Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.

Goodrich Corporation

Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corporation

John R Sankovic

James Byrne

Daniel Piltz

A fin retention and deployment mechanism includes a detent in each of a plurality of fins, a mechanism that engages the detent, and at least one spring clip that maintains each of the fins in a non-deployed position. The mechanism also includes a gas generator, a manifold, coupled to the gas generator and having a plurality of cylinders in fluid communication with gas from the gas generator, and a plurality of pistons disposed in the cylinders. A bottom of each of the pistons is coupled to each of the fins to provide deployment thereof when a corresponding top of each of the pistons is acted upon by gas from the gas generator. In response to the gas generator expelling gas, the pistons may move the fins to a deployed position.

Pyrotechnic fin deployment and retention mechanism

A fin locking mechanism for locking in place, and subsequently unlocking fins for installation on a missile having a plurality of otherwise moveable fins. Where the fins are mounted to a crank arm, there is a locking detent, with a locking notch, integral to the crank arm. A spring loaded locking plunger has an end which fits into the locking notch. The locking plungers are mounted into the assembly housing locking plunger channels. A base plate is spaced from the locking detent such that when one end of the locking plunger is fitted into the locking notch, the other end of the locking plunger is slidably pressed against the base plate by the spring loading, and the locking plunger is relatively perpendicular to the base plate. The base plate also has a plurality of locking plunger recesses, wherein when one end of the locking plunger resides in the locking plunger recesses, the other end of the locking plunger will not reach the locking notch and therefore the fins will be unlocked. A support plate is mounted to the assembly housing, and the base plate is rotateably mounted to the support plate. A rotational loading mechanism rotationally loads the base plate to force the base plate to rotate relative to the support plate to a position where the fins are unlocked. A rotational lock locks the base plate in a rotationally loaded position by extending into a rotational lock recess on the base plate. Thus, when the fins are locked, an end of the locking plunger is slidably pressed on the base plate, and when the rotational lock is released, the base plate rotates and the locking plunger slides over it until the locking plungers recesses are moved under the locking plungers, wherein the locking plungers are forced into the locking plunger recesses by the spring loading, thus moving the other end of the locking plunger out of the locking notch, unlocking the fins.

Missile fin locking method and assembly

A gear train locking device is inserted into an opening in the housing adjacent to the gear to be locked. The device is made in a two-piece assembly to permit the device to be threaded into the opening while maintaining the proper orientation of the engaging slot on the forward end of the device which engages the teeth of the gear. To assist in determining that the proper orientation has been maintained, alignment indicating means, preferably in the form of a notch, are provided in the rearward end of the device. The device allows a gear to be locked without the need of disassembling the actuator or motor in which the gear train is located. With the gear on the input shaft locked, torque can be applied to the output shaft to easily accomplish the tests of gear train performance, minimizing the time and complexity of the tests.

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Chesterland, OH, United States of America

John R Sankovic