Projectile Section Alignment via Magnetic Self-Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projectile systems with multiple sections require time-consuming and difficult physical alignment for roll alignment, limiting flexibility and efficiency in coupling and reuse of components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of logical clocking using sensors to communicate orientation information and determine alignment correction factors, allowing misaligned sections to share a common roll reference without physical alignment, enabling faster and easier assembly and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If physical alignment mechanisms (keyed couplings, physical sighting, shims) are used to ensure roll alignment between projectile sections, then alignment accuracy is improved, but assembly time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical alignment mechanisms (keyed couplings, physical sighting devices, shims) with a magnetic alignment system. A magnet is positioned in one section and a ferromagnetic material in the other section, creating automatic magnetic attraction that aligns the sections during assembly without requiring time-consuming manual physical alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic alignment system enables self-alignment of projectile sections during assembly. The magnetic attraction between the magnet and ferromagnetic material automatically draws the sections into proper alignment, eliminating the need for operators to manually adjust and align components using traditional mechanical methods.
2Manufacturing precision
If physical alignment mechanisms are used to ensure roll alignment, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment mechanisms with a simple magnetic field-based system. Instead of requiring operators to use keyed couplings, physical sighting devices, or shims, the system uses magnetic attraction to automatically align sections, dramatically simplifying the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic alignment system performs the alignment function automatically through magnetic attraction, eliminating the need for operator intervention in the alignment process. The sections self-align when brought into proximity, making assembly straightforward and reducing operational complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If threaded connections are used for coupling sections, then ease of assembly is improved, but roll alignment accuracy may deteriorate without additional alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines threaded connections for easy assembly with magnetic alignment for precision. The threaded coupling provides simple, tool-based assembly, while the magnetic field ensures accurate roll alignment occurs automatically during the assembly process, eliminating the need for separate alignment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two functions into a single assembly operation: the threaded connection provides mechanical coupling while the magnetic field simultaneously provides alignment. This combination allows both ease of assembly and alignment accuracy to be achieved in the same assembly process.
Data Source
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AI summary
A projectile has a pair of different parts with respective orientation sensors for detecting orientation, such as the roll position of the parts. The orientation sensors may be any of a variety of sensors, such as magnetometers, light sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, or ultraviolet (UV) sensors. Orientation events of the orientation sensors, such as maxima or minima of sensor output, are determined. The orientation events of the two sensors are compared to produce an alignment correction factor for correcting for misalignment of the parts relative to one another, that is to correct for differences in alignment between the sensors of the two parts. This allows (for example) instructions produced at one of the parts to be usable at the other of the parts.