System and tool for accessing satellite fill/drain valves during propellant resupply
View Patent ↗Herein is disclosed a tool, system and method for refueling on-orbit spacecraft. The tool and system are configured to allow for resupply of spacecraft configured to be propelled by either a bipropellant (oxidizer and fuel) or a monopropellant (typically hydrazine). The refueling tool is particularly suited for resupply of satellites not originally prepared for refueling but the system may also be used for satellites specifically designed for refueling.
1. A method for remotely opening rotationally removable access components mounted on a client satellite, each access component having rotatable and static features, comprising:
activating a positioning mechanism mounted on a servicer satellite and releasibly coupling an end-effector on the positioning mechanism to a tool mounted on the servicer satellite;
positioning the tool over the rotationally removable access components and aligning a wrench having a first adjustable wrench mechanism section and a second adjustable wrench mechanism section coaxially aligned one on top of the other mounted in the tool over the rotationally removable access components until a rotational axis of the wrench is aligned with a rotational axis of the rotationally removable access components so that the first adjustable wrench mechanism section of the wrench is engaged with, and adjustably conforms to a size of, the rotatable feature and the second adjustable wrench mechanism section of the wrench is engaged with, and adjustably conforms to a size of, the static feature; and
activating the wrench for applying equal and opposite forces to the rotatable feature and the static feature to apply bi-directional torque to the rotatable feature while reacting the torque on the static feature.
2. The method according to claim 1 including a step of transferring fluid between the servicer satellite and the client satellite, wherein the rotationally removable access components include a fill/drain valve, engaging the wrench with a fluid coupling to attach the fluid coupling to the fill/drain valve, wherein the fluid coupling is in flow communication with a fluid source on the servicer satellite, engaging the wrench to the fill/drain valve to open the fill/drain valve and pass fluid between the servicer and client satellites, and once fluid has been transferred, engaging the wrench to the fill/drain valve to close the fill/drain valve, and once closed engaging the wrench to the fluid coupling to remove the fluid coupling from the fill/drain valve.