first lip perimeter.

A method of detaching a first vehicle from a second vehicle,

• the first vehicle comprising a plurality of leaf elements,
• each leaf element of the plurality of leaf elements having a leaf lip that is mated to a receiving surface on the second vehicle via an expansion of a circumference of a band within a perimeter formed by the plurality of leaf elements, the method comprising the steps of:
• reducing the circumference of the band,
• urging each leaf lip of the plurality of leaf elements away from the receiving surface on the second vehicle, and
• urging the first vehicle and the second vehicle apart.

A separation connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector device comprising
• a plurality of leaf elements, each leaf element of the plurality of leaf elements having a leaf lip that includes a first mating surface,
• a second connector device comprising
• a receiving surface having a second mating surface substantially corresponding to an inverse of the first mating surface for receiving each leaf lip of the plurality of leaf elements,
• a band that is configured to form a perimeter corresponding to the plurality of leaf elements, and is further configured to urge each leaf lip into the receiving surface, via at least one of a tensioning and an expansion of a circumference of the band, thereby facilitating a coupling of the first connector device to the second connector device,
• wherein:
• the plurality of leaf elements are arranged on the first connector device as discrete segments of leaf elements that form a perimeter corresponding to the receiving surface of the second connector device.

A separation connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector device comprising
• a plurality of leaf elements, each leaf element of the plurality of leaf elements having a leaf lip that includes a first mating surface,
• a second connector device comprising
• a receiving surface having a second mating surface substantially corresponding to an inverse of the first mating surface for receiving each leaf lip of the plurality of leaf elements,
• a band that is configured to form a perimeter corresponding to the plurality of leaf elements, and is further configured to urge each leaf lip into the receiving surface, via at least one of a tensioning and an expansion of a circumference of the band, thereby facilitating a coupling of the first connector device to the second connector device,
• wherein:
• the first and second mating surfaces include a shearing structure that is configured to minimize a lateral movement of the plurality of leaf elements relative to the receiving surface when the first connector device is coupled to the second connector device.