2-D projectile trajectory corrector
AssigneeUnited Defense, L.P.
InventorsJohn G. Rupert, Jeff Siewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and a method of adjusting a trajectory of a projectile in flight includes increasing projectile drag to effect a downrange correction and altering the yaw of repose to effect a cross range correction. A method of a vernier correction to the trajectory is included.
Claims60
A 2-D projectile trajectory corrector system for improving the trajectory of a spin stabilized artillery projectile after launch, the projectile being tracked after launch by a tracking system, comprising:
- a range adjustment system located within the spin stabilized artillery projectile;
- a deflection adjustment system located within the spin stabilized artillery projectile;
- and
- a command module disposed within the spin stabilized artillery projectile and operably coupled to the range adjustment system and he deflection adjustment system.
15 The 2-D projectile trajectory corrector system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of radially deployable aerodynamic spin surfaces are adjusted by an electric motor to affect angle of attack.
A method of adjusting a trajectory of a projectile in-flight comprising:
- increasing projectile drag to effect a downrange correction;
- and
- altering the yaw of repose to effect a cross range correction.
The method of claim 24 wherein said step of deploying aerodynamic surfaces includes timing a deployment of a plurality of radially extending drag tabs so as to increase the aerodynamic drag of the projectile, said increased drag resulting in a decrease in range of the projectile.
The method of claim 24 wherein said step of deploying aerodynamic surfaces includes timing a deployment of a plurality of radially extending spin tabs, positioning the spin tabs at a selected angle of attack so as to affect the spin rate to affect cross range deflection.
A 2-D projectile trajectory corrector system for improving an unguided spin stabilized artillery projectile, said trajectory correction system comprising:
- range adjusting means for reducing the distance the unguided spin stabilized artillery projectile travels, said means including deployment of a plurality of radially extending drag inducing surfaces;
- deflection adjusting means for changing projectile cross range deflection, said means including a timed deployment of a plurality of radially extending aerodynamic surfaces which affect projectile cross range deflection by affecting projectile spin rate;
- and
- tracking means for determining the position of the projectile in-flight so as to correct trajectory errors.
An unguided spin stabilized artillery projectile, comprising:
- a projectile body;
- and
- a 2-D projectile trajectory corrector system having;
- a plurality of drag inducing surfaces selectively deployable in-flight to effect projectile range;
- a plurality of spin affecting surfaces selectively deployable in-flight to affect projectile cross range deflection;
- and
- an electronic command device operably coupled to the drag inducing and spin affecting surfaces for selectively deploying the drag inducing and spin affecting surfaces.
A 2-D projectile trajectory corrector for altering the spin rate, the lift coefficient, the pitching moment and the coefficient of drag of an unguided spin stabilized projectile while in-flight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.