Kinetic energy vehicle with three-thruster divert control system
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsHuy P. Nguyen, Rob J. Fuentes, Michael Schmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A kinetic energy vehicle (or warhead) has a divert thruster system and an attitude control system, both operatively coupled to receive pressurized gasses from a solid rocket motor that is operatively coupled to both systems. The divert thruster system may have three divert thrusters evenly spaced around a circumference of the vehicle, offset 120 degrees from each other. The divert thrusters are located at a longitudinal (axial) location along the vehicle at or close to a center of gravity of the vehicle. In addition the vehicle may have an aft axial thrusters that may be used in maneuvering the vehicle.
Claims20
A kinetic energy vehicle comprising:
- a solid rocket motor;
- and
- a divert thruster system;
- wherein the divert thruster system is operatively coupled to the solid rocket motor to receive pressurized gasses output by the solid rocket motor;
- and
- wherein the divert thruster system includes three divert thrusters circumferentially substantially evenly spaced about a perimeter of the vehicle.
A method of flying a kinetic energy vehicle, the method comprising:
- launching the kinetic energy vehicle;
- and
- translating the vehicle using three divert thrusters of a divert thruster system of the kinetic energy vehicle, where the three divert thrusters are circumferentially substantially evenly spaced about a perimeter of the vehicle and, burning a solid rocket motor of the vehicle to supply pressurized gasses to the divert system.
A method of controlling course and orientation of a kinetic energy vehicle, the method comprising:
- during flight of the kinetic energy vehicle:
- burning a solid rocket motor to produce pressurized gasses;
- providing axial propulsive thrust using some of the pressurized gasses;
- selectively translationally moving the kinetic energy vehicle using a divert thruster system of the kinetic energy vehicle that receives some of the pressurized gasses from the solid rocket motor;
- and
- selectively adjusting orientation of the kinetic energy vehicle using an attitude control system of the kinetic energy vehicle that receives some of the pressurized gasses from the solid rocket motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.