Airborne vehicle with wing extension and roll control

• US 5,671,899 A
• Filed: 02/26/1996
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Nicholas, Paul H., Lipera, Larry, Justice, Stephen G., Wurts, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Application Number:
  US08/606,928
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 244/39, 244/46, 244/49, 244/3.24, 244/3.27, 244/3.28, 74/97.1, 74/100.1
• US Class Current: 244/49
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/40 Varying angle of sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/16 movable along the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18896 Snap action

Abstract

The invention is an airborne vehicle. In detail, the invention includes a main body having a longitudinal, lateral and vertical axis. A pair of wings are pivotally mounted to the main body that are movable about an axis of rotation from a retracted position to an extended position external of the main body along the lateral axis. A linkage assembly for controlling the position of the wings is mounted within the vehicle that includes a guide assembly having an open ended slot aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof. First and second links have their first ends pivotally connected to the wings at a position offset from the axis of rotation of the wings, and the second ends thereof pivotally coupled to each other. A pin is rotatably coupled to the second ends of the first and second links and is movable from a first position within the slot wherein the first and second links are at an acute angle to each other to a second position external of the open end of the slot wherein the first and second links are rotated to a greater angular relationship. A spring is incorporated for urging the first and second links to the greater angular relationship. A latch is incorporated for securing the first and second links in the greater angular relationship after the pin exits the open end of the slot. An actuator is used to move the pin from the first position to the second position and, additionally, along the lateral axis when the pin is in the second position.

Claims

1. An airborne vehicle comprising:

a main body having a longitudinal, a lateral and a vertical axis;

a pair of wings pivotally mounted to said main body, each of said wings bring movable about an axis of rotation from a retracted position to an extended position external of said main body along the lateral axis;

a linkage assembly comprising;

a guide means having an open ended slot aligned with the longitudinal axis of said main body and mounted therein;

first and second links each having first and second ends, said first ends of said first and second links coupled to said wings at a position offset from the axis of rotation of said wings, and said second ends thereof pivotally coupled to each other,

pin means rotatably coupled to said second ends of said first and second links, said pin means movable from a first position within said slot wherein said first and second links are at an acute angle to each other to a second position external of said open end of said slot wherein said first and second links are rotated to a greater angular relationship; and

latch means for securing said first and second links in said greater angular relationship after said pin means exits said open end of said slot; and

means to move said pin means from said first position to said second position and, additionally, along the lateral axis when said pin means is in said second position.

2. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means includes biasing means for urging said first and second links to said greater angular relationship from a point wherein said pin means is in proximity to said open end of said slot to said pin means second position.

3. The vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said greater angular relationship is slightly over 180 degrees.

4. The vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said biasing means is a spring having its ends attached to said first and second links in proximity to said second ends of said first and second links.

5. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, or 2, or 3, or 4 comprising:

each of said wings incorporating an arm having a first end mounted in proximity to said axis of rotation of said wing;

said first ends of said first and second links being connected to a second end of a respective one of said arms.

6. The vehicle as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means to move said pin means comprises an actuator having a first end pivotally coupled to said main body and a second end pivotally coupled to one of said arms.

7. The vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said slot includes a pair of side walls each being adjacent to one of said wings and incorporated arm, and said side wall adjacent to said arm to which said actuator is coupled is longer in length than the other of said pair of side walls, and further has an end at said open end of said slot that includes a radius.

8. The vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said arms are toed in toward said longitudinal axis of said main body at an acute angle when said wings are symmetrically extended.

9. The vehicle as set forth in claim 8 comprising a one way clutch mounted about said pin means and coupled to both said first and second links such that said links can only rotate in relationship to each other toward said greater angular relationship.