US 12,187,465 B2
Module separation mechanism, in particular for rockets
Blazej Marciniak, Warsaw (PL); and Hanna Tuchowska, Warsaw (PL)
Assigned to Siec Badawcza Lukasiewicz—Instytut Lotnictwa, Warsaw (PL)
Filed by Siec Badawcza Lukasiewicz—Instytut Lotnictwa, Warsaw (PL)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/082,014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0192326 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/64 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/645 (2013.01) [B64G 1/641 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A module separation mechanism, in particular for a rocket, comprising:
a cylindrical first body;
a cylindrical second body; and
a ring connecting the first body and the second body, wherein:
the ring comprises a first arm, a second arm, a tension lock, and a cover,
the tension lock comprises a tension lock nut positioned at a central portion of the tension lock and tension lock screws engaged with the tension lock nut and respectively positioned at opposing ends of the tension lock nut, each tension lock screw having a spherical washer at an end opposite the tension lock nut, wherein in an engaged position the tension lock screws are configured to respectively engage the first arm and the second arm, and the cover is configured to engage the tension lock nut to prevent unscrewing of the tension lock;
the first body comprises at least one radially mounted actuator that is adapted to radially eject the tension lock screws from engagement with the first arm and the second arm of the ring together with the cover in a manner as to disengage the ring from the first body and the second body,
the first body comprises at least one pushing member adapted to axially eject the second body from the first body on disengagement of the ring from the first body and the second body,
an outer surface of the ring and an outer surface of the cover are configured to be flush with respective outer surfaces of the first body and the second body, and
the first body and the second body each have an interface to connect the respective first body and the second body to other components of the rocket or other separable object.