Projectile tail boom with self-locking fin
First Claim
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1. A tail boom for a gun-launched projectile, comprising:
- a boom housing having a central longitudinal axis, a forward end configured to engage a projectile body and a through bore;
a cap fixed to a rear end of the boom housing, the cap including an outer cylindrical portion that engages a surface of the through bore in the housing and an inner cylindrical portion having a bore therein;
a piston centered on the central longitudinal axis and translatable in the through bore in the boom housing, the piston having a forward curved surface and a stem that extends rearward, the stem being translatable in and engaging a surface of the bore of the inner cylindrical portion of the cap;
a compression spring disposed around the inner cylindrical portion of the cap, one end of the compression spring bearing on the piston and the other end of the compression spring bearing on the cap to bias the piston in a forward direction; and
a plurality of fins rotatably fixed to the boom housing, each fin including a protruding portion that extends into a forward translation path of the piston in a stowed position of the fins.
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Abstract
A tail boom for a gun-launched projectile includes a boom housing and a cap fixed to a rear end of the boom housing. A piston is translatable in the housing by the force of a compression spring. A plurality of fins are rotatably fixed to the boom housing. Each fin includes a protruding portion that extends into a translation path of the piston. The cap includes a guide bore for the piston stem to maintain alignment of the piston. The piston presses on the protruding portion of the fins, causing the fins to rotate about their hinge points into a deployed position.
27 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A tail boom for a gun-launched projectile, comprising:
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a boom housing having a central longitudinal axis, a forward end configured to engage a projectile body and a through bore; a cap fixed to a rear end of the boom housing, the cap including an outer cylindrical portion that engages a surface of the through bore in the housing and an inner cylindrical portion having a bore therein; a piston centered on the central longitudinal axis and translatable in the through bore in the boom housing, the piston having a forward curved surface and a stem that extends rearward, the stem being translatable in and engaging a surface of the bore of the inner cylindrical portion of the cap; a compression spring disposed around the inner cylindrical portion of the cap, one end of the compression spring bearing on the piston and the other end of the compression spring bearing on the cap to bias the piston in a forward direction; and a plurality of fins rotatably fixed to the boom housing, each fin including a protruding portion that extends into a forward translation path of the piston in a stowed position of the fins. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tail boom for a gun-launched projectile, comprising:
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a boom housing having a central longitudinal axis, a forward end configured to engage a projectile body and a through bore; a cap fixed to a rear end of the boom housing, the cap including an outer cylindrical portion that engages a surface of the through bore in the housing and an inner cylindrical portion having a bore therein; a piston centered on the central longitudinal axis and translatable in the through bore in the boom housing, the piston having a forward hemispherical surface and a stem that extends rearward, the stem being translatable in and engaging a surface of the bore of the inner cylindrical portion of the cap; a compression spring disposed around the inner cylindrical portion of the cap, one end of the compression spring bearing on the piston and the other end of the compression spring bearing on the cap to bias the piston in a forward direction; and a plurality of fins rotatably fixed to the boom housing, each fin including a protruding curved portion that extends into a forward translation path of the piston in a stowed position of the fins. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification