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

Claim 1:
2. 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; and
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;
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 coupler element includes control electronics configured to
(a) calculate a radial offset between the coupler longitudinal axis and the probe portion, and
(b) command the aerodynamic control elements for reducing the radial offset;

wherein the control electronics is configured to
(a) calculate a longitudinal distance between the coupler element and the probe portion, and
(b) command the forward vehicle or the aft vehicle to close the longitudinal distance;

wherein the docking structure includes a dock stabilization ring for receiving the coupler element when in the docked position; and
wherein the dock stabilization ring includes a multiplicity of coupler guide plates configured to conformingly engage an outer surface of the coupler element.