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:
Nov. 04, 2008
Filed:
Dec. 15, 2005
Horst Koehler, Bremen, DE;
Horst Koehler, Bremen, DE;
EADS Space Transportation GmbH, Bremen, DE;
Abstract
An apparatus for ejecting a flying body (e.g. payload recovery container) from a spacecraft includes a first ring to be secured to the spacecraft, a cable winding device that is arranged on a second ring and that is releasably engageable with the flying body, and tension cables extending between the two rings. The cable winding device is spring-biased to wind-up the cables, which extend axis-parallel along the cylindrical outer shell of the flying body. Holding and guide elements on the first ring hold and guide the flying body. Catch elements on the cable winding device releasably engage receivers on the flying body. When the holding elements are released, the cables are retracted by the cable winding device, and the rotation of the cable winding device is transmitted to the flying body via the engaged catch elements and receivers. Thereby, the flying body is rotated and translationally ejected.