Eccentric drive control actuation system
AssigneeHR Textron, Inc.
InventorM. Robert Mock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control surface actuation system has the ability to move aerodynamic control surfaces using a rotational motion of a motor. In an arrangement, rotational motion of the motor enables the aerodynamic control surfaces of a rotating projectile to oscillate and thus vary the angle of the control surfaces as the projectile spins. The rotation of a motor in one direction in combination with a gear and a link and a crank arm attached to a shaft of the aerodynamic control surfaces allows the control surfaces to move in fluttering motion to induce the maneuvering of a projectile in the desired direction. A controller takes information regarding the current condition of the projectile and drives the motor to move the aerodynamic devices to maneuver the projectile.
Claims26
A projectile comprising:
- a body configured to spin about a projectile longitudinal axis during flight along a flight path;
- an aerodynamic device coupled to a shaft carried by the body;
- a crank coupled to the shaft, a general back and forth motion of the crank causing an oscillating motion of the shaft and the aerodynamic device;
- a motor;
- a drive arrangement interposed between the crank and the motor for translating unidirectional rotational motion of the motor into generally limited oscillating, back-and-forth motion of the crank and of the aerodynamic device relative to the body of the projectile;
- and
- a controller for controlling the velocity and phase of the unidirectional rotational motion of the motor to create the oscillating, back-and-forth motion of the crank and aerodynamic device in synchronism with the spinning of the body to control the flight path of the projectile.
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A control surface actuation system comprising:
- a control surface, the control surface having a pivot and rotatably carried by a body;
- a crank coupled to the control surface, an angular motion of the crank causing a rotational motion of the control surface about the pivot;
- a motor;
- and
- a drive arrangement interposed between the crank and the motor for translating rotational motion of the motor into generally angular motion of the crank, the drive arrangement including an arm having a first end coupled to the motor and an elongated link coupled between a second end of the arm and the crank, wherein the rotational motion of the motor is translated into a rotational motion of the control surface about the pivot via longitudinal motion of the link.
A method of controlling a projectile comprising the steps of:
- providing the projectile with a pair of aerodynamic surfaces;
- rotating the projectile about a projectile longitudinal axis during flight along a flight path;
- moving the pair of aerodynamic devices in an oscillating, back-and-forth motion in synchronism with the rotation of the projectile during the flight of the projectile to control the flight path of the projectile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.