Robert William Coburn

US Patent:

52808890, Jan 25, 1994

Filed:

Apr 8, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/681821

Inventors:

David L. Amil - Grand Prairie TX
William D. Bracken - Rockwall TX
Robert W. Coburn - Plano TX
Richard L. Knipe - McKinney TX
Gregory G. Mooty - Dallas TX
David D. Ratcliff - Richardson TX
Daniel W. Stanley - Desoto TX
Kenneth L. Taylor - Rowlett TX
Steven S. Stresau - Palm Bay, FL

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

F16F 122
F16F 134
F16F 144

US Classification:

267160

Abstract:

"A vehicle and the ballistic shock isolator therefor including a turret, a sensor assembly and a shock isolator isolating the turret from the sensor switch and including upper and lower annular members, a plurality of leaves secured at opposing ends thereof to the annular members, each of the leaves having a corrugated bellows shaped portion in the form of an even number of similarly shaped portions, alternate ones of the similarly shaped portions having an open end in opposing directions, each of the leaves varying in thickness and width in a direction from the upper annular member to the lower annular member. The variation in width of the portion is alternately from wide to narrow and then from narrow to wide in a direction from the upper annular member to the lower annular member. Each of the leaves is composed of a metal having a yield strength which will not be exceeded by the maximum contemplated shock conditions and at least 150 KSI, the metal returning to its original shape after being subjected to shock. The metal is preferably 4000 series stainless steel.

US Patent:

50204360, Jun 4, 1991

Filed:

Jul 24, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/383484

Inventors:

Robert W. Coburn - Apple Valley CA

Assignee:

General Dynamics Corp., Air Defense Systems Div. - Pomona CA

International Classification:

F42B 1510

US Classification:

102377

Abstract:

A booster retarding apparatus for an airborne vehicle such as a missile having a separable booster at its rear end, comprises a series of flaps with hinge assemblies for securing the flaps to the aft end of the booster for movement between an inner position extending rearwardly from the booster and an extended position projecting outwardly from the booster. The flaps are biased towards the extended position, and normally retained in the inner position by retaining devices. The retaining devices are released on booster thrust termination, and include a release mechanism responsive to booster thrust termination for releasing the retaining devices. The release mechanism includes a biasing device having a biasing force less than the acceleration forces developed on launch which oppose operation of the release mechanism so that the flaps are held in during booster thrust and are released and urged outwardly on booster thrust termination to brake the booster and separate it from the remainder of the missile.