Weapons stores processor panel for aircraft

• US 9,803,958 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Wolfanger, Justin L., Asaro, Carlo
• Primary Examiner(s): HEINLE, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US13/401,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20130218372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31, 701 3, 89 3716, 89 4121, 89 151- 159, 89 18- 1816, 89132, 89135-137, 89 2805
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/04 Helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 7/00 Arrangements of military equipment, e.g. armaments, armament accessories, or military shielding, in aircraft; Adaptations of armament mountings for aircraft dropping bombs or the like B64D1/00; armaments or mountings therefor per se F41
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/58 Electric firing mechanisms F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/22 for vehicle-borne armament, e.g. on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles

Abstract

An aircraft weapons control system including a weapons stores processor panel for receiving input signals from a weapons input; a weapons interface for receiving fire signals from the weapons stores processor panel to control firing of aircraft weapons; and a flight management system in communication with the weapons stores processor panel and the weapons interface, the flight management system providing control signals to the weapons interface; wherein the weapons stores processor panel implements safety interlocks to prevent or enable firing of the aircraft weapons.

Claims

1. An aircraft weapons control system comprising:

a weapons stores processor panel for receiving input signals from a weapons input;

a weapons interface for receiving fire signals from the weapons stores processor panel to control firing of aircraft weapons;

a flight management system in communication with the weapons stores processor panel and the weapons interface, the flight management system providing control signals to the weapons interface, the flight management system separate from the weapons stores processor panel; and

a control panel on the weapons stores processor panel, the control panel including a master arm switch for selecting a master arm position, a safe position and an off position;

wherein the weapons stores processor panel implements safety interlocks to prevent or enable firing of the aircraft weapons, the weapons interface requiring an enable signal from the weapons stores processor panel to fire a weapon;

wherein when the master arm switch is in the master arm position, the weapons stores processor panel provides power to a weapons interface controller and the weapons stores processor panel enables generation of the fire signals;

wherein when the master arm switch is in the safe position, the weapons stores processor panel provides power to a weapons interface controller and the weapons stores processor panel prevents generation of the fire signals;

wherein when the master arm switch is in the off position, the weapons stores processor panel disables power to a weapons interface controller and the weapons stores processor panel prevents generation of the fire signals.

2. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 wherein:

the weapons interface includes a first weapons interface to a first weapon and a second weapons interface to a second weapon, the first weapon and the second weapon being of different types.

3. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 2 wherein:

the weapons interface includes a third weapons interface to a third weapon and a fourth weapons interface to a fourth weapon, the third weapon and the fourth weapon being of different types.

4. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 wherein:

the weapons stores processor panel communicates with the weapons interface using a MIL-STD-1760 standard.

5. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a laser pointer coupled to the weapons processor panel.

6. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data concentrator unit that conditions outputs from the flight management system for display on a multi-function display.

7. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 wherein:

the control panel also includes a laser arm switch for powering a laser pointer through the weapons stores processor panel.

8. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 wherein:

the control panel includes an override switch for having a weight-on-wheels (WOW) position and a manual override position.

9. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 8 wherein:

when the override switch is in the manual override position, the weapons stores processor panel commands the weapons interface directly, without reliance on the flight management system.

10. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 wherein:

the control panel includes a weapons select switch which designates a weapon to fire, the weapons select switch including an off position in which the weapons stores processor panel disables fire signals to the weapons interface.

11. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 wherein:

the weapons stores processor panel provides display information for a helmet mounted display, control display unit, and a multifunction function display.

12. The aircraft weapons control system of claim 1 wherein:

the weapons stores processor panel provides data for a weapons bus controller to implement firing of weapons.

13. A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) rotary-wing aircraft comprising:

an aircraft mounted weapon; and

an aircraft weapons control system, the aircraft weapons control system including;

a weapons stores processor panel for receiving input signals from a weapons input;

a weapons interface for receiving fire signals from the weapons stores processor panel to control firing of the aircraft weapon;

a flight management system in communication with the weapons stores processor panel and the weapons interface, the flight management system providing control signals to the weapons interface, the flight management system separate from the weapons stores processor panel; and

a control panel on the weapons stores processor panel, the control panel including a master arm switch for selecting a master arm position, a safe position and an off position;

wherein the weapons stores processor panel implements safety interlocks to prevent or enable firing of the aircraft weapon, the weapons interface requiring an enable signal from the weapons stores processor panel to fire a weapon;

wherein when the master arm switch is in the master arm position, the weapons stores processor panel provides power to a weapons interface controller and the weapons stores processor panel enables generation of the fire signals;

wherein when the master arm switch is in the safe position, the weapons stores processor panel provides power to a weapons interface controller and the weapons stores processor panel prevents generation of the fire signals;

wherein when the master arm switch is in the off position, the weapons stores processor panel disables power to a weapons interface controller and the weapons stores processor panel prevents generation of the fire signals.

14. The rotary-wing aircraft of claim 13 further comprising:

a laser pointer coupled to the weapons stores processor panel.

15. The rotary-wing aircraft of claim of claim 13 wherein:

the control panel also includes a laser arm switch for powering a laser pointer through the weapons stores processor panel.

16. The rotary-wing aircraft of claim of claim 13 wherein:

the control panel includes an override switch for having a weight-on-wheels (WOW) position and a manual override position.

17. The rotary-wing aircraft of claim 16 wherein:

when the override switch is in the manual override position, the weapons stores processor panel commands the weapons interface directly, without reliance on the flight management system.

18. The rotary-wing aircraft of claim 13 wherein:

the control panel includes a weapons select switch which designates a weapon to fire in a manual over-ride mode, the weapons select switch including an off position in which the weapons stores processor panel disables fire signals to the weapons interface.