FR2612646A1 - VERIFICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A WEAPON INTERFACE SYSTEM ON AN AIRCRAFT - Google Patents

Abstract

THE VERIFICATION UNIT 83 IS DESIGNED FOR INTERFACING WITH A STANDARD AVIONICS BOX FOR ARMYJECTOR SYSTEM, WHICH COMMUNICATES WITH THE COMPUTER OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ANOTHER VEHICLE VIA A DATA BUS CORRESPONDING TO A STANDARD MILITARY. THE VERIFICATION UNIT INCLUDES AN OPERATOR INTERFACE BOARD 84 WITH CONTROL BUTTONS 86, 88, 90 AND INDICATORS 92, 94 AND A CONTROL ADAPTER CABLE 98 TO BE CONNECTED TO AN INTERFACE UNIT 22 AND A POWER SUPPLY 46. THE CONTROL UNIT IS POWERED BY A PARK UNIT 102. THE VERIFICATION UNIT ALLOWS EASY USE ON ADVANCED MILITARY BASES AND UNDER EXTREME TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Description

So far, most of today's weapon systems

  include equipment made up of boxes containing aerosol material

  electronics or avionics boxes and cables, which constitute the interface between a weapon or a projectile and an ejector on the one hand and the shooting computer and the power supply system of the aircraft or another aircraft on the other hand. Avionics boxes and their cables are often mounted on a mount or other

  weapon supports, such as a beam mounted under the wing or a provision

  bomb launch and support device, which is stored separately from the aircraft. Before loading the mount or other weapon supports on the aircraft, the operation of the assembly is usually checked. To control such a system, it has always been necessary to use separate control or verification equipment. Conventional equipment of this type is bulky equipment requiring a computer to control it. However, the computers of these devices often have Limits of use imposed by the environment, in the sense that they can only operate in a building or enclosure

  o the temperature is set. These limitations imposed by the environment-

  mean that the control equipment cannot be easily installed or cannot be used in databases

  operational systems o equipment and materials for assistance

tance are minimal.

  Previous attempts to build a device-

  Lage of control focused in particular on devices movable in a container isolated from the environment. These type of devices take their operating environment with them, because an oven or an air conditioner avoiding extreme temperatures are housed in a transportable enclosure which prevents dust, wind, rain and so on from coming. in contact with the equipment. Other control equipment is not mobile and is installed in a building, which makes it necessary to bring the mountings or other weapons supports to the fixed control equipment. Although the equipment described above is suitable for controlling weapon systems, it has the defect of not being able to

  be easily implemented on advanced military bases.

  U.S. patents 3 609 312, 3 619 792, 3 710 350, 3 803 974, 3 889 109, 3 920 973, 4 155 116, 4 246 472, 4 370 706 and 4 494 438 describe different types of computer-controlled systems for launched weapons from an aircraft and for control units of airplanes or other aircraft, as well as systems

  self-diagnosis control used on household appliances.

  None of these control systems have the unique features and benefits of the system tester

weapon interface described here.

  The verification device according to the invention eliminates the need for complex assistance equipment and makes it possible to carry out the checks, inside or outside, over a wide range.

  of temperatures. In addition, the verification apparatus according to the invention

  tion can be easily implemented on military bases

advanced.

  The device uses the unique features of a

  weapon system avionics box, which communicates with the computer-

  guardian of a vehicle for transporting or controlling a weapon via a

  data bus according to the US military standard MIL STD 1553.

  The apparatus according to the invention comprises an inter-

  face for the operator-checker, with a display device including a lamp control device, a self-control device and a control trigger device, as well as "good" and "defective" indicator lights , which are connected to a weapon system interface unit. The tester is used with a park power supply group and a control cable designed to be connected to the unit

  switching power supply of the weapon / ejector.

  The advantages and the aims of the invention will emerge

  more clearly from the detailed description which follows, as well

  as annexed drawings, showing preferred but in no way limitative embodiments of the invention and in which: - Figure I shows the configuration of a weapon system of the prior art; - Figure 2 shows a control apparatus of the prior art, connected to a weapon mount;

2 6 126 4 46

  - Figure 3 is a simplified representation of a weapon system interface unit and a power switching unit; and FIG. 4 represents a verification device according to the invention for a weapon interface system on an airplane,

  device which is connected to the interface unit and the power unit

  mentation. Figure 1 shows a weapon system avionics box, according to the American military standard MIL-STD-1760, for communication with an airplane or any other transport vehicle or

  control of one or more weapons. The aircraft is designated globa-

  Lement by the reference 10. In Figure 1, the aircraft 10 is equipped with a firing or pointing / command computer 12, connected to a data bus according to the aforementioned standard 1553 and comprising lines

  14 and 16 terminating on data bus connectors 18 and 20.

