Collapsible Patents (Class 244/3.27)
  • Patent number: 11781841
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wing arrangement (10) for a projectile (1). The wing arrangement (10) comprising: a wing shaft (20) extending longitudinally between a proximal end (21) and a distal end (22) along a wing shaft axis (R), the proximal end (21) being configured to be inserted into a wing shaft aperture (6) in a circumferential wall (2) of the projectile (1), the wing shaft (20) being rotatable around the wing shaft axis (R); a wing blade (30) connected to the distal end (22) of the wing shaft (20); a deployment arrangement (40) configured to control a rotational movement of the wing shaft (20) around the wing shaft axis (R), whereby the wing blade (30) is deployed from a folded state to a deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Joakim Berggren, David Brocker
  • Patent number: 11733749
    Abstract: An electronic device that includes a first device portion, a second device portion coupled to the first device portion, and a uni-directional thermally conductive connector coupled to the first device portion and the second device portion. The first device portion comprises a region that includes a component configured to generate heat. The uni-directional thermally conductive connector is configured to dissipate heat away from the first device portion and towards the second device portion. The uni-directional thermally conductive connector includes a thermally conductive material that primarily dissipates heat along a first direction of the thermally conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hung-Wen Lin, Sin-Shong Wang, Keith Wang, Ajit Kumar Vallabhaneni, Jen-Chun Chang
  • Patent number: 11549789
    Abstract: Various embodiments of optimized subsonic projectiles are provided. For example, one exemplary subsonic projectile can include an elliptical nose cone, a cylindrical body and a boattail with various design features that can be used in a subsonic ammunition cartridge where the subsonic projectile is stabile throughout at least a segment of a flight allowing for better accuracy, maintaining low drag, maximizing range and achieving desired performance while ensuring the projectile stays below the speed of sound and lowering a noise profile of projectile and a launcher firing the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Lucius A. Taylor, Joseph T. Burkart
  • Patent number: 11326863
    Abstract: A winged external guidance frame placed on the muzzle that can couple with a projectile while exiting the barrel utilizing the kinetic energy of the projectile to travel to the target while the accuracy is provided by on board electronics and corrected using the wings. Alternately a reusable unmanned aerial system that travels in the speed and direction of the projectile and couples with the projectile as it exits the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Inventor: Shyam Swaminadhan Rami
  • Patent number: 11175117
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bi-directional wing unfolding mechanism for unfolding and locking wings of air vehicle during deployment. The mechanism comprises one or more flexible member to enable lift and rotational movements of the wings of air vehicle about one or more axis. The mechanism also comprises one or more pairs of lock pins to lock undesired lift and rotational movement of the wings after the desired movements, thereby enabling minimum roll disturbance and near synchronous locking of all wings. Further, the mechanism also enables folding and unfolding of the wings having higher aspect ratio by folding and unfolding at mutually perpendicular axes. The mechanism also enables lower drag and results in high aerodynamic performance, low roll rate and better flight trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CHAIRMAN, DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (DRDO)
    Inventors: Venkata Lakshmi Chennakeseva Rao Bavanari, Ismail Shaik, Prakash Jain, Seeta Rama Anjaneyulu Pamarthi, Naveed Ali, Ranajit Das, Kaikobad Erachshaw Kapadia
  • Patent number: 11092412
    Abstract: A device is configured for deflecting a stream of particles for a projectile guided by a link wire, the projectile having a fuselage and an engine capable of producing a propulsive jet containing the stream of particles. The device includes a device support including an inner surface configured to attach the device support to the fuselage of the projectile, and a deflector strip assuming at least an unfolded position in which the deflector strip forms an angle with the device support in order to deflect the stream of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: MBDA France
    Inventors: François Durand, Vincent Cheret, Simon Tusseau, Vincent Guibout
  • Patent number: 10996032
    Abstract: A projectile includes a housing and a slot formed in the housing. A deployable flight surface is inside the housing. A cover is attached to the housing and covers the slot. A cutter is adjacent the cover and moves in the slot and slices the cover to open the slot and allow deployment of the flight surface through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Edwy Buttolph
  • Patent number: 10520291
    Abstract: Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Srikanth Vasudevan, Paul Suchy, Matthew C. Birch
  • Patent number: 10427801
