Rotating Adapter Electrical Interface for Misaligned Guided Vehicle Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projectiles face issues with electrical connections between guidance kits and payloads due to inconsistent threading and angular misalignment, leading to twisting and damage of wiring, which affects power and communication transmission.
Innovation Solution
A guided vehicle system with an adapter and electrical interconnection system, including a slip ring contact and power and signal board, that allows for angular alignment or displacement between the guidance kit and payload, eliminating the need for traditional electrical wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical wiring is used to connect guidance kit and payload, then power and communication signals can be transmitted, but the wiring may excessively twist and bend due to angular misalignment, leading to damage of internal conductors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component between the guidance kit and payload. This adapter includes a body with first and second adapters that can rotate relative to each other, serving as a mediator that decouples the angular misalignment between the guidance kit and payload from the electrical wiring, thereby preventing wiring damage while maintaining reliable electrical connections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic solution by allowing the first and second adapters to rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability enables the system to accommodate angular misalignment between the guidance kit and payload during assembly and operation, preventing excessive twisting and bending of the electrical wiring while maintaining reliable power and signal transmission
2Strength
If guidance kit and payload are threaded together with inconsistent threads, then mechanical connection can be achieved, but the connection causes angular offset and twisting of electrical wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mechanical connection system into separate segments: the guidance kit threads connect to the first adapter, and the payload threads connect to the second adapter. This segmentation allows each connection to be optimized independently and enables relative rotation between the adapters, facilitating correct assembly while maintaining strong mechanical connections without forcing angular misalignment into the electrical wiring
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter body serves as a mechanical intermediary that receives and accommodates the inconsistent threading from both the guidance kit and payload. By decoupling the mechanical connection function from the electrical connection function, the adapter allows strong mechanical fastening while preventing the transmission of angular offset and twisting forces to the electrical wiring
Data Source
AI summary
A guided vehicle that includes a body having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a longitudinal axis defined between the first end and the second end, and a payload disposed inside of the body between the first end and the second end. The guided vehicle also includes a guidance kit that is configured to guide the guided vehicle, an adapter that mechanically connects the payload and the guidance kit with one another, and an electrical interconnection system that electrically connects the guidance kit and the payload with one another inside of the adapter. When the payload and the guidance kit are mechanically connected with one another and electrically connected with one another, the payload and the guidance kit are angularly aligned at a same clock position measured relative to the longitudinal axis or angularly displaced at different clock positions measured relative to the longitudinal axis.