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:
Jan. 30, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 17, 2004
Bernd Bischof, Ganderkesee, DE;
Juergen Starke, Bremen, DE;
Hansjuergen Guenther, Bremen, DE;
Peter Foth, Weyhe-Leeste, DE;
Lothar Kerstein, Sottrum, DE;
Bernd Bischof, Ganderkesee, DE;
Juergen Starke, Bremen, DE;
Hansjuergen Guenther, Bremen, DE;
Peter Foth, Weyhe-Leeste, DE;
Lothar Kerstein, Sottrum, DE;
EADS Space Transportaiton GmbH, Bremen, DE;
Abstract
Capture devices are mounted on a space platform such as a spacecraft or utility satellite. Each capture device includes a folded capture net stored in a housing, guide weights connected to the net and received in spring-loaded ejection tubes oriented at an acute angle relative to the axis of the housing around the perimeter thereof, and a spring-loaded releasable cover that is connected to the net, covers the net in the housing, and holds the weights in the ejection tubes. When the cover is released, it is spring-ejected from the housing while pulling out and unfolding the net, and the weights are spring-ejected out of the ejection tubes while spreading out the net. After the net wraps around a free-flying target object in space, net closure mechanisms reel-in a net pursing line to close the net, which is connected to the space platform by a tether line on a winch.