IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0625066
(2007-01-19)
|
등록번호 |
US-7543779
(2009-07-01)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lewis, James L.
- Carroll, Monty B.
- Le, Thang D.
- Morales, Ray H.
- Robertson, Brandan R.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
8 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
An androgynous mating system for mating two exoatmospheric space modules comprising a first mating assembly capable of mating with a second mating assembly; a second mating assembly structurally identical to said first mating assembly, said first mating assembly comprising; a load ring; a plurality
An androgynous mating system for mating two exoatmospheric space modules comprising a first mating assembly capable of mating with a second mating assembly; a second mating assembly structurally identical to said first mating assembly, said first mating assembly comprising; a load ring; a plurality of load cell subassemblies; a plurality of actuators; a base ring; a tunnel; a closed loop control system; one or more electromagnets; and one or more striker plates, wherein said one or more electomagnets on said second mating assembly are capable of mating with said one or more striker plates on said first mating assembly, and wherein said one or more striker plates is comprised of a plate of predetermined shape and a 5-DOF mechanism capable of maintaining predetermined contact requirements during said mating of said one or more electromagnets and said one or more striker plates.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An androgynous mating system for mating two space modules, comprising: a first mating assembly capable of mating with a second mating assembly; a second mating assembly structurally identical to said first mating assembly, said first mating assembly comprising; a load ring ha
What is claimed is: 1. An androgynous mating system for mating two space modules, comprising: a first mating assembly capable of mating with a second mating assembly; a second mating assembly structurally identical to said first mating assembly, said first mating assembly comprising; a load ring having an annular outer face and inner face; a plurality of load cell subassemblies coupled to said load ring, wherein a load cell subassembly is comprised of at least one load joint and at least one load cell, each of said at least one load cell being capable of sensing forces imposed on said load ring by contact with said second mating assembly and generating electronic signals representative of the sensed forces; a plurality of actuators coupled to said load ring on a first side of said actuators and capable of physically and dynamically moving said load ring through six degrees of freedom; a base ring coupled to a second side of said actuators; a tunnel coupled to said base ring; a closed loop control system electronically connected to said plurality of load cell subassemblies and capable of analyzing the signals originating from said at least one load cell and of generating real time control signals wherein said plurality of actuators move said load ring through six degrees of freedom; one or more electromagnets positioned on said outer face of said load ring; and one or more striker plates positioned on said outer face of said load ring, wherein said one or more electromagnets on said second mating assembly are capable of mating with said one or more striker plates on said first mating assembly, and wherein said one or more striker plates is comprised of a plate of predetermined shape and a 5-DOF mechanism capable of maintaining predetermined contact requirements during said mating of said one or more electromagnets and said one or more striker plates. 2. The mating system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of hardstop structural columns coupled to said base ring, wherein said one or more striker plates is further comprised of a normal direction stroke capable of providing a sixth degree of freedom that is extendable and retractable, and wherein said plurality of hardstop structural columns on said first mating assembly is capable of pushing up a predetermined normal direction stroke on said first mating assembly such that the one or more electromagnets on said first mating assembly will not contact the one or more striker plates on said second mating assembly. 3. The mating system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of hardstop structural columns is comprised of a structural column, a hardstop mounting plate formed to one end of said structural column, wherein said hardstop mounting plate is coupled to said base ring, a hardstop contact coupled to said structural column at the second end of said structural column, and a load limiting device coupled between said hardstop contact and said structural column. 4. The mating system of claim 1, wherein said one or more electromagnets is comprised of one or more electromagnetic limit switches incorporated in each of said one or more electromagnets, wherein said each of said one or more electromagnetic limit switches is comprised of one or more micro-limit switches and a protective mechanism, wherein said protective mechanism is comprised of: a protective housing coupled to said one or more micro-limit switch; a pivot arm coupled to said protective housing; and a spring coupled to said pivot arm and protective housing. 