Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B10/00—Means for influencing, e.g. improving, the aerodynamic properties of projectiles or missiles; Arrangements on projectiles or missiles for stabilising, steering, range-reducing, range-increasing or fall-retarding
  • F42B10/60—Steering arrangements
  • F42B10/66—Steering by varying intensity or direction of thrust
  • F42B10/663—Steering by varying intensity or direction of thrust using a plurality of transversally acting auxiliary nozzles, which are opened or closed by valves

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to the field of missile control systems and more specifically to the area of projectile steering through the use of lateral thrust steering ports.
• the present invention is presently configured for use in the forward portion of a projectile type missile to provide controlled lateral thrust steering.
• Lateral steering control is an important feature in projectile guidance systems.
• each projectile is fired from a gun towards a target and is guided to the target via an informational beam of energy radiated from a source, usually at the firing location.
• the informational beam contains locational codes by which the projectile, upon receipt of a particular code, will compute appropriate steering commands to correct the flight path.
• An example of a guidance system utilizing an informational beam is illustrated in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent 4,186,899.
• the present invention utilizes ram air for ther odynamic ignition of a solid fuel and provides means for selectively diverting the resulting combustion gases to one or more lateral thrust steering ports.
• the diverting means comprises a controllable vane that is rotatably mounted to block one or the other of two oppositely disposed ports or to allow equal passage of the combustion gases to both ports.
• the vane position is controlled by electrical signals derived by an associated circuit within the projectile. Although the circuit is not shown as part of the invention, its function is to provide appropriate signals to control the vane position in accordance with the steering correction information in the informational beam and vertical reference information derived on-board.
• a roll reference sensor such as that shown in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent 4,328,938, is appropriate to provide the necessary vertical reference information to the circuit.
• Figure 1 is an elevational cross-section view of the forward portion of a projectile incorporating the present invention.
• Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the diverting valve of the present invention positioned to provide downward steering thrust for the projectile shown in Figure 1.
• Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the diverting valve of the present invention positioned to provide equal and opposite lateral thrust for the projectile shown in Figure 1.
• Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the diverting valve of the present invention positioned to provide upward steering thrust for the projectile shown in Figure 1.
• FIG. 1 in elevational cross-section.
• the forward end includes a nose member 12 that is symmetrically formed to contain the preferred embodiment.
• the nose member includes a ram air inlet 14 that opens to a diffusion r chamber 16. 5
• high velocity air enters through the inlet 14 at the forward end of the diffusion chamber 16 where velocity energy of the ram air is converted into pressure energy, thereby raising the temperature.
• a projectile of this configuration traveling at 10 approximately Mach 3 will have ram air raised to a temperature in the range of 600-1000°F.
• a combustion chamber 18 is formed aft and adjacent the diffusion chamber 16. Together, the two cylindrical chambers define a compression chamber.
• the 15 combustion chamber 18 is cylindrically shaped and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of rotation of the projectile 10.
• the combustion chamber 18 has walls 20 formed of a solid fuel material that is ignited and self-sustained for combustion by the high temperature of the ram air entering 20 the combustion chamber 18 from the diffusion chamber 16. As the fuel is heated, it produces gases which combine chemically with the ram air to increase the temperature and pressure within the combustion chamber 18.
• steering ports 22 and 24 are provided aft of the combustion chamber 18 to allow the combustion gases flowing from the combustion chamber • 18 to escape in a direction having a vector component normal to the projectile flight path.
• a movable vane element 26 is mounted on a rotatable base 30 so as to be positionable between the combustion chamber 18 and the ports 22 and 24.
• the vane element 26 is partially cylindrical in shape and is movable about its cylindrical axis which is coaxial with
• a diverting surface 28 is located at the cylindrical axis so as to divert gasses from the combustion chamber 18 away from the vane element
• the rotatable base 30 is driven by electromagnetic forces and forms part of a step-actuated motor that is actuated by electrical signals applied to drive coils 32.
• the present invention is suited for use in projectiles fired at sea level and at higher altitudes where the air is relatively thin.
• the combustion gases provide augmented thrust for steering by the addition of thermal energy.
• the projectile is at its maximum speed.
• the ram air entering the inlet 14 is raised in temperature by the diffusion chamber 16. It ignites the exposed surface of the solid fuel 20 and supplies oxygen to sustain combustion of that fuel in the combustion chamber 18.
• the gases produced by the burning fuel are forced towards the steering ports 22 and 24 by the configuration of the combustion chamber 18, the incoming ram air and the relatively low pressure of external air flowing over the ports 22 and 24.
• the vane element 26 is rotated to the relative position shown. In that position, the gases will be diverted upwards when ports 22 and 24 rotate into the appropriate upwardly oriented position. In this fashion, the escaping gases produce downward steering thrust T on the nose 12.
• the vane element 26 When no steering correction is required, the vane element 26 is positioned as shown in Figures 3A and 3B so that equal thrust is generated by gases diverted to escape through both ports 22 and 24.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
• Traffic Control Systems (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22174813

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (8)

Families Citing this family (14)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (16)

• 1983
  • 1983-01-20 DE DE8383901443T patent/DE3378783D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1983-01-20 WO PCT/US1983/000086 patent/WO1984002975A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1983-01-20 EP EP83901443A patent/EP0131573B1/en not_active Expired
  • 1983-01-20 JP JP58501518A patent/JPS60501366A/ja active Granted
  • 1983-01-20 US US06/491,953 patent/US4573648A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1983-12-29 CA CA000444398A patent/CA1207154A/en not_active Expired
• 1984
  • 1984-09-19 NO NO84843748A patent/NO157994C/no unknown

Patent Citations (7)

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