Apparatus for aerial rearmament of aircraft
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0685879
(2003-10-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Beyerle, John A.
- Illingworth, Gary L.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
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The invention provides an apparatus for the aerial transfer of munitions from a rearming aircraft to the weapons pylon of the recipient combat aircraft. The invention also provides for the selection of munitions from a database of munitions and aircraft types in response to an Air Tasking Order. The
The invention provides an apparatus for the aerial transfer of munitions from a rearming aircraft to the weapons pylon of the recipient combat aircraft. The invention also provides for the selection of munitions from a database of munitions and aircraft types in response to an Air Tasking Order. The invention allows a variety of combat aircraft to be adapted to aerial rearmament. The invention also provides for the release of precision guided munitions directly from a rearming aircraft so that orbiting combat aircraft can guide these munitions to the target by remote control.
대표청구항
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1. Apparatus for aerial rearmament of aircraft, comprising:a boom, said boom being attachable to and extendible from a rearming aircraft;a weapons mount, said weapons mount being attachable to an aircraft which is to be rearmed;said weapons mount being capable of accepting a munition;a weapons platf
1. Apparatus for aerial rearmament of aircraft, comprising:a boom, said boom being attachable to and extendible from a rearming aircraft;a weapons mount, said weapons mount being attachable to an aircraft which is to be rearmed;said weapons mount being capable of accepting a munition;a weapons platform, said weapons platform being attached to said boom, said weapons platform being capable of positioning and orienting said munition for transfer from said boom to said weapons mount; andmeans for providing aerodynamic lift to said boom.2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:a first sensor mounted on said weapons platform; anda second sensor mounted on said weapons mount;wherein said first sensor cooperates with said second sensor so as to assist in guiding said weapons platform to said weapons mount.3. Weapons mount as in claim 1, further comprising:a plurality of hooks for engaging loops on said munition;means for simultaneously forcing open said hooks so as to disengage said plurality of hooks from said loops and release said munition; anda plunger for forcing said munition downward and away from said weapons mount immediately upon release.4. Weapons platform as in claim 1, further comprising:a movable cradle to provide said positioning and said orienting of said munition; anda plurality of calipers for holding said munition to said movable cradle.5. Apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:a computer and monitor;a CCTV camera and television monitor;a guidance unit;an electrical power source;a hydraulic pump; anda plurality of hydraulic control valves,wherein:said computer receives and processes data generated by said first sensor and said second sensor;said computer further generates and forwards instructions from said processed data to said guidance unit;said guidance unit actuates said plurality of hydraulic control valves so as to cause hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic pump to effectuate positioning of said boom; andsaid CCTV camera captures an image of said positioning and said orienting of said munition being transferred from said boom to said weapons mount and displays said captured image on said television monitor.6. Apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:a first interactive computer program, comprising:means for selecting combinations of said rearming aircraft, said aircraft to be rearmed, and said munitions;means for storing and accessing said selected combinations in a database;means for determining the quantity, availability, and compatibility of said rearming aircraft, said aircraft to be rearmed and said munitions; andmeans for displaying said means for selecting, said means for storing and accessing, and said means for determining.7. Apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first interactive computer program cooperates with a centralized database.8. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein said centralized database is selected from the group consisting of: an Air Tasking Order (ATO) and a Theater Battle Management Core System (TBMCS).9. Apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first interactive computer program cooperates with said centralized database in real-time.10. Apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:a second interactive computer program, comprisingmeans for guiding the transfer of said munition from said rearming aircraft to said aircraft to be rearmed;means for determining and indicating the spatial orientation of said munition during said transfer; andmeans for determining and indicating the status of said transferred munition.11. Means for guiding as in claim 10, further comprising:means for displaying the relative orientation of said first sensor to said second sensor; andmeans for operator to correctly position said boom based on said displayed relative orientation.12. Means for determining and indicating the spatial orientation of said munition as in claim 10, further comprising:means for determining and indicating the azimuth angle, elevation angle and yaw angle of said weapons platform; andmeans for determining and indicating the distance between said weapons platform to said weapons mount.13. Means for determining and indicating the status of said transferred munition as in claim 10, further comprising:means for determining and indicating whether or not said munition is “docked”;means for determining and indicating whether or not said munition is “hooked”; andmeans for determining and indicating whether or not said munition is “armed”.14. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said means for guiding the transfer, said means for indicating the spatial orientation, and said means for indicating the status further comprise an interactive computer display for viewing the same by an operator.15. Means for the direct release of a munition from a rearming aircraft, comprising:a boom, said boom being attachable to and extendible from said rearming aircraft;a conveyor attached to said boom, wherein said conveyor conveys said munition from said rearming aircraft to end of said boom;means for providing aerodynamic lift to said boom; anda plurality of calipers for holding said munition to said conveyor, until said calipers are commanded to release said munition.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
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Piasecki Frank N. (Haverford PA), Glider aircraft tow control system.
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McDonnell William R. (24 Oakleigh La. Ladue MO 63124), Helicopter airborne load systems and composite aircraft configurations.
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Weimer Peter,DEX ; Sock Rudolf,DEX, Starting device for a towed flying body.
이 특허를 인용한 특허 (3)
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Padan, Nir, Apparatus and method for air-to-air arming of aerial vehicles.
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Kutzmann, Aaron J.; Lutke, Kevin R.; Ouellette, Richard P., Reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods.
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Pollema, Joshua R.; Leonard, James V.; Meyer, Richard E.; Musgraves, Jr., John D.; Ebert, William J., System and method for coupling a component to a vehicle.
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