U.S. patent application number 10/370892 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system.
Invention is credited to Lloyd, Richard M..
Application Number | 20040055498 10/370892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31997108 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040055498 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lloyd, Richard M. |
March 25, 2004 |
Kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system
Abstract
A kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system and method
featuring jettison housings each including a plurality of lengthy
individual projectiles therein and a navigatable carrier for the
jettison housings. The jettison housings are ejected in the
vicinity of targets whereupon the individual projectiles are
deployed in the trajectory path of each target.
Inventors: |
Lloyd, Richard M.; (Melrose,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Iandiorio & Teska
260 Bear Hill Road
Waltham
MA
02451-1018
US
|
Family ID: |
31997108 |
Appl. No.: |
10/370892 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60406828 |
Aug 29, 2002 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/489 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 12/22 20130101;
F42B 12/58 20130101; F41H 13/0006 20130101; F42B 12/32 20130101;
F42B 12/60 20130101; F41H 11/04 20130101; F42B 12/64 20130101; F42B
12/205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/489 |
International
Class: |
F42B 012/58 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system comprising: at
least one jettison housing including a plurality of lengthy
individual projectiles therein and means for deploying said
projectiles; and a navigatable carrier for the jettison housing
including means for ejecting the jettison housing in the vicinity
of a target whereupon the means for deploying the projectiles is
activated to deploy the individual projectiles in the trajectory
path of the target.
2. The kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system of claim 1 in
which the means for deploying the projectiles includes an explosive
charge core surrounded by the projectiles.
3. The kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system of claim 1 in
which the means for deploying the projectiles includes an explosive
charge within the jettison housing surrounding the projectiles.
4. The kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system of claim 1 in
which the means for deploying the projectiles includes explosive
charge sections surrounding the projectiles.
5. The kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system of claim 1 in
which the carrier is a missile.
6. The kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system of claim 1 in
which the means for ejecting the jettison housing includes spinning
the carrier to import a velocity to the housing.
7. The kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system of claim 1 in
which the means for ejecting the jettison housing included an
explosive change about the jettison housing.
8. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the means for
ejecting the jettison housing includes a propulsion subsystem
associated with the jettison housing.
9. The kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system of claim 1 in
which there are a plurality of jettison housings carried by the
carrier and each selectively ejectable from the carrier.
10. A method of destroying a number of spaced targets, the method
comprising: navigating a carrier missile proximate the target;
ejecting housings containing a plurality of projectiles into the
trajectory path of each target; and deploying the projectiles of
each jettison housing to destroy each target.
11. A kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system comprising: at
least one jettison housing including a plurality of lengthy
individual projectiles therein and means for deploying said
projectiles; and a navigatable carrier for the jettison housing for
ejecting the jettison housing in the vicinity of a target whereupon
the means for deploying the projectiles is activated to deploy the
individual projectiles in the trajectory path of the target.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of Provisional Application
Serial No. 60/406,828 filed Aug. 29, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to improvements in kinetic energy rod
warheads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Destroying missiles, aircraft, re-entry vehicles and other
targets falls into three primary classifications: "hit-to-kill"
vehicles, blast fragmentation warheads, and kinetic energy rod
warheads.
[0004] "Hit-to-kill" vehicles are typically launched into a
position proximate a re-entry vehicle or other target via a missile
such as the Patriot, Trident or MX missile. The kill vehicle is
navigable and designed to strike the re-entry vehicle to render it
inoperable. Countermeasures, however, can be used to avoid the
"hit-to-kill" vehicle. Moreover, biological warfare bomblets and
chemical warfare submunition payloads are carried by some threats
and one or more of these bomblets or chemical submunition payloads
can survive and cause heavy casualties even if the "hit-to-kill"
vehicle accurately strikes the target.
[0005] Blast fragmentation type warheads are designed to be carried
by existing missiles. Blast fragmentation type warheads, unlike
"hit-to-kill" vehicles, are not navigable. Instead, when the
missile carrier reaches a position close to an enemy missile or
other target, a pre-made band of metal on the warhead is detonated
and the pieces of metal are accelerated with high velocity and
strike the target. The fragments, however, are not always effective
at destroying the target and, again, biological bomblets and/or
chemical submunition payloads survive and cause heavy
casualties.
