Projectile guidance

• US 5,085,380 A
• Filed: 09/06/1988
• Issued: 02/04/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: British Aerospace, Inc. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: British Aerospace, Inc. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Barton, Arthur E. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/246,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.21, 244/3.23, 244/3.24, 244/3.22, 244/3.26, 244/3.27, 244/3.28, 244/3.29
• US Class Current: 244/3.21
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/64 of fins

Abstract

This invention relates to a projectile having moving airfoils for guidance and to an actuator for moving the airfoils in order to provide a low cost actuator for use in small size projectiles.

Claims

1. Airfoil actuating system for a projectile comprising:

a tubular member mounted in the projectile for fore and aft movement with respect to the projectile,

a crank member coupled between a projectile airfoil and the tubular member for said fore and aft movement of the tubular member to turn the airfoil, and

a push-pull actuator for driving said fore and aft movement of the tubular member,

wherein a portion of at least one of said push-pull actuator and said crank member is engaged in an annular channel formed in the tubular member so that the tubular member and said portion can rotate relative to one another.

2. A system according to claim 1 including a further push-pull actuator engaged with a further tubular member which is in turn engaged with a further airfoil via a further crank member, the two tubular members lying one within the other.

3. Airfoil actuating system for a projectile comprising:

a tubular member mounted in the projectile for fore and aft movement with respect to the projectile,

a crank member coupled between a projectile airfoil and the tubular member for said fore and aft movement of the tubular member to turn the airfoil,

a push-pull actuator for driving said fore and aft movement of the tubular member, and

a further push-pull actuator engaged with a further tubular member which is in turn engaged with a further airfoil via a further crank member, the two tubular members lying one within the other.