Helical path munitions delivery

• US 4,086,841 A
• Filed: 01/22/1974
• Issued: 05/02/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilmour C. Macdonald
• Original Assignee: Gilmour C. Macdonald
• Inventors: MacDonald, Gilmour C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US05/436,364
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 33/229, 33/230, 33/231, 89/1.5 R, 89/1.5 E, 89/1.5 S, 89/41 E, 89/41 EA, 89/41 AA, 235/61.5 R, 235/61.5 D, 244/137 R
• US Class Current: 89/1.56
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/04 the articles being explosive, e.g. bombs arming or setting bomb fuzes F42C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/22 for vehicle-borne armament, e.g. on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 9/002 for guiding a craft to a correct firing position for bombing control F41G9/02

Abstract

Improved aerial weapons comprise an aircraft capable of controlled flight relative to a preselected target, means to automatically control the flight path of said aircraft, means to continuously determine the position of said aircraft relative to said target, means to automatically impose upon said flight path a helical component which at one instant in time passes through a munition release point appropriate for the said target, and automatic means to release the munition at the said munition release point. Additionally, the weapon may comprise means to create a visual presentation of said target as an image erect with respect to the pilot, regardless of the instantaneous attitude of the aircraft.

Such aerial weapons, used to deliver air-to-ground munitions upon an intended target from an optimum position, speed and altitude can substantially reduce aircraft attrition from enemy guns or defensive aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for the air-to-ground delivery of a munition upon a selected target from a flight-controlled aircraft so as to mitigate damage to the aircraft by defensive action of an enemy which comprises:

A. automatically causing the aircraft to fly a helical path in passage toward the selected target under the control of a target position determining device, said helical path comprising at least one complete roll of the aircraft through approximately 360°

of bank angle along a substantially horizontal helix axis,

B. automatically continuously determining the position of said aircraft relative to said target, and

C. automatically discharging a munition from said aircraft flying said helical path and while the velocity vector of the aircraft lies in a vertical plane approximately through said target.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said munition is a bomb.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the helix of said helical path is at least equal to 0.1 the length of one complete roll of the aircraft through 360°

of bank angle.

3. A method for the air-to-ground delivery of a munition upon a selected target from a flight-controlled aircraft so as to mitigate damage to the aircraft by defensive action of an enemy which comprises:

A. automatically causing the aircraft to fly a helical path in passage toward the selected target under the control of a target position determining device, said helical path comprising at least one complete roll of the aircraft through approximately 360°

of bank angle,

B. automatically continuously determining the position of said aircraft relative to said target by means comprising a gimballed target tracker and ranging system, an inertial navigation system and a computer, and

C. automatically discharging a munition from said aircraft toward said target while the aircraft is flying said helical path.

4. A method for the air-to-ground delifery of a munition upon a selected target from a flight-controlled aircraft so as to mitigate damage to the aircraft by defensive action of an enemy which comprises:

A. automatically causing the aircraft to fly a helical path in passage toward the selected target under the control of a target position determining device, said helical path comprising at least one complete roll of the aircraft through approximately 360°

of bank angle,

B. automatically continuously determining the position of said aircraft relative to said target by means of a gimballed target tracker and ranging system, an inertial navigation system and a computer,

C. continuously creating a visual presentation of said target and its surroundings as an image erect with respect to the operator of the aircraft regardless of the instantaneous attitude of the aircraft with respect to the terrestrial horizon, and

D. automatically discharging a munition from said aircraft toward said target while the aircraft is flying said helical path.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a visible marker continuously indicating the predicted munitions impact point is centrally imposed on said image.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said target image may be repositioned to a new target.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said gimballed target tracker and ranging system includes laser target designator means.