Two-axis trajectory control system

Abstract

A trajectory control system includes a first control mechanism having a pair of outputs operably associated with a first pair of control surfaces, the first control mechanism operable to articulate the first pair of control surfaces in unison and a second control mechanism having a pair of outputs operably associated with a second pair of control surfaces, the second control mechanism operable to articulate the second pair of control surfaces in unison. The second control mechanism is nested in the first control mechanism such that the pair of outputs of the first control mechanism is substantially coplanar with the pair of outputs of the second control mechanism.

1 . A two-axis trajectory control system, comprising:
 a first control mechanism having a pair of outputs operably associated with a first pair of control surfaces, the first control mechanism operable to articulate the first pair of control surfaces in unison; and   a second control mechanism having a pair of outputs operably associated with a second pair of control surfaces, the second control mechanism operable to articulate the second pair of control surfaces in unison;   wherein the second control mechanism is nested in the first control mechanism such that the pair of outputs of the first control mechanism is substantially coplanar with the pair of outputs of the second control mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing comprising a first portion in which the first control mechanism is disposed and a second portion, mated with the first portion, in which the second control mechanism is disposed; and   means for retaining the first portion to the second portion;   wherein the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism are each supported by the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing.   
   
   
       3 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a position sensor operably associated with one of the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism.   
   
   
       4 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 1 , wherein the first control mechanism has a construction substantially equivalent to the second control mechanism. 
   
   
       5 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 1 , operably associated with one of an airborne and a waterborne vehicle. 
   
   
       6 . A two-axis trajectory control system, comprising:
 a first control mechanism having outputs coupled with a first pair of control surfaces, the first control mechanism operable to articulate the first pair of control surfaces in unison; and   a second control mechanism having outputs coupled with a second pair of control surfaces, the second control mechanism operable to articulate the second pair of control surfaces in unison;   wherein the first control mechanism comprises:
 a motor; 
 an axle coupled with the first pair of control surfaces; and 
 a worm shaft operably associated with the motor and the axle, such that the axle rotates when the motor is activated; and 
   wherein the outputs of the first control mechanism are substantially coplanar with the outputs of the second control mechanism.   
   
   
       7 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 6 , wherein the first control mechanism further comprises:
 a motor gear fixedly attached to the motor;   a worm drive gear fixedly attached to the worm shaft and engaged with the motor gear, such that the worm shaft rotates when the motor is actuated.   
   
   
       8 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 6 :
 wherein the axle includes a clevis; and   wherein the first control mechanism further comprises:
 an axle drive nut engaged with the worm shaft and rotatably attached to the clevis of the axle. 
   
   
   
       9 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 8 , wherein the axle drive nut rotates with respect to the axle about a first axis and the axle rotates about a second axis, which is substantially parallel to the first axis, when the motor is actuated. 
   
   
       10 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a housing having a first portion in which the first control mechanism is disposed and a second portion in which the second control mechanism is disposed;   wherein the first control mechanism is disposed in the first portion of the housing and the worm shaft is supported by both the first portion and the second portion of the housing.   
   
   
       11 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 10 , wherein the second control mechanism is disposed in the second portion of the housing and is supported by both the first portion and the second portion of the housing. 
   
   
       12 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 6 , wherein the second control mechanism includes an axle and the axle of the first control mechanism includes a bend configured to receive the axle of the second control mechanism. 
   
   
       13 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 12 , wherein the axle of the second control mechanism includes a bend, such that the axle of the first control mechanism is nested with respect to the axle of the second control mechanism at the bends of the axles. 
   
   
       14 . A two-axis trajectory control system, comprising:
 a first control assembly operably associated with a first pair of control surfaces for articulating the first pair of control surfaces in unison; and   a second control assembly operably associated with a second pair of control surfaces for articulating the second pair of control surfaces in unison, the second control assembly comprising:
 a housing portion; 
 an end cap attached to the housing portion; 
 a motor rotatably supported by the housing portion and the end cap, the motor having an output shaft; 
 a motor gear fixedly attached to the output shaft of the motor; 
 a worm drive gear engaged with the motor gear; 
 a worm shaft rotatably supported by the housing portion and engaged with the worm drive gear; 
 a worm shaft end stop fixedly attached to the worm shaft and rotatably supported by the first control assembly; 
 an axle drive nut engaged with the worm shaft; and 
 an axle coupled with the axle drive nut and the second pair of control surfaces. 
   
   
   
       15 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 14 , wherein the first control assembly comprises:
 a housing portion, such that the worm shaft end stop is rotatably supported by the housing portion of the first control assembly.   
   
   
       16 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 14 , wherein the construction of the first control assembly corresponds to the construction of the second control assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 16 , wherein a worm shaft end stop of the first control assembly is rotatably supported by the second control assembly. 
   
   
       18 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 14 , wherein the first control assembly comprises:
 an axle operably associated with the first pair of control surfaces;   wherein the axle of the second control assembly includes a bend for receiving the axle of the first control assembly.   
   
   
       19 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 18 , wherein the axle of the first control assembly includes a bend for receiving the axle of the second control assembly. 
   
   
       20 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 14 , wherein the axle drive nut rotates with respect to the axle about an axis that is substantially parallel with an axis of rotation of the axle when the motor is activated. 
   
   
       21 . The two-axis trajectory control system, according to  claim 14 , further comprising means for retaining the first control assembly to the second control assembly.