Methods and apparatus for increasing aerodynamic performance of projectiles

• US 6,982,402 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Rastegar, Jahangir S., Pelz, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/833,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.21, 244/3.1, 102/517, 102/520, 102/521, 102/522, 102/523, 102/529, 102/502, 102/513, 102/400
• US Class Current: 244/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/146 Fabric fins, i.e. fins comprising at least one spar and a fin cover made of flexible sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/38 Range-increasing arrangements F42B10/34, F42B14/06 and F42B15/105 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/40 with combustion of a slow-burning charge, e.g. fumers, base-bleed projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/42 Streamlined projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/44 Boat-tails specially adapted for drag reduction

Abstract

A method for enhancing an aerodynamic performance of an unmanned projectile. The method including at least one of the following: (a) morphing a cross-sectional shape of the projectile after launch thereof; (b) morphing a longitudinal shape of the projectile after launch thereof; (c) bleeding a fluid at a base of the projectile during flight thereof: (d) varying a base cone angle of the projectile as a function of speed thereof; (e) deploying at least one wing from a body of the projectile after launch thereof; and (f) deploying a fin from the body of the projectile after launch thereof.

Claims

1. An unmanned projectile, the projectile comprising the following enhancement to increase its aerodynamic performance:

means for morphing a longitudinal shape of the projectile after launch thereof for one of decreasing drag or increasing lift.

2. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the means for morphing a longitudinal shape of the projectile comprises a means for morphing a plurality of cross-sections of the projectile along a longitudinal length of the projectile to achieve a desired longitudinal shape.

3. A method for enhancing an aerodynamic performance of an unmanned projectile, the method comprising:

morphing a longitudinal shape of the projectile after launch thereof for one of decreasing drag or increasing lift.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the morphing of the longitudinal shape of the projectile comprises morphing a plurality of cross-sections of the projectile along a longitudinal length of the projectile to achieve a desired longitudinal shape.