Androgynous coupling device for connecting modules, and corresponding modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10279933-B2
Application number	US-201515300940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2015
Priority date	Apr 2, 2014
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to an androgynous coupling device ( 10 ) for connecting modules, in particular for constructing a spacecraft of modular design, wherein, in order to connect the modules, the coupling device ( 10 ) can be coupled to an identically constructed further androgynous coupling device and has a plurality of coupling elements ( 30, 32 ). It is provided that the androgynous coupling device ( 10 ) has a covering element ( 18 ) which covers the coupling elements ( 30, 32 ) in a passive state of the coupling device ( 10 ), wherein a first of the coupling elements ( 30 ) can be moved outwardly through the covering element ( 18 ) for active coupling to the identically constructed further coupling device. The invention furthermore relates to a module, in particular a module for constructing a spacecraft of modular design, having at least one such coupling device ( 10 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An androgynous coupling device ( 10 ) for connecting modules, in particular for constructing a spacecraft of modular construction, wherein the coupling device ( 10 ) is configured to be coupled to a further androgynous coupling device of identical construction for the purpose of connecting the modules and has a plurality of coupling elements ( 30 , 32 ) as well as a covering element ( 18 ), which covering element ( 18 ) provides an outer surface ( 28 ), and in which covering element ( 18 ) one or more apertures ( 58 ) are formed, wherein the covering element ( 18 ) covers the coupling elements ( 30 , 32 ) in a passive state of the coupling device ( 10 ), wherein a first of the coupling elements ( 30 ) is configured to be displaced outward through the covering element ( 18 ) for the purpose of active coupling to the further coupling device of identical construction, wherein the aperture ( 58 ) or one of the apertures ( 58 ) is configured to allow a corresponding first coupling element of the further androgynous coupling device of identical construction, which is displaced outward to enter a region ( 22 ) behind the covering element ( 18 ), wherein a second of the coupling elements ( 32 ) of the coupling device ( 10 ), which is permanently covered by the covering element ( 18 ), is arranged in this region ( 22 ) and arranged to form a force-fitting and/or interlocking connection with the first coupling element, which is moved into the region ( 22 ), of the further coupling device of identical construction.

2. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first coupling element ( 30 ) and the second coupling element ( 32 ) can be displaced for the purpose of fixing the connection and also for the purpose of detaching the connection to the respectively other coupling element of a further androgynous coupling device of identical construction.

3. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection is made by a bayonet fitting-like plug-and-turn movement.

4. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outer surface ( 28 ) of the covering element ( 18 ) is a substantially planar outer surface ( 28 ), the covering element being in the form of a cover plate ( 16 ).

5. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of pins ( 56 ) which can be partially extended out of the covering element ( 18 ) and which can enter recesses, which are formed in the covering element of the further coupling device, for the purpose of fixing the further coupling device to the coupling device ( 10 ) in a rotationally fixed manner.

6. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first coupling element ( 30 ) has a plurality of rear-engagement elements ( 46 ) which point outward, and the second coupling element ( 32 ) has an annular base ( 48 ) having a plurality of rear-engagement elements ( 50 ) which point inward.

7. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
a base element ( 12 ), in particular a base plate ( 14 ),
a linear guide element ( 24 ), which is fastened to the base element ( 12 ), for guiding the displacement movement of the first coupling element ( 30 ), and
a drive ( 36 , 38 , 44 ) of the coupling device ( 10 ) comprising a drive motor ( 36 ).

8. The coupling device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the drive ( 36 , 38 , 44 ) further has a slotted guide arrangement ( 38 , 45 ) by means of which a rotary movement of the drive motor ( 36 ) is converted into the movement sequence of the coupling elements ( 30 , 32 ) or at least of the first coupling element ( 30 ).

9. The coupling device as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that the covering element ( 18 ) is fastened to the base element ( 12 ) by means of spacer elements ( 20 ).

10. A module, in particular a module for constructing a spacecraft of modular construction, comprising at least one coupling device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Rwth Aachen

Inventors

• Lakshmanan Martin Anand
• Adomeit Marc André
• Seefeldt Patric
• Reimer Viktor

Classifications

• B64G1/64 Primary

  Systems for coupling or separating cosmonautic vehicles or parts thereof, e.g. docking arrangements · CPC title

• B64G1/10

  Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles (space shuttles B64G1/14) · CPC title

• B64G2001/1092

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64G1/646 Primary

  Docking or rendezvous systems (refuelling in space B64G1/4024) · CPC title

• B64G1/6462 Primary

  characterised by the means for engaging other vehicles · CPC title