Automatic fin deployment mechanism
First Claim
1. A fin fold mechanism for extending a moveable fin from an air flight vehicle housing comprising:
- a mechanism housing fixidly positioned within said air flight vehicle;
an actuation means positioned within said mechanism housing;
a drive means connected for actuation to said actuation means and also positioned within said mechanism housing;
clutch means connected to said drive means for transferring rotary movement from said drive means to the moveable fin; and
a retraction mechanism for disconnecting said clutch means from the fin after the moveable fin is fully extended.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises a fin fold mechanism for extending a moveable fin from an air flight vehicle wherein the fin deployment mechanism is fixably housed within the vehicle. A pyrotechnic gas generation actuation means is positioned within the fin extension mechanism in order to actuate a drive mechanism comprising a drive piston that pivots the fin into its extended position. Clutch means is connected to the piston for transferring movement from the piston to the moveable fin. A retraction mechanism is also provided for disconnecting the clutch means from the fin after the fin is fully extended; this allows controlled axial rotation of the fin.
47 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A fin fold mechanism for extending a moveable fin from an air flight vehicle housing comprising:
-
a mechanism housing fixidly positioned within said air flight vehicle; an actuation means positioned within said mechanism housing; a drive means connected for actuation to said actuation means and also positioned within said mechanism housing; clutch means connected to said drive means for transferring rotary movement from said drive means to the moveable fin; and a retraction mechanism for disconnecting said clutch means from the fin after the moveable fin is fully extended. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A fin fold mechanism for extending a moveable fin from
a flight vehicle housing comprising: a first locking means for locking the moveable fin in a stored position; actuation means for activating the fin fold mechanism and releasing said first locking means; a second locking means for locking the moveable fin in an extended position; retraction means for disengaging said fin fold mechanism from said moveable fin in order to permit axial rotation of said fin. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification