Satellite deployer door with clutch bearing

Abstract

A satellite dispenser door assembly is disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser door assembly as disclosed herein includes a dispenser door having a hinge pin; and a one way clutch bearing within which the hinge pin is free to rotate in a first rotational direction associated with a transition from a closed position of the dispenser door to an open position of the dispenser door.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A satellite dispenser door assembly, comprising:
 a dispenser door having a hinge pin;   a one way clutch bearing within which the hinge pin is free to rotate in a first rotational direction associated with a transition from a closed position of the dispenser door to an open position of the dispenser door; and   a structure that is configured to act as a stop to the dispenser door to prevent the dispenser door from opening past a configured extent of opening, wherein the extent of opening is greater than or equal to 90 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser door rotates to the open position in response to the dispenser door being engaged by the door release mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a clutch nut configured to hold a non-rotating portion of the one way clutch bearing in place relative to a stationary structure comprising a dispenser with which the dispenser door is associated. 
     
     
         4 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hinge pin comprises a first hinge pin positioned at one end of a hinged end of the dispenser door; and   the dispenser door further includes a second hinge pin at an opposite end of the hinged end of the dispenser door.   
     
     
         5 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the one way clutch bearing comprises a first one way clutch bearing and further comprising a second one way clutch bearing within which the second hinge pin is free to rotate in a second rotational direction associated with the transition from the closed position of the dispenser door to the open position of the dispenser door. 
     
     
         6 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the door assembly further comprises a foot configured to be mounted fixedly to a dispenser body of a dispenser with which the dispenser door assembly is associated, and the foot includes the structure that acts as the stop. 
     
     
         7 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the door assembly further includes a door release mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the door release mechanism includes a spring loaded pusher configured to push the dispenser door from the closed position towards the open position of the dispenser door. 
     
     
         9 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a control module is configured to cause a driving voltage or a driving current to be provided to the door release mechanism in response to a determination that the payload is to be deployed. 
     
     
         10 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 9 , wherein in response to receipt of the driving voltage or the driving current, the door release mechanism engages the dispenser door in response to a determination that the payload is to be deployed. 
     
     
         11 . The satellite dispenser door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the satellite dispenser door is further configured to ensure that the dispenser door does not wholly return to the closed position in relation to the dispenser body without manual intervention. 
     
     
         12 . The satellite dispenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extent of opening is configured to prevent the dispenser door from interfering with deployment of a payload from an adjacent satellite dispenser. 
     
     
         13 . The satellite dispenser assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extent of opening is adjustable. 
     
     
         14 . A satellite dispenser, comprising:
 a dispenser body defining a cavity;   a satellite door assembly, comprising:
 a dispenser door having a hinge pin; 
 a one way clutch bearing within which the hinge pin is free to rotate in a first rotational direction associated with a transition from a closed position of the dispenser door to an open position of the dispenser door; and 
 a structure that is configured to act as a stop to the dispenser door to prevent the dispenser door from opening past a configured extent of opening, wherein the extent of opening is greater than or equal to 90 degrees; and 
   a door release mechanism that maintains the dispenser door in the closed position with respect to a dispenser body before deployment of a payload the dispenser body is configured to hold, and that engages the dispenser door in response to receipt of a driving voltage or driving current from a control module.   
     
     
         15 . The satellite dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the satellite dispenser is positioned adjacent to one or more other satellite dispensers, a distance between the satellite dispenser and the one or more other satellite dispensers being sufficient that when the dispenser door is opened to the configured extent of opening relative to the closed position the dispenser door does not interfere with the ejection or deployment of one or more payloads from the one or more other dispensers. 
     
     
         16 . The satellite dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the structure that is configured to act as the stop is configured to allow the dispenser door to open at least 110 degrees from the closed position, and the satellite door assembly is configured to ensure that the dispenser door does not wholly return to the closed position without manual intervention. 
     
     
         17 . The satellite dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the extent of opening is configured to prevent the dispenser door from interfering with deployment of a payload from an adjacent satellite dispenser. 
     
     
         18 . The satellite dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the extent of opening is adjustable.