    Abstract: A variety of refueling devices, systems and methods are disclosed for use in in-flight refueling. In one example one such device is towed by a tanker aircraft via a fuel hose at least during in-flight refueling, and has a boom member with a boom axis. The boom member enables fuel to be transferred from the fuel hose to a receiver aircraft along the boom axis during in-flight refueling. The device maintains a desired non-zero angular disposition between the boom axis and a forward direction at least when the refueling device is towed by the tanker aircraft in the forward direction via the fuel hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Ohad Rix, Joshua Gur, Michael Litvak, Elie Koskas
  • Patent number: 10429159
    Abstract: A deployable airfoil airborne body such as missiles, bombs, guided projectiles, MALDs and UAVs includes first and second rigid airfoil sections stowed end-to-end along the airborne body. The airfoil sections have first and second interior edges of equal lengths, abutting ends connected at the first and second interior edges by a free-floating pivot, a distant end of the first rigid airfoil section coupled to a fixed pivot on the airborne body, and a distant end of the second rigid airfoil section having a translation point. The first and second rigid airfoil sections are configured to rotate in opposite directions to move the translation point axially along the airborne body to abut the fixed pivot driving the free-floating pivot radially away from the airborne body to join the first and second interior edges in a deployed position transverse to the airborne body to form a rigid airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Dylla, Michael J. Scolman
  • Patent number: 9939240
    Abstract: Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Srikanth Vasudevan, Paul Suchy, Matthew C. Birch
  • Patent number: 9789950
    Abstract: The present invention is a canister-launched pyrotechnically actuated folding wing UAV. The invention features a method for reliable and irreversible locking of a foldable wing, while enabling compact storage, cost reduction, ease of deployment and aerodynamic performance unattainable in current folding-wing designs. In a specific embodiment, the UAV is pre-packaged in a deployment canister for single-button deployment. The UAV can be offered in a rental system in which part or the entirety of the device can be returned for refurbishing. Additionally, the device can be provided as a fully expendable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: BIRD AEROSPACE LLC
    Inventors: Matthew I. Most, Trevor G. Vita
  • Patent number: 9395167
    Abstract: Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Srikanth Vasudevan, Paul Suchy, Matthew C. Birch
  • Patent number: 9194677
    Abstract: A projectile, such as a guided mortar projectile, has both a front obturator and an aft obturating device. The aft obturating device is located aft of the front obturator, and serves to trap pressurized gases behind the aft obturating device, so as to provide further propulsion to the projectile with the trapped pressurized gases, even after the front obturator has cleared the muzzle of a launcher. The aft obturating device provides less resistance to movement of pressurized gases across the aft obturating device in the aft direction, than to movement of pressurized gases across the aft obturating device in the forward direction, and may act as a check valve with regard to such gas flows. The aft obturating device may be part of a cap that is coupled to a tail boom of the projectile, and that drops away from the projectile after launch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Justin D Skaret, Conan L Davis
  • Patent number: 9151581
    Abstract: A method for providing actuation thrust to a projectile. The method including: providing two or more individual actuators movably disposed in a stack housing, each of the two or more individual actuators being separated by a separation layer; accelerating exhaust from the two or more individual actuators with an accelerating nozzle having at least a convergent section terminating at a throat; and maintaining a constant volume in the accelerating nozzle after actuation of each of the two or more individual actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Jahangir S. Rastegar, Thomas Spinelli
  • Patent number: 9086258
    Abstract: A guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Srikanth Vasudevan, Paul Suchy, Matthew C. Birch
  • Patent number: 9040886
    Abstract: A projectile control system includes a plurality of fins, a drive mechanism coupled to each of the plurality of fins to enable the plurality of fins to be independently retracted or deployed, and a control mechanism in communication with the drive mechanisms to independently control the deployment or retraction of the plurality of fins. A projectile having the projectile control system and a method of operating a projectile are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bradley M. Hopping, Craig R. DeMeester
  • Publication number: 20150108268
    Abstract: A control system for a missile includes a plurality of control surfaces that can be arrayed across a surface of the missile body, and a controller connected to the control surfaces to selectively move the control surfaces between an aerodynamic stowed position where the control surfaces conform to the surface of the body, and a deployed control position removed from the aerodynamic stowed position where the control surfaces extend from the surface of the body to interact with airflow over the body. The control surfaces are made of a material that includes a shape-memory alloy. Heating the control surfaces causes the shape-memory alloy to move the control surfaces from the aerodynamic stowed position to the deployed control position. By selectively extending and retracting the control surfaces, the control system provides the ability to control the missile's direction of travel or to reduce roll about a longitudinal axis of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Ward D. Lyman, Frederick B. Koehler, Terry M. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 9012825
