Rotational canted-joint missile control system

US6646242B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Roger P. Berry · Huntsville, US
• Daniel F. Lawless · Hazel Green, US
• Stephen C. Cayson · Huntsville, US
• Lamar M. Auman · Guntersville, US
• J. C. Dunaway · Cullman, US
• Mark D. Dixon · Huntsville, US
• David A. Gibson · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 25, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 11, 2003
• Expiry date: Apr 19, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B15/01
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The Rotational Canted-Joint Missile (RCJM) Control System utilizes a single or multiple body joints that rotate in planes that are not perpendicular to the missile body axis. The result is the deflection of a portion of the missile body for flight control purposes. The canted interface plane between any two adjacent movable sections of the missile body and a joint at the interface plane that allows one of the sections to be rotated by a pre-determined angle with respect to the other section comprise a rotational plane mechanism that offers an inclined bearing plane with a large mechanical advantage over typical “brute force” ball joint methods.