DOCKING DEVICE FOR SPACE VEHICLES Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: docking the space vehicles to orbital stations. SUBSTANCE: in docking the vehicles located in shadow part of orbit (relative to Sun), end of arrow-like rod 2 of active unit 1 is located in intake cone of passive unit 4 of other space vehicle in the immediate vicinity of open end of docking sleeve 5 which is termination of intake cone. Low-melting-point metal 6 contained in sleeve is converted to liquid state by means of electric heater 11. Simultaneously with melting of metal, three-phase helical winding 10 located in grooves of ferromagnetic envelope 8 of side walls of sleeve is energized. After penetration of arrow-like rod in molten metal, heater is deenergized and metal is converted to solid state. Area of mechanical contact is considerably increased due to complete enveloping of rod surface with metal. EFFECT: enhanced reliability. 3 dwg