Ordnance – Mounts – Training mechanisms
Patent
1981-02-26
1983-09-06
Bentley, Stephen C.
Ordnance
Mounts
Training mechanisms
235412, 364423, F41G 508
Patent
active
044022506
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to both a method and an apparatus for automatically measuring aiming errors and correcting aiming values in the aiming and firing of ballistic weapons at moving targets, in particular air targets.
In firing ballistic weapons at moving targets the gun aiming point is determind by the lead angle. The lead angle calculation is based on an assumed target motion during the time of flight of the projectile until reaching the target. In consequence of this, substantially large errors are incurred in the above calculation, and the gun will show deviations, i.e. aiming errors, with respect to the correct orientation to hit the target.
Various methods and apparatus for measuring gun aiming errors are known. Reference should be made for instance to the apparatus described in the Swiss patent specification 374.912. In this specification the direction values of a target coordinate measuring device are compared with time-related gun aiming values. This apparatus is provided with means for comparing these values and for temporarily storing the gun aiming values as necessary for the comparison, and with means for recording and processing the measured differences. This known apparatus is not suitable for the automatic correction of aiming values, particularly because it cannot achieve the required accuracy nor the required measurement rate and continuity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object to execute the measurement of aiming errors not only with great accuracy, but also in a rapid and defined time sequence, such that the measured aiming errors can be processed automatically in a statistical manner, resulting in correction of aiming values before firing and hence in an increase of the hitting probability.
According to the invention the method for automatically measuring aiming errors and correcting aiming values in the aiming and firing of ballistic weapons at moving targets is characterised in that the continuously supplid direction values of a target position measurement, corrected for meteorological influences and for superelevation. (Superrelevation is an added positive angle in antiaircraft gunnery that compensates for the fall of a ballistic projectile during the time of flight, because of the pull of gravity.) The corrected direction values are compared with the aiming values of at least one gun in a series of successive time intervals after storage of the gun aiming values in a memory for a period corresponding with the computed time of flight of the projectile. The successive time intervals, in which the corrected direction values of target position measurements are compared with the time-related gun aiming values, can be defined to be equal and fixed in magnitude and to be dependent upon the time of flight of the projectile.
The method according to the invention can be effected by a specific apparatus, or by any computer using a suitable computing program.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for performing the method according to the invention; and
FIGS. 2 and 3 show different embodiments of a part of this apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, the numeral 1 represents a fire control device comprising known target coordinate measuring device and computer. The target coordinate measuring device is used to continuously determine the direction values of the target, namely the azimuth angle A, the elevation angle E and the range R to the target. Also, in a known way the computer calculates a lead angle from the measured target coordinates, assuming a certain target motion. From the results of this calculation, making due corrections for meterological influences such as the effects of wind and air pressure on the flight of the projectile, the aiming values in azimuth and in elevation, .alpha. and .epsilon. respectively, are determined for one or a plurality of guns. Furthermore,
REFERENCES:
patent: 3848509 (1974-11-01), Corn
patent: 4004729 (1977-01-01), Rawicz
Millman et al., Pulse, Digital, and Switching Waveforms, 9-13, Registers, 1965, pp. 343-347.
Bentley Stephen C.
Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V.
Kraus Robert J.
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