  The connectors are in turn connected to an interface unit

  weapon system 22. The airplane 10 also includes a source of

  electrical information for a weapon mount, designated by the reference 23

  and supplying electrical energy to a distribution box 24

  tion of current for a weapon mount, via a line 26 for carrying alternating current and / or direct current. The interface unit 22 and the distribution box 24 are part of a mount or other weapon support generally designated by the reference 30 and separated from the aircraft 10 by an aircraft / vehicle interface represented by a line 31. The interface unit 22 and the distribution box 24 are connected together by a supply line 32 and a line 34 for controlling a controlled switching unit. The interface unit 22 also includes additional data buses,

  36 and 38, also according to the aforementioned standard 1553, with connectors

  Torers 40 and 42 which are connected to a weapon connector 44 at the end of a weapon umbilical target 45 (see FIG. 4) used for connection to a weapon. The interface unit 22 is connected by a command and control line 48 to a command and control unit 46 for switching the power supply of the weapon / ejector. The power supply unit 46 is also connected to the distribution box 24, by a line 50, for its supply of alternating current and / or direct current. In addition, the unit 46 is connected to an ejector connector 52 by a line 53 for the control of the ejector and the transmission of signals of discrete components,

  as well as to the weapon connector 44 by a line 54 serving for the!

  mentation of the weapon and the transmission of signals of discrete components. The ejector has an ejector umbilical cable 55

(see figure 4).

  FIG. 2 shows a conventional apparatus 60 for controlling the carriage or other support for a rod 30. The latter is shown separated from the control apparatus 60 by a

interface line 31.

  The apparatus 60 uses a bus control 62 according to the aforementioned standard 1553. This controls the avionics box or,

  in this case, the weapon mount 30 with the standard interface unit 22.

  The control apparatus 60 also includes a remote terminal 64, also according to the aforementioned standard 1553, intended to be connected to the weapon connector 44. The terminal 64 responds to the interface unit 22 in the manner of a missile. The apparatus 60 also includes a device 66 for monitoring the weapon and the ejector, used to check the discrete components used for

  send signals and to receive signals from the weapon (projection

  tile) and its ejector. This system simulates a weapon computer.

  The apparatus further comprises an operator terminal 61, a

  computer 63, a computer bus 65 and a power source 67.

  A device 68 forms an intermediate element for feeding

  using alternating current and / or direct current from the distribution box

  bution 24 from power source 67. Together with the

  bus control 62, this device simulates an airplane computer.

  When we now refer to FIG. 3, it should be noted that a standard interface 22 includes, as one of its components, a remote terminal card (R / T) 70, according to the aforementioned standard 1553, for communication with the airplane 10. In addition, it includes a bus control (B / C) 72, also according to the aforementioned standard 1553, as well as a central unit with memory (CPU) 74, all connected to a motherboard 76. The latter is also combined with a supply circuit 78, a supply unit interface 80 and a card 82 for a panel with

discrete components.

  FIG. 4 represents the verification apparatus according to the invention, generally designated by the reference 83 and comprising a table 84 of operator interface with a button 86 for controlling lamps, a button 88 for self-checking of unit d and an

  control release button 90, as well as an indicator light

  neux "bon" 92 and a "defective" indicator light 94. The panel 84 is connected to the interface unit 22 by a line 96. A control adapter cable 98 is used for connection to the weapon umbilical cable 45 , to the ejector umbilical cable 55 and to a connection line 100 for discrete components. The control adapter cable 98 is compatible with a standard bus according to the military standard MIL-STD-1553 mentioned above, comprising

  lines 14 and 16, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

  The verification device 83 according to the invention further comprises an electric power source such as the park group 102, comprising a line 104 for supplying alternating current / direct current, with an adapter cable 106 for the connection to a current distribution box 108, itself connected to the power supply unit 46 by a line 110 and to the interface unit 22

by a line 112.

  For a control, the park group is started and the system is powered. The operator-checker presses the lamp control button 86 in table 84 to check the lights. 92 and 94. After this check, the self-checking button 88 of the interface unit is turned: if the "good" light "92 lights up, the interface unit 22 has successfully passed the check. If the

  "defective" indicator 94 lights up, the interface unit 22 is replaced.

  Then, the adapter cable 98 is connected to the cables 45 and 55 of the weapon and the ejector. The control knob 90 is turned to the on position and the interface unit 22 is used to control the system according to the aforementioned standard 1553 and the discrete components of the weapon and the ejector. If the check is satisfactory, the indicator 92 will light up. If it is the light 94 which lights up, there is a control problem. At this time, we check the connections

  wiring and connector pins then repeat the test.

