초록 ▼

A locking device with a solenoid release actuator includes a housing, a plunger axially slidable within the housing, a biasing member for biasing the plunger in a first direction, one or more locking balls, and the locking balls disposed in an aperture in the housing, the plunger having a portion th

A locking device with a solenoid release actuator includes a housing, a plunger axially slidable within the housing, a biasing member for biasing the plunger in a first direction, one or more locking balls, and the locking balls disposed in an aperture in the housing, the plunger having a portion thereof containing at least one recess for receiving the balls, a member to be locked being held in a first locked position with the plunger in a first locking position and the balls in a radially outward position, the plunger being positioned axially such that the recesses therein are not in alignment with the apertures, and a solenoid coil disposed in the housing around the plunger, for inducing a magnetic force to move the plunger against the biasing member such that the recesses align with the apertures and the balls are movable radially inward into the recesses thereby releasing the locked member. In another embodiment, a bomb, missile or torpedo having a head and tail and fins proximate the tail biased into a retracted position, incorporates such a locking device for maintaining the fins in the retracted position, and for releasing the fins upon solenoid actuation. The locking device may be tested and reset, as desired.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bomb, missile or torpedo comprising:a) a bomb housing having a head and tail;b) fins proximate the tail;c) a member disposed in a first position to hold the fins in a retracted position, and moveable to a second position where the fins are released and thereby deployed;d) a locking device which

1. A bomb, missile or torpedo comprising:a) a bomb housing having a head and tail;b) fins proximate the tail;c) a member disposed in a first position to hold the fins in a retracted position, and moveable to a second position where the fins are released and thereby deployed;d) a locking device which maintains the member in the first position, and resettably releases the member in response to actuation, the locking device including:e) a locking device housing;f) a plunger axially slidable within the locking device housing, at least a first portion of the plunger being made of a magnetically responsive material;g) a biasing member which urges the plunger in a first direction;h) one or more primary locking balls;i) a solenoid coil disposed around at least the magnetically responsive portion of the plunger; andj) each primary locking ball being disposed in an aperture in the locking device housing, the plunger having a second portion thereof containing at least one recess which receives each primary locking ball, the member to be locked being held in the first position with the plunger in a first locking position and each primary locking ball in a radially outward position out of alignment with the recess, wherein in response to actuation of the solenoid, the plunger moves against the biasing member to align the recess with each primary locking ball, so that each primary locking ball moves into the recess in the plunger thereby releasing the locked member, and deploying the fins.2. The bombs, missile or torpedo of claim 1, wherein the biasing member exerts no more than about one pound on the plunger.3. The bomb, missile or torpedo of claim 1, further comprising a biasing device for biasing the locked member to move from a first position in which it is held by each primary locking ball, to a second position when released by each primary locking ball, so as to deploy the fins, and wherein the primary locking balls are adapted for holding the locked member against a force of at least about 150 pounds.4. The bomb, missile or torpedo of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the plunger is generally cylindrical and the second portion is generally cylindrical and in which the at least one recess is formed, the second portion having a smaller diameter than the first portion.5. The bomb, missile or torpedo of claim 1, wherein the locked member has a recess formed therein, and at least a portion of the locking device housing and plunger, and each primary locking ball, are disposed in the recess of the locked member.6. The bomb, missile or torpedo of claim 1, wherein the recess in the plunger has beveled portions and each aperture in the locking device housing is beveled.7. The bomb, missile or torpedo of claim 1 wherein the plunger comprises a release element to manually actuate the plunger within the locking device housing and move the locking ball into the recess in the plunger to release the locked member.8. The bomb, missile or torpedo of claim 1 wherein the bomb, missile or torpedo comprises an activation circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid coil, the activation circuit providing power to the solenoid coil to actuate the plunger within the locking device housing.9. The bomb, missile or torpedo of claim 8 wherein the activation circuit comprises a power source and a switch electrically coupled to the solenoid coil, the power source and the switch transmitting power to the solenoid coil to actuate the plunger within the locking device housing.10. An airborne device comprising:a) a housing;b) a first member disposed in a retracted position and movable to a deployed position for use;c) a second member in a locked position holding the first member in the retracted position, and movable to a release position for deploying the first member;d) a locking device which maintains the second member in the locked position, and which resettably releases the second member in response to actuation, the locking device including:e) a locking device housing;f) a plunger axially slidable within the locking device housing at least a first portion of the plunger being made of a magnetically responsive material;g) a biasing member which urges the plunger in a first direction;h) one or more primary locking balls;i) a solenoid coil disposed around the magnetically responsive portion of the plunger;j) each primary locking ball being disposed in an aperture in the locking device housing, the plunger having a second portion thereof containing at least one recess which receives each primary locking ball, the member to be locked being held in the first position with the plunger in a first locking position and each primary locking ball in a radially outward position out of alignment with the recess, wherein in response to actuation of the solenoid, the plunger moves against the biasing member to align the recess with each primary locking ball, so that each primary locking ball moves into the recess in the plunger thereby releasing the locked member, and moving the second member to the release position thereby deploying the first member.11. The airborne device of claim 10, wherein the biasing member exerts no more than about one pound on the plunger.12. The airborne device of claim 10, further comprising a biasing device for biasing the second member into the release position, wherein the biasing device exerts at least about 150 pounds on the second member.13. The airborne device of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the plunger is generally cylindrical and the second portion is generally cylindrical and in which the at least one recess is formed, the second portion having a smaller diameter than the first portion.14. The airborne device of claim 10, wherein the recess in the plunger has beveled portions and each aperture in the locking device housing is beveled.15. The airborne device of claim 10, further comprising one or more secondary locking balls, each secondary locking ball being disposed in a further recess in the locking device housing, in a position for holding the locked member in place after each primary locking ball has moved into the recess in the plunger, and wherein the locked member is further released when each secondary locking ball moves into at least one further recess in the plunger, so that the second member can move to the release position, thereby deploying the first member.16. The airborne device of claim 11, further comprising a biasing device for biasing the second member into the release position, wherein the biasing device exerts at least about 150 pounds on the second member.17. The locking device of claim 1 wherein the plunger comprises a release element configured to allow manual actuation of the plunger within the housing.18. The locking device of claim 1 wherein:the solenoid coil comprises a first solenoid coil and a second solenoid coil;the one or more locking balls comprises a first set of locking balls and a second set of locking balls, the first set of locking balls disposed in a first aperture in the housing and the second set of locking balls disposed in a second aperture in the housing; andthe second portion of the plunger defining a first recess to receive the first set of locking balls and a second recess to receive the second set of locking balls, the first solenoid coil actuating the plunger to align the first recess with the first set of balls and allow the first set of balls to move into the first recess in the plunger and the second solenoid coil actuating the plunger, subsequent to actuation by the first solenoid coil, to align the second recess with the second set of balls and allow the second set balls to move into the second recess in the plunger to release the locked member.19. The airborne device of claim 10 wherein the plunger comprises a release element to manually actuate the plunger within the locking device housing and move the locking ball into the recess in the plunger to release the locked member.20. The airborne device of claim 10 wherein the airborne device comprises an activation circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid coil, the activation circuit providing power to the solenoid coil to actuate the plunger within the locking device housing.21. The airborne device of claim 20 wherein the activation circuit comprises a power source and a switch electrically coupled to the solenoid coil, the power source and the switch transmitting power to the solenoid coil to actuate the plunger within the locking device housing.