Attachable/detachable segmented ordnance dispenser
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsWilliam Clayton Hester, Jr., Deon Austin Harkey, William J. Gray, III, Lea Cozort
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Attachable/detachable segmented ordnance dispenser systems and methods are presented. A control module targets, fuses, and releases ordnance, and at least one ordnance dispenser segment comprises a rack mount ordnance assembly and a segment enclosure. The rack mount ordnance assembly mounts and releases ordnance under control of the control module, and the segment enclosure comprises a segment door that opens under control of the control module. An aerodynamic shell aerodynamically enhances and protects the ordnance dispenser segment and the control module, and can be coupled to a vehicle.
Claims20
An attachable/detachable segmented ordnance dispenser system comprising:
- a control module operable to target, fuse, and release ordnance;
- a plurality of ordnance dispenser segments operable to detachably couple to an ordnance dispenser pod and configured to be interchangeable and to allow mixed segments comprising various sizes to be detachably attached in the ordnance dispenser pod, each of the ordnance dispenser segments comprising:
- a rack mount ordnance assembly operable to mount the ordnance and release the ordnance under control of the control module;
- and
- a segment enclosure comprising a segment door operable to open under control of the control module;
- and
- an aerodynamic shell coupled to and operable to aerodynamically enhance and protect the ordnance dispenser segments and the control module, and further operable to be coupled to a vehicle.
An attachable/detachable segmented ordnance dispenser system, the system comprising:
- an ordnance dispenser pod operable to dispense ordnance;
- a plurality of ordnance dispenser segments each:
- operable to detachably couple to the ordnance dispenser pod, and
- configured to be interchangeable and to allow mixed segments comprising various sizes to be attached in the ordnance dispenser pod;
- a rack mount ordnance assembly coupled to an interior of the ordnance dispenser pod and operable to hold the ordnance;
- a target acquisition sensor coupled to the rack mount ordnance assembly and operable to sense a sensed target;
- a target designator coupled to the target acquisition sensor and operable to designate the sensed target;
- a ballistic computer coupled to the target designator and operable to compute an ordnance release timing for the ordnance according to the sensed target;
- a communication module coupled to the ballistic computer and operable to receive the ordnance release timing therefrom;
- and
- an ordnance release mechanism operable to receive the ordnance release timing from the communication module and release the ordnance according to and based on the ordnance release timing.
A method for providing an attachable/detachable segmented ordnance dispenser system comprising:
- providing an electronic section segment operable to target, fuse, and release ordnance;
- providing a plurality of ordnance dispenser segments by:
- configuring the ordnance dispenser segments to be interchangeable and to allow mixed segments comprising various sizes to be detachably attached in an ordnance dispenser pod;
- providing a rack mount ordnance assembly for each of the ordnance dispenser segments operable to mount the ordnance and release the ordnance under control of the electronic section segment;
- and
- providing a segment enclosure comprising a segment door operable to open under control of the electronic section segment;
- detachably coupling each of the ordnance dispenser segments to the ordnance dispenser pod;
- and
- coupling an aerodynamic shell to the ordnance dispenser segments and the electronic section segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.