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US 4,399,962 AGranted
Wobble nose control for projectiles
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics, Pomona Division
InventorsLarry D. Wedertz, Byron M. Niemeier, Oakley G. Ross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An articulated nose is locked in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of a rolling projectile body. Pyrotechnic means within the nose is actuated to unlock the nose and tilt it toward the target when the error between the projectile path and the path to the target exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claims7
A wobble nose projectile for launching at a target and having a cylindrical body that is rotatable in flight, comprising:
- an articulated nose connected to the forward end of said projectile body and locked in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the said projectile body;
- and
- pyrotechnic means within said nose for unlocking the nose and tilting said nose toward the target when the directional error of the projectile exceeds a threshold.
A wobble nose projectile for launching at a target and having a longitudinal body that is rotatable in flight, comprising:
- as articulated nose having transverse rod means positioned in a slot at the forward end of said projectile body and positioned with a space between said nose and said projectile body;
- locking means positioned at the outer periphery of said space, for locking said nose in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said projectile body;
- a plurality of cylinders positioned within said nose on both sides of said rod means with a piston contained within each cylinder and a detonating charge in the cylinder behind said piston, the free end of said piston extending toward the forward end of said projectile body;
- and
- ignition means within said nose for selectively firing one or more of said pyrotechnic cylinders and removing said locking means, the piston in said ignited cylinder extending to contact the forward end of said projectile body to tilt said nose toward the target when the directional error of the projectile exceeds a threshold.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.