Method and apparatus for non-propulsive fin control in an air or sea vehicle using planar actuation
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsBrian C. Baker, Johnny Edward Banks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention, in one embodiment, is an apparatus for controlling the roll, pitch, and yaw attitudes of an air or sea vehicle. The apparatus includes an actuator including an actuation plane and an actuation mechanism, capable of displacing the actuation plane at three points; at least three non-propulsive fins; and a linkage between the actuator and each one of the fins, the linkage communicating the actuation plane's displacement to the respective one of the fins.
Claims44
An apparatus for controlling the direction of an air or sea vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an actuator, including:
- an actuation plane;
- and
- an actuation mechanism, capable of displacing the actuation plane at three points;
- at least three non-propulsive fins;
- and
- a linkage between the actuator and each one of the fins, the linkage communicating the actuation plane's displacement to the respective one of the fins.
An apparatus for controlling the roll, pitch, and yaw attitudes of an air or sea vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an actuator, including:
- an actuation plane;
- and
- means for displacing the actuation plane at three points;
- at least three non-propulsive fins;
- and
- means for linking the actuation plane and each one of the fins, the means for linking communicating the actuation plane's displacement to the respective one of the fins.
A method for controlling the flight surfaces of an air or sea vehicle the method comprising actuating at least three fins using a plane to affect pitch, yaw, and roll.
A method for controlling the flight surfaces of an air or sea vehicle, the method comprising:
- linking at least three non-propulsive flight surfaces to an actuation plane;
- and
- displacing the actuation plane at three different points to control the flight surfaces.
A fin actuation system for a missile including a missile fuselage, a blast tube, and at least three fins spaced around the fuselage and adapted to rotate relative to the fuselage, said systems comprising:
- a planar member positioned in an annulus defined by the fuselage and the blast tube;
- at least three actuation mechanisms operable to displace the planar member the longitudinal axis of the missile;
- at least three linkages connecting each fin with a portion of the planar member and operable in response to displacement of the planar member to rotate the fin relative to the fuselage.
An air or sea vehicle, comprising:
- a fuselage;
- at least three non-propulsive fins;
- and
- a fin control system including:
- an actuator, including:
- an actuation plane;
- and
- an actuation mechanism, capable of displacing the actuation plane at three points;
- at least three fins;
- and
- a linkage between the actuator and each one of the fins, the linkage communicating the actuation plane's displacement to the respective one of the fins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.