Mechanical Stepper Motors For Guided Munitions and Industrial Machinery

A projectile comprising:

• a body having an internal space;
• and
• a mechanical stepper motor disposed in the body, the mechanical stepper motor comprising:
• a shuttle having one of a plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a first spacing;
• a body portion having the other of the plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a second spacing, where the first spacing is different from the second spacing;
• and
• actuation means for engaging at least one of the movable pins into a corresponding pocket to step one of the shuttle and body portion a predetermined linear and/or rotary displacement;
• wherein the mechanical stepper motor applies one of a force or torque to an actuated device operatively connected to the shuttle.

A mechanical stepper motor comprising:

• a shuttle having one of a plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a first spacing;
• a body portion having the other of the plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a second spacing, where the first spacing is different from the second spacing;
• and
• actuation means for engaging at least one of the movable pins into a corresponding pocket to step one of the shuttle and body portion a predetermined linear and/or rotary displacement;
• wherein the mechanical stepper motor outputs the predetermined linear and/or rotary displacement to an actuated device operatively connected to the shuttle.

A mechanical stepper motor comprising:

• a shuttle having one of a plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a first spacing;
• a body portion having the other of the plurality of pockets and movable pins offset from each other with a second spacing, where the first spacing is different from the second spacing;
• and
• actuation means for engaging at least one of the movable pins into a corresponding pocket to step one of the shuttle and body portion a predetermined linear and/or rotary displacement;
• wherein the mechanical stepper motor applies one of a force or torque to an actuated device operatively connected to the shuttle.