Modular Design of Docking Mechanism with Fluid Transferring Interface and Experiment for Spacecrafts
- Paper number
IAC-09.B4.7.5
- Author
Mr. Qiang Li, China
- Coauthor
Prof. Xiaoqian Chen, China
- Coauthor
Dr. Yong Zhao, China
- Coauthor
Dr. yiyong huang, College of Aerospace and Materials Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, China
- Year
2009
- Abstract
Increasing space debris and invalid spacecrafts are causing the space environment worse and worse, which is a grim challenge to the safety of on-orbit spacecrafts. Enhancing the spacecrafts’ mobility is an effectual measure for this question, and that developing the technology of on-orbit refueling is available. On the basis of analyzing foregone on-orbit refueling technologies, this paper puts forward a fire-new conception, which is modular design of docking mechanism with fluid transferring interface for spacecrafts. The following four sections are introduced with emphasis: (1) Principle and scheme of modular design. Idea of modular design is adopted and only the “compliant mount” structure is shared, moreover, there are various solutions for each key module, which are interchangeable on the platform. (2) Key technologies and components. Each key technology, as collision cushion, self-locking device, accommodating errors, interface seal, is interpreted in detail. (3) Dynamics modeling and simulation. The mathematical models of docking dynamics in capture process are established, an insight of docking dynamics is offered, which is very useful for the design of buffer and docking mechanism. The contact force (9800N) of fluid transferring interface is calculated with restriction equation and balance equation, which is appropriate to the interface seal. (4) Ground experiment and results. The ground experimental system is mainly composed of a linear air guide rail and controllers. The linear air guide rail supplies a relative frictionless movement environment, on which the autonomous docking and separation can be studied. The results of the experiment done using this system indicate that this design holds a high docking successfulness. Finally, the future research direction and experiment are discussed and some improvements are suggested on current experimental system. The introduction of the paper provides a wide overview of the on-going research efforts to make the on-orbit refueling for spacecrafts a reality.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)