JPH0288400A - Docking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a docking device to be surely operated with a simple operation by providing an active side coupling disk, shaft, lever opened and closed like an umbrella and its driving mechanism on a motion body at the docking side and providing a hole through which said members extend on a coupling portion of the docked side. CONSTITUTION:A rod 9 extend through the central portion of the active side coupling disk 1 perpendicularly thereto to be coupled with one ends of levers 2, 3, 4 by pins. A tapered portion 14 facilitates the fitting of said disk 1 in the tapered portion 15 of the passive side coupling disk 13. When the rod 9 is pulled rightward by driving a motor 12, levers 5, 6, 7 forcibly expand the levers 2, 3, 4 like an umbrella so that the passive side coupling disk 13 is sandwiched between the active side coupling disk 1 and levers 2, 3, 4. When these coupling disks 1, 15 are removed fro each other, the motor 12 is reversed to move the rod 9 leftward so that the levers 2, 3, 4 are returned to the initial positions and separated from the passive side coupling disk 13.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Applications] The present invention relates to a docking device used for coupling moving bodies together, and is particularly useful for refueling artificial satellites (manned spacecraft) and material experiments conducted in outer space. This invention relates to a docking device for mechanical coupling and detachment between artificial satellites or between an artificial satellite and a space base, which is necessary for services such as sample collection, replacement and repair of malfunctioning equipment, etc.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 4 shows a conventional docking device.

21 is an active side coupling board, which has latch mechanisms 22-25. 26 is a passive side coupling board, and latch receiving mechanism 27~
It has 30. Active side coupling board 21 and passive side coupling board 26
is attached to the edge of one artificial satellite or space base, and when connecting one artificial satellite to an artificial satellite or an artificial satellite to a space base, the active side coupling board 21 and the passive side coupling board 26 are brought close to each other, and the latch mechanism 22 to 25 respectively, the latch receiving mechanisms 27 to 30
contact and latch.

Further, when detaching, release the latches at these four locations and separate the active side coupling board 21 and the passive side coupling board 26.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above-described conventional docking device has the disadvantage that the latching mechanism is complicated and lacks reliability.

In addition, when joining, it is necessary to center the active-side joining board and the passive-side joining board, and to align the latch mechanism and the catch mechanism, which requires special care in operation. Ta.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a docking device that can connect and detach moving bodies, particularly between artificial satellites in orbit, or between an artificial satellite and a space base with high reliability and easy operation.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the present invention, an active coupling plate is provided on the moving body on the docking side, and the active coupling plate has a shaft at its center that extends in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface and is capable of axial movement or rotational movement. , a lever that opens and closes in an umbrella shape by axial movement or rotational movement of the shaft, and the movable body on the docking side is further provided with a mechanism for axial movement or rotational movement of the shaft, so that the shaft is docked. This is a docking device in which a hole through which the shaft and the lever in a closed state can be inserted is provided in the connecting portion of the side moving body.

〔Example〕

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

The docking device of this embodiment has a rod (shaft) 9 in the center that reciprocates in the axial direction to operate a coupling mechanism made up of a plurality of levers 2 to 4, and 5 to 7. an active coupling plate 1 having a taper 14 for mating with the coupling plate;

A passive side coupling plate 13 having a circular hole 16 in the center and a taper 15 on the side opposite to the active side coupling plate 1 for engagement with the active side coupling plate 13, and a gear 10. ．． The drive mechanism includes a worm gear 11 and a motor 12 to move the rod 9 in the axial direction.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the active side coupling board 1 and the passive side coupling board 13 are close to each other before docking. A rod 9 passes through the center of the active side coupling board 1 perpendicularly to the board surface, and one end of a lever 2°6.4 is connected to the rod 9 via a pin. The taper 14 is for facilitating engagement with the tapered portion 15 of the passive coupling board 13. Lever 2,3゜4
The other end is connected to one end of the lever 5,6.7, and the other end of the lever 5,6.7 is connected to the end 8 of the door 9. Teeth 91 are formed on the mouth and door 9, and the teeth 91 and the gear 10 are connected to each other by a rack and pinion.
is combined with With such a drive mechanism.

Driven by the motor 12, the rod 9 moves left and right in the figure.

That is, it moves in the axial direction.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the active side coupling board 1 and the passive side coupling board 13 are docked. When the rod 9 is pulled to the right in the figure by the drive of the motor 12, the lever 5.6
．． 7 pushes the levers 2°3.4 apart into an umbrella shape to connect the passive side coupling board 13 to the active side coupling board 1 and the levers 2 and 6.
Sandwich it with ゜4. When these coupling plates are to be removed, the motor 12 is driven in the opposite direction to move the rod 9 to the left in the figure, and the lever 2.5.4 is returned to its original state and separated from the passive coupling plate 16.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the invention.

The rod 9 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is replaced with a shaft 9a that is rotatable with respect to the active coupling plate 1a, and a thread is formed at the left end of the shirt 9a in the figure. is lever 5a.

A lever connecting portion 8a is screwed to one end of each of the levers 6a and 7a. The levers 2a to 4a are also coupled to the other ends of the levers 5a to 7a, respectively. It is bin-coupled with the active side coupling board 1a. A gear 10a is attached to the right end of the shirt 9a in the figure, and meshes with a gear 11a attached to the rotating shaft of a motor 12a. When the shaft 9a is rotated by the drive of the motor 12a and the lever coupling part 8a moves to the cloth in the figure, the lever coupling part 8a pushes the levers 2ayBa+4a apart, and the passive side coupling plate 13a is connected to the active side coupling plate 1a and the levers 2a and 3a. , 4a. To detach these coupling boards, the motor 12a
is driven in the opposite direction to move the lever coupling part 8a to the left in the figure, return the levers 2a, 3a, and 4a to their original states, and move away from the passive side coupling board 13a.

The above-described embodiments can be applied not only to docking between artificial satellites in outer space or between a satellite and a space base, but also to docking between moving bodies in the air and on the ground.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention can provide a docking device that mechanically connects and disconnects moving bodies with each other with simple operation and reliable operation by moving a rod in and out or rotating a shaft driven by a motor.

Margin below

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention in a state before docking, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the docking device of FIG. 1 during docking, and FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state during docking, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional docking device. 1: Active side coupling board, 2, 5.4, 5.6.7: Repa 9
: Rod, 12: Motor, 13: Passive side coupling board. Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a docking device used to connect moving bodies, an active side coupling plate is provided on the side of the moving body to be docked, and the active side coupling plate has an axis extending in the direction perpendicular to the plate surface at the center thereof. an axis capable of directional or rotational movement;
a lever that opens and closes in an umbrella shape by axial movement or rotational movement of the shaft; the movable body on the docking side is further provided with a mechanism for axially or rotationally moving the shaft; A docking device comprising a hole through which the shaft and the lever in a closed state can be inserted, in a connecting portion of the moving body.