1. A method of insuring against satellite launch failure including rescue reservations comprising the steps of:
purchasing a satellite for orbiting the earth;
obtaining a launch insurance policy prior to launching the satellite from Earth, wherein the launch insurance policy including a rescue mission provision from a guarantor covering the launch of the satellite into an unintended orbit, the rescue mission provision providing for the payment to a rescue mission provider of a rescue mission in the event that the satellite is launched into an unintended orbit but otherwise remains functional, the rescue mission provision specifying that the rescue mission shall include 1) providing a extension spacecraft having guidance, navigation and control systems for position control of the extension spacecraft and satellite combination and having an onboard propellant supply sufficient for moving the extension spacecraft and satellite combination from one orbit to another orbit, 2) launching the extension spacecraft into space, 3) mechanically connecting the extension spacecraft to the satellite launched into an unintended orbit, and 4) utilizing the extension spacecraft’s guidance, navigation and control systems and onboard propellant supply to move the satellite from the unintended orbit to an intended operational orbit;
triggering the rescue mission provision in the event that the satellite is launched into an unintended orbit but the satellite otherwise remains functional;
calculating the rescue mission costs;
paying a rescue mission provider for a rescue mission by the guarantor in accordance with the launch insurance policy; and
initiating the rescue mission for moving the satellite from the unintended orbit to an intended operational orbit, comprising the additional steps of:
providing a extension spacecraft having guidance, navigation and control systems for position control of the extension spacecraft and satellite combination and having an onboard propellant supply sufficient for moving the extension spacecraft and satellite combination from one orbit to another orbit;
launching the extension spacecraft into space;
moving the extension spacecraft to within proximity of the satellite launched into an unintended orbit;
mechanically connecting the extension spacecraft to the satellite launched into an unintended orbit; and
utilizing the extension spacecraft’s guidance, navigation and control systems and onboard propellant supply to move the satellite from the unintended orbit to an intended operational orbit.
2. The method of insuring against satellite launch failure of claim 1 wherein the extension spacecraft is unmanned.
3. The method of insuring against satellite launch failure of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
obtaining a rescue mission failure insurance policy from a guarantor which provides for financial compensation to the policy holder in the event of failure of the rescue mission to move the satellite from an unintended orbit to an intended orbit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A device for expelling a product from a vending machine, said vending machine comprising a containment frame, a plurality of supporting shelves provided within said containment frame, at least one dispensing tray which is slidingly mounted on a respective supporting shelf so as to move between a position for loading products to be dispensed, in which it is at least partially extracted from said containment frame, and a position for unloading said products to be dispensed, in which it is fully contained within said containment frame, at least one collection tray for the products unloaded from the respective, or each, said dispensing tray which can be accessed from outside, and at least one helical dispenser element which lies above a respective dispensing tray and is suitable to accommodate, between at least two consecutive turns, a product to be dispensed, so as to make it advance along the respective dispensing tray by rotating about its own longitudinal axis, until it falls by gravity into said collection tray, further comprising control means which are suitable to drive the motor of the respective helical dispenser element so as to make it perform an additional partial rotation if said product fails to fall from the respective dispensing tray, so as to ensure the fall of said product into said collection tray.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprise sensor means which are arranged downstream of the or each helical dispenser element and are suitable to check whether the product chosen by the consumer has fallen from the corresponding dispensing tray.
3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a monitoring and control unit which is suitable to receive, from said sensor means, an onoff signal related to the expulsion of said product from the corresponding dispensing tray and, in case of failed expulsion, to drive the motor of the respective helical dispenser element so as to make it perform an additional quarter turn, said monitoring and control unit being suitable to memorize the occurrence of the rotation of the or each helical dispenser element through said additional quarter turn, so as to impart thereto, during a subsequent preselection of the corresponding product, a rotation which is the full-turn complement of said additional quarter turn.
4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises at least one sensor for each spring-loaded dispenser element provided along a falling path of a product, said falling path lying between the respective dispensing tray and the, or the respective, collection tray.
5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises at least one sensor which is arranged at said collection tray and is suitable to detect the presence therein of a product at least within a time period which is predefined starting from when said product is preselected.
6. The device according to claim 5, comprising a timer device which is suitable to activate the respective sensor for a predefined time period starting from when the consumer preselects said product.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said timer device comprises a time-controlled counter which can be activated by said monitoring and control unit when a product is preselected and can be deactivated by said unit when it receives the signal indicating successful expulsion of said product, which is sent to it by the respective sensor.