Importance

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Abstract

A hold-down and release apparatus for a flight termination system having a terminal portion for holding-down and releasing a structural object which has an arrangement for attaching to the flight termination system. The hold-down and release apparatus includes several movable clamping segments provided on the terminal portion of the flight termination system that are engageable in a complimentary fashion with the attachment arrangement on the structural object for releasably attaching the structural object to the flight termination system. The hold-down and release apparatus also includes springs for biasing the movable clamping segments means in a disengaging direction that causes the clamping segments to disengage from the attachment arrangement on the structural object to release the structural object from the flight termination system. The hold-down and release apparatus further includes a release band attached to the movable clamping segments for preventing the disengaging movement of the movable clamping segments such that they remain engaged to the attachment arrangement of the structural object for releasably attaching the structural object to the flight termination system. The release band is held in position by two non-explosive actuators (NEAs), such that either one or both actuators may initiate the release and loosen the release band which allows the movable clamping segments to move under the urge of the biasing, springs to disengage the complimentary attachment arrangement from the attachment arrangement of the structural object, to release the structural object from the flight termination system.

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First Claim