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AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorsAmy Pietrzak, Michael J. Krueger
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A wing deploy initiator for deploying guidance wings of a rocket or missile, such as the APKWS, provides enhanced wing deploy performance with reduced complexity, cost, and likelihood of failure. The invention includes a cam which is driven between the stowed guidance wings by at least one compression spring, thereby forcing the guidance wings outward through slots in the fuselage of the rocket or missile. Oblique flat sides of the cam can push against beveled edges on the wings. The cam can be attached to spring mandrels, and the cam and mandrels can pass through a retaining plate as the springs decompress. Embodiments can exert sufficient push force to enable the wings to break through frangible slot covers. An embodiment applicable to the APKWS includes only 13 parts, and can exert up to 10 lb push force on each wing after 0.3 inches of wing travel.
A wing deploy initiator for initiating deployment from a stowed configuration of a plurality of guidance wings of a rocket or missile, the guidance wings being hinged at distal ends thereof so as to pivot outward during wing deployment through corresponding wing slots provided in a fuselage of the rocket or missile, proximal ends of the guidance wings being located in mutual proximity within the fuselage when the guidance wings are in the stowed configuration, the wing deploy initiator comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.