Abstract: A fin control assembly includes a housing, an arm configured to couple to a fin and to steer the fin relative to the housing, and a locking member disposed within the housing. The locking member is configured to (i) lock the arm in a substantially fixed state to inhibit movement of the arm relative to the housing when the locking member is in an engaged position, and (ii) unlock the arm from the substantially fixed state to allow the arm to steer the fin relative to the housing when the locking member moves from the engaged position to a disengaged position. The locking member has a cylindrical body portion and a cylindrical end portion, which is eccentric with the cylindrical body portion, to enable the locking member to lock the arm in the substantially fixed state while the arm holds the fin in a neutral location.

Abstract: A cylinder and piston assembly having damping orifices disposed on a wall of the cylinder is used for impact energy and force reduction. The damping orifices may be of any shape and, therefore, a cylinder and piston may produce variable damping forces and variable resistive forces. A damping orifice may be positioned at any point or location along the length of the cylinder bore. The damping coefficient of the system begins to change at the location of a damping orifice in the cylinder bore. A desired system response, e.g., progressive, regressive, varying, or any combination thereof, etc., may be advantageously obtained by designing the damping orifices to produce falling-rate and/or rising-rate damping coefficients.

Abstract: A locking and unlocking mechanism for moveable control fins extending from the surface of a missile. The locking mechanism includes a pin extending thru the outer surface of the missile into an opening provided in the movable fin. A link is pivotally connected between each of the pins and a slide member disposed internally of the missile and carried by a guide. The links are in a close to dead center position when the pins are extended into the openings in each of the fins. A striker assembly is disposed within the slide member and includes a rod carrying a hammer which is spring loaded spaced from the slide member when the pins are in their extend position.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for moveable control fins extending from the surface of a missile. The locking mechanism includes a pin extending thru the outer surface of the missile into an opening provided in the movable fin. A link is pivotally connected between each of the pins and a slide member disposed internally of the missile and carried by a guide. The links are in a close to dead center position when the pins are extended into the openings in each of the fins. Upon a command signal from a controller, preparatory to missile launch, a restraining device holding the slide is removed and a spring commences movement of the slide toward a position which will take the links past their dead center position upon which additional springs which are loaded around each of the pins are activated to positively move the slide and extract the pins from the openings in the fins.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator including a piston rod having a centering mechanism associated therewith which, upon actuation, will return the piston rod to a predetermined position even against loads and lock it in that position and hold it there even without the presence of hydraulic power. The centering and locking mechanism includes a drive mechanism and cam surfaces on the piston rod which are engaged by drive surfaces on the driving mechanism. The drive and cam surfaces are opposed ramps with one of the ramps on the drive mechanism always disposed opposite one of the ramps on the actuator, such that at any position of the stroke of the actuator piston rod the centering and locking mechanism may be actuated and is operable to return the actuator to the predetermined position and lock it in place. The cam surfaces are infinitely variable as to their position on the piston rod within the limits of the dimensions of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A valve combining in a single unit a multiplicity of functions including isolation, thermal and pressure relief, return check and bypass. The valve includes a pair of spool valves, one slidably positioned within the other, disposed with a bore in a housing and interconnected with system pressure and return and an appropriate control valve.

Abstract: A failure detection apparatus useful with a hydraulic system for maintaining fluid pressure signals present in the system to detect predetermined disparity therebetween. The apparatus includes a movable sleeve mounted within a housing and defining a central bore as well as transverse fluid flow passageways therethrough. A piston is mounted within the bore in the sleeve and normally blocks the fluid flow passageways defined within the sleeve. Fluid pressure signals to be monitored for detection of disparity therbetween are applied to opposite ends of the movable sleeve. Upon movement of the sleeve, fluid under pressure is applied through the passageways and through bores provided in the pistons thereby to cause movement of the piston to apply the fluid under pressure to a shut-off valve and a failure indicator mechanism. The piston latches in a limit position to retain the detection device and the shut-off valve in the actuated position.

Abstract: An automatic and manual linear reversion control mechanism for a hydraulic servo actuator assembly is disclosed for linearly transferring control between an automatic (fly by wire) control mechanism and a manual control mechanism. A command select mechanism includes two axially aligned pins mounted on a rigid command selector bar, with the first pins slidably mounted in a slot in a control bar of the manual control mechanism and the second pin slidably mounted in a slot in the control bar of the automatic control mechanism so that movement of the command selector bar to displace the two axially aligned pins in their associated slots provides a linear transfer of control of the hydraulic assembly between the manual control and the automatic control.