초록 ▼

The invention provides an aero-optical turret assembly that provides high Strehl ratios throughout a wide range of azimuthal look angles. The turret assembly includes a duct extending from aft of the turret to a location aft of an aerodynamic bulge of the turret assembly. During flight, a low pressu

The invention provides an aero-optical turret assembly that provides high Strehl ratios throughout a wide range of azimuthal look angles. The turret assembly includes a duct extending from aft of the turret to a location aft of an aerodynamic bulge of the turret assembly. During flight, a low pressure zone is formed at the exit end of the duct, aft of the aerodynamic bulge. This low pressure zone causes suction of air from the inlet of the duct, and therefore away from the outer surfaces of the aero-optical turret. By judiciously selecting the shape of the aerodynamic bulge, and the size and location of the inlet end of the duct, substantially all turbulent air can be removed from around the adjacent outer surfaces of the aero-optical turret, thereby removing the source of interference with electromagnetic radiation passing through the window of the turret at azimuthal look angles greater than +60.degree.. In accordance with the invention, a high Strehl ratio can be obtained for azimuthal look angles in the range from about +120.degree. to about -120.degree..

대표청구항 ▼

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follow:] [1.] An aircraft mountable aero-optical turret assembly comprising:(a) an aero-optical turret mount, the mount comprising a housing having a forward end adapted for rotatably mounting an

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follow:] [1.] An aircraft mountable aero-optical turret assembly comprising:(a) an aero-optical turret mount, the mount comprising a housing having a forward end adapted for rotatably mounting an aero-optical turret thereto, and an aft end adapted for mounting to an aircraft, the housing comprising an outboard extending aerodynamic bulge on an outer surface of the housing, the bulge comprising a bulge aft zone located aft of the forward end of the housing;(b) a rotatable aero-optical turret mounted to the forward end of the turret mount;(c) at least one duct extending through the housing of the turret assembly, the at least one duct having:(i) at least one inlet end adjacent, and aft of, the aero-optical turret, and(ii) an outlet end, in fluid communication with the bulge aft zone, so that when air flows over the assembly, the outlet end of the duct is exposed to low pressure in the bulge aft zone.