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for retaining and deploying a plurality of canards and canard covers on a projectile. The projectile includes a projectile housing defining an interior chamber and a longitudinal axis, canards rotatably mounted to the housing, canard covers, a bobbin movably disposed in the interior chamber of the housing along the longitudinal axis, and rocker arms. The canards mounted for movement from a stowed position to a deployed position. The canard covers have a hook element and are adapted to cover respective slots formed in the housing. The bobbin has first and second ends and a retaining surface proximate the second end. Rocker arms have a first and second arm end, with a canard retaining slot defined therebetween. The first arm end includes a latch element for engaging with the canard cover element, and the second arm end is positioned proximate the retaining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Plumer, Jeff Gibson, Jim Byrne, Brian Richardson
  • Patent number: 9004393
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include an aircraft capable of sustained out-of-ground-effect hover flight and sustained supersonic flight. At least some embodiments includes two wings powered by an engine to counterrotate while hovering, and to not rotate and sweep while flying at transonic and supersonic speeds. Other embodiments include two rotating wings that generate a force per unit area of under 100 lb/ft2 within the rotating wing disk during hover. Still other embodiment include a vehicle with rotating wings that can increase pitch to accelerate the aircraft, align the chord line of the wings with the airstream, and sweep the wings. Still further embodiments include a power plant that powers unducted rotating wings during hover and disengages from the wings to propel the aircraft at supersonic speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: University of Kansas
    Inventor: Ronald M. Barrett-Gonzales
  • Patent number: 8952304
    Abstract: In one example, a rocket nozzle assembly is disclosed that has stowed and deployed positions, and includes a casing including an outer wall and an inner surface, at least a portion of the inner surface defining a diverging region, wherein the casing defines a plurality of fin slots, and wherein each of the plurality of fin slots extend through the outer wall of the casing and the inner surface of the casing, and wherein the diverging region defines a bell-shaped contour. The assembly further includes a plurality of fins pivotally engaged to the casing, wherein in the stowed position, each of the plurality of fins extends into the diverging region through a respective one of the fin slots, and wherein in the deployed position, each of the plurality of fins extend outwardly from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph O. Bellotte, Thomas F. Farabaugh, Aaron C. Caba
  • Patent number: 8946607
    Abstract: Deployment and control actuation mechanisms are incorporated in unmanned aerial vehicles having folding wings and/or folding canards and/or a folding vertical stabilizer. The folding canards and folding vertical stabilizer can be deployed using respective four-bar over-center mechanisms. Elevators pivotably mounted to the folding canards and a rudder pivotably mounted to the folding vertical stabilizer can be controlled by means of respective twist link mechanisms. The folding wings have respective wing roots that are driven by respective gas springs to pivot on bearings about a wing root hub having control servo wire paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jonathan David Gettinger
  • Patent number: 8921749
    Abstract: A perpendicular drive mechanism for a missile control actuation system employs an electric motor and power shaft operatively coupled to a first spur gear. A lead screw is coupled to a second spur gear. The lead screw is oriented parallel to the motor and perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis. The first and second spur gears meshingly engage such that the second spur gear rotates in the opposite direction as the first spur gear. A lead nut threadingly engages with and is configured to move linearly along the central axis of the lead screw. A crank arm is coupled on one end to the lead nut and on the other end to the canard shaft of a canard assembly. As the lead nut moves linearly along the central axis of the lead screw, the crank arm follows the lead nut and causes the canard assembly to actuate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Aaron M. Scott
  • Patent number: 8899515
    Abstract: An air vehicle, as well as a method for folding an air vehicle for storage, may include a fuselage and a wing connected to the fuselage. The wing may include two ends positioned opposite from each other, and the wing may be substantially perpendicular to the fuselage. At least one of the ends may define a space therebetween the fuselage and the wing. The space may be sized to receive a potion of the wing when the wing is wrapped around the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Suneal Guptaa, Jeremy Bley
  • Patent number: 8894004