[0006] The textbooks by the inventor hereof, R. Lloyd,
"Conventional Warhead Systems Physics and Engineering Design,"
Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics (ALAA) Book Series, Vol.
179, ISBN 1-56347-255-4, 1998, and "Physics of Direct Hit and Near
Miss Warhead Technology", Volume 194, ISBN 1-56347-473-5,
incorporated herein by this reference, provide additional details
concerning "hit-to-kill" vehicles and blast fragmentation type
warheads. Chapter 5 and Chapter 3 of these textbooks propose a
kinetic energy rod warhead.
[0007] The two primary advantages of a kinetic energy rod warhead
is that 1) it does not rely on precise navigation as is the case
with "hit-to-kill" vehicles and 2) it provides better penetration
then blast fragmentation type warheads.
[0008] To date, however, kinetic energy rod warheads have not been
widely accepted nor have they yet been deployed or fully designed.
The primary components associated with a theoretical kinetic energy
rod warhead is a hull, a projectile core or bay in the hull
including a number of individual lengthy cylindrical projectiles,
and an explosive charge in the hull about the projectile bay with
sympathetic explosive shields. When the explosive charge is
detonated, the projectiles are deployed. See "Aligned Rod Lethality
Enhanced Concept for Kill Vehicles," R. Lloyd "Aligned Rod
Lethality Enhancement Concept For Kill Vehicles" 10.sup.TH
AIAA/BMDD TECHNOLOGY CONF., July 23-26, Williamsburg, Virginia,
2001 incorporated herein by this reference.
[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new
kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system.
[0011] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a
kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system which is capable of
destroying multiple spaced apart target clusters but requiring only
a single carrier missile.
[0012] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a
kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system which is highly
versatile.
[0013] The invention results from the realization that a more
versatile kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system capable of
destroying spaced apart target clusters but requiring only a single
carrier missile is achieved by packaging projectiles in a number of
housings jettisoned from the carrier missile and each placed in the
vicinity of an individual target so that the projectiles, when
deployed from each jettisoned housing, lie in the trajectory paths
of all of the targets.
[0014] This invention features a kinetic energy rod warhead
deployment system comprising at least one jettison housing
including a plurality of lengthy individual projectiles therein and
means for deploying said projectiles and a navigatable carrier for
the jettison housing including means for ejecting the jettison
housing in the vicinity of a target whereupon the means for
deploying the projectiles is activated to deploy the individual
projectiles in the trajectory path of the target.
[0015] In one example, the means for deploying the projectiles
includes an explosive charge core surrounded by the projectiles. In
another example, the means for deploying the projectiles includes
an explosive charge within the jettison housing surrounding the
projectiles. In still another embodiment, the means for deploying
the projectiles includes explosive charge sections surrounding the
projectiles.
[0016] Typically, the carrier is a missile and there are a
plurality of jettison housings carried by the missile and each
selectively ejectable from the missile.
[0017] The means for ejecting the jettison housing may include
spinning the carrier to import a velocity to the housing, an
explosive charge about the jettison housing, or a propulsion
subsystem associated with the jettison housing.
[0018] The method of destroying a number of spaced targets of this
invention features navigating a carrier missile proximate the
target, ejecting housings each containing a plurality of
projectiles into the trajectory path of each target, and deploying
the projectiles of each jettison housing to destroy each
target.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those
skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred
embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the typical deployment of
a "hit-to-kill" vehicle in accordance with the prior art;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the typical deployment of
a prior art blast fragmentation type warhead;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the deployment of a
theoretical kinetic energy rod warhead system;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the deployment of a
kinetic energy rod warhead as a replacement for a blast
fragmentation type warhead in accordance with the subject
invention;
[0024] FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic views showing the ejection of a
single jettison housing from a missile and the deployment of a
plurality of projectiles in accordance with the system and method
of the subject invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the
primary components associated with one type of jettison housing in
accordance with the subject invention;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the
primary components associated with another embodiment of a jettison
housing in accordance with the subject invention;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the
primary components with still another embodiment of a jettison
housing in accordance with the subject invention;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a carrier missile with a
number of jettison housings in accordance with the subject
invention;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the ejection of a number
of jettison housings from a single missile and the deployment of
the projectiles of each jettison housing to destroy object clusters
deployed far apart in space in accordance with the system and
method of this invention;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing how, in one embodiment,
the housings are jettisoned from the carrier;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an explosive charge for
jettisoning the housings from the carrier; and
[0032] FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a propulsion subsystem
for jettison of the housings from the carrier.
DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] As discussed in the Background section above, "hit-to-kill"
vehicles are typically launched into a position proximate a
re-entry vehicle 10, FIG. 1 or other target via a missile 12.
"Hit-to-kill" vehicle 14 is navigable and designed to strike
re-entry vehicle 10 to render it inoperable. Countermeasures,
however, can be used to avoid the kill vehicle. Vector 16 shows
kill vehicle 14 missing re-entry vehicle 10. Moreover, nuclear,
biological bomblets and chemical submunition payloads 18 are
carried by some threats and one or more of these bomblets or
chemical submunition payloads 18 can survive, as shown at 20, and
cause heavy casualties even if kill vehicle 14 does accurately
strike target 10.
[0034] Turning to FIG. 2, blast fragmentation type warhead 32 is
designed to be carried by missile 30. When the missile reaches a
position close to an enemy re-entry vehicle (RV), missile, or other
target 36, a pre-made band of metal or fragments on the warhead is
detonated and the pieces of metal 34 strike target 36. The
fragments, however, are not always effective at destroying the
submunition target and, again, biological bomblets and/or chemical
submunition payloads can survive and cause heavy casualties.
[0035] The textbooks by the inventor hereof, R. Lloyd,
"Conventional Warhead Systems Physics and Engineering Design,"
Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics (AiAA) Book Series, Vol.
179, ISBN 1-56347-255-4, 1998, and "Physics of Direct Hit and Near
Miss Warhead Technology" Volume 194, ISBN 1-56347-477-5,
incorporated herein by this reference, provide additional details
concerning "hit-to-kill" vehicles and blast fragmentation type
warheads. Chapter 5 and Chapter 3 of these textbooks propose a
kinetic energy rod warhead.
[0036] In general, a kinetic energy rod warhead, in accordance with
this invention, can be added to kill vehicle (interceptor) 14',
FIG. 3 to deploy lengthy cylindrical projectiles 40 directed at
re-entry vehicle 10 or another target. In addition, the prior art
blast fragmentation type warhead shown in FIG. 2 can be replaced
with or supplemented with a kinetic energy rod warhead 50, FIG. 4
to deploy projectiles 40 at target 36.
[0037] Two key advantages of kinetic energy rod warheads as
theorized is that 1) they do not rely on precise navigation as is
the case with "hit-to-kill" vehicles and 2) they provide better
penetration then blast fragmentation type warheads.
[0038] The idea behind the subject invention is to deploy
projectiles in the trajectory path of a target from a jettison
housing or housings ejected from a carrier such that the
projectiles are placed in the trajectory path of a target or
targets as shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. Thus, the deployment system of
this invention features navigatable carrier 50 such as a missile
including jettison housing 52 and means for ejecting jettison
housing 52 in the vicinity of target 54 to be destroyed as shown in
FIG. 5B. Jettison housing 52 includes a plurality of projectiles
56, FIG. 5C therein which are deployed in the trajectory path P of
target 54 as shown.
[0039] In one embodiment, jettison housing 52a, FIG. 6 includes
hull 60 and therein explosive charge core 62 surrounded by
projectiles 56. Upon detonation of explosive charge 62, hull 60
fragments and projectiles 56 are deployed as shown in FIG. 5C. In
another embodiment, jettison housing 52b, FIG. 7 includes hull 70
encasing explosive charge 72 surrounding projectile core 74. Upon
detonation of explosive charge 72, hull 70 breaks up and projectile
core 74 is deployed as shown in FIG. 5C.
