Penguin missile folding wing configuration

• US 4,717,093 A
• Filed: 08/12/1985
• Issued: 01/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Ettinger, John J., Rosenberger, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen
• Application Number:
  US06/764,457
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 244/46, 244/49, 244/3.27, 244/3.28, 244/3.29
• US Class Current: 244/49
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/16 Wrap-around fins

Abstract

An over-center locking mechanism is provided for a guided missile foldable wing structure which ensures stable reliable and non-reversible locking of the foldable wing. A pyrotechnic actuator is connected to the mechanism and, upon firing, quickly operates the mechanism to a deployed condition.

Claims

1. A foldable wing structure comprising:

a fixed wing section adapted for mounting to a fuselage;

a foldable wing section pivotally connected to the fixed wing section and normally assuming a stored condition;

pyrotechnic actuating means located in one of the wing sections;

a non-reversible over-center mechanism connected between the actuating means and the other wing section for rapidly deploying the foldable wing section to an extended position upon firing of the actuating mechanism;

whereby the over-center mechanism includes a plurality of linkages having sufficient dimensional tolerance therebetween for preventing reversible movement of the foldable wing to a stored condition.

2. A foldable wing structure comprising:

a fixed wing section adapted for mounting to a fuselage;

a foldable wing section pivotally connected to the fixed wing section and normally assuming a stored condition;

pyrotechnic actuating means located in one of the wing sections;

an over-center mechanism connected between the actuating means and the other wing section for rapidly deploying the foldable wing section to an extended position upon firing of the actuating mechanism;

the over-center mechanism including;

(a) a first linkage having a point thereon connected to the actuating means;

(b) a second linkage having a first end pivotally connected to the first linkage for displacing the second linkage in response to movement of the first linkage;

(c) a spherical bearing connected to a second end of the second linkage;

(d) a third linkage having a first end also connected to the spherical bearing to permit pivotal rotation of the third linkage upon displacement of the second linkage;

(e) a fourth linkage hingedly mounted at a first end thereof to a stationary pivot, the fourth linkage having a second end pivotally mounted to the spherical bearing thereby causing linked rotation of the linkage ends connected to the bearing; and

(f) means pivotally connecting a second end of the third linkage to the foldable wing for pivoting the foldable wing to an extended position in response to firing of the actuating means.