Ground-projectile guidance system
OwnerGordon Harris, Stephen Harrisinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A guidance unit system is configured to be used for a ground-launched projectile. The system includes a housing configured to be attached to a ground-launched projectile. The housing is coupled to an attachment region that attaches to the projectile, wherein the housing is configure to rotate relative to the attachment region. A motor is contained within the housing and a bearing surrounding the motor. The bearing is rigidly attached to the housing such that the motor rotates with the housing and shields the motor from inertial loads experienced by the housing.
Claims17
A guidance unit system for a ground-launched projectile, comprising:
- a housing configured to be attached to a ground-launched projectile, the housing having a bullet-nosed region and an attachment region, wherein the attachment region inserts into the projectile, wherein the bullet-nosed region of the housing rotates relative to the attachment region of the housing;
- a motor contained within the housing;
- a bearing surrounding the motor such that the motor is contained entirely within the bearing, the bearing being rigidly attached to the housing such that the motor rotates with the housing and shields the motor from inertial loads experienced by the housing, wherein the bearing rotates about an axis perpendicular to a long axis of the ground launched projectile.
A projectile guidance assembly, comprising:
- a tail stabilized projectile member, the tail stabilized projectile including at least one fin fixedly attached to the tail of the projectile;
- a guidance unit that attaches to the projectile member to convert the projectile member into a precision guided projectile, the guidance unit including:
- (a) a front housing having a bullet-nosed region and an attachment region, wherein the attachment region inserts into the projectile, wherein the bullet-nosed region of the front housing rotates relative to the attachment region of the front housing;
- (b) a motor within the front housing;
- and a pair of proportionally-actuated canard control surfaces movably attached to the guidance unit and mechanically coupled to the motor in a manner that permits the pair of proportionally-actuated canard control surfaces to be differentially deflected relative to one another for roll-to-turn steering and deflected collectively for pitch guidance, wherein the guidance unit further includes a bearing surrounding the motor such that the motor is contained entirely within the bearing, the bearing being rigidly attached to the front housing such that the motor rotates with the front housing and shields the motor from inertial loads experienced by the front housing.
A projectile guidance assembly, comprising:
- a tail stabilized projectile member, the tail stabilized projectile including at least one fin fixedly attached to the tail of the projectile;
- a guidance unit that attaches to the projectile member to convert the projectile member into a precision guided projectile, the guidance unit including:
- (a) a front housing having a bullet-nosed region and an attachment region, wherein the attachment region inserts into the projectile, wherein the bullet-nosed region of the front housing rotates relative to the attachment region of the front housing;
- (b) a motor within the housing, wherein the guidance unit further includes a bearing surrounding the motor such that the motor is contained entirely within the bearing, the bearing being rigidly attached to the front housing such that the motor rotates with the front housing and shields the motor from inertial loads experienced by the front housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.