Spacecraft berthing mechanism
AssigneeSpace Industries, Inc.
InventorCaldwell C. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spacecraft berthing mechanism for coupling spacecraft is provided which has minimal effect on the maximum size an associated spacecraft hull may have. The berthing mechanism includes a flange member which defines a hatchway and which is adapted for attachment to a spacecraft port. The flange member has a forwardly facing interface surface through which the hatchway passes and an outer peripheral surface extending rearwardly from the interface surface. The peripheral surface has a plurality of beveled portions spaced substantially evenly about the peripheral surface. A plurality of alignment guides are arranged on the flange member such that several of the alignment guides are positioned adjacent one of the beveled portions and the remaining alignment guides are positioned adjacent an opposing beveled portion.
Claims14
A spacecraft berthing mechanism for coupling spacecraft, comprising:
- a flange member defining a hatchway and being attachable to a spacecraft port, said flange member having a forwardly facing interface surface through which said hatchway passes and an outer peripheral surface extending rearwardly from said interface surface;
- and
- at least one alignment guide projecting from said flange member in a region of said flange member where said interface surface intersects said peripheral surface;
- wherein said peripheral surface has at least one beveled portion that is at an oblique angle with respect to said interface surface, said at least one beveled portion being positioned adjacent said at least one alignment guide.
A spacecraft berthing mechanism for coupling spacecraft, comprising:
- a flange member defining a hatchway and being attachable to a spacecraft port, said flange member having a forwardly facing interface surface through which said hatchway passes and an outer peripheral surface extending rearwardly from said interface surface, said peripheral surface having a plurality of beveled portions each of which is adjacent to and at an oblique angle with said interface surface;
- and
- a plurality of alignment guides projecting from said flange member, each of said alignment guides being positioned adjacent to one of said beveled portions.
In combination with a spacecraft having a port and with a spacecraft transport vehicle having a payload bay for carrying the spacecraft, said payload bay having an inside circumference, a spacecraft berthing mechanism comprising:
- a flange member defining a hatchway and being attachable to a spacecraft port, said flange member having a forwardly facing interface surface through which a hatchway passes and an outer peripheral surface extending rearwardly from said interface surface;
- and
- at least one alignment guide member projecting from said flange member in a region of said flange member where said interface surface intersects said peripheral surface;
- wherein said at least one alignment guide member projects from said flange member at such an angle and distance that the guide member lies within a circular arc defined substantially by the outer radial limits of said flange member and the inside circumference of the payload bay of the transport vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.