    Abstract: Obliquely folding articulating wing mechanisms that include a wing rotatingly connected to a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Scott, Philip Thomas Aberer, Neil Randall Japp, Nicholas Cody McGaha
  • Patent number: 8895908
    Abstract: A low cost, lightweight frangible wing slot seal can be applied to a guidance wing slot of a folding fin aerial rocket or missile, providing a barrier against exposure of internal missile components to external contaminants, while allowing unhindered deployment of missile guidance wings simply by bursting through the seals. The simple design is nearly foolproof, and has no impact the likelihood of weapon failure. The seal is a flexible sheet which is sufficiently thin so as not to exceed the required volume envelope of the missile. The sheet includes a burst seam, which is breached when impacted by the leading edge of a deploying wing. No additional wing deployment force is required, and after deployment the seal has minimal impact on the aerodynamic performance of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Barry, Robert Winkler, John R. Franzini, Kenneth D. Cleveland, Adam Butland
  • Patent number: 8890043
    Abstract: A steering section for guided munition comprises a steering body having n control surfaces folded inside or deployed protruding from the external surface. The steering section comprises a locking mechanism for the n control surfaces folded inside the steering body having a lock support secured thereto, a fixed sleeve secured to the lock support comprising a locking barrel, a mobile sleeve surrounding the fixed sleeve and slideable longitudinally along the locking barrel, the mobile sleeve comprising, on the outside of the fixed sleeve, a free end collaborating with the n control surfaces to keep them folded inside the steering body, a translational-locking device locking the translational movement along the mobile sleeve along the locking barrel deactivatable by unlocking force to trigger translational sliding movement of the mobile sleeve along the locking barrel and release the n control surfaces which can then move from their folded position into their deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: TDA Armements
    Inventors: Patrick Cohe, Bertrand Dubois, Fabien Moreau
  • Patent number: 8866057
    Abstract: An air vehicle that is launched from inside a launcher, includes a release mechanism for releasing fins of the vehicle from a stowed condition to a deployed condition. The release mechanism includes a pin that is located within a cavity in the fuselage of the air vehicle. Pressurized gasses initially fill the cavity in the fuselage. The launcher includes a reduced-pressure portion such as from a muzzle brake. When the air vehicle passes into the reduced-pressure portion of the launcher, the gas pressure behind the air vehicle is reduced. This causes the pressurized gas within the cavity to drive the release mechanism backwards out of the cavity. The length of the pin may be used to control the timing of the fin deployment, the delay between the initial movement of the release mechanism out of the cavity, and when the fins are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Chris E. Geswender
  • Patent number: 8847134
    Abstract: A system for actuating a control surface of a deployable member is provided. The system includes an actuator disposed within a fuselage structure of a missile; a double joint having a distal end for connecting to the actuator and a proximal end for engaging the control surface, wherein the double joint further includes a first and second pivot; and a mechanical brake configured to controllably prevent rotation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Gaudette
  • Publication number: 20140158814
    Abstract: A munition guidance system is disclosed. The system comprises a generally tubular enclosure, having an internal cavity adapted for receiving a munition, wherein an outer diameter of the enclosure is at most the largest outer diameter of the munition; and a processing and control unit enclosed within the enclosure and being configured for controlling guidance wings so as to maneuver the munition while flying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Ami Elkayam, Zeev Azar
  • Publication number: 20140131509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fin deployment mechanism (1) comprising a base unit (3), deployable fins (8) movably arranged on the base unit (3) and, in the retracted position, bearing against the base unit (3), as well as a gas-generating device, in which the fins in the retracted position are fixed to the base unit, and in which at least one gas duct (6, 7) is arranged in the base unit (3) so as to conduct pressurized gas generated by the gas-generating device to the bottom side of the fins (8), which in the retracted position bear against the base unit (3), in order to create a force which acts on the fins (8) for deployment of the same (8?). The invention further relates to an artillery projectile comprising a fin deployment mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: BAE Systems Bofors AB
    Inventors: Sven Strömberg, Johan Lidgren, Peter Engman, Lars-Peter Svanberg, Lars-Ake Carlqvist
  • Patent number: 8716640
