Intercept device for flying objects

• US 5,583,311 A
• Filed: 03/17/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lfk-Lenkflugkã¶Rpersysteme GmbH (MBDA)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Rieger, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wesson, Theresa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/407,107
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 89/1.11, 89/1.34, 102/404, 102/405, 102/504, 244/110 C, 244/110 F
• US Class Current: 89/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/04 Aerial barrages

Abstract

An intercept device for flying objects is formed of a lightweight, small-volume, packable structure made of a tear-resistant, pliable material, which can be stretched to a large, two-dimensional or three-dimensional expansion by means of a deployment device. To reduce the velocity of the intercepted flying objects, activatable, aerodynamic resistance bodies are incorporated into the structure. To end the intercept procedure, elements are integrated into the structure, which consist of material that can be destroyed from outside by means of high-energy beams and/or chemical reagents, or that destroys itself, or the structure as a whole consists of such material.

Claims

1. An intercept device for flying objects, including manned aircraft, comprising:

a packable structure formed of a tear resistant, pliable material, the structure being stretchable to a large three dimensional expanded structure;

deployment means for deploying said structure by positioning said structure in the air, for intercepting a flying object, said structure changing from a packed state to an expanded state;

aerodynamic resistance bodies connected to said structure; and

intercept termination means for locally destroying at least a portion of said structure adjacent to said aerodynamic resistance bodies for disconnecting said aerodynamic resistance bodies from the flying object without destroying the flying object whereby said structure is deployed in front of a flying object to intercept the flying object and said aerodynamic resistance bodies reduce the velocity of the intercepted flying object and said interception termination means destroys a portion of said structure to end interception of the flying object.

2. An intercept device according to claim 1, wherein said aerodynamic resistance bodies include activation means for activating said aerodynamic resistance bodies to change an amount of drag applied by said aerodynamic resistance bodies on said structure as said structure moves through the air with an intercepted flying object.

3. An intercept device according to claim 2, wherein said intercept termination means includes a self destruct element disposed on said structure for destroying a predetermined part of said structure said self destruct element including chemical reagents disposed adjacent to said structure, said chemical reagents being released by said activation means for at least partially dissolving a material forming said structure.

4. An intercept device according to claim 1, wherein said intercept termination means includes a self destruct element disposed on said structure for destroying a predetermined part of said structure.

5. An intercept device according to claim 4, wherein said self destruct element includes a receiving element for activating said self destruct element upon receiving a command signal.

6. An intercept device according to claim 4, wherein said self destruct device includes a pyrotechnic element connected to said structure for locally destroying said structure.

7. An intercept device according to claim 4, wherein said self destruct device includes fusible wire elements which locally break said structure.

8. An intercept device according to claim 4, wherein said self destruct device includes electro mechanical elements which locally break said structure.

9. An intercept device according to claim 1, wherein said structure is one of a net like structure, cobweb-like structure, balloon-like structure with a plurality of perforations and a hedge-hog like or dandelion-seed like structure including a plurality of ribbons, hoses and cables, which emanate from a center of said hedge-hog like or dandelion-seed like structure.

10. An intercept device according to claim 1, wherein said aerodynamic resistance body includes one of a balloon inflatable by air current, an inflatable air bag, a deployable parachute, ribbons which create drag upon rapid movement at abrupt angles and foam bodies including means for expanding said foam bodies.

11. An intercept device according to claim 10, wherein said means for expanding said foam bodies includes an element for filing said bodies with one of foam and an expanding agent.

12. An intercept device according to claim 1, wherein said intercept termination means includes forming said structure of a material that can be destroyed by one of a high energy beam and/or chemical reagent, deployed from outside of said structure.

13. A method for intercepting flying objects, including intercepting manned aircraft, comprising the steps of:

providing a structure formed of tear resistant, pliable material which can be stretched into a large three dimensional expanded structure;

packing said structure;

deploying said structure into the air, in front of a flying object using a deployment device;

providing aerodynamic resistance bodies which can be activated, the aerodynamic resistance bodies being connected to said structure;

intercepting a flying aircraft with said structure, in a deployed state and subsequently activating at least one of said aerodynamic resistance bodies to reduce a velocity of the intercepted flying object; and

destroying at least a part of said structure to disconnect the aerodynamic resistance bodies and terminate interception of the flying body without destroying the flying object.

14. An intercept device for flying objects, including manned aircraft, comprising:

a light-weight, small volume packable structure formed of tear-resistant, pliable material, said structure being stretchable to a three dimensional expansion;

a deployment device for deploying said structure, said structure changing from a packed state to an expanded state upon completion of a deployment;

aerodynamic resistance bodies connected to said structure; and

self destruct means for ending an intercept procedure including one of materials incorporated at one of said structure and said aerodynamic resistance bodies for locally destroying a portion of said one of said structure and said aerodynamic resistance bodies upon application of, said destruction means including one of high-energy beams and chemical reagents incorporated in one of said structure and said aerodynamic resistance bodies which can be activated for destroying a part of one of said structure and said aerodynamic resistance bodies.

15. An intercept device according to claim 14, wherein said structure is net-like including one of a cob web-like structure, balloon-like structure with a plurality of perforations, a hedge-hog-like structure, a dandelion-seed-like structure, a plurality of ribbons emanating from a center, a plurality of hoses emanating from a center and a plurality of cables emanating from a center.

16. An intercept device according to claim 14, wherein said aerodynamic resistance bodies comprised one of balloons inflatable by air current, air bags, deployable parachutes, ribbons that move rapidly at an abrupt angle and foamed bodies which may be expanded upon deployment.

17. An intercept device according to claim 14, wherein said self destruct means comprises said chemical reagents incorporated into said structure, said chemical reagents being releasable to dissolve a portion of said structure.

18. An intercept device according to claim 14, wherein said self destruct means includes pyrotechnic elements connected to said structure for locally destroying a portion of said structure.

19. An intercept device according to claim 14, wherein said self destruct means includes fusible wire elements which locally break a part of said structure.

20. An intercept device according to claim 14, wherein said self destruct means includes electrochemical elements connected to said structure for locally breaking a part of said structure.