Abstract:
A release mechanism (108, 109, 111) includes a frame (204, 308, 502, 703) with an interior (503). The release mechanism also includes a prestrained shape memory alloy element (202, 306, 410, 506, 702, 802, 806) coupled to the interior of the frame. The prestrained element creates a seal with the frame. The prestrained element is notched in one or more regions and is configured to fracture in the notched regions when heated to a predetermined temperature allowing the interior to open. The remaining regions of the prestrained element are unfractured.
Abstract:
A thruster includes multiple segments of electrically-operated propellant, electrodes for igniting one or a few of the electrically-operated propellant segments at a time, and a propellant feeder for moving further propellant segments into engagement with the electrodes. The segments may be configured to provide equal increments of thrust, or different amounts of thrust. The segments may each include an electrically-operated propellant material surrounded by a sealing material, so as to keep the propellant material away from moisture and other contaminants (and/or the vacuum of space) before each individual segment is to be used. The thruster may be included in any of a variety of flight vehicles, for example in a small satellite such as a CubeSat satellite, for instance having a volume of about 1 liter, and a mass of no more than about 1.33 kg.
Abstract translation:推进器包括多个电动推进剂段,用于一次点燃一个或几个电动推进剂段的电极,以及推进剂供给器,用于将另外的推进剂段移动到与 电极。 这些段可以被配置成提供相等的推力增量或不同的推力量。 这些区段可以各自包括由密封材料围绕的电操作推进剂材料,以便在每个单独的区段将被使用之前使推进剂材料远离湿气和其他污染物(和/或空间的真空)。 推进器可以包括在各种飞行器中的任何一种中,例如在诸如CubeSat卫星的小卫星中,例如具有大约1升的体积和不大于大约1.33kg的质量。 p >
Abstract:
A heat-activated triggering device, such as for a missile or munition, includes a firing pin that is driven into a primer, to initiate a detonation and/or combustion reaction. The firing pin may be mechanically coupled to a linkage that prevents egress of output from the primer if the firing pin has not been moved. The linkage may include, for example, a cylindrical valve element with a through hole, the through hole being alignable with an output channel from the primer when the firing pin has been moved sufficiently. The movement of the firing pin slides a dowel pin that is attached to the firing pin. This in turn translates a cam element that turns the cylindrical element. Partial movement of the firing pin still may leave the valve closed. Preventing the primer from prematurely operating to trigger explosion, for example preventing full operation due to a primer being heated.
Abstract:
Embodiments of a gimbaled system with an optical coudé path and method for transferring data are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the gimbaled system includes optical coudé path to provide a data communication path with a gimbaled payload, an on-gimbal communication laser to transmit modulated camera data via the coudé path, and an off-gimbal communication detector to detect the camera data received via the coudé path. In some embodiments, the optical coudé path may include at least two mirrors to provide a bi-directional communication path through an azimuth axis and an elevation axis of the gimbaled payload.
Abstract:
An electrically operated propellant includes a perchlorate oxidizer and a water insoluble polymeric binder with a water solubility of less than 0.1 grams (g) per 100 grams water at 25°Celsius (°C). The electrically operated propellant is substantially waterless with a water content of less than 10 weight % (wt.%) water based on total weight of the electrically operated propellant.
Abstract:
A heat-activated triggering device, such as for a missile or munition, includes a bi-metal trigger element, with a breakable pin of a first metal surrounded by a sleeve made of a second metal that is different than the first metal. The sleeve may be made of a shape memory alloy, such as a single-crystal shape memory alloy, that is pre-compresses around part of the pin. The sleeve may be configured to put a tension force on the pin as the sleeve passes a predetermined temperature, for instance a temperature at which the shape memory feature of the sleeve is activated. The pin may have a weakened portion, such as a notched portion, at which the pin breaks. The breaking of the pin may be used to drive a firing pin into a primer, to initiate a detonation and/or combustion reaction.
Abstract:
An air vehicle wing includes foldable ribs (52) coupled to a leading-edge spar (32). The ribs each have multiple rib segments (52a-52d) which are foldable (hinged) relative to each other. Extension linkages (54), each with multiple extension linkage segments, pass through openings in the rib segments, and may be coupled to the rib segments with pin couplings, able to change relative angle between the individual rib segments and the extension linkage segments to which they are coupled. A skin (80) may cover the ribs, to provide an outer surface of the wing that may be unfolded as the wing is expanded from a stowed, small-chord condition, to a deployed, large-chord condition.
Abstract:
A solid rocket motor uses at least one thermally conductive wire or at least one pair of electrically conductive wires to increase a burn surface area of a propellant grain and thus a thrust of the rocket motor. The rocket motor includes a pulse chamber containing a burnable propellant grain, a propellant inhibited center bore bonded to surfaces of the burnable propellant grain, and at least one conductive wire coupled to the burnable propellant grain and arranged in variable regions along the propellant inhibited center bore. The conductive wire is configured for passive or active activation to ignite the propellant inhibited center bore that subsequently burns in the variable regions. The thermally conductive wire is formed of a refractory metal or refractory alloy material that enables the entire length of the wire to be heated simultaneously or nearly simultaneously when the wire is passively activated.
Abstract:
An electrically operated propellant includes an electrolyte source. The electrolyte source is an ionic liquid, a polyelectrolyte, or a combination thereof. The electrically operated propellant also includes a polymeric binder. The electrically operated propellant is substantially waterless with a water content of less than 10 wt.% water based on total weight of the electrically operated propellant.
Abstract:
Electrically operated propellant thrust assist supplements an airplane's takeoff, landing or inflight maneuvers. Unlike conventional SRM propellants, the burn rate of the electrically operated propellant can be varied via an electrical input and even extinguished by interrupting the electrical to control a secondary thrust profile (e.g., amplitude, transition rates) to fulfill the needs of a given takeoff, inflight or landing maneuver and provide a smooth transition in and out of the maneuver. Multiple pairs of fixed thrusters (opposite sides of the fuselage), a single pair of gimbaled thrusters or a hybrid of fixed and gimbaled thrusters may be configured to provide all such maneuvers. Flight control inputs are passed back and forth through an interface to enable the thrust assist.