    Abstract: The invention concerns the field of devices for improving the piloting of projectiles More specifically, the object of the invention is a piloting device for a missile or a projectile, for example, of small caliber, especially on the order of 40 mm, which has a lateral main surface with a nose at the level of one of its extremities, whereby said device includes at least one cavity consisting of a combustion chamber and filled, at least partially, by an explosive powder, and means of initiation of this explosive powder, and thereby the explosive powder includes nanothermites or gas-generating nanothermites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Institut Franco-Allemand de Recherches de Saint-Louis
    Inventors: Christian Baras, Denis Spitzer, Marc Comet, Fabrice Ciszek, Frederic Sourgen
  • Patent number: 8698059
    Abstract: An air vehicle includes a fuselage, and one or more lifting surfaces attached to the fuselage. The lifting surfaces deploy form a stowed, compact condition, to a deployed condition in which the lifting surfaces are deployed to provide lift to the air vehicle. The lifting surfaces each include a top member and a bottom member, which are joined at leading and trailing edges, such as by welds along the seams, or by flexible material placed along the seams. In deploying the thickness of the lifting surfaces increase, with middle portions of the members (portions of the members between the leading and trailing edges) moving away from one another. This may be accompanied by a lessening of the chord of the lifting surface, with the leading edge and the trailing edge moving closer together as the lifting surface deploys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Nikkel, Anthony K. Tyree
  • Patent number: 8686330
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shell (1) arranged with extensible wings (3) having improved guidance characteristics during the gliding and final phase of the shell (1). The invention is characterized in that the extensible wings (3), via threaded wing fixtures (8), are movably arranged on rotatable axial guide shafts (6) on the shell body (2) for separate or simultaneous displacement of the wings (3) in the longitudinal direction A of the shell (1), for guidance of the shell (1) in the vertical and lateral directions during the trajectory phase of the shell, and in that the wings (3) are also rotatably arranged on radial guide shafts for controlling the angle of incidence of the wings (3) during the final phase of the shell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Bofors AB
    Inventor: Nils Johansson
  • Patent number: 8686329
    Abstract: A compact, purely mechanical wing deployment assisting mechanism uses torsion springs and lever arms to apply a deploying force to a guidance wing during its initial deployment through a wing slot in a rocket or missile, thereby assisting the wing to burst through a cover seal protecting the wing slot. The wings are then fully deployed by centrifugal force. Various embodiments include two “extreme duty” springs and two lever arms per wing, working in parallel. Embodiments provide a total of at least 24 pounds of force per wing at the end of a spring travel of 0.30 inches. In some embodiments, the entire mechanism weighs less than 0.5 pounds and/or occupies less than 2.5 cubic inches per wing. In embodiments, an assembled group, including two springs and two lever arms, is located between each pair of wings, whereby each assembled group applies one lever arm to each adjoining wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Barry, Michael J. Krueger, Amy Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 8686328
    Abstract: A fin lock assembly 12 for locking and unlocking missile fins 20 includes a piston 34 movable along a piston axis 44 between a locked position for preventing a fin from rotating and an unlocked position for allowing the fin to rotate. The fin lock assembly includes a camshaft 46 rotatable between a locked position and a relatively-rotated unlocked position about a cam axis 50 that is transverse the piston axis. The camshaft has an eccentric portion 66 connected to the piston such that rotation of the camshaft between the locked position and the unlocked position moves the piston between its corresponding locked and unlocked positions. The fin lock assembly includes a torsion spring 72 connected to the camshaft to bias the camshaft toward its unlocked position. A latch mechanism 100 holds a plurality of camshafts in their locked positions and simultaneously releases the camshafts to release their fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John F. Bugge, John D. Willems
  • Patent number: 8674278
    Abstract: A gun-fired projectile or ballistic missile (1) is equipped with a pair of canards (3) and an array of tail fins (2). Selected tail fins can be retracted or jettisoned following the ballistic phase to vary the geometry of the array from a rotationally symmetrical configuration to an asymmetric configuration for the glide phase, which together with the canards tends to stabilize the projectile in roll. The canards (3) can be independently extended and retracted with respect to the body of the projectile to generate differential lift for banking the projectile to turn. The canards (3) also preferably have a positive dihedral angle with respect to the intended gliding attitude. In an alternative embodiment the canards are replaced by functionally equivalent thrusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Roy William Buckland, Stephen George Gladwell Smith
  • Patent number: 8669506
