Spinning Projectile Collar Aerodynamic Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems for spinning projectiles face challenges in precise navigational control, including the danger of premature explosion and heat dissipation issues, and require significant power and braking force, which are inefficient and imprecise.
Innovation Solution
A collar with variable-pitch control surfaces on a spinning fuselage that can be adjusted to position the collar relative to the fuselage using aerodynamic forces, allowing for bank-to-turn steering and decoupling the rotation of the collar from the fuselage, thereby avoiding heat dissipation and power consumption issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If braking or damping devices are used to slow the rotation of one section relative to another, then the relative rotation can be controlled, but significant braking force is required and heat dissipation problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical braking system with an aerodynamic system. A collar with adjustable control surfaces interacts with the airflow to produce aerodynamic forces that control the relative rotation between sections, eliminating the need for mechanical brakes and their associated heat dissipation problems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses aerodynamic forces (a subset of fluid dynamics) to control the projectile's flight. The control surfaces on the collar generate aerodynamic moments that control the relative rotation and positioning of sections without mechanical contact, avoiding heat generation from friction
2Ease of operation
If propulsive outlets, fuels and pyrotechnics are used to produce forces for course correction, then directional control can be achieved, but the danger of premature explosion and shock-induced imprecision increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pyrotechnic and propulsive systems with an aerodynamic control system. The collar with adjustable control surfaces uses aerodynamic forces to achieve course correction without combustion, eliminating the risk of premature explosion and shock-induced imprecision
Solution Approach 2:
The collar acts as an intermediary between the fuselage and the control surfaces. It provides a stable mounting platform for the control surfaces and transmits aerodynamic forces to control the projectile's flight path without requiring explosive or propulsive mechanisms
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 precise control of the projectile's course with reduced power consumption and no heat dissipation problems, maintaining a non-rotational state and reorienting the projectile efficiently, while being compact and scalable.
Implementation Method 1
a collar with variable-pitch control surfaces that may be adjusted to position the collar relative to the fuselage... positionable lift-producing control surfaces... steering the projectile using lift from the collar
Data Source
AI summary
A projectile, air vehicle or submersible craft with a spinning or rolling fuselage, rotating on its axis, has a collar which can be positioned relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile using aerodynamic forces. Aerodynamic surfaces, such as lift-producing surfaces, for example tails or canards, are coupled to the collar, and rotate with the collar. An actuator system or mechanism controls orienting of the lift-producing surfaces, such as tilting of the lift producing surfaces, to direct the collar into a desired position relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile, and to maintain the collar in that position. With such a control the projectile is able to be steered using bank-to-turn maneuvering. The actuator system may use any of a variety of mechanisms to move the lift-producing surfaces, thereby positioning the collar.