Power supplies for projectiles and other devices

• US 7,231,874 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Spinelli, Thomas, Rastegar, Jahangir S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Timothy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/235,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 102/207, 102/208, 102/209, 102/210
• US Class Current: 102/207
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/02 Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile or anti-torpedo defence installations or systems cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 2/00 Reflecting targets, e.g. radar-reflector targets; Active targets transmitting electromagnetic or acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/40 wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically

Abstract

A method for generating power in a device is provided. The method includes: generating power from an inherent characteristic of the device; and supplying the generated power to at least one power consuming element associated with the device. Preferably, the inherent characteristic of the device is an acceleration of the device and the generating includes providing a mass which is movable upon the acceleration of the device and converting a potential energy of the mass into an electrical power. Alternatively, the inherent characteristic of the device is a heat generation on at least a portion of the device and the generating includes converting a heat from the heat generation into an electrical power. In another alternative, the inherent characteristic of the device is a spinning of the device and the generating includes converting the spinning of the device into an electrical power.

Claims

1. A munition comprising:

at least one power consuming element, and

an electrical power supply which generates electrical power from a firing acceleration in an acceleration direction of the munition and supplies such electrical power to the at least one power consuming element;

wherein the power supply comprises means for storing potential energy upon the firing acceleration of the munition and means for converting the stored potential energy to electrical energy, wherein the means for storing potential energy includes a mass that is substantially movable in the acceleration direction;

wherein the means for storing potential energy upon the firing acceleration of the munition further comprises an energy storage means for storing energy upon acceleration of the mass and the energy storage means is a vibrating member, the vibrating member being acted upon by the mass to initiate a vibration of the vibrating member subsequent to the acceleration of the mass.

3. The munition of claim 1, wherein the energy storage means is at least one spring element, the at least one spring element being acted upon by the mass to displace the at least one spring element subsequent to acceleration of the mass.

4. The munition of claim 3, wherein the means for converting the stored potential energy to electrical energy comprises:

a magnet disposed on the mass; and

a coil positioned at least partially around the mass for use with the mass to generate electrical energy.

5. The munition of claim 1, wherein the means for converting the stored potential energy to electrical energy comprises one or more piezo elements operatively associated to the vibrating member to generate electrical energy.

2. A method for generating electrical power in a munition, the method comprising:

generating electrical power from a firing acceleration in an acceleration direction of the munition; and

supplying the generated electrical power to at least one power consuming element associated with the munition;

wherein the generating comprises providing a mass which is substantially movable in the acceleration direction upon the firing acceleration of the munition to preload at least one spring element and convening a stored potential energy in the at least one spring element into an electrical power where the converting comprises storing energy upon acceleration of the mass from a vibrating member, the vibrating member being acted upon by the mass to initiate a vibration of the vibrating member subsequent to the acceleration of the mass.

6. A munition comprising:

a casing;

a power consuming element associated with the casing; and

means for storing potential energy within the casing at one of a firing acceleration of the munition and prior to the firing acceleration of the munition; and

means for converting the stored potential energy to electrical energy which is at least partially and at least indirectly supplied to the power consuming element;

wherein the means for storing potential energy further comprises an energy storage means for storing energy upon acceleration of the mass and the energy storage means is a vibrating member, the vibrating member being acted upon by the mass to initiate a vibration of the vibrating member.

7. A method for generating power onboard a munition, the method comprising:

storing potential energy within a casing of the munition at one of a firing acceleration of the munition and prior to the firing acceleration of the munition;

converting the stored potential energy to electrical energy; and

at least partially and at least indirectly supplying the electrical energy to a power consuming element;

where the converting comprises storing energy from a vibrating member, the vibrating member being acted upon by the mass to initiate a vibration of the vibrating member.