Device to puncture wing environmental seals and reduce deployment force

Abstract

A puncturing feature is provided on the deployable wings of a precision guidance kit of a rocket to facilitate breaking through the wing slot seal that protecting the wings prior to deployment. The puncturing feature may be a sharp region on the leading edge near the wing tip that first contacts the wing slot seal. The puncturing feature may be a sharp edge extended along the leading edge of the wing to provide a cutting action as the wing passes through the wing slot seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerial projectile, comprising:
 a fuselage;   at least one wing slot formed in the fuselage;   a wing slot seal covering each of the at least one wing slot; and   a guidance wing being in a stowed position within each of the at least one wing slot prior to deployment of the wing, the guidance wing having a puncturing feature formed on a leading edge of the wing, the puncturing feature being configured to break through the wing slot seal during deployment of the wing from the stowed position.   
     
     
         2 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing feature is formed proximate a tip of the wing. 
     
     
         3 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing feature is a sharp point. 
     
     
         4 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing feature is a sharp edge. 
     
     
         5 . The aerial projectile of  claim 4 , wherein the sharp edge has serrations. 
     
     
         6 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing feature is a machined feature of the wing. 
     
     
         7 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing feature is a separate part that is attached to the wing. 
     
     
         8 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing feature is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel and tungsten carbide. 
     
     
         9 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the puncturing feature is comprised of a material having fine grain properties. 
     
     
         10 . The aerial projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the wing slot seal includes a burst seam. 
     
     
         11 . A precision guidance kit, comprising:
 a section of a fuselage having connectors on either end that are configured to couple to a projectile;   at least one wing slot formed in the section;   a wing slot seal covering each of the at least one wing slot; and   a guidance wing being in a stowed position within each of the at least one wing slot prior to deployment of the wing, the guidance wing having a puncturing feature formed on a leading edge of the wing, the puncturing feature being configured to break through the wing slot seal during deployment of the wing from the stowed position.   
     
     
         12 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 11 , wherein the puncturing feature is formed on a tip of the wing. 
     
     
         13 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 11 , wherein the puncturing feature is a sharp point. 
     
     
         14 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 11 , wherein the puncturing feature is a sharp edge. 
     
     
         15 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 14 , wherein the sharp edge has serrations. 
     
     
         16 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 11 , wherein the puncturing feature is a machined feature of the wing. 
     
     
         17 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 11 , wherein the puncturing feature is a separate part that is attached to the wing. 
     
     
         18 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 11 , wherein the connectors are configured to couple to the projectile. 
     
     
         19 . The precision guidance kit of  claim 11 , wherein the wing slot seal includes a burst seam.