U.S. patent application number 12/215853 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-10 for fixed deployed net for hit-to-kill vehicle.
Invention is credited to Richard M. Lloyd.
Application Number | 20090223404 12/215853 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34656805 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090223404 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lloyd; Richard M. |
September 10, 2009 |
Fixed deployed net for hit-to-kill vehicle
Abstract
A warhead including a hit-to-kill vehicle and a hub about the
hit-to-kill vehicle including, packaged therein, a net, thrusters
for deploying the net, and a plurality of rods held in a spaced
relationship by the net for destroying a target when the net is
deployed in the vicinity of the target in case the hit-to-kill
vehicle misses the target.
Inventors: |
Lloyd; Richard M.; (Melrose,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Iandiorio Teska & Coleman
260 Bear Hill Road
Waltham
MA
02451
US
|
Family ID: |
34656805 |
Appl. No.: |
12/215853 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10384804 |
Mar 10, 2003 |
7415917 |
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12215853 |
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60406828 |
Aug 29, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
102/504 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 11/04 20130101;
F42B 12/66 20130101; F42B 12/60 20130101; F41H 13/0006 20130101;
F42B 12/64 20130101; F42B 12/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/504 |
International
Class: |
F42B 12/68 20060101
F42B012/68 |
Claims
1. A warhead comprising: a hit-to-kill vehicle; and a hub about the
hit-to-kill vehicle including packaged therein: a net, thrusters
for deploying the net, and a plurality of rods attached to the net
for destroying a target when the net is deployed in the vicinity of
the target in case the hit-to-kill vehicle misses the target.
2. The warhead of claim 1 in which the thrusters are attached to
the periphery of the net.
3. The warhead of claim 1 in which the net is round and includes
vertical members intersecting horizontal members.
4. The warhead of claim 1 in which the net is round and includes
circular members intersecting radially extending members.
5. The warhead of claim 1 in which the net includes intersecting
members and the rods are disposed at the intersection of the
members.
6. A warhead comprising: a hit-to-kill vehicle; and a hub about the
hit-to-kill vehicle including packaged therein: a net, thrusters
for deploying the net, and a plurality of rods attached to the net
and held in a spaced relationship by the net for destroying a
target when the net is deployed in the vicinity of the target in
case the hit-to-kill vehicle misses the target.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of prior U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/384,804 filed Mar. 10, 2003, which claims
the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.
No. 60/406,828 filed Aug. 29, 2002, each of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to improvements in hit-to-kill
vehicles.
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. Blast fragmentation and kinetic energy rod warheads are
kill enhancement devices that are carried along on the
"hit-to-kill" vehicle.
[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 NMD System, THAAD, SM3, Trident or MX missile. The kill
vehicle is navigable and designed to directly strike the re-entry
vehicle to render it inoperable. Countermeasures, however, can be
used to avoid the "hit-to-kill" vehicle. Moreover, nuclear or
biological warfare bomblets and chemical warfare submunition
payloads are carried by some targets threats. If the nuclear
payload or more then one of these bomblets or chemical submunition
payloads can survive, they would 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 nuclear target and, again, fall out, radiation,
biological bomblets and/or chemical submunition payloads survive
and cause heavy casualties. Also, a blast fragmentation warhead
requires a fuse detection device that must be very accurate. Those
types of accuracies in outer space are very difficult to achieve.
Other warheads concepts need to be developed.
[0006] 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 1-56347-473-5,
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 primary components associated with theoretical kinetic
energy rod warhead include a hull, a projectile core or bay in the
hull including a number of individual lengthy cylindrical rods or
projectiles, and an explosive charge in the hull about the
projectile bay. When the explosive charge is detonated, the
projectiles are deployed.
[0008] 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 than
blast fragmentation type warheads. To date, however, kinetic energy
rod warheads have not been widely accepted nor have they yet been
fully deployed. Also, this concept requires a fuse to determine
when to deploy the rods. Even though it does not need to be as
accurate as the blast fragmentation warhead, it still must be
incorporated into the vehicle.
[0009] Thus, those skilled in the art have endeavored to modify
warheads such as the hit-to-kill vehicle to increase its lethality.
Lockheed, for example, proposed a deployable fabric which surrounds
the hit-to-kill vehicle and designed to impact a target in the case
where the hit-to-kill vehicle does not directly strike and destroy
the target. These concepts were only designed for a very small miss
distance. Advanced countermeasure threats would defeat such a
concept. And, with this design, it is possible for submunitions to
escape destruction and thus the deployable fabric design did not
gain wide acceptance. Also, the fabric does not penetrate thick
payloads when compared to high density rods. The fabric concept is
only required to slap the target with an impulse cause a delayed
kill. Those types of kills are not accepted today and more lethal
concepts are required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a
hit-to-kill vehicle which is able to destroy a nuclear target
and/or its submunitions even if the main body of the hit-to-kill
misses the target and/or fails to destroy a submunition.
[0011] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a
hit-to-kill vehicle which exhibits the benefits and the advantages
of both hit-to-kill vehicles and kinetic energy rods when engaging
a complex counter threat.
[0012] This invention results from the realization that a higher
lethality hit-to-kill vehicle is effected by the addition of a
deployable net which positions a number of spaced kinetic energy
rod warhead rods or projectiles in an array in space about the main
body of the hit-to-kill vehicle to destroy nuclear targets and/or
their submunitions even if the main body of the hit-to-kill vehicle
does not. This concept does not require a fuse because the rods are
held (fixed) in place. The spray pattern density is constant and
fusing errors are not even considered. Since this concept is used
in outer space, there no air drag on the deployed net. The net
travels along with the kill vehicle killing the target given an off
hit engagement.
