Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Rendezvous or docking
Reexamination Certificate
2009-02-18
2010-10-19
Dinh, Tien (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Rendezvous or docking
C244S172500
Reexamination Certificate
active
07815149
ABSTRACT:
A mechanism uses a magnetic field to dock a satellite to a host vehicle. A docking component of the mechanism residing on the host vehicle has a magnet that is used to induce a coupled magnetic field with a docking component of the mechanism residing on the satellite. An alignment guide axially aligns the docking component of the satellite with the docking component of the host device dependent on the coupled magnetic field. Rotational alignment guides are used to rotationally align the docking component of the satellite with the docking component of the host device. A ball-lock mechanism is used to mechanically secure the docking component of the host vehicle and the docking component of the satellite.
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Howard Nathan
Nguyen Hai D.
Bonzell Philip J
Dinh Tien
Ro Theodore U.
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator
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