Patent ID: 11866192
Assignee: SKY LAUNCH CORPORATION
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 7:
8. A system for reconnectably coupling an aft vehicle to a forward vehicle in flight, the system comprising:
a docking structure configured to be affixed to the forward vehicle;
a tow actuation element;
a coupler element having a line connection portion, a probe receiver port, and a plurality of aerodynamic control elements, a coupler longitudinal axis being defined as extending from the line connection portion through the probe receiving port, the probe receiving port being configured to receive and releasably retain a probe portion of the aft vehicle, the coupler element being movable with respect to the docking structure between a docked position and an undocked position;
a tow line element having a proximal end, a distal end, and a line extension length, the proximal end being attached to the tow actuation element, the distal end being connectable to the coupler element, the line extension length being defined from the tow actuation element to the line connection portion; and
a said aft vehicle having a said probe portion;
wherein
(a) the tow actuation element is configured to increase and decrease the line extension length,
(b) the aerodynamic control elements are configured to adjust lateral and vertical positioning of the coupler element with respect to the probe portion when the system is in flight, and
(c) movement of the coupler element is restrained with respect to the docking structure when in the docked position;

wherein the probe portion includes a coupler securement portion securingly engageable with a probe securement portion in the probe receiver port for controllably locking the probe portion within the probe receiver port;
wherein the coupler securement portion includes a lock mechanism configured to move the coupler securement portion into and out of said securing engagement with the probe securement portion; and
wherein
(a) the coupler securement portion includes a plurality of radially-extendable tabs, and
(b) the probe securement portion includes one or more grooves configured to receive said radially-extendable tabs when the coupler securement portion is in the securing engagement.