ADVANCED FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,575,085 A
• Filed: 08/21/1968
• Issued: 04/13/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William E. Mcadam Jr
• Original Assignee: William E. Mcadam Jr
• Inventors: Mcadam, William E. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US04/754,344
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• US Class Current: 235/404
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/065 Structural association of sighting-devices with laser telemeters
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/22 for vehicle-borne armament, e.g. on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 5/08 Ground-based tracking-systems for aerial targets
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/80 for gunlaying; for bomb aiming; for guiding missiles

Abstract

A fire control system for vehicle or tank control that provides a high first hit probability. The system is highly stable because of a sampling concept and is highly accurate because of the handling of nonstandard conditions. Reliable operation is provided for a moving tank or target, or both, and for noncoaltitude conditions.

Claims

1. A fire control system comprising:

sighting means having an optical path and movable line of sight means, a laser range finder having a transmitting and receiving path substantially coincident with the path of said sighting means, means for developing angular rate of movement signals of said line of sight means in the azimuth dimension, and analog computing means responsive to the angular rate of movement signals and to said laser range finder for developing azimuth and elevation fire control signals.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said means for developing angular rate signals also develops angular rate signals in the elevation dimension and said analog computing means also responds thereto.

3. A tank fire control system comprising:

a laser range finder, a movable sight, a computer responsive to said laser range finder for calculating azimuth and elevation angles under standard firing conditions, sensing means for developing signals representative of nonstandard firing conditions, and means responsive to said computer and said sensing means for developing lead angle fire control signals.

4. The combination of claim 3 further including means responsive to movement of said sight to develop angular rate signals and means for applying said angular rate signals to said means for developing lead angle fire control signals.

5. A gun fire control system comprising:

a sight having a movable axis, a laser range finder having a transmission and reception axis parallel with the axis of said sight, computing means for calculating gun lead angles as a function of standard conditions and as a function of nonstandard conditions, sensing means coupled to said computing means, said means sensing nonstandard conditions and applying signal representative thereof to said computing means, and coupling means coupled between said computing means and sight for indicating said lead angles.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said coupling means is coupled between said computing means and said gun instead of said sight for controlling the gun pointing direction.

7. A gun fire control system comprising:

sighting means having a movable axis, a range finder having a transmission and reception axis substantially coincident with the axis of said sight, computing means for developing gun elevation and azimuth lead angle signals as a function of standArd conditions and as a function of nonstandard conditions, sensing means coupled to said computing means for sensing nonstandard conditions and applying signals representative thereof to said computing means, means coupled between said computing means and said sighting means so that said sighting means indicates said lead angles, and means coupled between said computing means and said gun for applying said lead angle signals thereto.

8. A vehicle gun fire control system comprising:

gyro means responsive to said gun for sensing azimuth rate of motion, sensing means for sensing nonstandard conditions, sighting means, computing means responsive to said sensing means for developing elevation and azimuth signals, means responsive to said elevation and azimuth signals and to said gyro means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals, and means for applying said lead angle signals to said sighting means.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which said means for applying said lead angle signals applies said lead angle signals to said gun instead of said sight.

10. A system for controlling gun fire from a vehicle comprising:

ranging means, computer means responsive to said ranging means for determining lead angles in reference coordinates for standard conditions, coordinate conversion means including means for sensing the vehicle movement in the cant dimension and responsive to said computer means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals in vehicle coordinates.

11. The combination of claim 10 further including means for sensing variations from nonstandard conditions, and combining means coupled to said conversion means and to said means for sensing for developing said lead angle signals under said nonstandard conditions.

12. A vehicle gun fire control system for controlling fire to a target comprising:

computer means for determining elevation and azimuth lead angles in earth coordinates, coordinate conversion means coupled to said computer means for sensing a single axis of vehicle movement and for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals in vehicle coordinates, parameter determining means for developing gun parameters in vehicle coordinates, and combining means coupled to said parameter determining means and to said conversion means for modifying said elevation and azimuth lead angle signals.

