US 12,241,727 B2
Mechanism for securing then deploying a rotationally coupled rigid member to and from a frame via retention then release of tension in a curved member
Carl J. Wham, Vail, AZ (US); and Adora Estelle-Miriam Jackson, Oro Valley, AZ (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/081,287.
Prior Publication US 2024/0200916 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. F42B 10/50 (2006.01); F42B 10/14 (2006.01)
CPC F42B 10/50 (2013.01) [F42B 10/14 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mechanism for securing and deploying a rigid member to and from a frame, said rigid member configured to rotate about a pivot point on the frame, wherein the frame is an airframe and the rigid member is a cover or aerodynamic surface, said mechanism comprising:
a reaction guiding element;
a curved member having a first end pinned to the rigid member and spaced apart from the pivot point and a second end on or in the reaction guiding element, said curved member having a non-zero curvature in a free state; and
a latch mechanism, said latch mechanism configured to (a) initially secure the second end of the curved member on or in the reaction guiding element and to the frame at a position offset from the pivot point to put the curved member under tension thereby straightening the curved member to produce a first moment in a rotational direction that preloads the rigid member against the frame and to (b) release the second end of the curved member to allow the second end to move with or within the reaction guiding element, along a constrained path, to release tension in the curved member and allow the return of the curved member towards its non-zero curvature in the free state, such that the curved member reacts with the frame at a position offset from the pivot point, where the curved member contacts the frame and reacts with the rigid member and a surface of the reaction guiding element at the first and second ends of the curved member, respectively, to produce a second moment in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to rotate the rigid member about the pivot point away from the frame.