Security system for warheads

• US 5,877,696 A
• Filed: 04/09/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Powell, Roger A.
• Original Assignee: Powell, Roger A.
• Inventors: Powell, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/629,621
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.32, 340/539, 340/541, 340/568, 340/540, 340/544, 340/633, 340/691, 340/825.31, 102/200, 102/211, 89/1.8, 89/1.801, 89/1.11, 89/17, 89/21, 235/400, 235/401, 235/403
• US Class Current: 340/5.33
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/04 for rockets
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation

Abstract

A weapons security system composed of containers for storage of warheads or warhead material. The containers are equipped to detect breaches in the enclosure walls and to transmit an alarm signal in the event of a breach. The alarm signal is received by a local control center for transmission to a central weapons command. The central weapons command may also receive the alarm directly. The central weapons command despatches forces to counter the threat identified by the alarm. Also, the central weapons command dispatches electronic authorization or opening codes to the containers or their local guardians. The containers may be equipped with entry deterrent devices and warhead destructive devices which are triggered by the detection of a breach in the enclosure.

Claims

1. A warhead security system, comprising:

a central weapons command center,

a local control center having means for communicating with said central weapons command center and communicating with a plurality of container control modules in the local area, said local control center having means for receiving an alarm signal from any said container control modules and transmitting an alarm signal to said central weapons command center, said local control center being spatially separated from said plurality of container control modules,

a plurality of containers, each having a continuous enclosure and said container control modules, said container control module being coupled to means for detecting a breach of said enclosure and having means for communicating with said local control center, said container control modules transmitting an alarm signal when a breach of said enclosure is detected by means for communicating with said local control center.

2. A warhead security system according to claim 1, further comprising a door in said container and means for locking said door, said locking means coupled to said container control module, said container control module after receiving communication from said local control center in a first coded message, comparing said first coded message to a second coded message previously stored in said container control module, if said first coded message matches said second coded message, said container control module acting to unlock said locking means.

3. A warhead security system according to claim 1, wherein said means for communicating with said local control center is a cable having a first end that originates at said local control center, enters said container control module in said container, exits said container control module, and having a second end that terminates at said local control center, said local control center transmitting a signal into said first end of said cable and local control center monitoring the return of said signal from said second end of said cable, wherein said means for sending an alarm message is said container control module having means for interrupting said signal in said cable.

4. A warhead security system according to claim 1, wherein said means for communicating with said central weapons command center is responding to a first coded message transmitted by central weapons command with a second coded message transmitted by said local control center, when an alarm condition exists at said local control center, said local control center ceases to respond with said second coded message.

5. A warhead security system according to claim 1, further comprising a door in said container and means for locking said door, said locking means coupled to said container control module, said container control module being coupled to means for locally entering a first coded message into said container control module, said container control module comparing said first coded message to a second coded message previously stored in said container control module, if said first coded message matches said second coded message, said container control module acting to unlock said means for locking said door.

6. A container for storing warheads, comprising:

a continuous enclosure,

a container control module, said container control module coupled to means for monitoring the integrity of said enclosure, said means for monitoring the integrity of said enclosure employs means for adding a volume of gas to create an internal pressure in said container that is greater than the external pressure, means for monitoring the value of said internal pressure, adding additional gas intermittently to replace gas lost due to leakage, and generating an alarm signal when said internal pressure decreases rapidly indicating a breach in the enclosure, said container control module having means for transmitting an airborne broadcast alarm signal having a frequency greater than 30,000 hertz to a remote receiver when said enclosure is breached.

7. A container according to claim 6, further comprising a door in said container and means for locking said door, said locking means coupled to said container control module, said container control module being coupled to means for locally entering a first coded message into said container control module, said container control module comparing said first coded message to a second coded message previously stored in said container control module, if said first coded message matches said second coded message, said container control module acting to unlock said means for locking said door.

8. A container according to claim 6, further comprising means for deterring the unauthorized entry of humans into said container.

9. A container according to claim 6, further comprising means for destructively disabling said warhead, said means for disabling being coupled to said container control module, said container control module activating said means for disabling if a breach of said enclosure is detected.

10. A warhead security system, comprising:

a central weapons command center, said central weapons command center having means for transmitting arming codes to a local command center,

a local control center having an airborne transmitter, said transmitter broadcasting airborne electromagnetic arming codes upon receipt of said codes from central weapons command, said transmitter having a limited effective range of airborne transmission of said arming codes,

means for arming a warhead, said arming means having means for receiving said airborne electromagnetic arming codes and transmitting said electromagnetic arming codes to a warhead, thereby arming said warhead.

11. A warhead security system according to claim 10, further comprising within said means for arming, means for adding an additional portion of an arming code to said broadcast airborne arming codes.

12. A warhead security system according to claim 10, wherein said means for arming a warhead is housed in a device that is separated from said warhead.

13. A warhead security system, comprising:

a first container having a continuous enclosure, and a first container control module, said first container control module being coupled to means for detecting a breach of said enclosure and having means for communicating with a central weapons command center, said first container control module having means for transmitting an alarm signal in response to said detection of a breach of said enclosure coupled to said means for communicating with a central weapons command center,

a second container having a continuous enclosure and a second container control module, said second container control module being coupled to means for detecting a breach of said enclosure and having means for communicating with said central weapons command center, said second container control module having means for transmitting an alarm signal in response to said detection of a breach of said enclosure coupled to said means for communicating with said central weapons command center,

a central weapons command center, said central weapons command center having means for receiving an alarm signal from said first container control module and from said second container control module, and having means for indicating an alarm signal has been transmitted by any container control module,

means for mutually communicating between said first container control module and said second container control module, each container control module monitoring said means for mutually communicating to detect an alarm signal from other container control module, thereupon transmitting an alarm signal to said central weapons command center.

14. A warhead security system, according to claim 13, wherein said means for mutually communicating is a cable having a first end that originates at said first container control module in said first container, enters said second container control module, exits said second container control module, and having a second end that terminates at said first container control module, said first container control module transmitting a signal into said first end of said cable and said first container control module monitoring the return of said signal from said second end of said cable, wherein said means for transmitting an alarm message being said second container control module having means for interrupting said signal in said cable.

15. A warhead security system according to claim 13, wherein said means for receiving an alarm signal is said container control module ceasing to respond to a first coded message transmitted by said central weapons command center with a second coded message transmitted by said container control module, when an alarm condition exists at said container control module.

16. A warhead security system according to claim 13, further comprising means for deterring the unauthorized entry of humans into said container.

17. A warhead security system according to claim 13, further comprising means for disabling said warhead, said means for disabling being coupled to said container control module, said container control module activating said means for disabling when the integrity of said enclosure is breached.

18. A warhead security system according to claim 13, wherein said means for detecting a breach of said enclosure is maintaining an internal pressure in said enclosure that is greater than the external pressure, monitoring the value of said internal pressure, and generating an alarm signal when said internal pressure decreases.