US 4,899,956 AGranted

Self-contained supplemental guidance module for projectile weapons

AssigneeTeleflex Incorporated

InventorsMaurice E. King, Gregory M. Katucki

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Abstract

A self-contained supplemental guidance module for use with projectile weapons having a connected body and payload in attachable to the weapon between the body and payload, and includes self-contained power supply, inertial sensors and a plurality of incremental charges angularly spaced around an outer periphery of the module. A control processor in the module is operable responsive to the position of the module as detected by the sensors to calculate deviation of the projectile from a nominal flight path, taking gravity into account, and to detonate individual incremental charges when deviation exceeds a threshold and the incremental charge is in position to reduce the deviation. The supplemental guidance module is particularly applicable to barrage rockets, and includes a multi-level safe-and-arm apparatus initiating operation with sufficient axial thrust and disabling operation in the event of loss of sensor signals.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A self-contained supplemental guidance apparatus for use with a projectile weapon having a body, at least one payload attachable to the body and means for propelling the body and payload towards a target, the apparatus comprising:

a supplemental guidance module to be fitted to at least one of the body and the payload, the supplemental guidance module being self-contained and having on-board a power supply, whereby the guidance apparatus is operable apart from electrical connection to the body and the payload;
sensing means in the module, including position sensing means operative to sense at least one of a starting orientation of the projectile weapon and an instantaneous orientation of the projectile weapon;
actuation means including a plurality of individually controllable incremental charges angularly spaced around a periphery of the module;
and,
a control processor in the module, operable to monitor an output of said sensing means, to calculate deviation from a nominal flight path, and to actuate at least one of the incremental charges when said deviation exceeds a threshold and said at least one of the incremental charges is in a position to reduce said deviation.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.