US3697019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stabilizing fin assembly
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1970-05-13
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A fin assembly for stabilizing aerial vehicles having a plurality of curved fins pivotally connected to a shroud on the vehicle for pivotal movement from a folded position to an erected position about axes parallel to the direction of flight of the vehicle. Each fin is locked in its erected position by a latch mechanism which includes a locking lug on the fin and a slot in the shroud to receive both the lug and a lug locking wedge which prevents movement of the fin in any direction from its erected position.
Inventors
- 👤 James K Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:29
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B10/00; F42B10/02; F42B10/14; F42B10/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A folding fin stabilizing assembly for an aerial vehicle comprising: fin support means symmetrically spaced and mounted externally about the periphery of an aerial vehicle, a plurality of fins each having a vane portion and a base portion, said vane portion having a configuration substantially conforming to a portion of the vehicle when said fins are in a folded position, said base portion having a locking lug extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the vane portion, hinge means for pivotally connecting said fins at their base portions to said support means for rotational movement from a folded position to an opened position, lug capturing means including means defining a plurality of elongate rectangular slots in said fin support means having a length slightly greater than the length of said lugs and a width substantially greater than the width of said lugs each for receiving one of said lugs when said fins are in an open position, a plurality of lug latching wedges each mounted on said fin support means and movable in one of said elongate slots for locking engagement with one of said lugs to thereby lock and restrain said fins from further rotation from said open position, and means for resiliently biasing said wedges into a position within said slots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A folding fin stabilizing assembly for an aerial vehicle comprising: fin support means symmetrically spaced and mounted externally about the periphery of an aerial vehicle, a plurality of fins each having a vane portion and a base portion, said vane portion having a configuration substantially conforming to a portion of the vehicle when said fins are in a folded position, said base portion having a locking lug extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the vane portion, hinge means for pivotally connecting said fins at their base portions to said support means for rotational movement from a folded position to an opened position, lug capturing means including means defining a plurality of elongate rectangular slots in said fin support means having a length slightly greater than the length of said lugs and a width substantially greater than the width of said lugs each for receiving one of said lugs when said fins are in an open position, a plurality of lug latching wedges each mounted on said fin support means and movable in one of said elongate slots for locking engagement with one of said lugs to thereby lock and restrain said fins from further rotation from said open position, and means for resiliently biasing said wedges into a position within said slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said resilient biasing means comprises a plurality of leaf springs each having one end fixedly secured to the interior of said fin support means and having one of said wedges mounted on its other end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The device of claim 2 wherein, each of said locking lugs has an impact surface formed thereon which lies in a plane substantially parallel to a plane passing through the diameter of the vehicle for engagement with coplanar impact surface defined by said slot, each of said lugs having a wedge-engaging surface which lies in a plane which intersects a diameter of the vehicle, said wedge having a flat lug engaging surface substantially coplanar with said wedge-engaging surface of said lug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The device of claim 3 wherein, said fin support means includes an annular shroud adapted to be mounted externally on the vehicle, said hinge means includes a plurality of pairs of outwardly extending longitudinally spaced projections formed on said shroud, the base portion of said fins projecting downwardly from the vane portions of said fins, said projections on said fins and said shroud being inter-leaved and pivotally connected together by hinge pins for rotation of said fins about axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shroud.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 4 further comprising means formed on said shroud extensions for operative engagement with rifling grooves iN the interior of a lauching tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said rifling engaging means comprises bourrelet pellets fixedly secured to the ends of said shroud projections and extending radially outwardly therefrom beyond all other parts of the assembly when the fins are in their folded position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |