초록 ▼

A flyer assembly is adapted for launching with, transit in, and deployment from an artillery shell having a central void region extending along a ballistic shell axis. The flyer assembly includes a jettisonable shroud and a flyer. The shroud extends along a shroud axis, and is positionable within th

A flyer assembly is adapted for launching with, transit in, and deployment from an artillery shell having a central void region extending along a ballistic shell axis. The flyer assembly includes a jettisonable shroud and a flyer. The shroud extends along a shroud axis, and is positionable within the central void region with the shroud axis substantially parallel to the shell axis. The flyer is adapted to withstand a launch acceleration force along a flyer axis when in a first state, and to effect aerodynamic flight when in a second state. When in the first state, the flyer is positionable within the shroud with the flyer axis parallel to the shroud axis and the shell axis. The flyer includes a body member disposed about the flyer axis, and a foldable wing assembly mounted to the body member. The wing assembly is configurable in a folded state characterized by a plurality of nested wing segments when the flyer is in the first state. The wing assembly is configurable in an unfolded state characterized by a substantially uninterrupted aerodynamic surface when the flyer is in the second state. The flyer assembly is adapted to be launched from a ballistic delivery system such as an artillery cannon, and can thus reach a target quickly, without expending system energy stored within the flyer. During launch, the flyer is coupled to the shroud so as to maintain a portion of the flyer in tension during an acceleration of the flyer along the flyer axis resulting from the launch. The flyer assembly is adapted to withstand the high g-load and high temperature environments of a cannon launch, and can tolerate a set-back g load of about 16,000 g.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flyer assembly adapted for launching with, transit in, and deployment from an artillery shell having a central void region extending along a ballistic shell axis, comprising:A) a jettisonable shroud extending along a shroud axis and positionable within said central void region with said shroud

1. A flyer assembly adapted for launching with, transit in, and deployment from an artillery shell having a central void region extending along a ballistic shell axis, comprising:A) a jettisonable shroud extending along a shroud axis and positionable within said central void region with said shroud axis substantially parallel to said shell axis; B) a flyer adapted when in a first state to withstand a launch acceleration force along a flyer axis and adapted when in a second state to effect aerodynamic flight, the flyer in said first state being positionable within said shroud with said flyer axis parallel to said shroud axis and said shell axis, the flyer including: a) a body member disposed about said flyer axis; and b) a foldable wing assembly mounted to the body member, the wing assembly being configurable in a folded state characterized by a plurality of nested wing segments when the flyer is in said first state; the wing assembly being configurable in an unfolded state characterized by a substantially uninterrupted aerodynamic surface when the flyer is in said second state; wherein the flyer is adapted for coupling to the shroud so as to maintain a portion of the flyer in tension during an acceleration of the flyer along the flyer axis resulting from the launch.