Base drag reduction fairing using shape memory materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10184762-B2
Application number	US-201514956169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2015
Priority date	Dec 1, 2015
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

A device is provided. The device includes at least one SMM component fabricated from an SMM. The SMM component is configured to change shape in response to receiving a stimulus. The SMM component is also configured to deploy from a device body of the device allowing the device to change shape in an advantageous way. A method implemented by a device is also provided. The method includes changing a shape of an SMM component of the device in response to receiving a stimulus. The SMM component is fabricated from an SMM. The method also includes deploying the SMM component from a device body of the device allowing the device to change shape in an advantageous way.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
at least one first shape memory material (SMM) component and at least one second SMM component each fabricated from an SMM and configured to change shape in response to receiving a stimulus;
wherein the at least one first SMM component is configured to deploy from a device body of the device and change a shape of the device; and
wherein the at least one second SMM component is configured to cover or fill at least one space in the device body created by deployment of the at least one first SMM component.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more activation devices each configured to generate an electrical signal to activate the stimulus of at least one of the SMM components.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one retention device configured to retain the at least one first SMM component in a contracted state.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a heating coil or a flame producing device is configured to generate the stimulus that activates at least one of the SMM components.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first SMM component is configured to expand into a fairing at a base of the device body.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the SMM components comprises one of a shape memory polymer (SMP) or a shape memory alloy (SMA).

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first SMM component is configured to expand from the device body into at least one of: at least one control surface or at least one fin.

8. A device comprising:
at least one first shape memory material (SMM) component and at least one second SMM component each fabricated from an SMM and configured to change shape in response to receiving a stimulus;
wherein the at least one first SMM component is configured to cause at least one deployable component to deploy from a device body of the device and change a shape of the device; and
wherein the at least one second SMM component is configured to cover or fill at least one space in the device body created by deployment of the at least one deployable component.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising one or more activation devices each configured to generate an electrical signal to activate the stimulus of at least one of the SMM components.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the stimulus that activates at least one of the SMM components comprises a change in temperature.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein at least one of a heating coil or a flame producing device is configured to generate the stimulus that activates at least one of the SMM components.

12. A device comprising:
at least one shape memory material (SMM) component fabricated from an SMM and configured to:
change shape in response to receiving a stimulus;
cause at least one deployable component to deploy from a device body of the device; and
change a shape of the device;

wherein the at least one SMM component is configured to sever an expansion portion of a nozzle at a base of the device body to deploy a fairing.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein each of the SMM components comprises one of a shape memory polymer (SMP) or a shape memory alloy (SMA).

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one first SMM component is configured to cause the at least one deployable component to deploy from the device body into at least one of: at least one control surface or at least one fin.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises at least one second SMM component configured to change shape and cover or fill at least one space in the device body created by deployment of the at least one deployable component.

16. A method implemented using a device that includes at least one first shape memory material (SMM) component and at least one second SMM component each fabricated from an SMM, the method comprising:
changing a shape of the at least one first SMM component of the device in response to receiving a stimulus;
deploying the at least one first SMM component or at least one deployable component from a device body of the device;
changing a shape of the device; and
using the at least one second SMM component to cover or fill at least one space in the device body created by deployment of the at least one first SMM component or the at least one deployable component.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the stimulus is received after the device is fired from an artillery gun.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the device comprises one of a mortar, a bullet, a grenade, a missile, a rocket, or a submersible.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein each of the SMM components comprises one of a shape memory polymer (SMP) or a shape memory alloy (SMA).

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one first SMM component or the at least one deployable component comprises one or more of: a fairing, at least one control surface, or at least one fin.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Summers Matthew H
• Koehler Frederick B
• Danforth Jeremy C
• Villarreal James K

Classifications

• F42B10/14

  using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel · CPC title

• F42B10/38 Primary

  Range-increasing arrangements (F42B10/34, F42B14/06 {and F42B15/105} take precedence) · CPC title

• B63G8/00

  Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; {Equipment specially adapted therefor}(submarine hulls B63B3/13; diving chambers with mechanical link, e.g. cable, to a base B63C11/34; divers' sleds B63C11/46; torpedoes F42B19/00) · CPC title

• F42B10/40

  with combustion of a slow-burning charge, e.g. fumers, base-bleed projectiles · CPC title

• F42B10/44

  Boat-tails specially adapted for drag reduction · CPC title