[0040] In still another embodiment, jettison housing 52c, FIG. 8
includes explosive charge sections 80a-80d surrounding projectiles
82 and separated by detonation cord 84. In this way, the
projectiles can all be deployed in one primary direction by
detonating, for example, the detonation cord between explosive
charge sections 80b and 80c, 80a and 80b, and between 80d and 80c
to deploy explosive charge sections 80b and 80c. Then, explosive
charge sections 80a and 80d are detonated to deploy projectiles 82
in the general direction of vector 86.
[0041] Thus, the means for deploying the projectiles in accordance
with this invention can vary depending on the specific design and
purpose of the jettison housing and in accordance with the state of
the art. See also U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/301,420,
09/938,022 and 09/938,022, incorporated herein by this reference.
These patent applications describe other types of deployment
systems. See also the application filed on an even date herewith
entitled "Kinetic Energy Rod Warhead with Imploding Charge for
Isotropic Firing of the Penetrators" by the same inventor.
[0042] It is preferred that the missile carrier include a number of
jettison housings as shown in FIG. 9 which can be selectively
ejected each to be placed in the vicinity of a number of potential
and actual targets as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, jettison housing 52'
is ejected in the vicinity of decoy cluster 54a, FIG. 10, jettison
housing 52" is ejected in the vicinity of actual target 54b (e.g.,
a re-entry vehicle), jettison housing 52'" is ejected in the
vicinity of decoy cluster 54c, and jettison housing 52iv is ejected
in the vicinity of decoy cluster 54d.
[0043] The projectiles or rods of each jettison housing, once
deployed, are now in the trajectory path of each target 54a-54d and
will destroy each target.
[0044] The means for ejecting each jettison housing can vary
depending on the design criteria. At least three different jettison
technologies could be used to deploy the warhead housing. A
predictor fuse can be used to determine which object is a threat.
The guidance system of the missile is able to computer range and
angle of the objects relative to the missile system. Based on this
data, a time-to-go is computed. The jettison housing is deployed to
the space and initiated ahead of the incoming objects. This creates
a cloud of projectiles that kill all the enemy objects.
[0045] One ejection concept is to deploy the housings by spinning
the missile. This generates an angular rotation of all the
housings. The fuse determines which housing to deploy relative to
the position of all the object clouds. The spinning energy is
converted to linear energy and velocity by releasing the housing
while it is spinning. The spinning housing is released and is still
spinning as it approaches it intercept point. The projectiles are
then released with a linear shaped charge that cuts a retaining
band or they are explosively deployed. If rods are used, they are
perfectly aligned after angular deployment because the housing
contains a high angular velocity. The rods are deployed with
perfect spacing as shown in FIG. 11 where v is the deployment
velocity and w is the angular velocity.
[0046] The housings could also be deployed with an explosive. An
explosive arc 80, FIG. 12 is placed around the housing 52 and given
the correct time-to-go, the housing is explosively launched from
the missile. The same fuse logic would be employed as the spinning
concept, except a small explosive change would be used for
deployment. The explosive change would be designed thin enough with
a proper buffer to protect the housing from damage during initial
deployment. Polyurethane foam buffer 82 is used to help protect the
housing 52 from explosive damage.
[0047] Another ejection concept is a propulsion system 90, FIG. 13
for each housing (e.g., a thruster). Each housing would contain a
small propulsion system that would accelerate the housing to its
correct point in space. Once it has reached this point, then the
rods are deployed with a small center core of explosives as shown
in FIG. 6.
[0048] The projectiles or rods within the jettison housings may be
lengthy cylinders or may have special shapes as disclosed in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/162,498 filed Jun. 4, 2002 and
incorporated herein by this reference.
[0049] The advantages of such a system wherein the projectiles are
housed in housings jettisoned from a carrier missile include the
ability to destroy multiple target clusters spaced apart in space
with only one carrier missile. Thus, the method of this invention
features navigating carrier missile 50, FIG. 10 proximate the
targets, ejecting a housing containing a plurality of projectiles
into the trajectory path of each target as shown in FIG. 10, and
deploying the projectiles of each jettison housing to destroy each
target.
[0050] Although specific features of the invention are shown in
some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as
each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features
in accordance with the invention. The words "including",
"comprising", "having", and "with" as used herein are to be
interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any
physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in
the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible
embodiments.
[0051] Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and
are within the following claims:
* * * * *