Frangible Wing Slot Seal for Missile Contamination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding fin aerial rockets and missiles face contamination issues due to slots in the fuselage for wing deployment, which expose internal components to external contaminants, and current solutions add weight, cost, and complexity while being prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, low-cost, frangible wing slot seal made of thin, flexible nickel alloy sheets with a burst seam and puncture features that allow wing deployment without affecting aerodynamics or increasing failure likelihood, providing a barrier against contaminants and minimizing space and weight addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If retractable covers are provided over wing slots to protect internal components from contaminants, then protection from contaminants is improved, but weight, cost, and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex retractable cover mechanism entirely and replaces it with a simple frangible seal made of thin flexible sheet material. The seal is adhered to the fuselage surface covering the wing slot, providing contamination protection without requiring moving parts or complex mechanisms. When wing deployment is needed, the seal simply bursts open, eliminating the need for retractable covers while maintaining protection during storage and transport.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If retractable covers are provided over wing slots to protect internal components from contaminants, then protection from contaminants is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a frangible seal made of thin flexible sheet material that is designed to be consumed or destroyed during normal operation. The seal provides contamination protection during storage and transport, then bursts open when the wing needs to deploy. This disposable approach eliminates the need for heavy, reusable retractable covers while maintaining protection when needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a thick seal is used to protect against contaminants, then protection from contaminants is improved, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin flexible sheet material for the frangible seal that adheres to the fuselage surface. The thinness of the seal minimizes aerodynamic interference when the wing is deployed, while still providing effective contamination protection during storage and transport. The flexible nature of the material allows it to conform to the fuselage contour and accommodate wing deployment without creating significant drag.
4Reliability
If a strong seal is used to resist exterior forces, then reliability is improved, but ease of wing deployment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible seal incorporates localized weakness features such as pre-scored lines or reduced thickness zones that create predetermined burst points. These local quality variations allow the seal to maintain overall strength and integrity during storage and transport, resisting exterior forces effectively. When the wing deploys, the localized weakness features enable the seal to burst open easily at specific points, facilitating smooth wing deployment without requiring excessive force.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively protects internal components from contaminants while enabling smooth wing deployment, maintaining minimal aerodynamic impact and reducing the risk of failure, without adding significant weight or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The seal is strong enough to resist rupture or dislodgement from the exterior due to normal transport and handling of the missile, while at the same time presenting minimum resistance to penetration from the interior when the guidance wings are deployed by bursting through the seal
Implementation Method 2
The flexible sheet is curved according to the cylindrical shape of the rocket or missile, and the two layers are stiff, although flexible
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A low cost, lightweight frangible wing slot seal can be applied to a guidance wing slot of a folding fin aerial rocket or missile, providing a barrier against exposure of internal missile components to external contaminants, while allowing unhindered deployment of missile guidance wings simply by bursting through the seals. The simple design is nearly foolproof, and has no impact the likelihood of weapon failure. The seal is a flexible sheet which is sufficiently thin so as not to exceed the required volume envelope of the missile. The sheet includes a burst seam, which is breached when impacted by the leading edge of a deploying wing. No additional wing deployment force is required, and after deployment the seal has minimal impact on the aerodynamic performance of the wing.