Method and apparatus for improving the aim of a weapon station, firing a point-detonating or an air-burst projectile
AssigneeNostromo Holdings, LLC
InventorsKevin Michael Sullivan, Torgrim Jorgensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.
Claims15
A distributed aiming and ammunition programming system, comprising:
- a sighting device on a pivoting mount with attachment points for alignment of a sighting unit structured to measure gun-target elevation angle, the sighting unit including a visual cuing elevation feature and incorporating an inclinometer allowing for measurement of the gun-target elevation angle;
- and
- a transmitter device fixed to a weapon and structured to measure an axis of elevation of the barrel of the weapon, wherein the sighting device and the transmitter device are digitally tethered and incorporate a ballistic measurement device and the tethered sighting device and the transmitter device are structured to (1) receive sensor input from sensing components of the system, (2) solve for an optimum aim elevation and height of burst for gun-target engagement, (3) perform system formatting and (4) transmit an optimum time-to-detonate digital telegram to a programmable projectile structured to be programmed forward of the muzzle of the weapon, and wherein a fire control unit of the system is structured to correct aim elevation of the weapon for shooting at a target above or below the horizon, wherein the fire control unit for an Air Burst Munition programmer uses an adjusting device structured to adjust the optimum time-to-detonate digital telegram based at least in part on adjusting programming time with a measured exit velocity.
A distributed aiming and ammunition programming system, comprising:
- a sighting device on a pivoting mount with attachment points for alignment of a sighting unit structured to measure gun-target elevation angle, the sighting unit including a visual cuing elevation feature and incorporating an inclinometer allowing for measurement of the gun-target elevation angle;
- and
- a transmitter device fixed to a weapon and structured to measure an axis of elevation of the barrel of the weapon, wherein the sighting device and the transmitter device are digitally tethered and incorporate a ballistic measurement device and the tethered sighting device and the transmitter device are structured to (1) receive sensor input from sensing components of the system, (2) solve for an optimum aim elevation and height of burst for gun-target engagement, (3) perform system formatting and (4) transmit an optimum time-to-detonate digital telegram to a programmable projectile structured to be programmed forward of the muzzle of the weapon, and wherein a fire control unit of the system is structured to correct aim elevation of the weapon for shooting at a target above or below the horizon, wherein the sighting device and the transmitter device are digitally tethered to each other via galvanic cables.
A sensing system comprising:
- a discriminating trigger sensor structured to fit to a grenade launcher underslung under a rifle and distinguish between firing of a grenade and firing of small caliber bullets;
- and
- a fixed duration delay function structured to initiate a programming transmission to an air burst munition (ABM) projectile at a programming station, post barrel exit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.