Missile Control Surface Coupling via Flexible Tension Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Guided missiles face challenges in applying high forces to control surfaces during sharp steering maneuvers due to high flight velocities, requiring reliable and precise control surface movement against opposing forces.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a flexible tension element secured on the control surface drive, rolled onto the control surface shaft, allowing for efficient conversion of translational movement into rotational movement with minimal backlash and hysteresis, using a coupling unit with two tension elements or a single element that thickens radially for enhanced strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional coupling unit is used to connect the control surface drive to the control surface shaft, then the structure is simple, but high forces cannot be applied reliably and there is significant backlash and hysteresis movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of high force applicationVSAvoidcomplexity of coupling unit

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible tension element (band or strand) wrapped around the control surface shaft to transmit force. This flexible element eliminates backlash and hysteresis while maintaining structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between reliability under high force and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The tension element is wrapped around the shaft in a circumferential direction, converting linear force transmission into rotational force transmission. This dimensional approach allows reliable high force application without complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If a rigid connection is used between the control surface drive and control surface shaft, then backlash is minimized, but the system cannot accommodate translational to rotational movement conversion efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of movement conversionVSAvoidcomplexity of movement conversion mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible tension element naturally accommodates the translational to rotational movement conversion through its wrapping configuration around the shaft, achieving precise movement conversion without complex mechanical mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The tension element acts as an intermediary between the linearly moving control surface drive and the rotationally moving control surface shaft, enabling precise movement conversion while simplifying the overall system design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single tension element is used to rotate the control surface shaft in both directions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the strength and reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of tension elementsVSAvoidstrength of force transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tension element is thickened radially in specific regions (at the ends and at the winding location) to provide enhanced strength where forces are most concentrated, while maintaining a simpler overall single-element design. This localized reinforcement maintains strength without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The tension element can be constructed as a composite structure with varying cross-sectional properties along its length, providing high strength at critical locations while maintaining flexibility and simplicity in other regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Enables reliable and precise application of high forces to the control surface, maintaining stability during rapid steering maneuvers and ensuring secure attachment to prevent breakage, while maintaining a compact design suitable for limited space within the missile.

Implementation Method 1

the tension element is rolled up onto the control surface shaft to a certain extent... simple conversion of, for example, a translational movement into a rotational movement can be produced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling:

Data Source

PatentUS10101138B2System of missile control surfaces and method of assembling the system

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 DIEHL DEFENCE GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A system of missile control surfaces includes a control surface housing, a control surface shaft which is rotatably mounted in the control surface housing, a control surface secured on the control surface shaft, a control surface drive and a coupling unit. The coupling unit couples the control surface drive to the control surface shaft in such a way that a movement of the control surface drive produces a rotation of the control surface shaft. To enable high forces to be applied reliably to a guided missile control surface, it is proposed that the coupling unit has at least one flexible tension element, which is secured on the control surface drive and is rolled up onto the control surface shaft to a certain extent.