Non-circular cross-section missile components, missiles incorporating same, and methods of operation
US9151579B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B15/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A missile component such as a rocket motor case, of an initial transverse cross-sectional shape flexible into another, different cross-section responsive to application of internal pressure from ignition of a propellant grain within the component. A missile launch assembly including at least one missile of a non-circular cross-section disposed within a segment of a partitioned circular launch tube. A multi-stage missile comprising at least a first stage and a second stage having rocket motor cases of non-circular transverse cross-section, the rocket motor case of at least one of the stages being deformable into another, different cross-section. A method of launching a missile including igniting a rocket motor of a missile component having a first cross-section, internally pressurizing the missile component substantially concurrently with motor ignition and flexing the component rocket motor into a second, different cross-sectional shape.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.