Leveling Device
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRay Campbell, Joan Wada
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A leveling system for a missile system includes a holder defining an xz-plane. Four flexure plate accelerometers are coupled to the holder at angles such that they are sensitive to movement in an xy-plane. The accelerometers all generate signals in response to movements of the flexure plates. An actuator activates an object control device in response to a platform control signal. A processor receives the accelerometer signals and generates the platform control signal in response thereto.
Claims21
A leveling device comprising:
- a holder defining an xz-plane;
- a first accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said first accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said first accelerometer in an xy-plane, said first accelerometer comprising a first flexure plate generating a first accelerometer signal in response to movement of said first flexure plate;
- a second accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said second accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said second accelerometer in said xy-plane, said second accelerometer comprising a second flexure plate generating a second accelerometer signal in response to movement of said second flexure plate;
- and
- a processor generating a platform control signal in response to the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal.
A method for operating a leveling system comprising:
- generating a first accelerometer signal from a first flexure plate accelerometer;
- generating a second accelerometer signal from a second flexure plate accelerometer;
- rotating a platform clockwise when said first accelerometer signal is greater than said second accelerometer signal;
- rotating said platform counter-clockwise when said second accelerometer signal is greater than said first accelerometer signal;
- generating a third accelerometer signal from a third flexure plate accelerometer;
- generating a fourth accelerometer signal from a fourth flexure plate accelerometer;
- rotating said platform clockwise when said third accelerometer signal is greater than said fourth accelerometer signal;
- and
- rotating said platform counter-clockwise when said fourth accelerometer signal is greater than said third accelerometer signal.
A leveling system for a missile system comprising:
- a missile housing;
- a holder coupled to said missile housing and defining an xz-plane;
- a first accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said first accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said first accelerometer in an xy-plane, said first accelerometer comprising a first flexure plate generating a first accelerometer signal in response to movement of said first flexure plate;
- a second accelerometer coupled to said holder at an angle such that said second accelerometer is sensitive to movement of said second accelerometer in said xy-plane, said second accelerometer comprising a second flexure plate generating a second accelerometer signal in response to movement of said second flexure plate;
- a processor coupled to said first accelerometer and said second accelerometer, said processor receiving said first accelerometer signal, said second accelerometer signal and generating a platform control signal in response thereto;
- and
- an actuator activating an obiect control device in response to the platform control signal.
The system of claim 19, wherein said second accelerometer and said third accelerometer are arranged with said first accelerometer to receive cross axis thrust data.
The system of claim 20, wherein said processor further generates a level acquired indicator signal in response to said first accelerometer, said second accelerometer, said third accelerometer, and said fourth accelerometer, said processor further locking said level acquired indicator signal as a reference plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.