Patent ID: 7861974

Claim:
A first portion of a docking system, comprising: a. a support structure; b. a probe head adapted to move along a central axis of said first portion of said docking system, wherein said probe head comprises a convex forward surface adapted to mate with a corresponding central concave surface of a second portion of said docking system, said probe head is biased away from said support structure in a forward direction by a first spring, and said probe head incorporates a central bore along said central axis; c. a docking cable assembly, comprising: i. a flexible tensile element; and ii. a linearly-actuated cam element operatively coupled to said flexible tensile element along said flexible tensile element, wherein said docking cable assembly is nominally located along said central axis and is adapted to move nominally along said central axis and through said central bore of said probe head; d. a first linear actuator, operative between said support structure and said docking cable assembly, wherein said first linear actuator provides for moving said docking cable assembly nominally along said central axis through a central bore in said support structure, and through said central bore of said probe head; e. at least one rotary cam follower, wherein said at least one rotary cam follower is supported by a pivot operatively coupled to said support structure, a first portion of said at least one rotary cam follower is adapted to contact and cooperate with said linearly-actuated cam element, a second portion of said at least one rotary cam follower is adapted to contact and cooperate with an aft edge portion of said probe head, and said at least one rotary cam follower is adapted in relation to said probe head so that an aftwardly directed force from said flexible tensile element through said linearly-actuated cam element to said first portion of said at least one rotary cam follower in engagement therewith acts to at least one of rotate said at least one rotary cam follower and cause said second portion of said at least one rotary cam follower to apply a forwardly-directed force to said aft edge portion of said probe head; and f. a plurality of distal coupling elements operatively coupled to said support structure, wherein said plurality of distal coupling elements are distally located around said central axis, and each distal coupling element of said plurality of distal coupling elements is extended in a forward direction from said support structure and is adapted to engage with and become releasably captured by a corresponding socket and associated capture mechanism of a mating second portion of said docking system.