Payload Ejector Shock Attenuator Plunger Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payload ejection systems often impart high-frequency shock pulses to payloads, potentially damaging sensitive components, especially in 'smart' weapons, leading to component failure during ejection or release.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a shock attenuation device into the payload ejector system, which includes a shock attenuator housing and a plunger movable within the housing to elongate the shock pulse, reducing its magnitude and spreading it over a longer period, thereby minimizing damage to sensitive components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a payload ejector pushes a payload away from a flight vehicle, then the payload is successfully ejected, but high-frequency shock pulses are imparted to the payload which may damage sensitive components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shock attenuator as an intermediary device between the ejector piston and the payload. This shock attenuator includes a plunger that moves within a shock attenuator housing, acting as a mediator to absorb and attenuate shock pulses while still allowing the ejector to push the payload away from the flight vehicle effectively
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a shock attenuator with a plunger is added to the payload ejector, then shock pulses are dampened, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shock attenuator is designed with a nested structure where the plunger is movable within the shock attenuator housing. The plunger can be pushed at least partially into the housing, creating a compact nested arrangement that minimizes space requirements while providing effective shock attenuation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The shock attenuator modifies the temporal parameters of the shock pulse by elongating it over a longer period. The plunger's movement within the housing changes the shock pulse duration and magnitude, transforming a high-frequency sharp pulse into a lower-frequency, extended pulse that is less damaging to payload components
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 shock attenuation device effectively reduces the likelihood of payload failure by damping high-frequency shock pulses, allowing the use of modern smart payloads with existing ejection systems without modifications and improving separation characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The plunger is configured to be pushed at least partially into the shock attenuator housing in order to damp a shock pulse applied to the payload
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a payload ejector configured to contact a payload carried by a flight vehicle and to push the payload away from the flight vehicle. The payload ejector includes a piston configured to extend from the payload ejector and a shock attenuator coupled to the piston, where the shock attenuator is configured to push the payload away from the flight vehicle. The shock attenuator includes a shock attenuator housing and a plunger that is movable within the shock attenuator housing and that extends from the shock attenuator housing. The plunger is configured to be pushed at least partially into the shock attenuator housing in order to damp a shock pulse applied to the payload. The shock attenuator housing may have an interior space, and the shock attenuator may further include a spring, compliant material, or fluid within the interior space.