The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 16, 1992
Michael E Dobbs, Brighton, MI (US);
Donald B Jones, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of manufacturing in space and a spacecraft assembly to accomplish such manufacture. The spacecraft assembly includes a spacecraft including a plurality of canister compartments circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the spacecraft and opening in a docking face of the spacecraft, a plurality of canisters respectively positioned in the compartments, and a passive docking mechanism proximate the docking face and proximate the central axis, and a service vehicle comprising a plurality of canister compartments spaced circumferentially about the central axis of the service vehicle, a plurality of canisters respectively positioned in the compartments, and a manipulator assembly including an active docking structure, including a boom extending forwardly from the docking face, and a canister handling assembly mounted on the boom. In one embodiment, the spacecraft remains permanently in orbit, a manufacturing process is performed on the spacecraft to produce an end product which is housed in the canisters, and the service vehicle periodically visits the orbiting spacecraft to perform a canister exchange with the spacecraft, utilizing the canister exchange with the spacecraft, utilizing the canister handling assembly, and replenishing the spacecraft supplies.