13. A system for controlling fire from a vehicle to a target comprising:

range finding means, computing means for responding to said range finding means for determining lead angles in reference coordinates, and coordinate conversion means including means for sensing the angular rate of target movement in a single axis and developing lead angle signals in vehicle coordinates

14. The combination of claim 13 further including means for sensing variations from nonstandard firing conditions, and combining means coupled between said conversion means and said computing means for determining said lead angles under said nonstandard firing conditions.

15. A system for controlling gun fire from a vehicle to a target comprising:

range finding means, computer means responsive to said range finding means for determining lead angles in reference coordinates under standard conditions, and coordinate conversion means including means for sensing angular rate of target movement in first and second gun axis in vehicle coordinates and responsive to said computer means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals in vehicle coordinates.

16. The combination of claim 15 further including means for sensing variation from nonstandard conditions and combining means coupled between said computer means and said conversion means for developing said lead angle signals under said nonstandard conditions.

17. A system for controlling gun fire from a vehicle to a target comprising:

target range determining meanS, computer means coupled to said range determining means for determining elevation signals in reference coordinates, means for sensing elevation and azimuth angular rate of movement in vehicle coordinates, means for sampling said elevation and azimuth angle rates, conversion means responsive to said computer means for determining elevation and azimuth lead angles in vehicle coordinates, and means responsive to said conversion means and to said means for sensing for developing lead angle signals in vehicle coordinates.

18. A tank fire control system for controlling gun fire to a target comprising:

sighting means having an axis movable to follow the target, first and second means for providing elevation and azimuth angular rate of gun axis movement signals, controllable means for sampling and storing the elevation and azimuth angular rate, and means responsive to the sampled angular rates for developing elevation and azimuth gun pointing control signals.

19. The tank fire control system of claim 18 wherein first and second sensing means are mounted on said sighting means to provide signals corresponding to the motion of the sighting means axis as it follows the target, said first and second sensing means providing elevational and azimuthal angular rate of the axis of said sighting means signals, said signals provided by said first and second sensing means being connected to drive said sighting means.

20. The vehicle control system of claim 19 wherein said sighting means has elevational and azimuthal drive means thereon, said first and second means providing output signals, the output signals of said first and second means being connected to said sighting means elevational and azimuthal drive means to drive said sighting means.

21. A vehicle fire control system comprising:

sighting means, first and second means for determining elevation angular rate and azimuth angular rate of movement of said sighting means, means for sampling said elevation and azimuth angular rate, computing means for determining elevation and azimuth error signals in reference coordinates, and conversion means responsive to the computing means and to said means for sampling for developing elevation and azimuth error signals in vehicle referenced coordinates.

22. A tank fire control system for controlling a gun to hit moving targets comprising:

sighting means, means for sensing the angular rate of movement of said gun in only the azimuth dimension, computer means, and combining means coupled to said computer means and to said means for sensing to develop elevation and azimuth lead angle signals.

23. A vehicle fire control system operable with moving targets comprising:

computing means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals, sighting means movable to sight the target, means for determining the angular rate of movement of said sighting means, means for sensing firing conditions, combining means responsive to said means for sensing and to said computing means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals, in earth coordinates, and conversion means coupled to said combining means and to said means for determining to develop elevation and azimuth lead angle signals in vehicle referenced coordinates.

24. A vehicle gun control for controlling gun fire to a target comprising:

movable sighting means, target range determining means, computer means responsive to said range determining means for calculating elevation angle and time of flight under preselected standard conditions, angular rate sensing means responsive to movement of said sighting means, nonstandard condition sensing means, combining means coupled to said computer and to said nonstandard condition sensing means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals in reference coordinates, coordinate conversion means coupled to sAid combining means and to said angular rate sensing means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals in vehicle referenced coordinates, and means for applying said lead angle signals in vehicle referenced coordinates to said movable sighting means.

25. The combination of claim 24 further including operator controlled means coupled to said movable sighting means and control means coupled between said operator control means and said gun.

