Joint for space vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US6290182B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Joint for space vehicle",
  "abstract": "A joint in a space vehicle to hold together a first part of the vehicle and a second part of the vehicle that can be separated from the first part, in which the joint includes a first flange member (1) attached to the first part of the vehicle and a second flange member (2) attached to the second part of the vehicle. A number of clamps (4) equipped with two clamping lips (5, 6) are distributed around the perimeter of the flange members (1, 2) that transfer radial force from a tensioning means (7), arranged around the clamps (4), to both of the flange members (1, 2) in order to press these together, whereby rolling members (8) are arranged between at least one of the clamping lips (5, 6) of the respective clamps (4) and the adjacent first (1) or second (2) flange member.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Joint in a space vehicle to hold together a first part of the vehicle and a second part of the vehicle that can be separated from the first part, in which the joint includes a first flange member (1) attached to the first part of the vehicle, a second flange member (2) attached to the second part of the vehicle and distributed around the perimeter of the flange members (1, 2) a number of clamps (4) equipped with two clamping lips (5, 6) that transfer radial force from a tensioning means (7) arranged around the clamps (4) to both of the flange members (1, 2) in order to press these together, characterised in that rolling members (8) are arranged between at least one of the clamping lips (5, 6) of the respective clamps (4) and the neighbouring first (1) or second (2) flange member.",
    "2. Joint according to claim 1, characterised in that the rolling members (8) consist of bodies of cylindrical shape.",
    "3. Joint according to claim 2, characterised in that the cylindrically shaped rolling members (8) have a cross-section that is elliptical and symmetrical along a major axis (9).",
    "4. Joint according to claim 1, characterised in that the cylindrically shaped rolling members (8) have a cross-section whose limiting curve consists of a rectangle in which two opposite edges have been replaced by arc-formed curves.",
    "5. Joint according to claim 3 characterised in that self-locking of the joint is achieved by forcing the major axis (9) of the roller devices to flip over a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of division of the joint.",
    "6. Joint according to claim 4 characterised in that self-locking of the joint is achieved by forcing the major axis (9) of the roller devices to flip over a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of division of the joint.",
    "7. Joint according to claim 2, characterised in that the cylindrically shaped rolling members (8) have a circular cross-section.",
    "8. Joint according to claim 1, characterised in that the rolling members (8) consist of spherical balls or in that the rolling members consist of spherical balls at one flange (1, 2) and cylindrically shaped bodies at the other flange (1, 2).",
    "9. Joint according to claim 7, characterised in that the clamping lips possess claws (11) at their edges in order to contain the rolling members (8) between flanges (1, 2) and clamping lips (5, 6).",
    "10. Joint according to claim 8, characterised in that the clamping lips possess claws (11) at their edges in order to contain the rolling members (8) between flanges (1, 2) and clamping lips (5, 6).",
    "11. Joint according to claim 7 characterised in that a strongly increasing clamping force in the joint is achieved by the flange surface (1, 2) having a curved surface (12, 13) against the rolling member (8) and/or the clamping lip (5, 6).",
    "12. Joint according to claim 8 characterised in that a strongly increasing clamping force in the joint is achieved by the flange surface (1, 2) having a curved surface (12, 13) against the rolling member (8) and/or the clamping lip (5, 6).",
    "13. Joint according to claim 9 characterised in that a strongly increasing clamping force in the joint is achieved by the flange surface (1, 2) having a curved surface (12, 13) against the rolling member (8) and/or the clamping lip (5, 6).",
    "14. Joint according to claim 10 characterised in that a strongly increasing clamping force in the joint is achieved by the flange surface (1, 2) having a curved surface (12, 13) against the rolling member (8) and/or the clamping lip (5, 6).",
    "15. Joint according to claim 1, characterised in that the first part of the vehicle consists of a launch vehicle and that the second part of the vehicle consists of a satellite."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The current invention relates to a joint to hold together separable parts of a space vehicle preferably during launch of the space vehicle. In particular, the invention is directed towards a joint that includes a number of clamps that are pressed by means of a surrounding strap against flanges that surround the respective perimeters of an adapter ring on each of the separable parts, in which the task of the joint is to hold the said adapter rings together and to be able to absorb the forces that act to separate the separable parts and to absorb torsional and flexural forces that act between the separable parts during the period that the joint is in use.\n\nJoint devices to hold together separable parts of a space vehicle, such as a launch vehicle and a satellite, constitute important structural units to absorb the forces that act between the said parts during launch of the vehicle. Such joint devices must be of low weight and must be designed with very high reliability, due to the very high costs of launching and at the same time due to the fact that it is impossible to correct any faults that may arise once the vehicle has left the ground.\n\nJoints have been developed and refined in this technical area during the last few decades, in order to minimise the risks that any part of the joint fails during that part of the rocket trajectory for which the joint is to function.\n\nThe separable parts of a space vehicle will be exemplified in the current document by a launch vehicle with a satellite mounted onto the launch vehicle by a joint. An example of a joint of this type is given in American patent document U.S. Pat. No.",
  "cpc": [
    "B64G 1/645",
    "B64G 1/642",
    "F16B 2200/509"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64G 1/64"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "SAAB Ericson Space AB"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Hans Grunditz"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2000-02-02",
  "publication_date": "2001-09-18",
  "grant_date": "2001-09-18",
  "priority_date": "1999-02-03",
  "application_number": "US-49642900-A",
  "family_id": "20414338",
  "cited_by_count": 41,
  "citations": [
    "WO1987007235A2",
    "US4976399A",
    "US5466025A",
    "US5520476A",
    "US5649680A",
    "US6126115A",
    "EP0905022A1",
    "US6076467A"
  ]
}