8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors In the frame of Space Station Alpha program, SOURIAU has developed and qualified a series of Quick Disconnect high reliability circular connector for robotic operations. This hardware is used as ORU interface on the JEM (Japanese Experiment Module Exposed) Facility which is part of the Japanese contribution to the Space Station. These connectors feature : * Low Insertion Force contacts * Thermal gradient compatibility * Integrated misalignement catching system * High durability (6000 operations) * High EMI shielding efficiency * Deep space environment (Atox) compatibility * Arrangements from MIL-DTL-38999. Performances Mechanical and electrical Mechanical Electrical Contact resistance as per MIL-DTL 39029 Mass * < 180 g for ORU plug * < 95 g for receptacle ORU plug misalignments * Da = 0,9 (movement around the X axis) * D b = 0,9 (angle authorized between the panels) * r = 1,95 mm (plane movement according to Y and Z requirements) ORU receptacle overstroke * DX 1,5 mm Materials and finishes Material Finish Shells (receptacle & plug) Aluminium alloy 7075 Nickel plating Epichlorhydrile + Polyal + Glass fiber or Polyetherimide resin Silicone see contacts L.I.F. Copper alloy - see contacts L.I.F. - Aluminium alloy 7075 Stainless steel Nickel plating - Inserts - Insulator Connector LSD (*) Components - Grommet Contacts Contact retaining clip Receptacle & plug bottom plate and mechanical parts Springs (1) LSD : Lauching Security Device Mating/Demating forces 25L-3 25L-7 25-19 25-20 (1) 25-35 25-61 Mating force (N) (2) Demating force (N) 62 84 125 161 142 110 52 63 102 158 116 84 (1) Configuration 3 # 16 optical contacts + 3 # 16 electrical contacts (2) At room condition before compliance mechanism acting. 100 8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors Part Number / Characteristics SOURIAU Part number Type 8977-09A Plug Mass in gram (with contacts) Insert 178 Qty Layouts Type 1 # 8 (pc) 2 # 4 (pc) 25L-3 8977-10A Receptacle 92 8977-11A Plug 187 8977-12A Receptacle 96 8977-15A Plug 177 8977-16A 8977-17A Receptacle Plug 25L-7 7 # 8 (pc) 25-19 19 # 12 (pc) 87 10 # 20 (pc) 13 # 16 (pc) 4 # 12 (cc) 3 # 8 (cc) 25-35 128 # 22 (sc) 25-61 61 # 20 (sc) 177 25-20 8977-18A 8977-19A Receptacle Plug 87 174 8977-20A Receptacle 81 8977-13A Plug 169 8977-14A Receptacle 77 8977-25A LSD-P 86 for plug 8977-24A LSD-R 11 for receptacle (pc) : power contact ; (cc) : coax contact ; (sc) : signal cotnact 101 Male insert (in front view) 8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors Dimensions for Quick Disconnect (QD) Connector Receptacle Plug 102 8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors Dimensions for Launching Security Device (LSD) LSD Receptacle LSD Plug 103 8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors Presentation & Configuration for coupling Receptacle & Plug Before mating After mating During the mating operation, the receptacle comes up to plug. The front of plug enters in receptacle cone. When plug touches the cone, this induces a lateral movement of plug shell relatively to the flange fixed on panel. This movement stops when the plug shell axis is in conformance with the receptacle ones. The axial movement induces engagement of the plug shell key in the plug receptacle keyway, its entry cone inducing the rotation of plug shell around the X axis. At the end of the total connection, plug comes to touch the internal face of the receptacle. The relative axial movement continues, which induces the displacement of plug shell comparatively to the flange fixed on panel. This displacement of plug shell compresses the spring in external casing. The minimum guaranteed overstroke is 1,5 mm. Connector with Launching Security Device (LSD) Before mating After mating The Launching Security Device is designed to catch the floating connector plug shell during the flight. Its two principal parts are respectively fixed with plug and receptacle flanges. LSD side is fixed on plug flange. The plug shell is blocked by two arms and the system is locked by the cylinder rocker bar. The LSD arms prevent plug shell movements caused by vibrations and acceleration during the launch. When the coupling of the two parts happens, the finger of receptacle part pushes the cylinder rocker bar which releases the arms and liberates plug shell. At this point, the mating occurs as described above. The LSD in unlocked position will necessitate an external and manual action to be locked again on plug shell. 104 8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors Panel cut-out Without Launching Security Device (LSD) Plug Receptacle QD connector with Launching Security Device (LSD) Plug Receptacle Crimping, Insertion & Removal tools for contacts Size contacts Contact Crimping tools Positioner Insertion & Removal plastic tools M 22520/2-09 M 22520/2-07 M 81696/14-01 # 22 Pin Socket # 20 Pin Socket # 16 Pin Socket # 12 Pin Socket #8 Pin Socket M 22520/23-01 + M 22520/23-02 M 22520/23-09 M 81696/14-12* #4 Pin Socket M 22520/23-01 + M 22520/23-04 M 22520/23-11 M 81696/14-07* # 8 coax Pin Socket M 22520/1-01 + M 22520/5-01 + M 22520/5-45 (jaws) C31-SN 1891 K103 8660-197* (1) M 22520/2-01 M 81696/14-10 M 22520/1-04 M 22520/1-01 M 81696/14-03 M 81696/14-04 105 8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors ERA Model In the frame of Space Station Alpha program, SOURIAU has developed a series of high reliability circular connector for robotic operations. This hardware is used on ERA (European Robotic Arm) interface with ORU (Orbital Replacement Unit) and Russian Modules. These connectors feature : * Low Insertion Force contacts * Thermal gradient compatibility * Integral misalignment catching system * High durability (20.000 operations) * High EMI shielding effectiveness * Deep space environment (ATOX) compatibility * Hybrid layout. Connecting stroke 106 8977 Series Circular Robotic Connectors Dimensions (mm) * ERA Receptacle * ERA Plug * Layouts 25-HY 25-61 3 # 8 triax 2 # 12 coax 31 # 20 61 # 20 107