Cover ejection and fin deployment system for a gun-launched projectile

• US 6,880,780 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Versatron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Perry, Craig, Schroeder, Richard W., Voigt, Allan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/390,423
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.27, 244/3.24, 244/3.3, 244/3.1, 244/49
• US Class Current: 244/3.27
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/64 of fins

Abstract

A fin cover release and deployment system designed for high G forces of gun-launched missiles. In one embodiment, a pyrotechnic actuator drives actuator arms to first release and eject the fin slot covers, followed by deployment of the fins radially outward to the steering position. Following complete ejection of the covers, the fins are driven outwardly by cam surfaces along the latch arms, followed by a spring and wedge mechanism installed interiorly of the fin steering shaft to lock the fins in the fully deployed state. In another embodiment, a motor and rotating threaded shaft replace the pyrotechnic actuator.

Claims

1. Apparatus for covering and deploying folded steering fins of a missile in flight, wherein for each fin there is an associated cover which defines a slot for engaging a locking member in the closed position and a first camming surface for ejecting the cover, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of deployment actuators, one for each fin, each actuator having a rotatable link mounted on a pivot pin disposed in a hole in the rotatable ink, the rotatable link including a first portion comprising a locking member for engaging said slot in said cover to lock said cover in a closed position and a second portion having a second camming surface for bearing against the first camming surface of the cover to drive the cover radially outward into the slipstream for jettisoning from the missile.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotatable link further includes a forwardly extending arm portion positioned to contact an inwardly extending projection of said cover to assist in driving the cover outward into the slipstream for jettisoning.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fin is pivoted for rotation to its deployed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said arm portion of said link comprises a pair of plates positioned on opposite sides of the fin, said plates being joined at their outer ends by a bridge section for contacting an edge of the fin to drive it toward the deployed position as the link rotates.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including driving means centrally positioned along the longitudinal axis of the missile and having means for engaging all deployment actuators concurrently to cause jettisoning of all covers together.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said driving means comprise a central gear drive coupling each rotatable link to gear teeth on the central shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for propelling the central shaft in an axial direction to cause the link of each deployment actuator to rotate in a motion to release and jettison the associated cover and drive the associated fin to its deployed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for propelling the central shaft in an axial direction comprises a pyrotechnic device and an associated actuator piston, said piston being coupled to propel said central shaft in an axial direction following the ignition of said pyrotechnic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for propelling the central shaft in an axial direction comprises an electric motor and drive screw actuator.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said fins when in the deployed position is rotatable about a transverse fin axis which is generally orthogonal to the central axis of the missile.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each deployment actuator includes a cover deployment spring mounted to bear against the cover and provide additional deployment force when the cover is unlatched in preparation for deployment.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of deployment actuators are mounted in a forward portion of the missile such that each fin acts as a canard in controlling missile flight.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each associated cover is configured to provide aerodynamic fairing and, when the cover is in the closed position, to seal the cover in said slot to protect the corresponding actuator assembly during long-term storage.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cover is configured to develop an air pocket adjacent the forward portion of the cover to accelerate the ejection of the cover from the missile.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 further including a hydraulic damper adjacent said actuator piston for limiting the velocity of the piston during deployment, and thereby limit the deployment velocity of the fin.

16. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a biasing spring mounted along the shaft of said central axis forward of said propelling means for urging the rotatable links of the deployment assemblies to compete their deployment, once the covers are jettisoned.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a rotation control assembly for controlling the angle of the deployed fin about said orthogonal fin axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said rotation control assembly further comprises a bushing concentric with said orthogonal axis and an adjacent concentric clamping spring for clamping about said bushing to hold the fin in the fully deployed position, said clamping spring being split along its length to permit the spring to be mounted on the bushing contacted by the fin reaching full deployment.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a wedge member movable along said transverse axis to a position adjacent the fin support arm when the fin is fully deployed to maintain the fin in said fully deployed position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including a biasing spring for each fin assembly, said biasing spring being positioned along said transverse axis to bias said wedge member radially outward into a position to maintain the fin fully deployed.