Mar 10, 2026

US12571618 - Launch initiated low-drag seeker window cover

A guided vehicle that includes a body, a propulsion system operably engaged inside of the body, a housing operably engaged with the body and encasing a guidance device inside of the housing, a viewing window of the guidance device, and a cover moveably engaged with the housing, wherein the cover is moveable between a pre-flight configuration and a flight configuration. In the pre-flight configuration, the cover covers the viewing window. In the flight configuration, the cover is configured to expose the viewing window in the flight configuration in response to an impulse of acceleration generated by a launch of the guided vehicle.

Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
Inventors: Jacob W. Miska
Filing date: 2023-10-31

guided vehiclepropulsionmilitarywave absorbingcomposition

The patent describes a guided vehicle featuring a propulsion system and a housing that encases a guidance device, which includes a moveable cover that transitions between pre-flight and flight configurations. In the flight configuration, the cover automatically exposes the guidance device’s viewing window in response to acceleration generated during launch.

Claim 1

1 . A guided vehicle, comprising: a body; a propulsion system operably engaged inside of the body; a housing operably engaged with the body and encasing a guidance device inside of the housing; a viewing window of the guidance device; and a cover moveably engaged with the housing, wherein the cover is moveable between a pre-flight configuration and a flight configuration, wherein the cover covers the viewing window in the pre-flight configuration; wherein the cover is configured to expose the viewing window in the flight configuration in response to an impulse of acceleration generated by a launch of the guided vehicle; wherein the cover comprises: a sleeve slidably engaged with the housing; and a set of first flaps moveably engaged with the sleeve; a set of pivot pins, wherein each pivot pin pivotably engages one flap from the set of first flaps with the sleeve; and wherein each flap of the set of first flaps is configured to individually pivot about the corresponding pivot pin. a body; a propulsion system operably engaged inside of the body; a housing operably engaged with the body and encasing a guidance device inside of the housing; a viewing window of the guidance device; and a cover moveably engaged with the housing, wherein the cover is moveable between a pre-flight configuration and a flight configuration, wherein the cover covers the viewing window in the pre-flight configuration; wherein the cover is configured to expose the viewing window in the flight configuration in response to an impulse of acceleration generated by a launch of the guided vehicle; wherein the cover comprises: a sleeve slidably engaged with the housing; and a set of first flaps moveably engaged with the sleeve; a set of pivot pins, wherein each pivot pin pivotably engages one flap from the set of first flaps with the sleeve; and wherein each flap of the set of first flaps is configured to individually pivot about the corresponding pivot pin. a sleeve slidably engaged with the housing; and a set of first flaps moveably engaged with the sleeve; a set of pivot pins, wherein each pivot pin pivotably engages one flap from the set of first flaps with the sleeve; and wherein each flap of the set of first flaps is configured to individually pivot about the corresponding pivot pin.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12571618

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12571618