Spring-assisted deployment of a pivotable rocket motor
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJustin G. Albright, Aaron J. Kutzmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rocket comprises at least one propulsion unit including a pivotable rocket motor, a spring-assisted one-time deployment mechanism, and a release mechanism. The pivotable rocket motor is pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The spring-assisted one-time deployment mechanism moves the rocket motor from the stowed position to the deployed position when the deployment mechanism is released by the release mechanism. Outer geometry of the rocket is changed as the rocket motor is moved to the deployed position.
Claims20
A rocket comprising at least one propulsion unit including:
- a pivotable motor mount;
- a rocket motor coupled to the pivotable motor mount, so that the entire rocket motor is pivotable on the motor mount between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein an outer geometry of the rocket is changed as the rocket motor is moved to the deployed position;
- a spring-assisted one-time deployment mechanism for moving the rocket motor from the stowed position to the deployed position when the deployment mechanism is released;
- and
- a release mechanism for releasing the deployment mechanism.
A rocket stage comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a plurality of propulsion units, each propulsion unit including:
- a rocket motor mounted to the frame by an axle pivot, the rocket motor being pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- and
- a spring-loaded housing and frangible nut for locking the axle pivot with the rocket motor in the stowed position, the spring-loaded housing causing the axle pivot to rotate the rocket motor to the deployed position when the frangible nut is broken
- wherein outer geometry of the rocket is changed as the rocket motor is moved from the stowed position to the deployed position.
A method comprising:
- carrying a rocket aboard an aircraft, the rocket having a rocket motor coupled to a pivotable motor mount, so that the entire rocket motor is pivotable on the motor mount to a stowed position to fit within an envelope space of the aircraft;
- and
- releasing the rocket at a deployment altitude, wherein a spring-assisted mechanism aboard the rocket causes the entire rocket motor to pivot on the motor mount to a deployed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.