Abstract: A ring latched coupler includes a male assembly having a plurality of grooves and a female assembly having a plurality of slots. The female assembly is configured to receive the male assembly. A latching ring is rotatably carried by the female assembly. The latching ring is configured such that upon rotation of the male and female assemblies relative to the latching ring, portions of the latching ring extend through the slots in the female assembly to engage grooves in the male assembly.

Abstract: In an attitude control system for a spacecraft having a frame which is to be maintained in a desired orientation relative to a selected set of reference axes, which system includes an electromechanical actuator mechanically coupled to the spacecraft frame for applying to the frame a mechanical torque which opposes deviations from the desired orientation relative to at least one reference coordinate, the actuator including an electric motor and an element connected to be rotated by the motor, and a torque command signal generator connected to the motor for applying a torque command signal which is a function of such deviations and which drives the motor in a manner to control the torque being produced by the actuator, there is included an energy desaturating system composed of: a unit coupled to the element for producing a signal representative of element motion; a signal modifying circuit connected to produce a control signal having a magnitude which is a function of the signal representative of element motio

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a feedthrough connector mounted in an internally-threaded access opening in a wall of a pressurized vessel includes an elongated hollow sleeve defining a chamber and having upper and lower opposite open ends. A flange mounting an O-ring is fixed on the lower open end of the sleeve for sealably attaching the sleeve to the vessel wall about the access opening thereof and the connector mounted therein. A cap is sealably mounted to the upper open end of the sleeve for closing the same, but is removable for opening the upper sleeve open end. A tool shaft extends through the cap and is vertically reciprocally movable relative to the cap and through the sleeve chamber between upper and lower sleeve ends. The shaft is operable for engaging the connector, unthreading the same from the wall access opening and lifting the connector to the upper sleeve end. Removal of the cap will remove the shaft and connector engaged therewith from the sleeve.

Abstract: A rack for holding a plurality of tools includes a plate member having openings for receiving tools, detent pins for releasably securing the plate member to a surface, detent clips associated with each opening for releasably securing a tool within the associated opening and pin members associated with each opening for interacting with a tool using device to permit engagement and disengagement of the tool to the tool using device.

Abstract: A rotary coupling for transmitting torque across a plurality of flexible electrical wires is disclosed herein. The coupling generally comprises a tubular assembly for resisting flexure loads applied to the coupling that has a fixed portion and a rotatable portion, and a shaft member concentrically disposed within the tubular assembly for transmitting torque. First and second connectors are mounted around the inner wall of the fixed and rotatable portions of the tublular assembly, respectively and the second connector mechanically mounts the rotatable portion of the tubular assembly with the shaft member. A plurality of flexible electrical wires are disposed between the inner wall of the tubular assembly and the outer wall of the shaft member. Each of these wires includes a slack poriton which is loosely wound around the shaft member and connected at either end to the first and second connectors, respectively.

Abstract: A rotary coupling for conducting rotational movement across a plurality of electrical wires is disclosed herein which applies a minimum amount of stress on the wires. The coupling generally comprises first and second concentrically disposed tubular members rotatably movable with respect to one another and a skirt member circumscribing one of the tubular members which defines a recess for receiving U-shaped slack portions present in each of the wires. In operation, the U-shaped slack portions extend into and retract out of the recess whenever the coupling members are rotated relative to one another. The rotary coupling effectively transmits torque and high electrical currents in environments where the use of slip rings is undesirable, such as outer space, and is particularly useful within a movable support arm which connects a solar panel to the main body of a space facility.