Adapter assembly for flat trajectory flight
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsMichael A. Brown, Chris A. Kalivretenos
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Abstract
An aerodynamic lift-generating adapter assembly secures to the nose of an guided projectile to provide a capability for flat-trajectory flight. The adapter assembly comprises a rotatably-supported, roll-stabilized lift-generating section coupled to an actuator section containing inertia means to initiate gyroscope rotor spinning. The control gyroscope is directly linked to the lift-generating device to maintain fixed orientation of the lift.
Claims20
An adapter assembly attachable to the nose portion of an unguided projectile to provide the projectile with a substantially flat-trajectory flight capability comprising:
- an aerodynamic lift-generating section including both a lift-producing device and a separate stabilizing mechanism directly coupled to said device;
- a separate and distinct actuator housing attachable to the nose portion of a projectile;
- means for rotationally coupling said lift-generating section to said actuator housing;
- and
- inertia means within said actuator housing to initiate operation of said stabilizing mechanism,
- said adapter assembly producing a stabilized, vertically-oriented lift to counter the projectile weight.
An aerodynamic lift-generating mechanism attachable to the forward portion of a projectile comprising:
- a gyroscopically roll-stabilized lifting section to produce a vertically-fixed lift vector including therein both a lift producing means and a stabilizing gyroscope;
- a separate and distinct actuator housing attachable to the projectile;
- a shaft attached at one end to said lifting section, the other end of said shaft being rotatably and rectilinearly receivable within said actuator housing to join said lifting section to said housing;
- resilient means within said housing cooperating with said shaft to bias the shaft outwardly of said housing and towards said lifting section;
- and
- slidable inertia means within said housing coupled to the rotor of said stabilizing gyroscope with flexible connecting means for initiating spinning of the gyroscope rotor;
- means for releasably drawing into abutment said lifting section and said actuator housing prior to launch of said projectile,
- whereupon launch of the projectile said lifting section and said actuator housing are released from abutment, said inertia means initiates operation of the gyroscope and said resilient means effects a spatial separation between said lifting section and said actuator housing to permit free rotation of the projectile relative to the roll-stabilized lifting section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.