Device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile

• US 8,592,737 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knds Ammo France
• Original Assignee: Nexter Munitions
• Inventors: Deschatre, Geoffroy
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanderson, Joseph W
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHWARZ, TIMOTHY S
• Application Number:
  US13/008,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20110180655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.24, 244 327- 329, 244/46, 244/49, 475/207, 475/302, 746/65.GA, 746/65.N, 741/09, 741/20
• US Class Current: 244/3.28
• 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 simultaneous deployment device for the control surfaces of a projectile for which each control surface is intended to be pivoted by a motor after its deployment to ensure the piloting, each control surface being held within the projectile and deployed towards the exterior of the projectile by the expansion of elastic means, each control surface being deployed by a rotation with respect to a control surface support and following a deployment axis that is crosswise to that of the projectile, wherein the elastic means are common means to ensure the deployment of all the control surfaces, the expansion of the elastic means generating a push stress directed along the axis of the projectile and being exerted on a push plate which transmits the push stress to as many slides as there are control surfaces to be deployed, each slide cooperating without slipping with a matching profile integral with a base of the control surface to make this pivot with respect to its support and first releasable locking means that maintain the elastic means in the compressed position.

Claims

1. A device for simultaneous deployment of control surfaces of a projectile, each control surface configured to be pivoted by a motor after deployment of the control surface to ensure piloting, wherein

each control surface is held within the projectile, and a first releasable locking element maintains an elastic element in a compressed position,

each control surface is deployed towards an exterior of the projectile by expansion of the elastic element, each control surface being deployed by a rotation of each control surface with respect to a control surface support around a deployment axis that is crosswise to a lengthwise axis of the projectile, the lengthwise axis of the projectile including an anterior and a posterior of the projectile,

the elastic element interacts with all of the control surfaces to ensure the deployment of all of the control surfaces in relation with slides, the expansion of the elastic element generating a push stress directed along the lengthwise axis of the projectile and exerted on a push plate which transmits the push stress to the slides and to the control surfaces to be deployed, and

each of the slides engages, without slipping, with a matching profile integral with a base of the control surface, each of the slides making each respective control surface pivot with respect to the control surface support, the matching profile integral with the base of the control surface being housed within the control surface support.

2. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 1, wherein

the first locking element is constituted by a ferrule, which is substantially cylindrical, that separates the push plate from the slides when the elastic element is being compressed,

the ferrule incorporates lugs abutting radial arms of the push plate, and

the ferrule is able to pivot around the lengthwise axis of the projectile to release the push plate and cause the expansion of the elastic element, so that the radial arms thereafter push the slides.

3. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 2, wherein the device incorporates a second releasable locking element holding the control surfaces in a retracted position.

4. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 3, wherein the second releasable locking element comprises fingers integral with the ferrule, each of the fingers engaging in a longitudinal groove of each of the slides, the fingers disengaging from the grooves when the ferrule pivots.

5. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 2, wherein the ferrule incorporates internal toothing engaging with a second pinion driven by a motor to enable the ferrule to pivot and unlock the elastic element.

6. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 2, wherein

the push plate, which is mounted slideably along an axis coaxial to the lengthwise axis of the projectile, incorporates a tooth to ensure guidance of the push plate on the axis,

the tooth moves in a longitudinal groove ending in a helicoidal portion, and

the push plate thereby partially pivots around the axis at an end of an axial displacement of the push plate such that each of the radial arms is moved away from each of the slides which the radial arms pushed.

7. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 1, wherein the device incorporates a third locking element holding the control surfaces in a deployed position.

8. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 4, wherein the third locking element is constituted by at least one ball push bearing engaging in a recess in each of the slides when the control surfaces are deployed.

9. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 1, wherein each of the slides is a rack that engages with a matching profile formed by a first toothed pinion integral with the base of the control surface.

10. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 1, wherein

a gap exists between each of the slides and the push plate after deployment of each of the control surfaces.

11. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 1, wherein

each control surface support is configured to pivot to control the pivoting of each of the control surfaces after deployment of each of the control surfaces, respectively.

12. The device for simultaneous deployment of the control surfaces of a projectile according to claim 11, wherein

a gap exists between each of the slides and the push plate after deployment of each of the control surfaces, and

each of the slides freely pivots in accordance with the pivoting of each control surface support after deployment of each of the control surfaces.