[0013] This invention features a warhead comprising a hit-to-kill
vehicle and a hub about the hit-to-kill vehicle including packaged
therein a net, means for deploying the net, and a plurality of rods
attached to the net for destroying a target when the net is
deployed in the vicinity path of the target in case the hit-to-kill
vehicle misses the target.
[0014] In one embodiment, the means for deploying the net includes
an inflatable superstructure with a plurality of inflatable vanes
and a circumferential inflatable ring. In another embodiment, the
means for deploying the net includes thrusters attached to the
periphery of the net.
[0015] The net may be round and include vertical members
intersecting horizontal members or circular members intersecting
axially extending members. Typically, the net includes intersecting
members and the rods are disposed at the intersection of the
members.
[0016] One method of destroying a target in accordance with this
invention includes positioning a hit-to-kill vehicle in the
trajectory path of a target and deploying a net including a
plurality of rods held in a spaced relationship by the net for
destroying the target in case the hit-to-kill vehicle misses the
target.
[0017] One method of manufacturing a warhead in accordance with
this invention features packaging a net, means for deploying the
net, and a plurality of rods attached to the net in a hub and
attaching the hub to a hit-to-kill vehicle. A plurality of rods are
secured at the interstices of a net, the net is packaged in a hub
and the hub is coupled to a hit-to-kill vehicle.
[0018] In the deployed configuration, the warhead of this invention
includes a hit-to-kill vehicle, a hub about the hit-to-kill
vehicle, a net extending outward from the hub, and
[0019] a plurality of rods attached to the net for destroying a
target when the net is deployed in the vicinity path of the target
in case the hit-to-kill vehicle misses the target.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] 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:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the deployment of a prior
art hit-to-kill vehicle;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic three dimensional view of a prior art
hit-to-kill vehicle;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic three dimensional view showing the
modified hit-to-kill vehicle of the subject invention;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic three dimensional view showing the
deployment of the net of the subject invention about the
hit-to-kill vehicle;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic three dimensional view showing another
embodiment of a deployable net in accordance with the subject
invention;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic three dimensional view showing a
portion of the net of FIG. 5; and
[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic three dimensional view showing another
design for a deployable net in accordance with the subject
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] As discussed in the background section above, hit-to-kill
vehicles are typically launched into a position proximate re-entry
vehicle 10, FIG. 1 or other target via missile 12. Hit-to-kill
vehicle 14 is navigatable and designed to strike re-entry vehicle
10 to render it inoperable. Counter measures, however, can be used
to avoid kill vehicle 14. Vector 16 shows kill vehicle 14 missing
re-entry vehicle 10. Moreover, nuclear or 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. FIG. 2 shows
hit-to-kill vehicle 14 in more detail.
[0029] In this invention, hit-to-kill 14', FIG. 3 is modified to
include hub 30 encircling vehicle 14. Hub 30 includes a net, means
for deploying the net, and a plurality of kinetic energy rod
warhead rods packaged therein preferably secured to the net at the
interstices thereof.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows net 40 deployed and rods 50 held in a spaced
relationship by the net. In this embodiment, the means for
deploying net 40 is an inflatable superstructure including
inflatable vanes 60 and circumferential inflatable ring 62. In this
example, 20 foot diameter net 40 is round and includes vertical
nylon members 70 intersecting horizontal nylon members 72. Rods 50
are secured at the intersection of all or most of such members. The
primary purpose of net 40 is to orient rods 50 in a spaced
relationship in order to destroy a target or submunitions not
destroyed by the main body of hit-to-kill vehicle 14'. In the
example shown in FIG. 4, fabric layer 80 may also be used in
connection with net 40. A gas generator connected to the inflatable
superstructure inflates the vanes 60 and ring 62.
[0031] The advantage of this system over a kinetic energy rod
warhead is that the density of the rods in space is held constant.
In a kinetic energy rod warhead, in contrast, the density of the
rods deployed as projectiles decreases rapidly after deployment.
Those skilled in the art will know how to select the appropriate
density for the rods by fabricating nets of different
configurations.
[0032] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6, small thrusters 90, attached
to the periphery of net 40 are the means for deploying net 40. Rods
50 may be made of titanium and cylindrical in shape although the
other rod shapes disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/162,498, incorporated herein by this reference, may also be
used.
[0033] In FIG. 7, net 40' includes circular members 100
intersecting radially extending members 102. As shown, the main
body of the hit-to-kill vehicle has missed target 104 but since the
net is deployed in the vicinity of the target, rods or projectiles
50, held in a fixed spaced position in space, will destroy target
104.
[0034] The net may be deployed by thrusters as discussed above with
reference to FIG. 5 or by the addition of an inflatable
superstructure as discussed above with reference to FIG. 4, and/or
a combination of both designs. Thus, the hit-to-kill vehicle of the
subject invention has enhanced lethality due to the addition of the
kinetic energy rods held in a fixed spaced relation by the net and
is thus able to destroy a nuclear target and/or its submunitions
even if the main body of the hit-to-kill vehicle misses the target
and/or fails to destroy a submunition. The result is a system which
exhibits the benefits and advantages of both hit-to-kill vehicles
and kinetic energy rod warheads. Fusing is typically not required
as is the case with the Lockheed fabric design.
[0035] 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.
[0036] Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and
are within the following claims:
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