5. The mating system of claim 1, wherein said at least one load joint is capable of providing 5 degrees of freedom for said at least one load cell. 6. The mating system of claim 5, wherein said at least one load joint is comprised of a predetermined sensing end, a predetermined ground end, wherein the at least one load joint is capable of providing 3 rotational degrees of freedom at said sensing end and 2 rotational degrees of freedom at said ground end. 7. The mating system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of actuator joints wherein one of said actuator joints is coupled between said load ring and at least one of said plurality of actuators at a first end, and wherein another of said actuator joints is coupled between said base ring and said at least one of said plurality of actuators at a second end. 8. The mating system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lockdown assemblies coupled to said base ring, wherein said lockdown assembly is capable of providing capture and retention of said load ring in a passive mode and for launch load environment protection. 9. The mating system of claim 8, wherein each lockdown assembly is comprised of: a lockdown assembly housing; at least one lockdown actuator coupled to said lockdown assembly housing; a plurality of capture arms coupled to said lockdown assembly housing; a jackscrew electromechanically driven by said at least one lockdown actuator and coupled to said plurality of capture arms; a spring stack coupled to said jackscrew wherein said spring stack is capable of providing a uniform load to said plurality of capture arms; a slider coupled to said jackscrew and said spring stack wherein said slider serves as a structural interface capable of aiding in providing said uniform load; and at least one limit switch electromechanically connected to said plurality of lockdown capture arms and coupled to said lockdown assembly housing. 10. The mating system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of load cell subassemblies is further comprised of at least one overload protection assembly comprising: a structural arm; and a plurality of overload limiters coupled to said structural arm, wherein said overload limiters provide overload protection for said at least one load cell. 11. The mating system of claim 1, wherein said tunnel is comprised of: an inward facing tunnel channel; and a bottom ring coupled to said tunnel channel, wherein said bottom ring is comprised of multiple penetrations capable of mounting ancillary components and pass-thru connectors coupled to a predetermined number of said penetrations. 12. The mating system of claim 11, wherein said tunnel is further comprised of pass-thru auxiliary drives coupled to a predetermined number of said penetrations. 13. The mating system of claim 1, further comprising a structural latch assembly coupled to said tunnel capable of providing a final load reactive connection between said first and second mating assemblies. 14. The mating system of claim 13, wherein said structural latch assembly is comprised of: a first ring gear coupled to said tunnel; a second ring gear coupled to said tunnel; a plurality of latch actuators mechanically attached to said first ring gear, said second ring gear, or both; a plurality of linkages mechanically attached to said first ring gear, said second ring gear, or both; and a plurality of gearheads mechanically attached to said plurality of linkages. 15. The mating system of claim 1, further comprising a mating umbilical assembly coupled to said tunnel and capable of passing utilities and data between said two space modules. 16. The mating system of claim 15, wherein said mating umbilical assembly is comprised of: a plurality of mating umbilicals coupled to said tunnel; and a plurality of cable harnesses coupled to said mating umbilicals. 17. The mating system of claim 1, further comprising a separation push-off assembly coupled to said tunnel and capable of effectuating a controlled separation of said first and second mating assemblies. 18. The mating system of claim 1, further comprising at least one alignment guide petal coupled to said load ring. 19. The mating system of claim 1, wherein the 5-DOF mechanism of the striker plate is comprised of: a structural support; a plurality of restoring springs coupled to said structural support; a plurality of spring plungers coupled to said structural support and to at least one of the plurality of restoring springs; a slider plate coupled to a predetermined subset of said plurality of restoring springs; a pivot joint coupled to said structural support; and a plate coupled to said pivot joint. 20. A method of docking a first and second androgynous mating assembly as described in claim 1, comprising the steps: extending a portion of first mating assembly into contact with second androgynous docking assembly; sensing a plurality of forces imposed on first mating assembly by contact with second mating assembly; assessing the magnitude of each of the plurality of imposed forces; determining, from the magnitude of the plurality of imposed forces, the relative position and angular orientation of the first mating assembly with respect to the second mating assembly; computing dynamic control signals required to effect a desired relative position and angular orientation of the first mating assembly with respect to the second mating assembly; and applying, in response to the dynamic control signals, forces on the second mating assembly to move the first mating assembly into desired relative position and angular orientation. 21. The method of claim 20 whereby the step of applying forces on the second mating assembly comprises the further steps of counteracting and absorbing forces imposed on the first mating assembly by the second mating assembly, and attenuating residual forces between first and second mating assemblies to bring them into the desired relative position and orientation. 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of attaching the first mating assembly to the second mating assembly by activating electromagnetic devices on the first androgynous mating assembly. 23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of attaching the first mating assembly to the second mating assembly by activating electromagnetic devices on the second androgynous mating assembly.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.