End effector clamping jaw interface for attachment to an orbital replacement unit

• US 5,466,025 A
• Filed: 01/15/1993
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canadian Space Agency/Agence Spaciale Canadienne
• Original Assignee: Canadian Space Agency/Agence Spaciale Canadienne
• Inventors: Mee, Frances H. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/005,066
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 294/1.1, 294/82.32, 294/82.34, 294/86.33, 294/86.4, 294/90, 294/902, 244/137.4, 244/161, 901/30, 901/31, 901/39, 411/368, 411/371, 411/396, 175/320
• US Class Current: 294/213
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/04 with provision for the remote detachment or exchange of the head or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/641 Interstage or payload connectors docking systems B64G1/646
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/642 Clamps, e.g. Marman clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/645 Separators
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 4/00 Tools specially adapted for use in space

Abstract

An end effector clamping jaw interface for attachment to an orbital replacement unit wherein the interface consists of a bodying having a reduced waist portion and V-shaped clamping faces that project laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the waist portion for engagement by an end effector. The interface may also incorporate a latching mechanism that is used for releasably latching the interface and the orbital replacement unit to which it is attached to a compatible system. A latch actuator is provided which serves to release the latch mechanism when the interface is engaged by a complimentary end effector.

Claims

1. A clamping jaw interface for attachment to a unit such as an orbital replacement unit to enable clamping jaws to couple to such unit comprising:

(a) two substantially rigid body portions positioned about a central axis, each body portion having an upper ramp, a lower ramp, and a reduced waist section located between the upper and lower ramps,

(b) said waist section on each body portion having side faces which converge to form laterally extending, substantially V-shaped clamping faces on opposite sides of the central axis of the interface;

(c) the upper and lower ramps of each body portion being inclined inwardly towards the side faces of the waist section;

(d) each body portion having coupling and torque transmitting means located below the waist section for releaseably attaching said portions to said unit, said coupling and torque transmitting means of each body portion including a passageway displace from said central axis and including shaft means which extends through said passageway for engagement with a corresponding recess in said unit;

whereby;

i) the inwardly inclined ramps will effect vertical engagement of said clamping jaws with said unit against dislodgement by vertical loads applied therebetween, and

ii) the substantially V-shaped clamping faces will effect lateral engagement of said clamping jaws with said unit against dislodgement by a torque applied therebetween.

2. An interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reduced waist portions together form a square cross-section with the V-shaped clamping faces diagonally spaced at 180°

with respect to one another.

3. An interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body portions are a pair of discrete segments each having one of said V-shaped clamping face formed thereon, said segments being attachable to opposite sides of an orbital replacement unit with the V-shaped clamping faces oppositely disposed.

4. An interface as claimed in claim 1, further comprising torque transmitting latch means, operable by end effector clamping jaws, for releasably attaching said body portions to a system in which a replaceable unit is to be mounted, said latch means comprising detent means mounted on each of the body portions for movement between an extended position projecting laterally from the part on which it is mounted and a retracted position that is located inwardly, from the extended position, towards that body portions and resilient means for urging the detent means towards the said extended position.

5. An interface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the apex of each V-shaped clamping face forms a longitudinally extending ridge and said latch means further comprises;

a latch actuator member connected to said detent means for movement therewith and extending parallel to the longitudinally extending ridge associated therewith, each latch actuator member being movable, from a first position disposed laterally outwardly from its associated ridge, when said detent means is in said extended position, to a second position located inwardly from its associated ridge, when the associated detent means is in said retracted position, such that displacement of each latch actuator member from the first position to the second position, when each latch actuator member is engaged by an end effector moving into engagement with the clamping faces, will cause both the detent means to move from their extended positions to their retracted positions.

6. An interface as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reduced waist sections together form a square cross-section to provide first and second sets of oppositely disposed ridges, each latch actuator member being associated with one of the ridges of the first set thereof, the ridges of the second set thereof being spaced from the latch actuator member so as to be engageable by an end effector.

7. A clamping jaw interface for attachment to a unit such as an orbital replacement unit to enable clamping jaws to couple to such unit comprising:

(a) two substantially rigid body portions positioned about a central axis, each body portion having a lower face, an upper ramp, a lower ramp, and a reduced waist section located between the upper and lower ramps,

(b) said waist section on each body portion having side faces which converge proceeding outwardly from the central axis to form laterally extending, substantially V-shaped clamping faces on opposite sides of the central axis of the interface;

(c) the upper and lower ramps of each body portion being inclined inwardly towards the side faces of the waist;

(d) each body portion having torque transmitting means located below the waist section for engaging said portions with said unit,

whereby;

i) the inwardly inclined ramps will effect vertical engagement of said clamping jaws with said unit against dislodgement by vertical loads applied therebetween, and

ii) the substantially V-shaped clamping faces will effect lateral engagement of said clamping jaws with said unit against dislodgement by a torque applied therebetween.

8. A clamping jaw interface as in claim 7 wherein said body portions are integral with each other about the central axis and further comprising a central passage that extends along the central axis of the interface through to the lower face to permit a fastening means to pass therethrough.

9. An interface as in claim 8 wherein said torque transmitting means of each body portion includes a passageway displaced from said central axis and a shaft means which extends through said passageway for engagement with corresponding recesses in said unit.

10. An interface as in claim 7 wherein said torque transmitting means of each body portion includes a passageway displaced from said central axis and a shaft means which extends through said passageway for engagement with corresponding recesses in said unit.

11. A clamping jaw interface for attachment to a unit such as an orbital replacement unit to enable clamping jaws to couple to such unit comprising:

(a) two substantially rigid body portions positioned about a central axis, each body portion having a lower face, an upper ramp, a lower ramp, and a reduced waist section located between the upper and lower ramps,

(b) said waist section on each body portion having side faces which converge proceeding outwardly from the central axis to form laterally extending, substantially V-shaped clamping faces on opposite sides of the central axis of the interface;

(c) the upper and lower ramps of each body portion being inclined inwardly towards the side faces of the waist;

wherein said body portions are integral with each other about the central axis and further comprising a central passage that extends along the central axis of the interface through to the lower face to permit a fastening means to pass therethrough whereby;

i) the inwardly inclined ramps will effect vertical engagement of said clamping jaws with said unit against dislodgement by vertical loads applied therebetween, and

ii) the substantially V-shaped clamping faces will effect lateral engagement of said clamping jaws with said unit against dislodgement by a torque applied therebetween.