Precision guidance system for aircraft launched bombs
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorJoseph R. Mayersak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A jet bomb guidance system in which bi-directional nozzles are fired in a manner to produce force state changes resulting in improved level of control, greater force compatibility and greater efficiency in propellant fuel usage The system includes four bi-directional nozzles spaced at 90 degree intervals which at least four single nozzles are open at any given instant to maintain a substantially constant gas pressure. The system may be positioned at the nose portion, tail portion, or center of gravity of the bomb.
Claims16
A system for guiding an airframe during flight to a target comprising:
- a generally planar plate element having an actuate peripheral edge, a plurality of bi-directional jet nozzle elements positioned at said peripheral edge of said plate element, a gas generator element supplying gas to said plate element, said plate element supplying gas to said jet nozzle elements;
- each of said bi-directional valve elements having a pair of solenoids and dual action solenoid controlled poppet valves for directing gas flow through said bi-directional nozzle elements;
- means for controlling said puppet valves to present a constant exit area to gas generated to allow said generator to operate without pressure regulation, said means simultaneously opening certain of said valve elements to provide lateral incremental directional thrust.
A system for guiding an airframe, having a principal longitudinal axis and having nose and tail portions, over a guided trajectory from a point of launch to a target in which guiding forces are applied to said nose portion, said system comprising:
- four bi-directional jet nozzles arranged substantially in a plane normal to a said longitudinal axis, and positioned laterally in said plane from said axis at right angles relative to each adjacent bi-directional nozzle and each of said jet nozzles having first and second oppositely disposed orifices;
- gas generating means communicating with said nozzles, each of said orifices being controlled in such manner that four of said orifices are opened at any given instant to maintain substantially constant gas pressure.
A system for guiding an airframe, having a principal longitudinal axis and having nose and tail portions, over a guided trajectory from a point of launch to a target in which guiding forces are applied to said nose portion, said system comprising;
- four sets of bi-directional jet nozzles each arranged substantially in a plane normal to a said longitudinal axis, to form a 90 degree angle between adjacent nozzles, each bi-directional jet nozzle being controlled by a single dual action solenoid with each of said nozzle sets having the ability to generate a force at ninety degrees from the other, and capable of operating selectively one or the other or both nozzles to generate forces, when operated with the other nozzle sets, in N control planes;
- gas generating means communicating with said nozzles, each of said orifices being controlled in such manner that four of said orifices are opened at any given instant to maintain substantially constant gas pressure.
A system for guiding an airframe, having a principal longitudinal axis and having nose and tail portions, over a guided trajectory from a point of launch to a target, said system comprising an arbitrary even number of sets of nozzles, 2N, arranged substantially in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis, with adjacent nozzles forming an angle equal to 360 degrees divided by N between any two sets of nozzles and controlled by a single dual action solenoid with each of said jet nozzle sets having the ability to generate force at 360 degrees divided by N from the other nozzle sets and being capable of selectively operating one or the other or both nozzles at the same time to place control forces, operating with other nozzle sets in N control planes;
- gas generating means communicating with said nozzles, each of said nozzles being controlled in such manner that four of said nozzles are opened at any given instant to maintain substantially constant gas pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.