GB2202061A

GB2202061A - Weapon interface system evaluator

Info

Publication number: GB2202061A
Application number: GB08705662A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David J Aspelin
Original assignee: Boeing Co
Current assignee: Boeing Co
Priority date: 1987-03-10
Filing date: 1987-03-10
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-10
Also published as: GB2202061B; AU597944B2; DE3708262A1; FR2612646B1; FR2612646A1; NL8701202A; AU6991287A; GB8705662D0

Abstract

A weapon interface system evaluator and method of testing weapon carriage assemblies used with weapons and ejectors on military aircraft. The evaluator system is adapted for interfacing with a standard weapon system interface unft 22 which includes a standard MIL. SPEC. data bus controller and a military standard remote terminal. The evaluator 83 provides an operator interface panel 84 connected to the WSIU 22 via lead 96. A test adaptor cable 98 connects the WSIU bus outlet with cables 45, 55, 100 for the weapon, ejector and discretes. A ground power cart 102 provides AC and DC on an adaptor cable 106 to a power distribution Box 108 linked to the WSIU and to the weapon/ejector command/monitor power switching unit, 46. The WSIU is programmed to interface with the panel and with self-checking circuits added via the discretes boards. The evaluator is easily deployed at forward military operating bases and under various temperature and weather extremes. <IMAGE>

Description

WEAPON INTERFACE SYSTEM EVALUATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, most present weapon systems have a set of avionics boxes and wiring that interface a weapon and an ejector to the aircraft's targeting computer and aircraft's power system. The avionics boxes and their wiring are often mounted on a weapon carriage assembly such as a wing-mounted pylon or a bomb-bay carrier launcher which is stored separate from the aircraft. Prior to loading the weapon carriage assembly on the aircraft, a functional test of the assembly is usually performed. In order to test the system, a separate test set has always been required.

These prior test sets have traditionally been large items requiring a computer to control them. The test set's computers often have environmental operating limits and can operate only in a heated and cooled building or enclosure. These environmental limitations have meant that test sets are not easily deployed or useable in forward operating bases where a minimum of support equipment and facilities exist.

Prior attempts to build a test set have included devices that travel in an environmental igloo. These type of devices bring their own operating environment with them by providing a furnace or air conditioner to take care of temperature extremes and are housed in a portable enclosure that keeps dirt, wind, rain, etc.

from impacting the equipment. Other test sets are not deployable and are housed in a building and require weapon carriage assemblies to be brought to the housed test set. While the above test sets do not fail in testing the weapon systems, they do fail to be easily deployed to forward military operating bases.

In the following United States Patents; No. 3,609,312 to Higgins, No. 3,619,792 to Capeci, No. 3,710,350 to Yoshitake et al, No. 3,803,974 to Everest et al, No. 3,889,109 to Blessin, No. 3,920,973 to Avellar et al, No. 4,155,116 to Tawfik et al, NO.

4,246,472 to Sun et al, No. 4,370,706 to Doniger et al, No. 4,494,438 to Liggton et al various types of computer controlled systems are described for air launch weapons and aircraft control units, and self-diagnosing control systems used with household appliances. None of the above control systems provide the unique features and advantages of the subject weapon interface system evaluator as described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The subject weapon interface system evaluator eliminates the need for complex support equipment and allows for operation indoors or outdoors over a wide temperature range. Further, the evaluator is easily deployable at forward military operating bases.

The weapons interface system evaluator uses the unique features of a weapon system avionics box that reports to an aircraft or other weapon transport/command vehicle's computer via a MIL STD 1553 data bus.

The weapon interface system evaluator includes an operator interface panel having a display with a lamp test, self-test and test-start, pass, fail indicator lights connected to a weapon system interface unit.

The evaluator also includes the use of ground power cart and a test cable adapted for engaging the weapon/ejector power switching unit.

The advantages and objects of the invention will become evident from the following detailed description of the drawings when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art weapon system configuration.

