Ordnance – Bomb – flare and signal dropping – Arming device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-30
2003-07-01
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Ordnance
Bomb, flare and signal dropping
Arming device
C294S082260, C102S221000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06584880
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an arming unit retention mechanism and, more particularly, relates to electro-mechanical arming units.
2. Description of the Related Art
Arming unit retention mechanisms are used in conjunction with bomb racks, aircraft pylon, or other weapons release systems with weapons which are armed by the pulling of a lanyard. In these arming unit systems, a hook or plunger retains the weapon lanyard such that when the weapon is released, the lanyard is pulled, and the weapon is armed by the pulling of the lanyard. Additionally, at times it is desired to release an unarmed weapon. These arming unit systems permit the hook to be disengaged from the weapon lanyard such that when the weapon is released, the lanyard is not pulled, and the weapon is released unarmed.
In addition to providing the arming function described above, arming units are also used to accommodate high drag or low drag bomb release. In this case, the weapon has fins adapted to be extended and retracted. In the extended position, the fins provide high wind resistance or drag. In the retracted position, the fins provide low wind resistance or drag. In these systems, the hook or plunger retains the drag lanyard such that when the weapon is released, the drag lanyard is pulled, and the fins are extended by the pulling of the lanyard. Alternately, the hook is disengaged from the drag lanyard such that when the weapon is released, the drag lanyard is not pulled, and the fins remain retracted.
Two types of arming unit (hereinafter “AU”) retention mechanisms are commonly known in the art, conventional AU technology and zero retention force (hereinafter “ZRF”) AU technology.
As described above, at times it is desired to release an unarmed weapon. In conventional AU mechanisms, in order to release an unarmed weapon the user must provide the force necessary (typically 10-12 pounds of force) to disengage the hook from the lanyard. If the user is unable to provide this force, or if the mechanism fails for whatever reason, the AU does not open and an armed weapon may be released instead of the desired unarmed weapon.
In ZRF AU mechanisms, the lanyard is disengaged by the driving of a mechanical linkage opening the lanyard hook. If this mechanism fails for whatever reason, the ZRF AU does not open and an armed weapon is released instead of the desired unarmed weapon.
Both the conventional AU and the ZRF AU require a force external to the AU (e.g. the user or driving of a mechanical linkage) to release the lanyard. Therefore, there is a continuing need for an electrically operated arming unit retention mechanism that is driven by pre-existing weapons system signals, and that removes the need for external forces to lock the arming unit.
Prior art AU's, as shown in
FIGS. 1 through 3
, are used in conjunction with bomb racks and operate in three modes: Normal mode, Armed/Locked mode (hereinafter “Locked”), and Open mode. Weapon release systems utilize an arming signal
20
to signal the mode to the AU. Weapon release systems also have a firing signal
21
to provide power to the bomb rack to release the weapon.
The prior art ZRF AU
5
shown in
FIG. 1
is in the Normal mode. In the Normal mode, a weapon
10
is loaded into a bomb rack (not shown) with arming lanyard
8
disposed between a lanyard hook
9
and a lanyard plunger
11
of ZRF AU
5
. Lanyard plunger
11
is operable to extend into contact with lanyard hook
9
and is operable to retract into ZRF
5
. In the Normal mode, lanyard plunger
11
is extended into lanyard hook
9
. engaging arming lanyard
8
between lanyard plunger
11
and lanyard hook
9
.
Lanyard plunger
11
is operable to extend and retract via the movement of an arming linkage
12
. A bomb rack (not shown) is adapted to provide a linkage force
14
to arming linkage
12
disposed on ZRF
5
. Linkage force
14
acts to pivot arming linkage
12
about one of two pivot points. A mechanism
6
(not shown) within ZRF
5
is adapted to allow arming linkage
12
to pivot about either an arming pivot point
13
or an unarming pivot point
15
.
In the Open mode, shown in
FIG. 2
, mechanism
6
operates to allow arming linkage
12
to pivot about unarming pivot point
15
. When pivoting about unarming pivot point
15
, arming linkage
12
retracts lanyard plunger
11
from lanyard hook
9
, thus disengaging lanyard
8
from ZRF
5
. The Open mode permits release of an unarmed weapon
10
. To achieve the Open mode, the user does not provide an arming signal
20
to ZRF S via wire terminals
7
. When ZRF
5
receives linkage force
14
to arming linkage
12
upon weapon release, the ZRF
5
arming linkage, by default, pivots about unarming pivot point
15
, causing the release of the unarmed weapon
10
.
In the Locked mode, shown in
FIG. 3
, mechanism
6
operates to allow arming linkage
12
to pivot about arming pivot point
13
. When pivoting about arming pivot point
13
, arming linkage
12
does not retract lanyard plunger
11
from lanyard hook
9
, thus leaving lanyard
8
engaged to ZRF
5
. The Locked mode permits release of an armed weapon
10
. To achieve the Locked mode, the user provides arming signal
20
to ZRF
5
via wire terminals
7
to activate the Locked mode. ZRF
5
receives arming signal
20
which activates mechanism
6
to allow arming linkage
12
to pivot about arming pivot point
13
. The bomb rack is opened upon the user providing firing signal
21
. Firing signal
21
causes the bomb rack to provide linkage force
14
to arming linkage
12
. Linkage force
14
pivots arming linkage
12
about arming pivot point
13
, causing the release of the armed weapon
10
.
Additionally, the current equipment in the field is equipped with either one of the two above mentioned systems. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an electrically operated arming unit retention mechanism which can be retrofitted to the existing equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The teachings of this invention relate to logic circuitry for a weapon arming unit, the circuitry being driven by pre-existing weapons system signals, and that beneficially removes the need for external forces to open the arming unit for safe release.
The apparatus of the present invention provides for an electrical controlled arming unit which removes the need for an external force to operate the unit. The present invention uses a logic circuit that is driven by the pre-existing weapons system signals to remove the need for external forces to open the arming unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4266462 (1981-05-01), Carter et al.
patent: 4407180 (1983-10-01), Regnat
patent: 4520711 (1985-06-01), Robinson
patent: 4528890 (1985-07-01), Carter
patent: 4682530 (1987-07-01), Brown et al.
patent: 4936187 (1990-06-01), Teeter
patent: 4987820 (1991-01-01), Gordon
patent: 5042357 (1991-08-01), Schaff et al.
patent: 5305676 (1994-04-01), Conrad et al.
patent: 5821447 (1998-10-01), Reams et al.
patent: 6289817 (2001-09-01), Quebral et al.
Nicodemus Carl
Pahl Randall
Snell Marcus
Chambers Troy
Lenzen, Jr. Glenn H.
Raytheon Company
Schubert William C.
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