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for controlling a vehicle in motion through a fluid medium. A manipulable flare assembly is mounted to a load bearing structure, the structure being configured for mounting to the vehicle. An actuating mechanism has a rotational member operably associated with the flare assembly, the actuating mechanism being configured for selectively providing relative rotation between the rotational member and the load bearing structure. The actuating mechanism is configured for manipulating the flare assembly responsive to selective relative rotation between the rotational member and the load bearing structure. A vehicle is also provided incorporating the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaakov Funis, Amir Shalom, Elisha Hoch, Assaf Nachum
  • Publication number: 20140060370
    Abstract: An apparatus for deploying stowed control surfaces of a projectile is disclosed. The apparatus for deploying stowed control surfaces of a projectile includes a first and second hot gas generators, a first and second gas chambers, a piston wedge, a piston and a barrel. Initially, the first hot gas generator discharges a surge of hot gas into the first gas chamber. In response to the surge of hot gas being discharged into the first gas generator, the piston wedge displaces at least one of the control surfaces to break an environmental seal covering the projectile. After a predetermined amount of time has lapsed, the second hot gas generator discharges a surge of hot gas into the second gas chamber. The surge of hot gas displaces the piston and barrel for deploying the control surfaces completely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth Cleveland, Amy Pietrzak, Adam Butland, James H. Steenson, JR., David Schorr, Joseph Borysthen-Tkacz
  • Publication number: 20140008483
    Abstract: A fin retention system having a plurality of fin retention units and in which each unit is associated with one deployable fin of the projectile. Each retention unit has an alignment device and a pair of span arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the alignment device. An attachment device attaches the free ends of the span arms of adjacent fin retention units together. In doing so, the alignment device engages and holds each fin in its undeployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: U.S. Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christian A. Valledor, John A. Condon
  • Patent number: 8624172
    Abstract: A shift lock assembly includes a drive member carried by a drive shaft and configured to rotatably couple to a drive motor and a shift mechanism disposed between the drive member and a ground plate, the shift mechanism configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to the drive member and the ground plate. When disposed in the first position, the shift mechanism is configured to couple the drive shaft to the ground plate and decouple the drive shaft from the drive member to allow rotation of the drive member relative to the drive shaft. When disposed in the second position, the shift mechanism is configured to couple the drive shaft to the drive member and decouple the drive shaft from the ground plate to allow rotation of the drive shaft in response to rotation of the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Woodward HRT, Inc.
    Inventor: Grant Sweer
  • Patent number: 8592737
    Abstract: A simultaneous deployment device for the control surfaces of a projectile for which each control surface is intended to be pivoted by a motor after its deployment to ensure the piloting, each control surface being held within the projectile and deployed towards the exterior of the projectile by the expansion of elastic means, each control surface being deployed by a rotation with respect to a control surface support and following a deployment axis that is crosswise to that of the projectile, wherein the elastic means are common means to ensure the deployment of all the control surfaces, the expansion of the elastic means generating a push stress directed along the axis of the projectile and being exerted on a push plate which transmits the push stress to as many slides as there are control surfaces to be deployed, each slide cooperating without slipping with a matching profile integral with a base of the control surface to make this pivot with respect to its support and first releasable locking means that mai
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nexter Munitions
    Inventor: Geoffroy Deschatre
  • Patent number: 8563911
    Abstract: A device for opening and locking a tail unit is provided. The tail unit includes a body and at least one fin, pivotable relative to the body along a first axis, that has a projection that forms an element. The device comprises a control ring, slidable relative to the body along a second axis, that includes a component, forming an element, that bears against the projection to deploy the fin, the second axis being non-parallel and non-secant to the first axis. A means for shaping one of the elements during translation along the second axis of the control ring towards the projection of the fin is provided on the other element. The body includes a bearing surface to support the fin during shaping, in which the support of the fin on the bearing surface corresponds to the deployed position of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: TDA Armements SAS
    Inventors: Patrick Cohe, Bruno Boissiere, Loïc Clech
  • Patent number: 8558153