Fig. 2 illustrates a prior art test set connected to a weapon carriage assembly.

Fig. 3 illustrates a simplified diagram of a weapon system interface unit and power switching unit.

Fig. 4 illustrates the subject weapon interface system evaluator connected to the interface unit and power switching unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In Fig. 1 is illustrated a MIL-STD-1760 weapon system avionics box that reports to an aircraft or any other weapon transport or command vehicle. The aircraft is indicated by general reference numeral 10. In Fig.

1 aircraft 10 is shown having a targeting computer, targeting/command computer 12, connected to a MIL-STD-1553 data bus having leads 14 and 16 connected to data bus couplers 18 and 20. The couplers, in turn, are connected to a weapon system interface unit (wSItJ) 22. The aircraft 10 further includes a power source for a weapon carriage assembly indicated by numeral 23 and providing power to a weapon carriage assembly power distribution box(PDB) 24 via lead 26. WSIU 22 and PDB 24 are part of a weapon carriage assembly having a general reference numeral 30 and separated from the aircraft 10 by an aircraft/vehicle interface shown as line 31. WSIU 22 and PDB 24 are connected to each other via a power lead 32 and a slave unit switching command lead 34.WSIU 22 further includes additional MIL-STD-1553 data buses 36 and 38 having couplers 40 and 42, respectively, which are connected to a weapon connector 44 with weapon umbilical cable (not shown) used for connection to a weapon.

WSIU 22 is connected to a weapon ejector/command monitor power switching unit (PSU) 46 via a lead 48. PSU 46 is also connected to PDB 24 via lead 50 for receiving power therefrom. PSU 46 is also connected to an ejector connector 52 via lead 53 and to the weapon connector 44 via lead 54. The ejector includes an ejector umbilical cable (not shown) used for connection to an ejector; Fig. 2 depicts a prior art test set 60 for testing of weapon carriage assembly 30. Assembly 30 is shown divided from test set 60 by interface line 31.

The test set 60 uses a MIL-STD-1553 bus controller 62. The bus controller 62 commands the avionics box, or in this case weapon carriage assembly 30 with the standard WSIU 22. The test set 60 also uses a standard MIL-STD-1553 remote terminal 64 for connection to the weapon connector 44. The remote terminal 64 responds to the WSIU 22, as a missile would. Also the set 60 includes a weapon and ejector monitoring device 66 to check the discretes used to talk and listen to signals from the weapon and its ejector. The set further includes a terminal 61, computer 63, computer bus 65 and power source 67.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it is of interest to note that a standard WSIU 22 has as one of its components a MIL-STD-1553 remote terminal (R/T) 70 to communicate with aircraft 10. Also, it includes a MIL-STD-1553 bus controller (B/C) 72 along with a central processing unit with memory (CPU) 74 all connected to a mother circuit board 76. The board 76 also includes a power circuit 78, power switching unit interface 80, along with a discrete panel board 82.

Referring now to Fig. 4 the subject invention having general reference numeral 83 is shown having an operator interface panel 84 with a lamp test button 86, a WSIU self-test button 88 and a test start button 90 with a pass indicator light 92 and a fail indicator light 94. The interface panel 84 is connected to the WSIU 22 via lead 96. A test adapter cable 98 is used for connection to the weapon umbilical cable 45, an ejector umbilical cable 55 and to the discrete connection 100. The test adapter cable 98 is compatible with a standard MIL-STD-1553 bus having leads 14 and 16 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The evaluator 83 further includes a power source such as a ground power cart 102 having a AC/DC power lead 104 with adapter cable 106 for attachment to a power distribution box 108 which is in turn connected to the PSU 46 via lead 110 and to the WSIU 22 via lead 112.

The ground power cart power is turned on and the system is energized. The operator of the panel 84 presses the lamp test button 86 to check the pass/fail lights 92 and 94. When the lamp test is passed, the WSIU self-test button 88 is turned on and if pass indicator light 92 comes on the WSIU 22 passes the test. If the fail light indicator 94 comes on then the WSIU 22 is replaced. Next the adapter cable 98 is connected to the weapon and ejector cables 45 and 55.

