Lockheed Martin Corporation

Gregory M Richards

James C Copp

Steven J Ellzey

An apparatus, having: a fuselage body section () configured to be secured to an aircraft fuselage (); a pivot column () protruding from the fuselage body section; and a center wing section () configured to be secured to a center wing panel of a trifold wing (). The fuselage body section and the center wing section are configured to cooperate with each other to rotate the center wing section relative to the fuselage body section from a stowed position () to a deployed position (). The pivot column comprises a column feature () configured to engage with tip features () of the trifold wing to hold the trifold wing in a folded configuration when the trifold wing is in the stowed position and to disengage from the tip features as the trifold wing rotates to the deployed position, thereby freeing the trifold wing to unfold.

Apparatus for retaining and deploying a wing of an aerial vehicle

An apparatus includes a restraint for restraining a first control surface in a stowed configuration and a severing mechanism for parting the restraint to allow the first control surface to move into an operational configuration. A vehicle includes a body, a first control surface rotatably mounted to the body, and a restraint attached to the first control surface for restraining the first control surface in a stowed configuration. The vehicle further includes a severing mechanism for parting the restraint to allow the first control surface to move into an operational configuration. A method includes attaching a restraint to the control surface to restrain the control surface in a stowed configuration and cutting the restraint to allow the control surface to move to an operational configuration.

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Colleyville, TX, United States of America

Gregory M Richards