Abstract: Successive stages of a missile are held together by an encircling band jod at its ends by an explosive band separation device. Opposite ends of the band are welded to separable parts which interlock with each other. Since the band is held in tension, inclined surfaces on the separable parts force them from maintaining an engagement so that a retaining cover is needed to hold them together. The retaining cover is held by a pair of balls which diametrically communicate with a longitudinal bore. A piston in the bore keeps the balls in cavities in the retaining cover to hold the separable parts together. A power cartridge detonated by an electrical signal displaces the piston the length of the bore and the balls free of the retaining cover. The retaining cover rotates by a resultant upward force exerted by the inclining surfaces. Freed from the retaining cover the tensile force exerted by the band pulls the separable parts apart to free successive stages of the missile from one another.

Abstract: A missile having a payload mounted on an airframe includes a pair of wave aped springs for separating the payload from the airframe at a predetermined time in the flight envelope. Hinged clamshell-half fairing members in the airframe support the payload during the initial stages of deployment by a rocket motor. At the predetermined time an explosive band separation device is actuated so that the pair of diametrically disposed wave-shaped springs can force the clamshell-half fairing members apart and into the slipstream to disengage the airframe from the payload to assure its intended deployment.