Pyrotechnic Fin Deployment Mechanism for Projectile Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Projectiles guided by fins face challenges in compact storage and transportation due to fin damage from movement, and manual reattachment is impractical for automated deployment scenarios, especially in flight environments where premature deployment can occur.
Innovation Solution
A fin deployment mechanism using a gas generator, manifold, and pistons to deploy fins reliably, combined with a retention mechanism employing detents and spring clips to maintain fins in a non-deployed position until deployment, ensuring all fins are deployed simultaneously and securely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If fins are folded close to the body for storage and transport, then storage space is reduced and fin damage from movement is prevented, but automatic deployment reliability must be ensured and premature deployment from jostling must be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
Spring clips are used to pre-applied counteracting force to hold the fins in a folded position against deployment forces. The spring clips engage with slots in the fin structure to prevent premature deployment during transport and jostling, while allowing controlled deployment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas generator and piston system is pre-positioned and primed during storage, with the piston already in place within the fin structure. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid and reliable deployment when the gas generator is activated, ensuring all fins deploy simultaneously without requiring complex real-time coordination.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual fin detachment and reattachment is used, then fin damage during storage is reduced, but automation capability is lost and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fin structure includes integrated retention and deployment mechanisms that automatically perform the functions of detachment and reattachment. The spring clips and slots provide automatic retention during storage, while the gas generator and piston system provide automatic deployment, eliminating the need for manual intervention entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism (spring clips and slots) and deployment mechanism (gas generator and piston) are merged into a single integrated system. This combination allows the fins to be both retained during storage and automatically deployed when needed, resolving the contradiction between damage prevention and automation capability.
3Reliability
If a retention mechanism with spring clips is used, then fins are maintained in non-deployed position securely, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention system is segmented into simple, discrete spring clips that engage with slots in the fin structure. Each spring clip is an independent, simple component that provides retention for a specific fin, making the overall system easier to manufacture and maintain while still providing reliable retention.
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 simultaneous deployment of fins without damage, preventing premature deployment and ensuring proper operation of projectiles during storage, transport, and automated deployment in flight environments.
Implementation Method 1
a gas generator, a manifold, coupled to the gas generator and having a plurality of cylinders in fluid communication with gas from the gas generator, and a plurality of pistons disposed in the cylinders, a bottom of each of the pistons being coupled to a fin to provide deployment thereof when a corresponding top of each of the pistons is acted upon by gas from the gas generator
Implementation Method 2
The fin deployment mechanism may also include a plurality of springs, disposed in the cylinders, to bias the pistons away from the fins
Implementation Method 3
The gas generator may be implemented using a chemical initiator
Data Source
AI summary
A fin retention and deployment mechanism includes a detent in each of a plurality of fins, a mechanism that engages the detent, and at least one spring clip that maintains each of the fins in a non-deployed position. The mechanism also includes a gas generator, a manifold, coupled to the gas generator and having a plurality of cylinders in fluid communication with gas from the gas generator, and a plurality of pistons disposed in the cylinders. A bottom of each of the pistons is coupled to each of the fins to provide deployment thereof when a corresponding top of each of the pistons is acted upon by gas from the gas generator. In response to the gas generator expelling gas, the pistons may move the fins to a deployed position.