US 4,537,371 A · Small caliber guided projectile

Abstract

A small caliber guided projectile (20) includes a maneuvering unit (22) having a forward opening inlet (36) which provides diffused air to a flow control mechanism (70) prior to exhausting such air through diametrically opposed exhaust nozzles (74, 76). The flow control mechanism (70) includes a primary flow passageway (78) and an upper orifice switching device (100) for controlling bypass flow to one of the exhaust nozzles (76). An orifice switching device (120) controls bypass flow to the other exhaust nozzle (74). In one embodiment, a small, rearward facing step or other means of vortex generation, such as boundary layer energization, is located upstream of the discharge of the flow through switching devices into the nozzles. When the switching devices are closed, flow over the rearwardly facing steps generates a small vortex which enhances flow attachment as a result of the Coanda effect and increases flow through the nozzle. Opening of the orifice switching device results in aspiration through the nozzle, thereby impeding flow. By controlling the respective switching devices, flow through the opposed nozzles may be varied to produce a resultant lateral force on the projectile, permitting control of the trajectory of the projectile.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A guided projectile comprising:

a projectile housing with diametrically opposed divergently oriented guidance nozzles mounted therein;
a supersonic external compression air inlet and subsonic diffuser for supplying air to the guidance nozzles;
and
flow control means for selectively diverting air flow through said nozzles permitting input of lateral forces to the projectile, said flow control means comprising a bifurcated discharge arrangement with vortex generator means for generating a small vortex within each nozzle and downstream of said generator means to cause flow entrainment and attachment to the wall of the nozzle, thereby increasing flow through a selected one of said nozzles, said flow control means further comprising a valve for selectively directing air into the non-selected nozzle downstream of said vortex generator means to permit aspiration and prevention of flow attachment to the boundary wall of the non-selected nozzle to impede flow through the nozzle.

1 more element

A guided projectile comprising:

a projectile housing with diametrially opposed divergently oriented guidance nozzles mounted therein;
a supersonic external compression air inlet for supplying air into said projectile housing;
means for diverting said air through one of or dividing substantially equally between said divergently oriented guidance nozzles;
means for generating and controlling the formation of a vortex in one or preventing vortex generation in both of said nozzles downstream of said diverting means for causing either flow attachment to the wall of a selected nozzle thereby entraining all inlet flow through said selected nozzle to control the lateral force on the projectile or permitting division of the flow between the nozzles to negate lateral forces and thereby guide the projectile, said generating and controlling means further comprising a bistatic fluidically controlled valve for selectively directing an amount of air into a non-selected one of the guidance nozzles downstream of said vortex generator means to aspirate and thereby prevent flow attachment to the boundary wall of said non-selected nozzle to impede flow through the nozzle.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Small caliber guided projectile

Life of this patent

Small caliber guided projectile

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27