Marman ring attachment mechanism
A clamp for attachment to a satellite, wherein the satellite is without an independent attachment interface for receiving the clamp, comprising a baseplate for attachment to the component, a motor and a drive assembly, a linear motion axis, a stop, a first tooth assembly and a second tooth assembly, and wherein, actuation of the motor and the drive assembly translates the linear motion axis such that at least one of the first tooth assembly and second tooth assembly contract to clamp on to a Marman ring on the satellite. The tooth assemblies may be combinations of rigid teeth and camming teeth which pivot to secure and pull the clamp orthogonal to the contracting direction and towards the Marman ring.
1 . A clamp for attachment to a satellite, wherein the satellite is without an independent attachment interface for receiving the clamp, comprising:
a baseplate for attachment to a component;
a motor and a drive assembly;
a linear motion axis;
a first rigid tooth and a second camming tooth pivotally connected to a tooth support structure;
a Marman ring on the satellite; and
wherein, actuation of the motor and the drive assembly translates the linear motion axis such that at least one of the first rigid tooth and the second camming tooth contract towards one another and the camming tooth pivots and laterally secures the clamp to the Marman ring by pulling the clamp in a direction orthogonal to the contracting direction so that the baseplate of the clamp is pulled towards the Marman ring securing the clamp on the Marman ring.
2 . The clamp for attachment to a satellite of claim 1 , wherein the first rigid tooth comprises angled surfaces such that when the first rigid tooth and the second camming tooth contract towards one another onto the Marman ring, the Marman ring is pulled along the angled surfaces in a desired direction to a desired location so that the baseplate of the clamp is seated in a desired position with respect to the Marman ring.
3 . A clamp for attachment to a satellite, wherein the satellite is without an independent attachment interface for receiving the clamp, comprising:
a baseplate for attachment to a component;
a motor and a drive assembly;
a linear motion axis;
a first camming tooth and a second camming tooth both pivotally connected to a tooth support structure;
a Marman ring on the satellite; and
wherein the first camming tooth is pivotally connected to a first tooth support structure and the second camming tooth is pivotally connected to a second tooth support structure, wherein when the first camming tooth and the second camming tooth contract towards one another onto the Marman ring, the first camming tooth pivots and the second camming tooth pivots to laterally secure the clamp to the Marman ring and pulls the clamp in a direction orthogonal to the contracting direction so that the baseplate of the clamp is pulled towards the Marman ring securing the clamp on the Marman ring.
4 . The clamp for attachment to a satellite of claim 1 , wherein a position sensor is used to determine a relative position of the first rigid tooth and the second camming tooth.
5 . The clamp for attachment to a satellite of claim 4 , wherein a mechanical behavior of the first rigid tooth and second camming tooth are calculated to allow a determination of a preload force applied to the Marman ring based on a location of the Marman ring and a relative position of the first rigid tooth and second camming tooth.
6 . The clamp for attachment to a satellite of claim 1 , further comprising a stop.
7 . The clamp for attachment to a satellite of claim 3 , further comprising a stop.