Sep 15, 2026

US12736316 - Deployable canard for aerodynamic aiding of ejectable strongback separation

A strongback assembly for coupling with a payload is disclosed. The assembly includes a first side configured to couple with the payload and a second side opposite the first side. First and second canards are disposed at opposite ends of the second side and are configured to generate lift forces in aerodynamic fluid to direct the strongback assembly away from the payload after separation. Each canard is rigidly coupled to an assembly comprising a rotatable cam, a biasing mechanism, and a lock extending between the first and second sides. The locks are configured to rotate between a stowed and deployed configuration. The locks are configured to be held in the stowed configuration by the payload. This enables passive aerodynamic separation of the strongback assembly from the payload, reducing residual drag and interference after release. The assembly can allow a lug-restrained and released object to become a rocket motor-boosted object.

Assignee: Raytheon Company
Inventors: Andrew P. Frits, Jr., Neil J. Swanson, Jr., Lance Markovchick
Filing date: 2025-09-12

The patent describes a deployable strongback assembly designed to facilitate the aerodynamic separation of a payload by utilizing canards that generate lift forces. This assembly includes mechanisms for locking and releasing the canards to ensure efficient separation, reducing drag and interference during the process.

Claim 1

1 . An ejectable strongback assembly comprising: a first side configured to couple with a payload; a first canard disposed at a second side of the strongback assembly opposite the strongback assembly first side; a second canard disposed at the strongback assembly second side, wherein the first canard is disposed at a first end of the strongback assembly second side and the second canard is disposed at a second end of the strongback assembly second side, the first end being opposite the second end, wherein the first canard and the second canard are both configured to generate lift forces in aerodynamic fluid about the strongback assembly to direct the strongback assembly away from the payload; a first assembly rigidly coupled with the first canard, the first assembly having: a cam that is: disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; a biasing mechanism operatively coupled with the first assembly cam; and a lock extending between the strongback assembly first side and the strongback assembly second side; a second assembly rigidly coupled with the second canard, the second assembly having: a cam that is: disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; a biasing mechanism operatively coupled with the second assembly cam; and a lock extending between the strongback assembly first side and the strongback assembly second side, wherein each of the first cam assembly lock and the second cam assembly lock are configured to rotate between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration where the first cam assembly lock and the second cam assembly lock are configured to be held in the stowed configuration by the payload. a first side configured to couple with a payload; a first canard disposed at a second side of the strongback assembly opposite the strongback assembly first side; a second canard disposed at the strongback assembly second side, wherein the first canard is disposed at a first end of the strongback assembly second side and the second canard is disposed at a second end of the strongback assembly second side, the first end being opposite the second end, wherein the first canard and the second canard are both configured to generate lift forces in aerodynamic fluid about the strongback assembly to direct the strongback assembly away from the payload; a first assembly rigidly coupled with the first canard, the first assembly having: a cam that is: disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; a biasing mechanism operatively coupled with the first assembly cam; and a lock extending between the strongback assembly first side and the strongback assembly second side; a cam that is: disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; a biasing mechanism operatively coupled with the first assembly cam; and a lock extending between the strongback assembly first side and the strongback assembly second side; a second assembly rigidly coupled with the second canard, the second assembly having: a cam that is: disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; a biasing mechanism operatively coupled with the second assembly cam; and a lock extending between the strongback assembly first side and the strongback assembly second side, wherein each of the first cam assembly lock and the second cam assembly lock are configured to rotate between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration where the first cam assembly lock and the second cam assembly lock are configured to be held in the stowed configuration by the payload. a cam that is: disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; disposed at the strongback assembly second side; and configured to rotate; a biasing mechanism operatively coupled with the second assembly cam; and a lock extending between the strongback assembly first side and the strongback assembly second side, wherein each of the first cam assembly lock and the second cam assembly lock are configured to rotate between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration where the first cam assembly lock and the second cam assembly lock are configured to be held in the stowed configuration by the payload.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12736316

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12736316