Patent ID: 8820353

Claim:
An interface system for selectively providing media, fluid or gas, and electrical paths between first and second space vehicles, the interface system comprising: a source tank storing propellant or pressurant within the first space vehicle, a first media pathway connected to the source tank, a first linear control valve for selectively permitting the release of the propellant or pressurant through the first media pathway; a male valve assembly comprising cylindrically shaped inner and outer housings, each of the housings having an opened forward end, a valve needle positioned within the inner housing, the valve needle and inner housing being in constant axial relation, the valve needle being in media communication with the first media pathway, a valve aperture formed within the valve needle, a seal positioned within the inner housing, the seal having seated and unseated orientations, a spring biasing the seal into the seated orientation, in the seated orientation the seal is positioned within the opened forward end of the inner housing and the valve aperture is unexposed, in the unseated orientation the seal is removed from the opened forward end of the inner housing in a retracted position relative to the valve aperture and the valve aperture is exposed, a series of first electrical contacts positioned about the outer housing; a receiving tank within the second space vehicle, a second media pathway connected to the receiving tank, a second linear control valve for selectively controlling media flow between the second media pathway and the receiving tank; a female valve assembly comprising a conical receptacle and inner and outer housings, the inner housing being in media communication with the second media pathway, each of the housings having an opened forward end, a valve cap positioned within the inner housing, the valve cap having seated and unseated orientations, a spring biasing the valve cap into the seated orientation, a series of second electrical contacts positioned about the outer housing, a spring biased sheath positioned over the second electrical contacts; the interface system having an engaged orientation wherein the inner housing of the female valve assembly engages and displaces the seal of the male valve to expose the valve aperture and the valve needle of the male valve assembly engages and displaces the valve cap of the female valve assembly to form a media path between the valve needle of the male valve assembly and the inner housing of the female valve assembly, the media path being established around the periphery of the valve cap of the female valve assembly, in the engaged orientation the outer housing of the male valve assembly displaces the spring biased sheath of the female valve assembly whereby the first and second electrical contacts are placed into contact and form an electrical path between the male and female valve assemblies.