Patent ID: 6492632
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
A tube launched stabilized projectile for launching a payload and having fore and aft portions along a longitudinal axis, said projectile having a mechanism to lengthen the projectile's flight configuration over that of its pre-launch configuration, a combustible propellant within the tube for launching said projectile from the launch tube by high pressure of combustion gases, said projectile comprising:a body containing a payload at the fore end of said projectile, said body defining the longitudinal axis; a boom having fore and aft ends and extending aft from said body along the longitudinal axis and having an internal cavity at its aft end; a hollow shaft surrounding a portion of said boom and having fore and aft ends, a peripheral wall extending longitudinally and an aft end wall; launch locking means for positively locking said hollow shaft with said boom so as to prevent relative motion between said hollow shaft and said boom during an initial portion of the launch of the projectile corresponding to at least part of the transit of said projectile in the tube; release means for positionally releasing engagement of said hollow shaft with said boom so as to allow relative motion between said hollow shaft and said boom after exiting the tube and during flight of the projectile; said launch locking means comprising force application means for applying a locking force to at least one of said walls during said initial portion of the launch to urge said one wall in a direction toward said boom; flight locking means at the aft end of said boom for locking said hollow shaft in the flight configuration with the fore end of said hollow shaft more proximate the aft end of the boom; and means for changing the projectile from pre-launch to flight configuration when said projectile is propelled out of the tube.