    Abstract: A guided projectile may include a projectile body, an inertial measurement unit disposed within the projectile body, one or more control surfaces extendable from the projectile body, and a controller which controls the one or more control surfaces in response, at least in part, to measurement data received from the inertial measurement unit. The inertial measurement unit may include sensors to measure motion parameters relative to first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, wherein each of the first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes is oblique to a longitudinal axis of the projectile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Chris E. Geswender
  • Patent number: 8552351
    Abstract: A projectile has a fuze kit that includes deployable canards. The canards are ends of a strip of material. The strip of material is initially in an angled recess of a collar of the fuze kit, with the angled recess angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile, defining a plane that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. At some point in flight of the projectile, for example during mid-course of the projectile flight after a ballistic phase of the projectile flight, the canards are deployed by releasing the ends of the strip. This causes the ends of the strip to pull away from the longitudinal axis of the projectile, out of the recess, into the airstream around the projectile. Resilient forces in the strip may cause the ends to be moved out of the recess when the ends are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Chris E. Geswender, Matthew A. Zamora
  • Patent number: 8528863
    Abstract: A laminated wing structure includes at least one layer of metal material and at least one layer of a shape memory polymer (SMP) material. The SMP is heated to a temperature in its glass transition band Tg to roll the wing around the air vehicle into a stored position. The metal layer(s) must be thin enough to remain below its yield point when rolled up. In preparation for launch, the SMP material is thermally activated allowing the strain energy stored in the layer of metal material to return the wing to its deployed position at launch. Once deployed, the SMP cools to its glassy state. The SMP material may be reinforced with fiber to form a polymer matrix composite (PMC). SMP may be used to provide shear strain relief for multiple metal layers. By offloading the motive force required to return the wing to its original deployed position from the SMP to the metal, the polymer does not acquire a permanent set and the wing may be deployed accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Terry M. Sanderson, Brian J. Gowler, David R. Sar, Thomas P. McCreery
  • Patent number: 8525089
    Abstract: Disclosed are a wing device for a flight vehicle and a flight vehicle having the same, the wing device including a fixing shaft disposed in a lengthwise direction of a main body of the flight vehicle, a wing rotatably mounted to the fixing shaft so as to be deployed from a state of being laid on an outer circumferential surface of the main body to an erected state, and slidable along the fixing shaft, a fixing groove formed to face the wing in a sliding direction of the wing, and a spring unit configured to apply a first elastic force in an outer circumferential direction of the main body for deployment of the wing, and apply a second elastic force in a lengthwise direction of the main body for inserting the wing into the fixing groove, whereby the wing can be fixed after deployment so as to enhance stability of the flight vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Agency For Defense Development
    Inventors: Sang-Hun Shin, Hae-Yong Jeong
  • Patent number: 8525090
    Abstract: A projectile may include a body having an external surface, a stagnation port on the external surface, and a cavity. A spoiler may be translatable in the cavity between a retracted position, wherein the spoiler is substantially completely disposed in the cavity, and an extended position, wherein the spoiler projects from the external surface of the body. A pair of ports may be formed in the walls of the cavity. The pair of ports may be selectively fluidly communicable with the stagnation port. The spoiler may be translatable by pressurizing one of the pair of ports with compressed air and venting the other of the pair of ports. In the extended position, the spoiler may disturb an airstream around the projectile to induce a guidance maneuver for the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Jason R. Cahayla
  • Publication number: 20130214085
    Abstract: A system for actuating a control surface of a deployable member is provided. The system includes an actuator disposed within a fuselage structure of a missile; a double joint having a distal end for connecting to the actuator and a proximal end for engaging the control surface, wherein the double joint further includes a first and second pivot; and a mechanical brake configured to controllably prevent rotation of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Gaudette
  • Publication number: 20130200208
    Abstract: An air vehicle wing includes foldable ribs coupled to a leading-edge spar. The ribs each have multiple rib segments which are foldable (hinged) relative to each other. Extension linkages, each with multiple extension linkage segments, pass through openings in the rib segments, and may be coupled to the rib segments with pin couplings, able to change relative angle between the individual rib segments and the extension linkage segments to which they are coupled. A skin may cover the ribs, to provide an outer surface of the wing that may be unfolded as the wing is expanded from a stowed, small-chord condition, to a deployed, large-chord condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Raytheon Company