Patent ID: 11870183
Assignee: nan
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  H | IPC B  H

Claim 0:
1. A joint system for constructing orbital and extra-terrestrial structures comprising:
a node receptacle including a node surface and a finger receiver projecting outwardly of the node surface, wherein the node receptacle includes a first electrical connector; and
a strut element including a support member, the support member including a second electrical connector, a finger element shiftably supported on the support member, a shell system shiftably supported on the support member and connected to the finger element, and an actuator mounted to the support member and operatively connected with the shell system, the actuator being operable to shift the finger element and the shell system into contact with the node receptacle, the finger element cooperating with the finger receiver to form a first load path and the shell system cooperating with the node surface to form a second load path, wherein the shell system includes a shell front, a shell back, and a shell cap, the shell front being coupled to the shell back, wherein the shell back includes a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, the intermediate portion including a radially inwardly directed element that extends toward the support member defining a void.