Automatic connector system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRonald A. Kubinski, Robert J. Atmur, Thorin Arthur Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus comprising a housing having an opening, a connector unit, a moveable door, and a biasing system. The connector unit is located inside the housing. The connector unit is capable of providing an electrical connection to a complementary connector unit. The moveable door is capable of being moved into an open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position covers the opening. The biasing system is capable of aligning the connector unit with the complementary connector unit and causing the connector unit to engage the complimentary connector unit.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an opening;
- a connector unit located inside the housing, wherein the connector unit is capable of providing an electrical connection to a complementary connector unit;
- a moveable door capable of being moved into an open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position covers the opening;
- and
- a biasing system, wherein the biasing system is capable of aligning the connector unit with the complementary connector unit causing the connector unit to connect to the complementary connector unit, the biasing system further comprising:
- a horizontal actuator for moving the connector unit and the moveable door in a horizontal direction in reference to the housing;
- and
- a vertical actuator for moving the connector unit in a vertical direction in reference to the housing.
An automatic connector system for establishing a connection with a launch vehicle connector comprising:
- a housing having an opening;
- a connector unit located inside the housing, wherein the connector unit is capable of providing an electrical connection to a launch vehicle connector;
- a moveable door capable of being moved into an open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position covers the opening;
- a biasing system, wherein the biasing system is capable of aligning the connector unit with the launch vehicle connector and wherein the biasing system is capable of moving the connector unit along a first axis substantially normal to the opening and along a second axis along a plane that is substantially parallel to the opening to form a connection with the launch vehicle connector;
- an engagement element located on an exterior surface of the moveable door, wherein the engagement element is configured to engage a complementary engagement element of a second moveable door covering the launch vehicle connector, and wherein movement of the moveable door to the open position causes the second moveable door to move to the open position;
- and
- an optical sensor system capable of generating video data of the connector unit and the launch vehicle connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.