Patent ID: 8089034

Claim:
A wing pivot mechanism that is configured to pivot two wings about a single pivot axis of a vehicle, said wing pivot mechanism comprising: a hub assembly including a hub defining a hollow interior region and a set of gears positioned at least partially within the interior region of the hub, wherein a longitudinal axis of the hub is substantially coincident with the single pivot axis; two wings that are rotatably connected to the hub assembly, wherein each wing includes a gear surface that engages a gear of the hub assembly such that rotation of the gears of the hub assembly causes rotation of the gears of the wings and pivoting of the wings in opposite rotational directions about the single pivot axis between a stowed position and a deployed position; and a releasable locking mechanism for locking the wings in a fixed rotational position in both the deployed position and the stowed position; wherein each wing defines a cylindrical aperture and a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical apertures are positioned in alignment with the single pivot axis; the hub assembly is positioned within the cylindrical aperture of both wings, and the wings pivot about the hub assembly; and the releasable locking mechanism is positioned on the hub assembly and is configured to releasably engage a recess disposed within one or both of the wings.