26. A vehicle gun control for controlling gun fire to a target comprising:

movable sighting means, target range determining means, computer means responsive to said range determining means for calculating elevation angle and time of flight under preselected standard conditions, angular rate sensing means responsive to movement of said sighting means, nonstandard condition sensing means, combining means coupled to said computer and to said nonstandard condition sensing means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signal in reference coordinates, coordinate conversion means coupled to said combining means and to said angular rate sensing means for developing elevation and azimuth lead angle signals in vehicle referenced coordinates, means for applying said lead angle signals in vehicle reference coordinates to said gun, operator-controlled means coupled to said movable sighting means, and position responsive means coupled between said movable sighting means and said gun.

27. The combination of claim 26 also including means coupling the computer to said gun for further controlling the gun pointing direction.

28. A vehicle fire control system for controlling gun fire to a target, said fire control system comprising:

sighting means having an axis movable to follow the target;

drive means connected to said sighting means to drive said sighting means in elevational and azimuthal directions;

first and second sensing means connected to said sighting means, said first and second sensing means providing elevational and azimuthal signals corresponding to elevational and azimuthal movement of the axis of said sighting means as it follows the target, said elevational and azimuthal signals being connected to said drive means to drive said sighting means respectively in elevational and azimuthal directions.

29. The vehicle fire control system of claim 28 wherein said first and second sensing means respectively provide elevational and azimuthal angular rate of sighting means axis movement signals.

30. A gun fire control system comprising:

a sight having a movable axis, a laser range finder having a transmission and reception axis substantially coincident with the axis of said sight, ammunition selection means, sensing means coupled to said ammunition selection means for sensing nonstandard conditions, computer means coupled to said ammunition selection means and to sensing means for calculating gun elevation angles as a function of nonstandard conditions, and first means coupled to said computer means and to said sensing means for developing gun pointing control signals.

31. A vehicle fire control system for controlling gun fire to a target comprising:

sighting means having an axis and including a hand control for moving said axis, range determining means, angular rate sensing means responsive to the movement of the axis of said sighting means, computer means coupled to said range determining means and to said sighting means for developing azimuth and elevation lead angle signals, first means for controlling the gun pointing direction, fluid control means coupled between said computer means and said first means for controlling the gun pointing in elevation, second means coupled between said sighting means and said first means for controlling said gun in azimuth, and third means coupled between said sighting means and said first means for further controlling said gun in elevation.

32. A fire control system for controlling fire to a target from a vehicle comprising:

computer means for determining elevation, azimuth and time of flight, sighting means, means responsive to said sighting means for determining angular rate of movement in azimuth, means for multiplying said time of flight and said angular rate to develop an azimuth signal, and resolving means responsive to said computer means and said azimuth signal for developing azimuth and elevation signals in predetermined reference planes.

33. A vehicle gun fire control system, said gun having a tube subject to changing conditions as a function of firing ammunition comprising:

range determining means, first means responsive to said gun firing to develop a signal representative of the gun tube wear, computing means coupled to said range determining means and coupled to said first means for developing elevation and azimuth signals including the ballistic effect of said tube wear; and

means coupled to said computing means for developing elevation and azimuth control signals representative of the desired gun pointing direction.

34. A gun fire control system comprising:

sighting means having an optical axis;

range determining means having a transmitting and receiving path substantially parallel with said optical axis;

computer means coupled to said range determining means for developing elevation signals under predetermined firing conditions;

sensing means for determining variations of said firing conditions;

first means for determining angular rate of motion of said sighting means; and

second means responsive to said sensing means and to said first means for developing signals representative of a desired gun pointing direction.

35. A tank gun fire control system for controlling fire to a target comprising:

sighting means having hand control means;

angular rate sensing means responsive to movement of said sighting means, range determining means, computing means coupled to said sighting means and to said range determining means for developing azimuth and elevation lead angle signals, and means coupled from said computing means and said sighting means to said gun for controlling the pointing direction of said gun.

36. A tank gun fire control system for controlling fire to a target comprising:

laser range determining means, sighting means having hand control means, said sighting means having an axis, angular rate sensing means responsive to movement of the axis of said sighting means, computing means coupled to said sighting means and to said range determining means for developing azimuth and elevation lead angle signals, means coupling said computing means to said sighting means for controlling the axis thereof, and means coupling the sighting means and said gun to control the gun direction.