Modular gas operated fin deployment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11353300-B2
Application number	US-202016840817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2020
Priority date	Apr 6, 2020
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

A projectile and deployment method ensures successful deployment of the projectile regardless of an external environment. Contacting engagement is maintained between a piston and deployable fins as the fins rotate from a folded position to a deployed position. The fins are pushed by the piston to rotate into a deployed position in which the fins are locked before the piston is able to eject from the assembly. Using the engaging tabs between the fins and the piston, and a modular pressure reservoir, the piston continues to push on the fins at least until the fins are deployed and locked. After locking, pressure in the projectile is equalized and the piston is launched off of the pressure reservoir. If the fins are not immediately deployed and locked, the piston will continue to push on the fins until the external environment enables full deployment or until the pressure is equalized.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A projectile comprising:
a base;
a pressure reservoir releasably connected to the base;
a movable piston fluidly connected to the pressure reservoir;
a plurality of fins rotatably connected to the base and movable by the piston from a folded position to a deployed position; and
a plurality of fin tabs that are formed on the plurality of fins and configured to maintain contact with the piston until the fins have reached the deployed position;
wherein the piston has a cylindrical housing that is axially slidable over the pressure reservoir and a fin retention mechanism that is formed on the cylindrical housing and configured to engage the fin tabs.

2. The projectile according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of locking pins that are supported in the base and configured to engage the fins when the fins are in the deployed position.

3. The projectile according to claim 2 , wherein each of the fins have a notch configured to receive a corresponding one of the locking pins.

4. The projectile according to claim 2 , wherein each of the locking pins have a rounded head with a tapered tip and a plurality of venting slots formed on the rounded head.

5. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein the fin tabs are obliquely angled relative to a central axis of the projectile.

6. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fin tabs protrude in a radially inwardly direction from a corresponding one of the fins.

7. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fin tabs are formed integrally with a corresponding one of the fins as a monolithic body.

8. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fin tabs have a base end formed on a corresponding one of the fins, a tip end, and a tapering body that tapers from the base end to the tip end.

9. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein the fin retention mechanism includes a plurality of piston tabs that extend radially outwardly from the cylindrical housing.

10. The projectile according to claim 9 , wherein the fin retention mechanism includes a circumferential flange that is axially spaced from the plurality of piston tabs to define a circumferential groove therebetween, wherein the fin tabs are configured to engage in the circumferential groove when the fins are in the folded position.

11. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein the fin retention mechanism is formed integrally with the cylindrical housing as a monolithic body.

12. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical housing includes a removable orifice at a front end of the piston, and wherein the fin retention mechanism is formed at a rear end of the piston.

13. The projectile according to claim 1 further comprising a propellant and a primer that are arranged externally to the projectile and configured to pressurize the pressure reservoir.

14. A projectile comprising:
a base;
a pressure reservoir releasably connected to the base;
a movable piston fluidly connected to the pressure reservoir;
a plurality of fins rotatably connected to the base and movable by the piston from a folded position to a deployed position;
a plurality of fin tabs that are formed on the plurality of fins and configured to maintain contact with the piston until the fins have reached the deployed position; and
a plurality of locking pins that are supported in the base and configured to engage the fins when the fins are in the deployed position;
wherein the fins are configured to overrotate past an initial deployed position in which the locking pins first engage the fins, wherein the piston and the fin tabs are configured to maintain contact for a predetermined amount of overrotation of the fins.

15. The projectile according to claim 14 , wherein the piston has a cylindrical housing that is axially slidable over the pressure reservoir and a fin retention mechanism that is formed on the cylindrical housing and configured to engage the fin tabs.

16. A gun-launched projectile assembly comprising:
a barrel;
a cartridge that is arranged in the barrel and contains a propellant and a primer; and
a projectile releasably arranged in the cartridge, wherein the projectile includes a removable pressure reservoir that is configured to be pressurized by the propellant gas, a movable piston fluidly connected to the pressure reservoir, a plurality of rotatable fins that are movable from a folded position to a deployed position by the piston after the pressure reservoir is pressurized to move the piston, and a plurality of fin tabs that are formed on the plurality of fins and configured to maintain contact with the piston until the fins have reached the deployed position, wherein the piston has a cylindrical housing that is axially slidable over the pressure reservoir and a fin retention mechanism that is formed on the cylindrical housing and configured to engage the fin tabs.

17. A method of deploying a projectile, the method comprising:
inserting a pressure reservoir into a base;
pressurizing the pressure reservoir to move a piston that is fluidly connected with the pressure reservoir;
rotating a plurality of fins relative to the base from a folded position toward a deployed position by way of the piston pushing against the fins; and
maintaining contact between the fins and the piston until the fins have reached the deployed position; and
further comprising:
selecting a piston orifice from a plurality of piston orifices having different sizes;
inserting the piston orifice into a front end of the piston; and
engaging the fins with the piston at a rear end of the piston.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising:
rotating the fins to an initial deployed position;
locking the fins at the initial deployed position;
overrotating the fins past the initial deployed; and
maintaining contact between the fins and the piston for a predetermined amount of overrotation of the fins.

19. The method according to claim 17 further comprising selecting the pressure reservoir from a plurality of pressure reservoirs having different sizes.

20. The method according to claim 17 ,
wherein the projectile includes a plurality of fin tabs that are formed on the plurality of fins and configured to maintain contact with the piston until the fins have reached the deployed position; and
wherein the piston has a cylindrical housing that is axially slidable over the pressure reservoir and a fin retention mechanism that is formed on the cylindrical housing and configured to engage the fin tabs.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Murphy Timothy A

Classifications

• F42B10/20 Primary

  deployed by combustion gas pressure, or by pneumatic or hydraulic forces · CPC title

• F42B10/18

  using a longitudinally slidable support member · CPC title

• F42B5/02

  Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile · CPC title