Method for measuring the muzzle velocity of a projectile or the like
AssigneeOerlikon Contraves AG
InventorHenry Frick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
It is proposed to use the gun barrel or launcher tube or the muzzle brake as a waveguide, which, however, is operated at a frequency that is below the cutoff frequency of the relevant waveguide mode. The transmit coupler excites the relevant waveguide mode. An oscillator generates the signal, which is then sent to the transmit coupler. The waveguide and the projectile form a system in which the electromagnetic field at the receive coupler is influenced by the position of the projectile. The characteristic change over time of the strength of the electromagnetic field at the location of the receive coupler that results from the change in the distance between the projectile and the receive coupler is measured and used to determine the muzzle velocity.
Claims20
A method for determining a muzzle velocity of a projectile at a gun barrel or launcher tube or at a muzzle brake, the method comprising:
- operating the barrel or muzzle brake as a waveguide at a frequency that is below a corresponding cutoff frequency characterizing signal propagation in the waveguide, the cutoff frequency indicating a frequency below which waves are attenuated rather than propagated through the waveguide;
- and
- determining the muzzle velocity of the projectile from measurements of an electromagnetic signal generated in response to the operation of the waveguide.
A muzzle velocity measurement apparatus, comprising:
- at least one transmit coupler configured to excite a waveguide at a given frequency;
- at least one receive coupler configured to receive electromagnetic signals generated in response to the excitation of the waveguide;
- a measurement unit configured to determine a velocity of a projectile launched through the waveguide based on the electromagnetic signals received by receive coupler;
- and
- a signal generator configured to provide an electromagnetic signal for exciting the waveguide to the transmit coupler at a frequency below a cutoff frequency corresponding to the waveguide, the cutoff frequency indicating a frequency below which waves are attenuated rather than propagated through the waveguide.
A method for measuring muzzle velocity, comprising:
- exciting a waveguide at a given frequency;
- receiving electromagnetic signals generated in response to the excitation of the waveguide;
- determining a velocity of a projectile launched through the waveguide based on the electromagnetic signals received in response to the excitation of the waveguide;
- and
- providing an electromagnetic signal for exciting the waveguide at a frequency below a cutoff frequency corresponding to the waveguide, the cutoff frequency indicating a frequency below which waves are attenuated rather than propagated through the waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.