Missile fin locking method and assembly

Details Missile fin locking method and assembly Missile fin locking method and assembly

2008-01-08

2008-01-08

Collins, Timothy D. (Department: 3643)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Missile stabilization or trajectory control

Externally mounted stabilizing appendage

Reexamination Certificate

active

11150897

ABSTRACT:
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.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5409185 (1995-04-01), Oldakowski
patent: 5551793 (1996-09-01), Lewis
patent: 5950963 (1999-09-01), Speicher et al.
patent: 6073880 (2000-06-01), Voigt et al.
patent: 6250584 (2001-06-01), Hsu et al.

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