Guided projectile

• US 7,891,298 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Of De, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Incorporated (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hobart, Stephen Alan, Widman, Frederick, Kokan, Timothy S., Massey, Frederic H., Minick, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US12/120,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20100307367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 102/501, 102/490, 102/375, 244/3.15, 244/3.22
• US Class Current: 102/501
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/663 using a plurality of transversally acting auxiliary nozzles, which are opened or closed by valves

Abstract

A non-propulsive projectile and method of maneuvering the non-propulsive projectile. The non-propulsive projectile includes a divert system with a multiple of valves to maneuver the projectile in response to a control system.

Claims

1. A divert system for a non-propulsive projectile comprising:

an accumulation manifold operable to receive a working fluid stored under pressure within a storage tank in response to an acceleration of the projectile;

a multiple of valves in communication with said accumulation manifold; and

a nozzle downstream of each of said multiple of valves.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said initiator activates immediately upon firing of the projectile from a cartridge case.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an initiator operable to release said working fluid from said storage tank into said accumulation manifold in response to said acceleration of the projectile.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said initiator comprises a hollow punch to initiate flow of the working fluid therethrough.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said initiator activates at a predetermined time after firing of the projectile from a cartridge case.

2. A divert system for a non-propulsive projectile comprising:

an accumulation manifold operable to receive a working fluid stored under pressure within a storage tank;

a multiple of valves in communication with said accumulation manifold;

a nozzle downstream of each of said multiple of valves; and

an initiator adjacent said storage tank, at lest one of said initiator and said storage tank relatively movable to the other of said initiator and said storage tank to selectively release the working fluid from said storage tank in response to an acceleration of the projectile.

3. A divert system for a non-propulsive projectile comprising:

an accumulation manifold operable to receive a working fluid stored under pressure within a storage tank;

a multiple of valves in communication with said accumulation manifold;

a nozzle downstream of each of said multiple of valves; and

a plug which seals said storage tank, said plug dislodgeable from said storage tank to release the working fluid from said storage tank in response to an acceleration of the projectile.

4. A divert system for a non-propulsive projectile comprising:

an accumulation manifold operable to receive a working fluid stored under pressure within a storage tank;

a multiple of valves in communication with said accumulation manifold;

a nozzle downstream of each of said multiple of valves; and

a burst disk which seals said storage tank, said burst disk operable to release the working fluid from said storage tank in response to adiabatic compression which causes increased pressure.

9. A non-propulsive projectile comprising:

a control system;

an accumulation manifold operable to receive a working fluid stored under pressure within a storage tank in response to an acceleration of the projectile; and

a multiple of valves in communication with said accumulation manifold to selectively release a working fluid through at least one of said multiple of valves to maneuver the projectile in response to said control system.

10. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 9, wherein said projectile is a non-spin stabilized .50 caliber projectile.

11. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 9, further comprising a sensor system in communication with said control system to maneuver the projectile in response to an externally provided control signal.

12. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 9, further comprising a fire-and-forget sensor system in communication with said control system to maneuver the projectile in response to the fire-and-forget sensor system.

13. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 9, further comprising a nozzle downstream of each of said multiple of valves.

14. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 13, wherein each of said nozzles are located at a center of mass of said projectile.

15. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 9, further comprising an initiator operable to release said working fluid from said storage tank into said accumulation manifold in response to said acceleration of the projectile.

16. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 9, further comprising a core which defines a cavity which contains said storage tank.

17. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 16, further comprising a jacket which at least partially surrounds said core, said jacket defines a cannelure.

21. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 15, further comprising a nozzle located at a center of mass of said projectile downstream of each of said multiple of valves.

22. The non-propulsive projectile as recited in claim 9, further comprising a nozzle located at a center of mass of said projectile downstream of each of said multiple of valves.

18. A method of maneuvering a non-propulsive projectile comprising:

releasing a working fluid from a storage tank contained within a projectile into an accumulation manifold upstream of a multiple of valves in response to an acceleration of the projectile, the working fluid selectively released from the accumulation manifold through a divert system to provide a selective communication path for the working fluid to maneuver the projectile in response to a control system.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

releasing the working fluid into the accumulation manifold upstream of a multiple of valves upon firing of the projectile from a cartridge case.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

controlling the multiple of valves to maneuver the projectile in response to an externally provided control signal.

23. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the acceleration of the projectile is in response to firing the projectile with a propellant which provides the motive force to the projectile.