Weapon and weapon system employing the same

• US 9,068,803 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lone Star IP Holdings, LP
• Original Assignee: Lone Star IP Holdings, LP
• Inventors: Roemerman, Steven D., Volpi, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin, James S
• Application Number:
  US13/451,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20140102328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 102/334, 102/367, 102/368, 102/369, 102/370, 102/395, 102/444, 102/445, 102/498, 102/513, 102/529
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/60 Steering arrangements F42B19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/40 of target-marking, i.e. impact-indicating type F42B12/48, F42B12/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/48 smoke-producing , e.g. infrared clouds
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 4/02 in cartridge form, i.e. shell, propellant and primer
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/20 Mortar grenades
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/22 Fall bombs

Abstract

A weapon system including a weapon, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a guidance section in a front section of the weapon, and a signal cartridge assembly behind the front section and including a signal cartridge configured to provide a signal indicating a location of impact for the weapon.

Claims

1. A weapon, comprising:

a guidance section comprising a target sensor in a front section of said weapon;

a signal cartridge assembly behind said front section and comprising a signal cartridge configured to provide a signal indicating a location of impact for said weapon, said signal cartridge assembly comprising a manifold configured to provide an orifice for said signal to escape said weapon.

2. The weapon as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal cartridge assembly is in a mid-section of said weapon.

3. The weapon as recited in claim 1 further comprising tails fins in an aft section of said weapon.

4. The weapon as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal cartridge is installed within a containment tube of said signal cartridge assembly.

5. The weapon as recited in claim 4 wherein said signal cartridge assembly comprises a sliding mass configured to drive said signal cartridge into a firing pin coupled to a bulkhead upon impact.

6. The weapon as recited in claim 5 wherein said firing pin is surrounded by a standoff spring configured to prevent said signal cartridge from engaging said firing pin in the event of normal vibrations and shocks.

7. The weapon as recited in claim 5 wherein said firing pin is surrounded by a spacer and safety pin positioner affixed to said bulkhead for engaging a safety pin.

8. The weapon as recited in claim 7 wherein said spacer and safety pin positioner is coupled to said containment tube via a frangible disc.

9. The weapon as recited in claim 5 wherein said firing pin is configured to engage a primer proximate a signal cartridge rim of said signal cartridge upon impact.

10. The weapon as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal cartridge assembly comprises an orifice seal configured to close said orifice prior to firing said signal cartridge.

11. A weapon system, comprising:

a delivery vehicle; and

a weapon coupleable to said delivery vehicle, comprising;

a guidance section comprising a target sensor in a front section of said weapon, and

a signal cartridge assembly behind said front section and comprising a signal cartridge configured to provide a signal indicating a location of impact for said weapon, said signal cartridge assembly comprising a manifold configured to provide an orifice for said signal to escape said weapon.

12. The weapon system as recited in claim 11 wherein said signal cartridge assembly is in a mid-section of said weapon.

13. The weapon system as recited in claim 11 wherein said weapon further comprises tails fins in an aft section of said weapon.

14. The weapon system as recited in claim 11 wherein said signal cartridge is installed within a containment tube of said signal cartridge assembly.

15. The weapon system as recited in claim 14 wherein said signal cartridge assembly comprises a sliding mass configured to drive said signal cartridge into a firing pin coupled to a bulkhead upon impact.

16. The weapon system as recited in claim 15 wherein said firing pin is surrounded by a standoff spring configured to prevent said signal cartridge from engaging said firing pin in the event of normal vibrations and shocks.

17. The weapon system as recited in claim 15 wherein said firing pin is surrounded by a spacer and safety pin positioner affixed to said bulkhead for engaging a safety pin.

18. The weapon system as recited in claim 17 wherein said spacer and safety pin positioner is coupled to said containment tube via a frangible disc.

19. The weapon system as recited in claim 15 wherein said firing pin is configured to engage a primer proximate a signal cartridge rim of said signal cartridge upon impact.

20. The weapon system as recited in claim 11 wherein said signal cartridge assembly comprises an orifice seal configured to close said orifice prior to firing said signal cartridge.