Flechette Weapon System

Abstract

A flechette weapon system which includes a missile operated mechanism for ecting a plurality of flechettes from a missile. The mechanism includes a valve designed to automatically open at a predetermined pressure in the missile's motor pressure time operation. As the valve opens missile motor pressure passes through the valve and pressurizes an ejection piston and ejects the flechettes supported on the piston.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of flechette weapon systems and mechanisms for ejecting the flechettes. Previous mechanisms used to eject flechettes required a precision timer for warhead event. The type of precision timers currently used are very expensive because of their requirement for millisecond operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has reduced the cost of missile production by eliminating the timer and utilizing a preset spring biased valve to control operation of the ejection piston.

This invention may be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The single FIGURE shown is a sectional view of the flechette weapon system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference numeral 10 identifies a flechette weapon system which includes a missile motor case 12 having a motor propellant 14 for producing a pressurizing gas therein. Flechettes or rod penetrators 16 are stacked in a two section container 18 split at 19 and supported on an ejection piston 20. The container and piston are disposed for forward movement on a launch tube 22 toward an ogive tip 24. Container 18 has an arm 26 attached to its forward end for knocking off the ogive tip when the arm is brought into engagement with the tip.

Piston 20 moves the flechettes toward the ogive tip when actuated by some portion of the missile motor gas pressure. An "o" ring seal 28 surrounds piston 20 to prevent loss of the ejection pressure in the launch tube. A control valve 30 is caused to open a path for a portion of the missile motor gas pressure to actuate the ejection piston. This opening is set at a predetermined point in the missile motor gas pressure time operation. The valve includes an "o" ring seal 32 for engaging a seat 34 on a valve housing 36 that is connected to the launch tube 22 at 38. A plate 40 is connected to the valve and acts as a retaining surface for one end of a valve biasing spring 42. The other end of the spring engages a retaining surface 44 of the launch tube. The valve is held in a closed position by dowel pins 46 located in clearance holes 48. Shear pins 50 are positioned in holes provided in dowel pins 46 to restrain dowel pin movement until the motor gas pressure reaches a predetermined point.

The operation of the flechette weapon system is as follows: a missile motor having a gas pressure time curve characteric in the shape of a haystack is desired for proper valve operation. The valve is locked in closed position during the pressure rise side of the pressure curve. During this time, motor gas pressure acts on dowel pin surfaces 52 to shear pins 50. After pins 50 shear, the dowel pins move into clearance holes 48 through the cooperating force of springs 53 and the motor gas pressure. "O" ring seals 55 are provided to prevent gas pressure loss passed the dowel pins 46. At this time valve 30 now is held closed by the motor gas pressure. When the motor gas pressure declines to a predetermined point, spring 42 will overcome the motor gas pressure force acting on valve face surface 54 and the valve will open. Motor gas pressure will now flow through opening 56 and ports 58 to build up behind piston 20. When the pressure build up overcomes the restraint of seal 28 and the weight of the container 18, the flechettes rapidly moved toward the ogive tip 24. Arm 26 will engage the ogive tip at its upper end and will pivotally separate it from the remainder of the missile and the piston 20 will eject the flechettes, container and piston. When the container and piston leave the launch tube air will cause a drag brake on the piston as well as the container which separates at split 19. The flechettes will continue on their course in a "shotgun" effect while both container sections and piston fall away.

Claims

I claim:

1. A flechette weapon system for ejecting a plurality of flechettes from a missile comprising: a launch tube in said missile; an ogive tip engaging one end of said launch tube; a container for stacking said flechettes in said launch tube, said container including an arm for separating said ogive tip from said missile; an ejection piston disposed in said launch tube engaging said container and said missiles; gas pressurizing means in said missile to provide gas pressure for actuating said ejection piston; means controlling flow of said gas pressure to said ejection piston, said controlling means includes a valve housing having an opening therein, a valve seat adjacent said opening, a valve disposed for cooperation with said seat, a spring in said housing for biasing said valve to the open position, and dowel pins cooperating with said housing for holding said valve in the closed position, said dowel pins provided with shear pins to be sheared by said gas pressure to release said dowel pins for movement and provided with resilient means for assisting dowel pin movement, said container consisting of a plurality of sections.