U.S. patent application number 11/436327 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for method and device for setting the fuse and/or correcting the ignition time of a projectile.
Invention is credited to Jens Seidensticker, Dietrich Stauffacher.
Application Number | 20070074625 11/436327 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35901540 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070074625 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seidensticker; Jens ; et
al. |
April 5, 2007 |
Method and device for setting the fuse and/or correcting the
ignition time of a projectile
Abstract
To avoid mechanical and thermodynamic wear of a programming
system, a microwave transmitter, preferably operating in the GHz
range, is integrated in the system, while at the same time the
advantages of measurement of the muzzle velocity and of a current
compensated fuse setting are preserved. The microwave transmitter
transmits the current fuse setting, for example, as determined by a
fire control computer, to the ammunition, e.g., a projectile. A
direct measurement of the actual muzzle velocity itself can be
dispensed with, since the real muzzle velocity is determined by the
current flight velocity information of the projectile, i.e., it is
extrapolated back from this. On the basis of this current
projectile velocity, the ignition time, which was preset with the
ignition time of the projectile using a standard muzzle velocity,
is corrected and used as the current fuse set time.
Inventors: |
Seidensticker; Jens;
(Radolfzell, DE) ; Stauffacher; Dietrich; (Zurich,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Klaus P. Stoffel;Wolff & Samson PC
One Boland Drive
West Orange
NJ
07052
US
|
Family ID: |
35901540 |
Appl. No.: |
11/436327 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/6.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42C 11/065 20130101;
F42C 17/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
089/006.5 |
International
Class: |
F42C 17/00 20060101
F42C017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 23, 2005 |
DE |
DE 102005024179.4 |
Claims
1. A method for setting a fuse and/or correcting ignition time of a
projectile fired from a weapon, comprising the steps of: measuring
of the current velocity of the projectile; computing true muzzle
velocity of the projectile during passage through a cannon tube
based on the current projectile velocity; and adjusting and/or
correcting a fuse set time of the fuse based on the computed muzzle
velocity.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, including measuring the
current velocity by the Doppler effect.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein computing true
muzzle velocity includes considering current flight time.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1, including computing the
correction of the fuse set time in a computing and/or correction
unit in the projectile.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1, including computing the
correction of the fuse set time at the weapon end in a fire control
system, and transmitting data between the projectile and the weapon
via microwaves.
6. A device for setting a fuse and/or correcting ignition time of a
projectile fired from a weapon, comprising: a transmitter/receiver
and a fire control system arranged at the weapon; and a chip, a
computing and/or correction unit and a timer arranged at the
projectile, the chip being connected with the computing and/or
correction unit and the timer, wherein an output of the computing
and/or correction unit is also connected with the timer, an output
of the timer being connected with a fuse or an ignition device of
the projectile.
7. A device for setting a fuse and/or correcting ignition time of a
projectile fired from a weapon, comprising: a transmitter/receiver
and a fire control system arranged at the weapon; and a chip and a
timer arranged at the projectile, the chip being connected with a
timer, and an output of the timer being connected with a fuse or an
ignition device of the projectile.
8. A device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the
transmitter/receiver is a microwave transmitter/receiver that
operates in the GHz range.
9. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the
transmitter/receiver is a microwave transmitter/receiver that
operates in the GHz range.
10. A device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the chip in the
projectile is an RFID chip.
11. A device in accordance with claim 7, where the chip in the
projectile is an RFID chip.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention concerns a method and a device for programming
a time-fuse projectile or for correcting an ignition time of a
projectile fired from a weapon.
[0002] Various time programmings for ammunition are known. The
fuses are set either manually outside the loading chamber before
the projectile is fired or electrically in the loading chamber by
ignition electronics. The latter type of fuse setting is described,
for example, in DE 101 52 862 A1.
[0003] A method and a device for transmitting information to
programmable projectiles are described in EP 0 992 762 B1.
[0004] A method for correcting the preprogrammed triggering of a
process in a spin-stabilized projectile and a device for carrying
out this method are described in EP 0 992 761 B1.
[0005] EP 0 918 209 B1 discloses a projectile with programmable
time fuses.
[0006] A method and a device for programming time fuses of
projectiles are also described in EP 0 769 673 B1. To compute a
disintegration time, a predetermined muzzle velocity of the
projectile and a predetermined distance to a target are used.
[0007] DE 38 35 656 A1 discloses a method for correcting the
ignition point and a circuit configuration for carrying out this
method. The device measures the actual projectile velocity profile
with respect to time only for a specific period of time after
firing. The further velocity profile of the projectile is then
extrapolated. When the distance of flight determined in this way
reaches a desired value, the detonation is triggered.
[0008] CH 691 143 A5 discloses a device for measuring projectile
velocity at the muzzle of the barrel of a high-cadence cannon. The
device has two sensors that are spaced a certain distance apart on
a support tube. The sensors respond to changes in magnetic flux and
are connected to evaluation electronics. In this regard, each
sensor has a pair of coils and a closed magnetic circuit. The
measured projectile velocity or the fuse set time updated with it
is then also supplied as information to the projectile, generally
before the projectile leaves the muzzle area.
[0009] Although the above device is distinguished by a high degree
of accuracy, it is subject to mechanical and thermodynamic
stresses, since the measuring and programming units are exposed,
among other things, to the muzzle gases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The object of the invention is to provide a device or an
improved programming system that is no longer exposed to mechanical
and thermodynamic wear.
[0011] Pursuant to this object, and others which will become
apparent hereafter, one aspect of the present invention resides in
a method for setting a fuse and/or correcting ignition time of a
projectile fired from a weapon. The method includes the steps of
measuring current projectile velocity, computing true muzzle
velocity of the projectile during passage through a cannon tube
based on the current projectile velocity, and adjusting and/or
correcting a fuse set time of the fuse based on the computed muzzle
velocity.
