Universal spacecraft separation node

An apparatus for use in selectively connecting a deployable assembly and a support structure, said deployable assembly including a first interface surface and said support structure including a second interface surface wherein, prior to deployment of said deployable assembly, said first and second interface surfaces are disposed in opposing relationship to define an interface therebetween, said deployable assembly being deployable from an undeployed state wherein said first and second interface surfaces are disposed proximate to one another and a deployed state wherein said first and second interface surfaces are separated, said apparatus comprising:

• a support structure node member, interconnected to said support structure, including a first contact surface;
• and
• a deployable assembly node member, interconnected to said deployable assembly, including a second contact surface;
• said first and second contact surfaces being disposed in an abutting relationship when said deployable assembly is in said undeployed state so as to define a separation plane;
• a lateral load bearing element, associated with said first and second contact surfaces at said separation plane, for bearing loads having a component aligned with said separation plane so as to reduce the likelihood of unintended shearing separation prior to planned deployment.

An apparatus for use in selectively connecting a deployable assembly and a support structure, said deployable assembly including a first interface surface and said support structure including a second interface surface wherein, prior to deployment of said deployable assembly, said first and second interface surfaces are disposed in opposing relationship, said deployable assembly being deployable from an undeployed state wherein said first and second interface surfaces are disposed proximate to one another and a deployed state wherein said first and second interface surfaces are separated, said apparatus comprising:

• a support structure node member, interconnected to said support structure, including a first contact surface;
• a deployable assembly node member interconnected to said deployable assembly, including a second contact surface;
• said first and second contact surfaces being disposed in an abutting relationship when said deployable assembly is in said undeployed state so as to define a separation plane;
• and
• a separation bolt assembly for selectively interconnecting said support structure node member and said deployable assembly node member, said separation bolt assembly including a first portion interconnected to said support structure node member and a second portion interconnected to said deployable assembly node member, said first and second portions being separable so as to effect deployment of said deployable assembly.

An apparatus for use in selectively connecting a deployable assembly and a support structure, said deployable assembly including a first interface surface and said support structure including a second interface surface wherein, prior to deployment of said deployable assembly, said first and second interface surfaces are disposed in opposing relationship to define an interface therebetween, said deployable assembly being deployable from an undeployed state wherein said first and second interface surfaces are disposed proximate to one another and a deployed state wherein said first and second interface surfaces are separated, said apparatus comprising:

• a support structure node member, interconnected to said support structure, including a first contact surface;
• and
• a deployable assembly node member, interconnected to said deployable assembly, including a second contact surface;
• said first and second contact surfaces being disposed in an abutting relationship when said deployable assembly is in said undeployed state so as to define a separation plane;
• biasing means, connected to at least one of said deployable assembly and said support structure, for urging said first and second contact surfaces apart so as to facilitate deployment of said deployable assembly.