Soft-recovery system for gun-launched projectiles

US5220128A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• John C. Grau · Sussex, US
• Gregory Malejko · Hackettstown, US
• John A. DiPalma · Gilbert, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 22, 1991
• Grant date: Jun 15, 1993
• Expiry date: Nov 22, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B10/56
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A soft-recovery projectile having an aft portion, a forward portion and a gas seal mounted between the portions. The aft portion includes a recoverable payload such as projectile components or the like. The forward portion includes a parachute that is attached to the payload and is stored in a housing which is separably attached to the payload. The housing includes an explosive charge which is slectively triggered to cause separation of the housing from the payload and deployment of the parachute. A fin assembly, mounted on the housing, exerts a destablizing moment on the projectile when it is oriented with the fin assembly directed into the flight path. The projectile is launched with the fin assembly as the nose and the payload as the tail. After launch, the destabilizing moment will reorient the projectile into a position where the payload is the nose and the fin assembly is the tail. In this position, the fin assembly exerts a stabilizing moment on the projectile. At this point, the parachute is deployed by triggering the charge and thereby separating the housing and fin assembly from the payload.