The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 03, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 30, 1998
George F Barson, Plano, TX (US);
Richard M Weber, Prosper, TX (US);
Raytheon Company, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
A tail fin assembly for a guided projectile which is capable of withstanding the high pressures experienced during launch, which is also capable of stabilizing the projectile during initial flight shortly after emergence from the cannon or large gun barrel and which is also capable of freely spinning relative to the projectile front section for the remainder of the flight to minimize projectile roll to accomplish all of these capabilities sequentially during a single launch. The assembly includes the projectile and a rotatable member, preferably a tail fin assembly with tail fins which is rotatable about the projectile major axis and which is normally locked against rotation about the projectile. A locking structure is provided for locking the rotatable member against the rotation which is responsive to a predetermined condition to permit rotation of the rotatable member about the projectile. The tail fins are normally retracted and secured to the rotatable member and are extendable in response to a predetermined condition.