DOCKING UNIT, MAINLY FOR SPACE OBJECTS Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: placing payload on space station with the use of manipulator and/or cosmonaut, as well as for conducting underwater jobs. SUBSTANCE: proposed unit includes active part and passive part, as well as mating mechanism. Active part includes seat made in form of funnel engageable with sleeve in narrowed portion and with base ring in widened portion. Passive part is made in form of pin narrowing from base to head and provided with shoulders for active part hooks. Lateral surface of head is embraced by sleeve of seat and lateral surface of base is embraced by base ring. Mating mechanism has hooks fitted for extension and retraction of their ends in direction of widening or narrowing of funnel respectively and hook motion mechanism. Active part is additionally provided with preliminary gripping latches and docking fixation latches which are mounted on seat in guides for motion of their teeth in transversal direction; they are provided with motion limiters. Besides that, active part has mechanisms for drawing off the hooks at retracted position and mechanisms for releasing the latches at extended position, hook extended position retainer and handle connected with one of movable members of hook motion mechanism. Teeth of preliminary gripping latches are received by holes found in zone of engagement of sleeve and funnel. Latches and hooks are spring-loaded in direction towards axis of sleeve and hook motion mechanism is spring-loaded in direction of hook retraction. Hook ends are received by longitudinal slots of seat and have additional degree of freedom across direction of extension. Passive part of unit has shoulders with stops for hook ends which are located on head of pin and grooves with stops for latch teeth are available. EFFECT: extended functional capabilities; enhanced reliability. 7 cl, 10 dwg