Accession Number:

ADD014861

Title:

Vehicle Steering Device.

Descriptive Note:

Patent Application, Filed 3 Aug 90,

Corporate Author:

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Travor, Bruce W.
• Holler, Roger A.

Report Date:

1990-08-03

Pagination or Media Count:

12.0

Abstract:

This patent application discloses a vehicle steering device that can be joined to any air-dropped, free-falling component and steers that component directly down to a pre-determined location on the earths surface. The device is comprised of an aerodynamically-shaped housing that is joined to the front of the component, and which carries orientation means in a nose portion, high-density gravity-reaction means, and steering fins rotatably joined thereto. After the combination is dropped, at a pre-determined altitude and airspeed, the orientation means causes it to assume the most efficient aerodynamic position and then the gravity-reaction means forces the nose, which is joined to and leads the component, to dive into the earth. The reaction means are connected to the fins and force a controlled and predictable descent.

Descriptors:

• AERODYNAMICS
• AIRSPEED
• ALTITUDE
• CONTROL
• DESCENT
• EARTH SURFACE
• EFFICIENCY
• FINS
• NOSES
• PATENT APPLICATIONS
• POSITION(LOCATION)
• PREDICTIONS
• STEERING
• VEHICLES

Subject Categories:

• Military Aircraft Operations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE