Movable platforms for vehicle capture assemblies and related devices, assemblies, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12338006-B2
Application number	US-202217990245-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2022
Priority date	Nov 18, 2022
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

Movable platforms for use with a vehicle capture assembly of a capture vehicle and related devices, systems, and methods include floors with rotatable legs extending between the floors. The rotation of the legs relative to one or more of the floors enables the movable platform to move from an initial position to a displaced position as one or more of the floors move relative to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A movable platform for use with a vehicle capture assembly of a capture vehicle, the movable platform comprising:
a first floor configured to be coupled with a portion of the vehicle capture assembly proximate the capture vehicle;
a second floor configured to be coupled with a probe assembly of the vehicle capture assembly;
at least one set of legs positioned between the first floor and the second floor, the at least one set of legs being rotationally coupled to at least one of the first floor or the second floor and configured to rotate relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor; and
a biasing mechanism configured to bias the movable platform in an initial position;
wherein rotation of the at least one set of legs relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor enables the movable platform to move from the initial position to a displaced position as the first floor translates laterally relative to the second floor in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the movable platform; and
wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a floating stop, the floating stop configured to rotate against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism when the at least one set of legs rotate in one rotational direction relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor.

2. The movable platform of claim 1 , further comprising at least one intermediate floor between the first floor and the second floor, the first floor coupled to the at least one intermediate floor on a first side of the at least one intermediate floor with a first set of the at least one set of legs, the second floor coupled to the at least one intermediate floor on a second side of the at least one intermediate floor with a second set of the at least one set of legs.

3. The movable platform of claim 2 , wherein the first set of the at least one set of legs is offset from the second set of the at least one set of legs about the longitudinal axis of the movable platform.

4. The movable platform of claim 2 , wherein the first set of the at least one set of legs and the second set of the at least one set of legs partially overlap along the longitudinal axis of the movable platform.

5. The movable platform of claim 2 , wherein the first set of the at least one set of legs and the second set of the at least one set of legs exhibit a nested configuration where a portion of the first set of the at least one set of legs extends along the longitudinal axis of the movable platform past a portion of the second set of the at least one set of legs.

6. The movable platform of claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises torsion springs positioned at a joint between the at least one set of legs and the at least one of the first floor or the second floor.

7. The movable platform of claim 1 , wherein the floating stop is configured to remain stationary when the at least one set of legs rotate against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism in another rotational direction relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor, the another rotational direction opposing the one rotational direction.

8. The movable platform of claim 1 , wherein one or more portions of the movable platform define at least one hardstop configured to stop rotation of the at least one set of legs relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor.

9. The movable platform of claim 1 , wherein the movable platform is configured to maintain a rotational orientation of the first floor relative to the second floor as the second floor translates relative to the first floor.

10. A movable platform for use with a vehicle capture assembly of a capture vehicle, the movable platform comprising:
a first floor configured to be coupled proximate the capture vehicle;
a second floor configured to be coupled with a probe assembly of the vehicle capture assembly;
at least one set of legs extending between the first floor and the second floor, the at least one set of legs being rotationally coupled to at least one of the first floor or the second floor and configured to rotate relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor, wherein rotation of the at least one set of legs relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor enables the movable platform to move from an initial position to a displaced position as the first floor moves relative to the second floor in a lateral direction; and
a floating stop configured to rotate when the at least one set of legs rotate in one rotational direction relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor.

11. The movable platform of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the at least one set of legs is configured to rotate the floating stop by overcoming a biasing mechanism biasing the floating stop in an initial position.

12. The movable platform of claim 11 , wherein the floating stop is configured to remain stationary when the at least one set of legs rotate in another rotational direction relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor, the another rotational direction opposing the one rotational direction.

13. The movable platform of claim 12 , wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to secure the floating stop in an initial position when the at least one set of legs rotate in the another rotational direction relative to the at least one of the first floor or the second floor.

14. The movable platform of claim 10 , further comprising a biasing mechanism coupled between a portion of the at least one set of legs and the floating stop, the biasing mechanism and the floating stop configured to secure the movable platform in the initial position and to enable the movable platform to move to the displaced position when a threshold force is exceeded.

15. A vehicle capture system for use with a capture vehicle, the vehicle capture system comprising:
a probe assembly including one or more retention elements for engaging with and securing a target vehicle; and
the movable platform of claim 10 coupled to at least a portion of the probe assembly.

16. A method of capturing a spacecraft, the method comprising:
extending a probe of a vehicle capture assembly toward a target spacecraft on a boom, the vehicle capture assembly being coupled to a capture vehicle;
enabling motion of the probe relative to the capture vehicle with the movable platform of claim 10 , the enabling motion of the probe relative to the capture vehicle with the movable platform comprising:
translating the first floor relative to the second floor by rotating the at least one set of legs relative to the first floor and the second floor; and
while translating the first floor relative to the second floor, substantially maintaining a rotational position of the probe; and

engaging the probe of the vehicle capture assembly with the target spacecraft.

17. A method of moving a vehicle capture assembly of a capture vehicle with the movable platform of claim 1 , the method comprising:
minimizing deadband in the movable platform by securing the movable platform in the initial position with the biasing mechanism and enabling the movable platform to move to a displaced position when a force threshold is exceeded; and
once the force threshold is exceeded, translating the first floor of the movable platform coupled to the vehicle capture assembly relative the second floor of the movable platform.

18. A movable platform for use with a vehicle capture assembly of a capture vehicle, th

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Simpri Emmanuel
• Purcell Jack
• Michel Matthew Alan
• Foster Michael J
• Williams Quentin

Classifications

• B64F1/0297

  adjustable to align with aircraft trajectory · CPC title

• B64F1/025

  using decelerating or arresting beds · CPC title

• B64G1/646

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

• B64G1/6462

  characterised by the means for engaging other vehicles · CPC title

• B64U70/93

  for use on a land or nautical vehicle · CPC title