Device for opening and locking a tail unit for ammunition

• US 8,563,911 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2010
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDA Armements SAS (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: TDA Armements SAS (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Cohe, Patrick, Boissiere, Bruno, Clech, Loc
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stehle, Jamie S
• Application Number:
  US12/794,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,234 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.24, 244/3.27, 244/3.28, 244/3.29, 244/49
• US Class Current: 244/3.27
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/18 using a longitudinally slidable support member

Abstract

A device for opening and locking a tail unit is provided. The tail unit includes a body and at least one fin, pivotable relative to the body along a first axis, that has a projection that forms an element. The device comprises a control ring, slidable relative to the body along a second axis, that includes a component, forming an element, that bears against the projection to deploy the fin, the second axis being non-parallel and non-secant to the first axis. A means for shaping one of the elements during translation along the second axis of the control ring towards the projection of the fin is provided on the other element. The body includes a bearing surface to support the fin during shaping, in which the support of the fin on the bearing surface corresponds to the deployed position of the fin.

Claims

1. A device for opening and locking a tail unit for ammunition, the tail unit including a body and at least one fin pivotable relative to the body along a first axis and having a projection forming a first element, the device comprising:

a control ring slidable relative to the body along a second axis, wherein the control ring includes a component forming a second element to bear against the projection to deploy the fin, wherein the second axis is non-parallel and non-secant to the first axis, wherein one of the first and second elements is configured to machine the other of the first or second elements through a local removal of material during translation of the control ring along the second axis towards the projection of the fin, and wherein the body includes a bearing surface to support the fin during machining, the support of the fin on the bearing surface corresponding to the deployed position of the fin.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the first or second elements has a cutting tool profile machining the other of the first or second elements, the material of the first element having a greater mechanical strength than the material of the second element.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the material of the first element has a mechanical strength which is substantially three times greater than the material of the second element.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the cutting tool profile comprises a plurality of teeth forming a spindle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first axis is substantially at right angles to the second axis.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a guide for the translation of the control ring to reduce the lateral clearance of the fin relative to the body.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the guide includes a groove oriented along the second axis, and the control ring further comprises a finger protruding into the groove.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the control ring further comprises a projection bearing against the fin at the end of the machining.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fins distributed substantially uniformly about the second axis, the body further comprising a bearing surface to support each fin during the machining, the bearing of each fin on its respective bearing surface corresponding to the deployed position of the fin, the control ring coming to bear against each of the projections of the fins.

10. Ammunition comprising:

a tail unit having a body and at least one fin pivotable relative to the body along a first axis, wherein the fin includes a projection forming a first element; and

a device for opening and locking the tail unit, the device having a control ring slidable relative to the body along a second axis, wherein the control ring includes a component forming a second element to bear against the projection to deploy the fin, wherein the second axis is non-parallel and non-secant to the first axis, wherein one of the first or second elements is configured to machine the other of the first or second elements through a local removal of material during translation of the control ring along the second axis towards the projection of the fin, and wherein the body includes a bearing surface to support the fin during machining, the support of the fin on the bearing surface corresponding to the deployed position of the fin.