Range control of a rocket-propelled projectile

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for controlling the range of a projectile propelled by a rocket motor. An actual value of a quantity clearly correlating with the distance covered by the projectile is continuously determined during the propulsion. The actual value thus determined is continuously compared with a predefined set-point value, which for the projectile in question corresponds to a predetermined range. When the actual value has been found to be at least equal to the set-point value the propulsion capability of the rocket motor is instantaneously terminated. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a calculation element arranged outside the projectile and preferably stationary, which is designed on the basis of a predetermined range and using known mechanical correlations to calculate a set-point quantity corresponding to the predetermined range. Located on board the projectile are a memory element designed to store the set-point value transmitted from the calculation element, an element measuring the acceleration of the projectile after firing, a second calculation element connected to the acceleration measuring element and designed to continuously calculate an actual range value from the acceleration, a comparing element designed to continuously compare the range set-point quantity with the actual range value and to terminate the propulsion capability of the rocket motor instantaneously when the actual value is at least equal to the set-point value.

Description: The invention relates to a method for controlling the range of a rocket-propelled projectile according to the pre-characterising clause of Claim 1. The invention also relates to an arrangement for performing the above-mentioned method according to the pre-characterising clause of Claim 4. The range of a rocket-propelled projectile is conventionally controlled by adjusting the elevation of a barrel by means of which the projectile is fired, or by deploying a drogue parachute carried by the projectile. When controlling the range by adjusting the elevation, the elevation must be kept high, in the order of 60° to 90°, for short ranges, which results in a high trajectory and long flight time. This increases the risk of strong wind drift and at elevations approaching 90° there is a risk of hitting one's own firing platform. The greatest disadvantage to a drogue parachute is that it can only be deployed once the rocket motor has burn out; otherwise there is a risk of destroying the parachute. Consequently the inner firing limit cannot be arbitrarily short. The parachute also gives rise to strong wind drift on the part of the projectile. In the case of a projectile of the aforementioned type, there is therefore a need to control the range of the projectile with great accuracy within a specific range interval. In addition to the need to be able to control the range within the specific interval, there is a need, in order to achieve the requisite accuracy, to compensate for variations in the momentum of the rocket motor, which can occur due to deviations in the motor temperature when firing and as a result of tolerance in the manufacture of the motor. As examples of the prior art, reference will be made to the following published patents. D1: US-A-4,991,393 D2: US-A-4,410,948 D3: US-A-3,311,130 D4: US-A-3,251,184 D5: US-A-3,737,122 D1 discloses an arrangement and a method for controlling the altitude of a spacecraft by using its propulsion motors without these being Cardan mounted. Two motors are throttled by a method specified in the publication as a function of an error signal corresponding to the difference between the actual angle of altitude and a set-point value for this. D2 relates to throttle control for an aircraft having a plurality of engines, each engine being controlled by means of a throttle valve. The speed of the aircraft and the thrust of each engine are registered for calculating control signals for the adjustment of each engine's throttle valve, in order to balance the thrust of the engines. D3, which relates to a control system for a rocket having a plurality of fixed motors, discloses how control valves for the rocket motors are operated at fixed levels above and below normal thrust level in order to produce a resulting corrective moment about a certain thrust axis. D4 relates to a rocket motor with thrust that can be varied by controlling the fuel supply to the motor within a wide control range. D5 discloses a control system with a reaction control motor used to influence the course of a projectile in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the vehicle. The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an arrangement of the type referred to in the introductory part, by means of which a predetermined range is obtained. In the method according to the invention this is achieved by the series of measures set out in the characterising part of Claim 1. In the case of the arrangement according to the invention, the object is achieved by the means specified in the characterising part of Claim 4. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings attached, of which Fig. 1 in diagrammatic form shows a longitudinal section through the rear part of a rocket-propelled projectile. Fig. 2a illustrates in the form of a flow chart an example of the structure and function of the invention. Fig. 2b shows an alternative structure and function according to the invention. In Fig. 1, 1 generally denotes a rocket motor comprising a motor casing 2, which in practice is a pressure vessel, a power propellant charge 3 placed in the motor casing 2, an igniter 4 and a nozzle adjoining the rear part of the motor casing 2. A space denoted by 6 contains control electronics, which control the guide fins 7 of the projectile, and the arrangement according to the invention, which will be explained in more detail below in connection with the Figures 2a, 2b. 8 generally denotes a separation mechanism for the nozzle 5. This preferably comprises an explosive charge, which is designed to separate the nozzle 5 from the rocket motor without otherwise affecting the projectile. The rocket motor 1 is initiated by means of the igniter 4, which by generating pressure and heat starts the combustion of the propellant powder. When the latter is burnt, a mass flow of powder gases is generated though the nozzle 5. This flow gives rise to a thrust,, which is opposed to the gas flow through the nozzle 5. The latter is designed for the specific gas flow, to which the propellant powder 3 gives rise. Given a correctly designed relationship between the nozzle 5 and the propellant powder 3, an excess pressure is maintained in the motor casing 2, which is necessary in order to keep the rate of combustion of the powder at a predetermined level. If the pressure in the motor housing is reduced rapidly, by removing the nozzle 5, for example, so that a larger outlet area is created for the powder gases, the rate of combustion is reduced, with the result that the pressure falls further, so that ultimately combustion ceases or becomes very slow with a greatly reduced thrust as a result. A correlation between the range of the projectile and the thrust of the rocket motor may be expressed, on the one hand, by using measurement of the acceleration to calculate a thrust, which after integration over time gives a momentum value, which corresponds to the range, and on the other by using measurement of the acceleration and integration over time to obtain a velocity corresponding to the range. The differences between these two methods of calculation reside primarily in the computing capacity that is required in the projectile. The above-mentioned methods of determining the range of the projectile will now be explained more fully with reference to the Figures 2a, 2b. In Fig. 2a, 9 denotes a ground-based calculation element designed, by means of the aforementioned correlation, to calculate a velocity value, which corresponds to a selected range. This velocity value therefore represents a set-point value. Since this calculation must take account of the fact that the mass of the projectile is modified through combustion of the powder charge, this calculation is relatively capacity-intensive and it is therefore advantageous to perform this on the ground. Preferably just before the projectile is fired, the velocity set-point value is transmitted to a memory 10 on board the projectile, as illustrated by an arrow 11. On board the projectile there is also an accelerometer 12, the output signal of which is transmitted to an integrator 13, as is shown by an arrow 14. The output signal from the integrator 12 is a measure of the current velocity of the projectile and therefore constitutes a velocity value, which is fed to a comparator 15, which is illustrated by an arrow 16. The velocity set-point value from the memory 10 is also fed to the comparator 15, as illustrated by an arrow 17. The comparator 15 is designed to continuously compare the velocity value with the velocity set-point value and, provided that the actual value is smaller than the set-point value, to cause the accelerometer 12 to continue the measurement, indicated in the figure by an arrow 14. The instant that the actual value becomes at least equal to the set-point value, the comparator 15 emits a signal, illustrated by an arrow 19, which triggers the separation mechanism 8, so that the nozzle 5 is detached immediately. At this, the thrust ceases, as stated, and the former acceleration of the projectile turns to retardation, the predetermined range has been reached. In Fig. 2b the same reference numbers as in Fig 2a have, where appropriate, been retained. A ground-based calculation element 9' is designed to calculate a momentum value, which corresponds to a predetermined range, use being made of the correlations briefly referred to above and well-known to the person skilled in the art. As previously, this momentum value represents a set-point value, which is transmitted to a memory 10' on board the projectile just before the projectile is fired. After firing, the acceleration of the projectile is continuously measured by the accelerometer 12 and its output signal, as illustrated by the arrow 14, is fed to a calculation element 20, designed to calculate the instantaneous thrust of the rocket motor from the said acceleration signal. A signal corresponding to the said thrust is fed, as indicated by an arrow 21, to the integrator 13', a value being obtained, according to the laws of mechanics, for the momentum developed by the rocket motor. This value is a momentum value, which is fed to the comparator 15', where it is constantly compared with the momentum value from the memory 10' in order to produce an action on the separation mechanism 8 in the same way as described in connection with Fig. 2a, when the actual value has been found to be at least equal to the set-point value and the predetermined range has consequently been reached.

