SPACECRAFT ANDROGENIC DOCKING UNIT Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC B64G1/64 

FIELD: spacecraft docking in orbit.

SUBSTANCE: proposed unit includes docking modules with attachment frames rigidly secured in them. Mounted on end surfaces of these frames are locks; reversible drives are rigidly secured on external surfaces of docking modules. Movable parts of drives are secured to movable rings on which latches and trapezoidal guides are rigidly secured. Attachment frames are connected with movable rings by means of corrugated pipes whose walls are hollow and are filled with low-melting metal. Pipes are provided with electrical heater in form of springs connected with power supply sources located in docking modules. At heating and melting of metal, movable rings extend from transportation position to working position under action of springs and probable elasticity of corrugated pipes in axial direction. At rendezvous of spacecraft, electric heaters are switched-on and metal is again molten. At contact of guides and further rendezvous of spacecraft, movable rings are brought in contact. At this time, molten metal dampens energy of aircraft impact. After engagement of movable rings, latches operate. Reversible drives extract movable parts of unit till mechanical contact of attachment frames. Then, locks operate, electric heaters are switched-off and metal goes to solid state.

EFFECT: enhanced reliability of docking unit due to simplified construction.

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