US 12,227,315 B2
Shockless spacecraft dispenser
Varouj Baghdasarian, Cupertino, CA (US)
Assigned to Maxar Space LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Maxar Space LLC, Westminster, CO (US)
Filed on Oct. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/967,582.
Prior Publication US 2024/0124166 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B64G 1/64 (2006.01); F15B 15/14 (2006.01); F15B 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/645 (2013.01) [F15B 15/1447 (2013.01); F15B 15/204 (2013.01); B64G 1/643 (2023.08)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a hold-down rod assembly configured to hold down a stack of spacecraft to a launch vehicle adaptor, wherein the hold-down rod assembly comprises a tension rod under tension when holding down the stack of spacecraft to the launch vehicle adaptor;
a pneumatic actuator system mechanically coupled to the hold-down rod assembly and to the launch vehicle adaptor, wherein the pneumatic actuator system comprises a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, and an actuator rod assembly connected to the piston and extending out of the cylinder, wherein the actuator rod assembly is mechanically coupled to the hold-down rod assembly, wherein the cylinder comprises a top chamber adjacent a first surface of the piston connected to the actuator rod assembly and a bottom chamber adjacent a second surface of the piston opposite the first surface, wherein the pneumatic actuator system performs a controlled release of gas from the top chamber to perform a controlled release of the tension in the tension rod; and
a compression bracket mechanically coupled to the tension rod, wherein the compression bracket has a first position in which the compression bracket contacts the launch vehicle adaptor to take a load of the hold-down rod assembly such that the actuator rod assembly is not loaded by the hold-down rod assembly, wherein the compression bracket has a second position in which the actuator rod assembly is loaded by the hold-down rod assembly instead of the compression bracket;
wherein the pneumatic actuator system is configured to move the compression bracket from the first position to the second position such that the actuator rod assembly takes the load from the hold-down rod assembly prior to performing the controlled release of the tension in the tension rod.