DOCKING DEVICE FOR COSMOS EQUIPMENT

PURPOSE:To absorb the inertial movement, relative position, and angle difference in the docking with the second structure by installing a spring which sets a probe into withdrawable state onto the first cosmos structure and setting the spring in withdrawable state by a spring driving means. CONSTITUTION:When a drive shaft 11 is revolved in the normal direction by the revolution of the driving motor 13 of a withdrawable spring means 10, the top edge part of a coil spring 9 is advanced to an outer surface position from the hatch 5 of the first structure by the action of a spiral groove 11a. The pitch of the projecting part is extended, and a probe 19 at the top edge is engaged with the probe advance part 37 of the second structure 6. Then, the ball of the probe 19 is engaged with the engagement groove 38b of the advance part 37. In this case, the inertial movement between the both structures 5 and 6, relative position, angle. etc., are absorbed by the deflection of the extension part of the spring 9, and the docking of the both can be carried out smoothly.