[0012] Another aspect of the invention resides in a device for
setting the fuse and/or correcting the ignition of the projectile,
which device includes as transmitter/receiver and a fire control
system arranged at the weapon and a chip and a timer arranged at
the projectile. The chip is connected to the timer and an output of
the timer is connect with a fuse or an ignition device of the
projectile. It is further possible to provide the projectile with a
computing and/or correction unit. In this case the chip would be
connected to the computing and connecting unit and the timer, while
the output of the computing and/or correction unit is also
connected to the timer.
[0013] The invention is based on the idea of integrating a
microwave transmitter, preferably operating in the GHz range, in
the system while at the same time preserving the advantages of
measurement of the muzzle velocity and of a current compensated
fuse setting. This microwave transmitter transmits the current fuse
setting, for example, as determined by a fire control computer, to
the ammunition, e.g., a projectile. A direct measurement of the
actual muzzle velocity can be dispensed with, since the real muzzle
velocity is determined by information of the current flight
velocity of the projectile, i.e., it is extrapolated back from
this. On the basis of this current projectile velocity, the
ignition time, which was preset with the ignition time of the
projectile using a standard muzzle velocity, is corrected and used
as the current fuse set time.
[0014] The flight velocity is measured, for example, by means of
the Doppler shift of the transmitting frequencies, preferably at
the projectile end. To this end, the transmitting frequency is
fixed, and the deviation is measured. Since the time that the
projectile has been traveling is known, the current flight velocity
can be determined, and, in addition, the real muzzle velocity of
the projectile, which the projectile had at the time it was fired
through the muzzle area, can be computed. The current fuse set time
is then determined from this data and made available to the
projectile.
[0015] If there is a deviation from a preprogrammed standard fuse
setting, a correction is then made in the ammunition or by the fire
control system, which then reflects the current fuse set time.
[0016] The ammunition or the projectile contains a chip for the
programming, for example, an RFID (radio frequency identification)
chip (see http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID). This chip has the
preferred property that it can be supplied with energy by microwave
energy.
[0017] In addition, an advantage is obtained from the fact that the
chip can be programmed by the fire control unit with, among other
things, the current standard fuse setting and with a correction
value or a value that is not determined until during the flight of
the projectile.
[0018] The timer present on the ammunition (or in the ammunition)
can then be counted down to zero over the (remaining) flight
distance and can then bring about the desired disintegration before
a target.
[0019] In addition, the computed muzzle velocity can also be
transmitted back if this computation is made in the projectile to
allow any deviations that may arise to be taken into account in the
fire control system.
[0020] This system eliminates the previously known expensive
measuring and programming unit in the cannon or cannon tube. The
microwave transmitter that is used can be locally mounted on the
cannon where it is not exposed to either muzzle gases or mechanical
stresses. The transmitter/receiver is electrically supplied by the
electrical system of the cannon and is supplied with data of the
fire control system. Any data transmitted back from the ammunition
can be retransmitted to the fire control system, which can then
take it into account.
[0021] The invention is explained in greater detail below with
reference to the specific embodiment illustrated in the
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The single FIGURE is a schematic representation of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The sole drawing shows a programming system 1 or a
generalized device for a time-fuse projectile 2 or a time-fuse
piece of ammunition (etc.).
[0024] A programmable chip 3, for example, an RFID chip, is located
on board the projectile 2 and preferably also contains the
receiving and transmitting circuit and memory. A timer 4 present in
the projectile 2 is also supplied by this chip 3 with the necessary
time information on the spot. Parallel to this, the chip 3 is
connected with a computing and/or correction unit 5 if such a unit
is provided in the projectile 2. This unit 5 is then also connected
with the timer 4. A fuse 6 is functionally connected with the
output of the timer 4.
[0025] The power supply to these units of the projectile 2 can be
provided by microwave radiation X. Another, preferred possibility
is a conventional power supply, for example, a battery that can be
activated (not shown).
[0026] On the cannon or weapon end 10, the programming system 1,
which is preferably mounted on the cannon tube 11, has a
transmitter/receiver 12 for data transmission to the projectile 2.
This transmitter/receiver 12 is electrically connected with a fire
control system or fire control computer 13 present in the weapon
control system.
[0027] The programming system operates in the following way:
[0028] The current disintegration time, which is computed on the
basis of the standard velocity of the projectile 2, is transmitted
to the projectile. The deviation from the standard velocity is
determined in the projectile by the Doppler method. On the basis of
the deviation, the current disintegration time is computed in the
projectile 2 or from the cannon end.
[0029] If this operation is carried out in the projectile 2 by the
computing and/or correction unit 5, then a correction of the fuse
set time for the fuse 6 can be performed at the projectile end, in
which case the timer 4 is supplied with this information. The
correction that has been made and the back-computed muzzle velocity
that has been determined can be transmitted via microwave radiation
X to the transmitter/receiver 12 on the cannon 10 and made
available to a fire control system (not shown).
[0030] On the other hand, if the current projectile velocity is
transmitted to the transmitter/receiver 12 of the cannon 10, and if
the correction is carried out at the cannon end in the fire control
system 13, then the desired value of the fuse time (flight time)
based on the true muzzle velocity of the projectile 2 upon firing
is transmitted to the projectile via the microwave radiation X.
This fuse set time is corrected and used as the new fuse set time
in the projectile 2.
[0031] Although the present invention ahs been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become more apparent to those
skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
only by the appended claims.
* * * * *
References