  If the "faulty" indicator comes on again, the power unit

  tion 46 must be replaced. If, after this replacement, the "defective" indicator lights up again, a fault has occurred in the interface unit 22, which must then be replaced. It should be noted that the verification device 83 lets the central unit 94 control the B / C bus command 72, which it

  transmits signals through system wiring and Connects

  bus teurs, with return of signals in the interface unit 22, and that it gives instructions to the remote terminal card R / T 70. Thus, the central unit 74 delivers an instruction according to standard 1553 aforementioned when ordering bus B / C 72, the message goes around and arrives on the R / T 70 for evaluation. This concept

  loop allows the central unit 74 to receive by a provision

  the message that she sent via another device. If a message error occurs, it means that there is a fault in a circuit or a break in a cable or connector. A visual inspection of the connector (s) or cables concerned, on the presence of interruptions or other damage, may lead to

  the operator of the verification device 83 to replace the component

  being suspicious and try again. A defect of the same

  nature after replacement of cable and / or connector

  would replace the suspect avionics box. This would then be removed and sent to the maintenance depot. The only

  remaining signals requiring verification are those of the components

  discreet health of the weapon and the ejector. This control can be achieved by adding circuits in the supply unit 46 to allow the central unit 74 of the interface system 22 to reintroduce the output signals of the discrete components of the weapon and of the ejector into the power unit 46, using a loop-through control cable. The control cable 98 ensures the looping of the signals on the connectors 102, 104 of the umbilical cables of the weapon and the ejector, so as to pass them back through the connection 100 of the interface unit 46

  up to a card 101 for discrete components.

  To summarize and briefly review the descrip-

  the foregoing drawings, it will be understood that different types

  avionics boxes for weapon systems are easily adapted

  to the verification device 83 according to the invention. In addition, the control equipment previously used can now be replaced by the verification device 83 for weapon interface systems, device which only comprises a switch and display panel 84, with the adapter cable 98. and a ground power source, such as the park group 102, as well as a power distribution box 108, provided that the interface unit 22 is programmed, during its design, to contain the firmware required for interfacing with switchboard 84 and for using self-checking circuitry, which is added to the system by discrete component cards 82

and 101.

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and those skilled in the art may make various modifications thereto,

  without going beyond its framework.

RE ENDICATIONS

  1. Verification device (83) for an inter-

  weapon face, intended for the control of mountings (30) or other arms and ejector supports on military aircraft and similar vehicles, the apparatus being designed to be connected to an interface unit ( 22) weapon system, comprising a remote terminal (70), a bus control (72) and a central unit (74), of standard type, and for being connected to a power switching unit (46 ) a weapon or projectile and an ejector, characterized in that it comprises: a device (102) for supplying electrical energy to a current distribution box (108) which is connected to the interface unit (22) and the power unit (46); a control adapter cable (98), one end of which is designed to be connected to an ejector connector (104) and to a weapon connector (102) at the end of an umbilical cable (55,) coming from the power unit (46), another end of the

  cable being connected to the remote terminal (70) of the inter-

  face (22), as well as another connector, leading to circuits (101) for controlling discrete components; and an operator interface board (84) which is connected to the interface unit (22) and which has control buttons (86, 88, 90) and indication devices (92, 94) for self-checking

  the interface unit (22) and the power unit (46).

  2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy supply device is a group of

  park (102) or a similar device connected to the distribution box

current draw (108).

  3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control adapter cable (98) corresponds to a standard (in particular to the American military standard MIL-STD-1553) for connection

  to data buses on the interface unit (22) and to connectors

  standard torers for connecting an umbilical cable (45) of a weapon

  and an umbilical cable (55) from an ejector to the power unit (46).

  4. Method for verifying and evaluating mountings or other supports for weapons and ejectors of military aircraft or similar vehicles, in particular by means of the verification apparatus according to

  any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it

includes:

  connection of an external power supply

  lower (102) to a current distribution box (108) connected to an interface unit (22) of a weapon system, as well as to a power switching unit (46) for this system of 'armed; the connection of a control adapter cable (98) to the interface unit and to the connector (102, 104) of the weapon, of a projectile and / or of an ejector on the supply unit (46); the connection of an operator interface table (84),

  with control buttons (86, 88, 90) and indicator lights

  neux (92, 94), to the interface unit (22); and control of the switchboard (84), the wiring of the mount or other weapon support and the circuits of the interface unit (22) and the power supply unit (46), using a terminal remote (70), a central unit (74) and a bus control (72)

in the interface unit (22).