A method and apparatus for operating a nose cone. In one illustrative example, an apparatus comprises a plurality of segments and a movement system associated with the plurality of segments. The plurality of segments forms the nose cone. Each of the plurality of segments comprises a segment outer su
A method and apparatus for operating a nose cone. In one illustrative example, an apparatus comprises a plurality of segments and a movement system associated with the plurality of segments. The plurality of segments forms the nose cone. Each of the plurality of segments comprises a segment outer surface that forms a portion of an outer surface of the nose cone. The movement system is used to move at least one of the plurality of segments to move the nose cone between a retracted state and an expanded state.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of segments that form a nose cone, such that each segment in the plurality of segments comprises: a segment outer surface that forms a portion of an outer surface of the nose cone, a concentric shape about a central axis of the nose cone, and a configuration t
1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of segments that form a nose cone, such that each segment in the plurality of segments comprises: a segment outer surface that forms a portion of an outer surface of the nose cone, a concentric shape about a central axis of the nose cone, and a configuration that nests, concentrically about the central axis, within a base portion of the nose cone when the each segment is in a retracted state; anda movement system located within the nose cone and comprising a plurality of actuators, each actuator in the plurality of actuators being housed in a structure centered along the central axis and connected to a unique segment in the plurality of segments, such that in operation at least one of the plurality of actuators moves at least one of the plurality of segments such that the nose cone moves between the retracted state and an expanded state. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: one or more locking mechanisms used to lock the plurality of segments in place when the nose cone is in at least one of the expanded state or the retracted state. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments is concentrically aligned with an axis within selected tolerances. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the nose cone being stowed within each the plurality of segments when the nose cone is in the retracted state, andthe actuator, for each segment in the plurality of segments, being configured to move the each segment at a desired rate for the each segment, respectively, such that in operation the actuator moves the each segment at the desired rate for the each segment, respectively. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments comprises: a fixed segment that forms a stowage area; andmoveable segments in which each of the moveable segments is moveable relative to the fixed segment. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the movement system is used to move the moveable segments into the stowage area of the fixed segment to move the nose cone into the retracted state and to move the moveable segments out of the stowage area of the fixed segment to move the nose cone into the expanded state. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement system comprises: a plurality of segment movement systems, wherein each of the segment movement systems comprises a hydraulic actuator that moves a corresponding segment in the plurality of segments. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the segment movement system in the plurality of segment movement systems further comprises a plurality of tracks, or wheels, or a combination thereof. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the nose cone is a continuous and uninterrupted surface when the nose cone is in the expanded state. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments comprises: a first segment;a second segment;a third segment; anda fourth segment that forms a tip portion of the nose cone, wherein the second segment is nested within the first segment, the third segment nested within the second segment, and the fourth segment is nested within the third segment when the nose cone is in the retracted state. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nose cone is part of a first platform that is attached to a second platform when the nose cone is in the retracted state. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first platform is a first stage of an aerospace vehicle and the second platform is a second stage of the aerospace vehicle in which the nose cone is attached to the second stage of the aerospace vehicle, when the nose cone is in the retracted state. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the aerospace vehicle is a multi-stage hypersonic vehicle. 14. A nose cone comprising: a fixed segment that forms a stowage area that comprises a central axis;one or more moveable segments, each of the moveable segments configured to be concentric around the central axis and moveable relative to the fixed segment, such that in operation, each of the moveable segments moves relative to the fixed segment, and nests, concentrically about the central axis, within a base portion of the nose cone when the each of the movable segments is in a retracted state; anda movement system located within the nose cone and comprising a plurality of actuators, each actuator in the plurality of actuators being housed in a structure centered along the central axis and connected to a unique segment in the moveable segments, such that in operation at least one of the plurality of actuators moves at least one of the moveable segments, such that the nose cone moves between the retracted state and an expanded state. 15. The nose cone of claim 14 further comprising: locking mechanisms used to lock the moveable segments in place when the nose cone is in at least one of the expanded state or the retracted state. 16. A method for operating a nose cone, the method comprising: selecting one of a retracted state and an expanded state as a desired state for the nose cone, such that the nose cone comprises a plurality of segments, such that each segment in the plurality of segments comprises: a segment outer surface that forms a portion of an outer surface of the nose cone, a concentric shape about a central axis of the nose cone, and a configuration that nests, concentrically about the central axis, within a base portion of the nose cone when the each segment is in the retracted state; andmoving at least one of the plurality of segments to move the nose cone, into the desired state using a movement system located within the nose cone and comprising a plurality of actuators, each actuator in the plurality of actuators being housed in a structure centered along the central axis and connected to a unique segment in the plurality of segments; such that in operation at least one of the plurality of actuators moves at least one of the plurality of segments such that the nose cone moves between the retracted state and the expanded state. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the one of the retracted state and the expanded state as the desired state for the nose cone comprises: selecting the expanded state as the desired state for the nose cone. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising: locking the nose cone in the expanded state using locking mechanisms after the nose cone has been moved into the expanded state. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting the one of the retracted state and the expanded state as the desired state for the nose cone comprises: selecting the retracted state as the desired state for the nose cone. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein moving the at least one of the plurality of segments to move the nose cone into the desired state using the movement system associated with the plurality of segments comprises: moving the at least one of the plurality of segments to move the nose cone into the retracted state while the nose cone is being moved into a cavity for stowing, via the actuator, for the at least one of the plurality of segments, moving the at least one of the plurality of segments along a track at a desired rate for the at least one of the plurality of segments, and the actuator moving the nose cone at a desired rate for the nose cone.
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