Self-deploying air inlet for an air breathing missile

Abstract

A self-deploying inlet for an air breathing missile including an inlet body having a natural shape which defines a deployed condition for the air inlet, wherein an air deflecting surface is provided thereby. The inlet body is made from a material having a flexibility which enables the inlet body to flex from the deployed condition to a stowed condition, and a resiliency which biases the inlet body toward the deployed condition when in the stowed condition. The air inlet further includes a sealing connector system for connecting the inlet body to the vehicle in a manner which enables the inlet body to move between the stowed condition and the deployed condition. The natural spring force provided by the resiliency of the inlet body, along with the aerodynamic forces to which the inlet is subjected during missile flight, are sufficient to cause the inlet to self-deploy to the deployed condition from the stowed condition without the need for a deployment actuator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.