The test button 90 is turned on and the WSIU 22 is used to test the MIL-STD-1553 system and the weapon ejector discretes. If the test is satisfactory, the pass light 92 will come on. The fail light 94 will indicate a test problem. At this point, the wiring connections and connector pins are inspected and the test rerun. A fail light again means that the PSU 46 should be replaced. A fail light after the PSU replacement means a WSIU fault has occurred and the WSIU 22 should be replaced.

It should be noted that the evaluator 83 lets the CPU 74 command the MIL-STD-1553 B/C 72 and it talks through the system wiring and bus couplers and then comes back in the WSIU 22 and gives instructions to the MIL-STD-1553 R/T 70. Thus, the CPU 74 will initiate a MIL-STD-1553 instruction with the B/C 72 and the message wraps back around and comes to the R/T 70 for evaluation. The wrap around nature of this concept allows the CPU 74 to receive with one device the message it sent via another. If a message error occurs either a circuit fault or cable/coupler break would have occurred. A visual inspection of the coupler/cable for breaks or other damage would let the test operator of the evaluator 83 replace the suspect component and re-run the test. A failure of the same nature after a cable/coupler replacement would lead to the replacement of the suspect avionics box.The suspect avionics box would be removed for return to the maintenance depot.

The only remaining signals that require testing are the weapon and ejector discretes. This can be done by adding circuits inside the PSU 46 that allow the CPU 74 in the WSIU 22 to read the discrete weapon and ejector outputs back into the PSU 46 using a wrap-around test cable. The test cable 98 wraps the signals at the end of the weapon and ejector umbilical connects 102 and 104 back through the PSU test connector 100 to a discretes circuit board 101.

In summary and from reviewing the above-drawing descriptions, it can be appreciated that various types of weapon avionic boxes are readily adaptable to the subject weapon interface system evaluator 83. Further the dedicated test sets previously used can now be replaced through the use of the weapon interface system evaluator 83 having only a switch box and indicator panel 84 along with the adapter cable 98 and ground power such as a ground power cart and a power distribution box provided the WSIU was programmed when conceived to contain the firmware routines necessary to interface with the panel 84 and utilize self-checking circuitry added to the system via discretes boards 82 and 101.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A weapon interface system evaluator for testing weapon carriage assemblies used with weapons and ejectors on military aircraft and the like, the evaluator adapted for engaging a weapon system interface unit having a standard remote terminal, bus controller and central processing unit and for engaging a weapon ejector power switching unit, the evaluator comprising: means for supplying power to a power distribution box the box connected to the weapon system interface unit and the power switching unit; a test adapter cable having one end adapted for connection to an ejector connector and a weapon connector at the end of an umbilical cable from the power switching unit and at one end the remote terminal of the interface unit and on another connector a connection discrete test circuits; and an operator interface panel connected to the interface unit and having test buttons and indicator means for self testing of the interface unit and the power switching unit.

2. The evaluator as described in Claim 1 wherein the power means is a ground power cart or the like connected to the power distribution box.

3. The evaluator as described in Claim 1 wherein the test adapter cable meets a MIL-STD-1553 for connection to data buses on the interface unit and standard connections for connecting to a weapon umbilical cable and ejector umbilical cable connected to the power switching unit.

4. A method of evaluating and testing weapon carriage assemblies used with weapons and ejectors on military aircraft and the like, the steps including: applying an outside power source to a power distribution box connected to a weapon system interface unit and a power switching unit; connecting a test adapter cable to the interface unit and to weapon and ejector connections on the power source unit; connecting an operator interface panel with test buttons and light indicator to the interface unit; and testing with the panel, the carriage assemby's cabling and the circuits of the interface unit and the power switching unit using a remote terminal, a central processing unit and a bus controller in the interface unit.

5. A weapon interface system evaluator substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.