Launch initiated low-drag seeker window cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12571618-B2
Application number	US-202318498623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2023
Priority date	Oct 31, 2023
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A guided vehicle that includes a body, a propulsion system operably engaged inside of the body, a housing operably engaged with the body and encasing a guidance device inside of the housing, a viewing window of the guidance device, and a cover moveably engaged with the housing, wherein the cover is moveable between a pre-flight configuration and a flight configuration. In the pre-flight configuration, the cover covers the viewing window. In the flight configuration, the cover is configured to expose the viewing window in the flight configuration in response to an impulse of acceleration generated by a launch of the guided vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A guided vehicle, comprising:
a body; a propulsion system operably engaged inside of the body; a housing operably engaged with the body and encasing a guidance device inside of the housing; a viewing window of the guidance device; and a cover moveably engaged with the housing, wherein the cover is moveable between a pre-flight configuration and a flight configuration, wherein the cover covers the viewing window in the pre-flight configuration; wherein the cover is configured to expose the viewing window in the flight configuration in response to an impulse of acceleration generated by a launch of the guided vehicle; wherein the cover comprises:
a sleeve slidably engaged with the housing; and
a set of first flaps moveably engaged with the sleeve;
a set of pivot pins, wherein each pivot pin pivotably engages one flap from the set of first flaps with the sleeve; and
wherein each flap of the set of first flaps is configured to individually pivot about the corresponding pivot pin.

2 . The guided vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
a front end; a rear end longitudinally opposite to the front end; and a stop disposed between the front end and the rear end.

3 . The guided vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is slidable between a front end position remote from the stop and a rear end position adjacent to the stop; and
wherein the set of first flaps retract from the viewing window as the sleeve transitions from the front end position to the rear end position.

4 . The guided vehicle of claim 2 , wherein when the cover is provided in the flight configuration, the sleeve is positioned between the front end and the rear end and is engaged with the stop and the set of first flaps is retracted away from the viewing window of the guidance device by an exterior surface of the housing.

5 . The guided vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises:
a set of cutouts defined in the housing between the front end and the stop; wherein each flap of the set of first flaps is disposed inside of a corresponding cutout of the set of cutouts and is even with an exterior surface of the housing when the cover is provided in the flight configuration.

6 . The guided vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises:
a set of biasers operably engaged with the set of first flaps and the pivot pin; wherein the set of biasers is configured to bias the set of first flaps to the pre-flight configuration.

7 . The guided vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the cover further comprises:
a set of second flaps movably engaged with the housing; a set of first pivot pins movably engaging the set of first flaps with the set of second flaps; and a set of biasers operably engaged with the set of second flaps and the set of pins; wherein the set of biasers is configured to bias the set of second flaps to the flight configuration.

8 . The guided vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second set of flaps is maintained inside of the sleeve and transitions outwardly away from the housing as the sleeve transitions from the front end position to the rear end position.

9 . The guided vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a set of grooves defines in the housing; and at least one guide bracket operably engaged with the sleeve and with the housing inside of the set of grooves; wherein the at least one guide bracket is configured to lead the sleeve and the set of first flaps along the housing based on the engagement between the at least one guide bracket and the housing inside of the set of grooves.

10 . A protective cover kit for a guided vehicle, comprising:
a guidance device having a viewing window; a housing configured to encase the guidance device; and a cover moveably engaged with the housing between a pre-flight configuration and a flight configuration, wherein the cover covers the viewing window in the pre-flight configuration; wherein the cover is configured to expose the viewing window in the flight configuration in response to an impulse of acceleration generated by a launch of the guided vehicle; wherein the cover comprises:
a sleeve slidably engaged with the housing;
a set of first flaps moveably engaged with the sleeve
a set of pivot pins, wherein each pivot pin pivotably engages one flap from the set of first flaps with the sleeve;
wherein each flap of the set of first flaps is configured to individually pivot about the corresponding pivot pin.

11 . The protective cover kit of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises:
a front end; a rear end longitudinally opposite to the front end; and a stop disposed between the front end and the rear end.

12 . The protective cover kit of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is slidable between a front end position remote from the stop and a rear end position adjacent to the stop; and
wherein the set of first flaps retract from the viewing window as the sleeve transitions from the front end position to the rear end position.

13 . The protective cover kit of claim 10 , wherein the cover further comprises:
a set of biasers operably engaged with the set of first flaps and the pivot pin; wherein the set of biasers is configured to bias the set of first flaps to the pre-flight configuration.

14 . The protective cover kit of claim 10 , wherein the cover further comprises:
a set of second flaps movably engaged with the housing; a set of first pivot pins movably engaging the set of first flaps with the set of second flaps; and a set of biasers operably engaged with the set of second flaps and the set of pins; wherein the set of biasers is configured to bias the set of second flaps to the flight configuration.

15 . A method, comprising steps of:
providing a projectile, the projectile comprising:
a body;
a propulsion system operably engaged inside of the body;
providing a protective cover kit, the protective cover kit comprising:
a guidance device having a viewing window;
a housing configured to encase the guidance device; and
a cover moveably engaged with the housing between a pre-flight configuration and a flight configuration;
wherein the cover comprises:
a sleeve slidably engaged with the housing;
a set of first flaps moveably engaged with the sleeve
a set of pivot pins, wherein each pivot pin pivotably engages one flap from the set of first flaps with the sleeve;

wherein each flap of the set of first flaps is configured to individually pivot about the corresponding pivot pin;
protecting the viewing window by the cover in the pre-flight configuration; and
engaging the protective cover kit with the body of the projectile.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of engaging the protective cover kit with the body further comprises:
threading the housing of the protective cover kit with the body of the projectile.

Assignees

• Bae Sys Inf & Elect Sys Integ

Inventors

• Miska Jacob W

Classifications

• F42B10/46 Primary

  Streamlined nose cones; Windshields; Radomes {(F42B12/105 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B64G1/008 Primary

  Arrangement of launch rockets or boosters · CPC title