Steerable munitions projectile

• US 9,857,154 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Minnicino, II, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US14/446,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20160033244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 102501, 102502, 102503, 102506, 102507, 102508, 102511, 102513, 102514, 102517, 102529, 244 31, 244 323
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/62 Steering by movement of flight surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/02 characterised by the warhead or the intended effect

Abstract

A munition having a warhead and an ogive coaxially rotatably mounted to the warhead. A controllable motor is mechanically coupled to the ogive to control the rotational position of the ogive relative to the warhead. The ogive includes an asymmetric surface while a windscreen is detachably connected to the ogive over the asymmetric surface so that, with the windscreen attached to the ogive, the outer surface of the ogive together with the windscreen are axisymmetric in shape. A detachment mechanism, when activated, detaches the windscreen from the ogive which permits steering of the munition by placement of the asymmetric surface relative to the warhead. The introduction of the asymmetric surface during flight produces an asymmetric pressure field resulting in a lateral force on the munition causing is to change direction.

Claims

1. A projectile comprising:

a warhead,

an ogive coaxially rotatably mounted to said warhead,

a controllable motor mechanically coupled to said ogive to control a rotational position of said ogive relative to said warhead,

said ogive having an asymmetric surface,

a windscreen detachably connected to said ogive over said asymmetric surface so that, with said windscreen attached to said ogive, an outer surface of said ogive together with said windscreen is axisymmetric,

a detachment mechanism which, when activated, detaches said windscreen from said ogive, and wherein said warhead spins in one rotational direction and said motor rotatably drives said ogive in the opposite rotational direction and wherein said detachment mechanism comprises a reactive film between said ogive and said windscreen which, when activated, is self-consuming, and further comprising a controller-motor unit which controls the motor'"'"'s shaft speed or position of said motor.

2. The projectile as defined in claim 1 wherein said controller-motor unit is able to control a motor shaft speed or position of said motor in a continuous or an intermittent basis.