Gun launched hybrid projectile

• US 8,115,149 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Manole, Leon R., Logsdon, Ernest L. Jr., Palathingal, Mohan J., Sebasto, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr
• Application Number:
  US12/506,579
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31- 33, 244/34.R, 244/35.R, 244/45.R, 244/46, 244/49, 244/62, 244/63, 244/117.R, 244/119, 244/120, 244/75.1, 244/76.R, 244/175, 244/189, 244/190, 89/11.1, 102374-381, 102/430, 102/473, 102/482, 102/501, 102/517
• US Class Current: 244/3.14
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/30 Command link guidance systems homing F41G7/2206
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/18 using a longitudinally slidable support member
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/62 Steering by movement of flight surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/01 Arrangements thereon for guidance or control steering arrangements F42B10/60; aircraft flight control B64C; guidance systems other than those installed aboard F41G7/00, F41G9/00; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; flight control in general G05D1/00; computer aspects G06]
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/105 Air torpedoes, e.g. projectiles with or without propulsion, provided with supporting air foil surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246

Abstract

A Hybrid Projectile is provided for delivering an explosive payload to a target wherein the Hybrid Projectile may be steered in flight using relatively inexpensive means. The Hybrid Projectile is exteriorly configured in the same physical exterior configuration of conventional ammunition of various standard types so it can be launched in conventional manner from the same weapon systems. However, internal features allow the Hybrid Projectile to be transformed in flight from a command signal to deploy wings and fins, and in some projectiles to telescope open to deploy such wings and fins. An inexpensive televisual means is activated in the fore region of the round which through RF uplink command can be used to select a path, while motors on the wings can then be used to more precisely glide the projectile to a target, or otherwise to abort the target run.

Claims

1. A Hybrid Projectile for delivering an explosive payload upon a target wherein said Hybrid Projectile is carried in a conventional ammunition cartridge, wherein the cartridge transforms in flight to present said Hybrid Projectile upon command through an RF command link, and wherein said Hybrid Projectile further comprises means for being steered during flight comprising:

wings and fins in the Hybrid Projectile which are deployed in flight upon command through the RF command link, and

first electric motor means in the Hybrid Projectile for moving the wings and second electric motor means in the Hybrid Projectile for moving the fins which control the glide path of the Hybrid Projectile by moving the wings and fins upon command through the RF command link, and

televisual means on the said Hybrid Projectile which through the RF command link displays the flying path of the Hybrid Projectile, and

ground control means which are used to steer the flying path of the Hybrid Projectile upon command through the RE command link wherein the ground control means has a work station with a screen for viewing signals from the televisual means and a joystick for controlling the flying path of the Hybrid Projectile through controlling said first and said second electric motor means.

2. The Hybrid Projectile of claim 1 wherein the type of ammunition cartridge is selected from the group consisting of:

grenade projectiles, shoulder launched projectiles, tank projectiles, mortar projectiles and telescoping ammunition projectiles.

3. The Hybrid Projectile of claim 2 wherein the Hybrid Projectile ammunition cartridge is used alongside with, or in replacement of, conventional ammunition.

4. The Hybrid Projectile of claim 2 wherein the Hybrid Projectile ammunition cartridge has a selectable fuze feature for setting the cartridge to a guided mission function.

5. The Hybrid Projectile of claim 2 wherein the Hybrid Projectile is guided using commands from the ground station to:

change target while in flight, to return to approximate send location, to identify battlefield assets in its view, to avoid friendly forces by changing flight path, or to self destruct in flight or after landing.

6. The Hybrid Projectile of claim 2 wherein the Hybrid Projectile is carried as cargo in the ammunition cartridge, and the Hybrid Projectile is ejected from the ammunition cartridge upon command from the ground station.