ANDROGYNOUS COUPLING DEVICE FOR CONNECTING MODULES, AND CORRESPONDING MODULES

The invention relates to an androgynous coupling device (10) for connecting modules, in particular for constructing a spacecraft of modular design, wherein, in order to connect the modules, the coupling device (10) can be coupled to an identically constructed further androgynous coupling device and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors REIMER, VIKTOR, LAKSHMANAN, MARTIN ANAND, SEEFELDT, PATRIC, ADOMEIT, MARC ANDRE
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
Published 30.11.2021
Subjects
AIRCRAFT
AVIATION
COSMONAUTICS
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
TRANSPORTING
VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
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Summary:The invention relates to an androgynous coupling device (10) for connecting modules, in particular for constructing a spacecraft of modular design, wherein, in order to connect the modules, the coupling device (10) can be coupled to an identically constructed further androgynous coupling device and has a plurality of coupling elements (30, 32). It is provided that the androgynous coupling device (10) has a covering element (18) which covers the coupling elements (30, 32) in a passive state of the coupling device (10), wherein a first of the coupling elements (30) can be moved outwardly through the covering element (18) for active coupling to the identically constructed further coupling device. The invention furthermore relates to a module, in particular a module for constructing a spacecraft of modular design, having at least one such coupling device (10). L'invention concerne un moyen d'accouplement androgyne (10) servant à relier des modules, en particulier pour réaliser un engin spatial modulaire, le moyen d'accouplement (10) servant à relier les modules pouvant être accouplé à un autre moyen d'accouplement androgyne de structure identique et comportant une pluralité d'éléments d'accouplement (30, 32). Selon l'invention, le moyen d'accouplement androgyne (10) comprend un élément de recouvrement (18) qui recouvre les éléments d'accouplement (30, 32) lorsque le moyen d'accouplement (10) est dans un état passif, un premier des éléments d'accouplement (30) étant déplaçable vers l'extérieur à travers l'élément de recouvrement (18) pour réaliser l'accouplement actif à l'autre moyen d'accouplement de structure identique. L'invention concerne en outre un module, en particulier un module servant à réaliser un engin spatial modulaire comportant au moins un tel moyen d'accouplement (10).
Bibliography:Application Number: CA20152944390