Launch initiated low-drag seeker window cover
AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorJacob W. Miska
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.