Aeronautics and astronautics – Missile stabilization or trajectory control
Reexamination Certificate
2008-06-18
2011-11-15
Barefoot, Galen (Department: 3643)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Missile stabilization or trajectory control
C244S121000, C244S133000
Reexamination Certificate
active
08058595
ABSTRACT:
A nose cone formed from a shape memory alloy (SMA) having a recoverable strain of at least 2% collapses about the dome for storage, deploys at launch to protect the sensor dome and reduce drag during atmospheric flight and is shed to allow sensing for terminal maneuvers. The SMA is shape-set at elevated temperatures in its Austenite phase with a memorized shape having a radius of curvature greater than that of the sensor dome to reduce aerodynamic drag. The temperature is reduced and the SMA collapsed to conform to the curvature of the sensor dome within the recoverable strain for storage. A first mechanism is configured to return the collapsed SMA to its memorized shape at launch or prior to going supersonic. In one embodiment, the SMA is stored below its Martensite finish temperature in a temperature-induced Martensite phase in which case the mechanism heats the SMA above the Austenite finish temperature to return the material to its memorized shape. In another embodiment, the SMA is stored above its Austenite finish temperature in which case collapsing the SMA places the material in a strain-induced Martensite phase. The mechanism holds the collapsed SMA in place and the releases the stored energy allowing the SMA to return to the memorized shape.
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Koehler Frederick B.
Lyman Ward D.
Sanderson Terry M.
Barefoot Galen
Gifford Eric A.
Raytheon Company
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