Feb 24, 2026

US12560415 - Integrally formed high-G shock metal isolator in a projectile

A projectile is integrally formed with a high-G shock isolator to isolate a protected device. The isolator includes a pattern of cut-outs formed around a circumference of a metal casing that defines flexures and supports and coupling paths that zigzag therethrough. Symmetry about the longitudinal axis of the projectile defines springs that are colinear with the principal axes of the projectile with a resonant frequency selected to attenuate shock inputs to levels acceptable to the protected device. The isolator is suitably provided with forward and aft stops to ensure isolator survivability. The aft stops are positioned in the cut-outs to prevent the flexures compressing beyond the yield strength of the casing material. The forward stop includes a structure rigidly attached behind the isolator that extends forward to engage a forward-facing surface of the isolator to prevent the flexures from stretching beyond the yield strength of the casing material.

Assignee: Raytheon Company
Inventors: Peter H. Vo, Roger C. Esplin, Robert P. Byrne
Filing date: 2023-11-17

projectileshockisolatormetalcasing

This patent describes a projectile featuring an integrally formed high-G shock isolator designed to protect a device from shock during flight. The isolator incorporates a series of cut-outs and flexures within the metal casing, along with strategically placed stops to prevent excessive compression and stretching of the flexures.

Claim 1

1 . A projectile, comprising: a metal casing including rear, middle and forward sections oriented along a longitudinal axis; a device rigidly attached to the forward section of the metal casing; an isolator integrally formed in the middle section of the metal casing, said isolator comprising a pattern of cut-outs around a circumference of the metal casing that define multiple layers of flexures and supports in and around the circumference of the metal casing and coupling paths through the flexures and supports that zigzag from the rear section to the forward section; a plurality of aft stops positioned in a plurality of the cut-outs, each aft stop providing a first nominal gap between a forward surface of the aft stop and a rearward facing surface of the cut-out to prevent the flexures from compressing beyond a first distance; and a forward stop including a structure rigidly attached to the rear section of the metal casing and extending forward of the isolator to present a rearward facing surface around the metal casing spaced at a second nominal gap to a complementary forward-facing surface on the forward section of the metal casing to prevent the flexures from stretching beyond a second distance. a metal casing including rear, middle and forward sections oriented along a longitudinal axis; a device rigidly attached to the forward section of the metal casing; an isolator integrally formed in the middle section of the metal casing, said isolator comprising a pattern of cut-outs around a circumference of the metal casing that define multiple layers of flexures and supports in and around the circumference of the metal casing and coupling paths through the flexures and supports that zigzag from the rear section to the forward section; a plurality of aft stops positioned in a plurality of the cut-outs, each aft stop providing a first nominal gap between a forward surface of the aft stop and a rearward facing surface of the cut-out to prevent the flexures from compressing beyond a first distance; and a forward stop including a structure rigidly attached to the rear section of the metal casing and extending forward of the isolator to present a rearward facing surface around the metal casing spaced at a second nominal gap to a complementary forward-facing surface on the forward section of the metal casing to prevent the flexures from stretching beyond a second distance.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12560415

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12560415