Passive step trimmer for a maneuvering re-entry body (U)
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorRalph M. Darden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passive step trimmer for a maneuvering re-entry body (MRB) which uses existing inertial forces acting on the MRB to deploy a free flowing mass from the rear of the MRB to trim the MRB altitude. The mass deployment from the MRB causes a forward shift in the center of gravity (CG) which in turn creates a more stable body which flies at a reduced angle-of-attack (.alpha.).
Claims8
A method for changing the angle of attack of a maneuvering re-entry body in flight comprising the step of discharging mass from said maneuvering re-entry body by using the existing trajectory accelerations as the discharging force.
A passive step trimmer for a maneuvering re-entry body comprising means for discharging mass from the rear of said maneuvering re-entry body at a designated point in flight by using the existing trajectory accelerations as the discharging force.
A passive step trimmer for a maneuvering re-entry body comprising:
- (a) a container situated within and to the rear of said maneuvering re-entry body;
- (b) a high density free flowing material within said container;
- (c) a discharge port from said container to a point external to said maneuvering re-entry body;
- and
- (d) an opening device to open said discharge port at a designated point in flight to allow the flow of said high density free flowing material from said container to said external point such that the center of gravity of said maneuvering re-entry body is shifted forward, changing the angle of attack of said maneuvering re-entry body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.