US 7,395,761 B2 · Variable-force payload ejecting system

Abstract

The Variable-Force Payload Ejecting System, residing within an air vehicle, utilizes multiple pressure generators, one or more of which may be activated, to produce variable levels of force. A controlling computer within the air vehicle determines when and how much pressure needs to be generated to eject a given item, such as a submunition, from the vehicle. In its determination, the computer factors in the vehicle's forward velocity and height over the intended target at the time of ejection and the characteristics of the particular submunition to be ejected. An activating mechanism activates one or more pressure generators to produce the determined amount of pressure. The pressure thusly generated acts on an inflatable tube that inflates and expels the selected submunition. The result is a more precise delivery of the submunitions onto the intended targets.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A Variable-Force Payload Ejecting System for selectively ejecting items from the payload bay of an air vehicle, said air vehicle having therein a controlling computer for calculating amounts of pressure necessary for variously-timed ejections and producing output signals indicative of said calculated necessary amounts of pressure, said ejecting system residing within the air vehicle and comprising:

a plurality of pressure generators;
an electronics module coupled to the controlling computer, said electronics module activating at least one of said pressure generators in response to the output signals from the controlling computer to produce the calculated necessary amount of pressure at pre-determined times;
an inflatable tube positioned adjacent to the items;
a helical stiffener fixedly attached to said inflatable tube and producing a pre-selected spin rate to the items;
and a means to transmit the pressure from said generator to said tube so as to cause said tube to inflate and thereby eject the items such that the items fall on pre-selected loci.

2 more elements

A Variable-Force Payload Ejecting System for selectively ejecting an item from an air vehicle, the air vehicle having an exit at the rear, at a pre-selected time during the flight of the air vehicle such that the item drops on an intended target, the air vehicle containing therein a controlling computer for determining the ejection force necessary to eject the item at the pre-selected time, said ejecting system residing in the air vehicle and comprising:

a plurality of pressure generators for producing a variable ejection force;
a means to activate sufficient number of said generators to produce ejection force pre-determined by the controlling computer, said activating means cooperating with the controlling computer;
an inflatable tube comprised of expandable fabric, said tube being positioned adjacent to the item;
a helical stiffener fixedly attached to said inflatable tube and producing a pre-selected spin rate to the item;
and a means to transmit the pressure from said generators to said tube so as to inflate said tube and thereby eject the item through the exit such that the item falls on the intended target.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable-force payload ejecting system

Life of this patent

Variable-force payload ejecting system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20