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AssigneeDeutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
InventorsAndreas Baumann, Bertram Willberg
Estimating the term…
In a space shuttle with a device for docking to a satellite, especially a communication or navigation satellite, at least two spreading elements in the form of lever spreaders (4) are pivotally disposed at a retaining part (3) of the docking device, which is concentric to a linkage (2). The lever spreaders (4) have their proximal ends—relative to the space shuttle—provided with noses (41) projecting inward towards the linkage (2), which noses engage in a recess (22) formed in the linkage (2) when the lever spreaders (4), spread apart to a defined opening angle by the cone (21) of the linkage (2), are retracted. When the linkage (2) is retracted further, a pressure spring (5) is compressed. At the same time, the lever spreaders (4) caught in the recess (22) are retracted so far that the ends (42) of the lever spreaders (4), spread apart in a defined manner, positively abut the inner wall of the nozzle neck (10)
A space shuttle with a docking device for docking to a satellite, especially a communication or navigation satellite, the device comprising a displaceable linkage (2) having a cone (21) at its distal end—relative to the shuttle—and a spreader mechanism with spreading elements, operable from the shuttle, at least two spreading elements being pivotally provided at a retaining part (3) of the docking device that is concentric to the linkage (2), characterized in that the spreading elements configured as lever spreaders (4) have noses (41) at their proximal ends, relative to the space shuttle, the noses projecting inward toward the linkage (2), and that the central portion of the linkage (2) is formed with a recess (22) into which the inward projecting noses (41) of the lever spreaders (4) engage when the lever spreaders, spread to a defined opening angle, are withdrawn.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.