US 12,187,466 B2
Material transfer interfaces for space vehicles, and associated systems and methods
James Bultitude, San Francisco, CA (US); Phil Putman, Sandusky, OH (US); Larry Knauer, Toledo, OH (US); Wanda Sigur, Seabrook, TX (US); Sebastian Poler, San Francisco, CA (US); Garrett Ailts, Riverdale, UT (US); Avery Louie, Somerville, MA (US); Daniel Faber, San Francisco, CA (US); and Alexander Deuitch, Westminster, CO (US)
Assigned to Orbit Fab, Inc., Lafayette, CO (US)
Filed by Orbit Fab, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/211,547.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/994,668, filed on Mar. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0300602 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. B64G 1/64 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/646 (2013.01) [B64G 1/641 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for transferring material between two spacecraft, the system comprising:
a service valve portion including one or more first ports for transferring material; and
a coupling portion positioned to receive the service valve portion, wherein the coupling portion comprises:
a support structure;
one or more second ports positioned to engage the one or more first ports for transferring material therebetween;
a latch-arm base, wherein the latch-arm base is movable relative to the support structure;
a first actuator positioned to move the latch-arm base relative to the support structure;
a latch arm carried by the latch-arm base, the latch arm being movable relative to the latch-arm base; and
a second actuator positioned to rotate the latch arm relative to the latch-arm base.