Variable diameter conical nose
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsNathan B Speirs, David E Yamartino, Aren M Hellum, Jesse L Belden
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Abstract
A variable diameter conical nose is provided. The conical nose includes a cone formed from a circular sheet of ductile material having a sector removed. The formed cone has a first overlapping portion and a second overlapping portion overlying the first overlapping portion. The first overlapping portion is fixed and the second overlapping portion is free to move. The conical nose includes an actuator capable of varying the diameter of the cone by moving the second overlapping portion relative to the first overlapping portion.
Claims4
A variable diameter conical nose comprising:
- a cone having a first overlapping portion and a second overlapping portion overlying said first overlapping portion;
- an actuator capable of varying the diameter of said cone by moving at least one of said first overlapping portion and said second overlapping portion relative to the other;
- and
- a rack and pinion assembly of a motorized pinion gear anchored to said first overlapping portion and a rack gear mounted to said second overlapping portion;
- wherein said motorized pinion gear drives said rack gear to cause relative motion between said first overlapping portion and said second overlapping portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.