Claims: Method for controlling the range of a projectile propelled by a rocket motor, wherein an actual value of a quantity clearly correlating with the distance covered by the projectile is continuously determined during the propulsion, the actual value thus determined is continuously compared with a predefined set-point value, characterised in that the set-point value corresponds to a predetermined range, for the projectile and in that the propulsion capability of the rocket motor is instantaneously terminated, when the actual value has been found to be at least equal to the set-point value. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that a momentum value is used as the quantity clearly correlating with the distance covered by the projectile. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that a velocity value is used as the quantity clearly correlating with the distance covered by the projectile. Method according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the nozzle of the rocket motor is detached in order to terminate the propulsion capability of the rocket motor instantaneously. Arrangement for controlling the range of a projectile propelled by a rocket motor, wherein the arrangement comprises a calculation element (9;9') arranged outside the projectile and preferably stationary, which is designed on the basis of a predetermined range and using known mechanical correlations to calculate a set-point quantity corresponding to the predetermined range, on board the projectile: a memory element (10; 10') designed to store the set-point value transmitted from the calculation element (9;9'), an element (12) measuring the acceleration of the projectile after firing, a second calculation element (13; 20; 13') connected to the acceleration measuring element (12) and designed to continuously calculate an actual range value from the acceleration, a comparing element (15; 15') designed to continuously compare the range set-point quantity with the actual range value, characterised in that the comparator is arranged to initiate termination of the propulsion capability of the rocket motor instantaneously when the actual value is at least equal to the set-point value. Arrangement according to Claim 5, characterised in that the said calculation element (9) is designed to calculate a projectile velocity value as set-point quantity for the predetermined range, and that the said second calculation element (13) is an integrator designed during the time from firing of the projectile to continuously integrate the output signal from the acceleration measuring element, thereby producing an actual value for the velocity of the projectile. Arrangement according to Claim 5, characterised in that the said calculation element (9') is designed to calculate a momentum set-point value as set-point quantity for the predetermined range of the projectile, and that the said second calculation element (20, 13') comprises elements (20) designed during the time from firing of the projectile to continuously calculate the thrust of the rocket motor from the output signal of the acceleration measuring element and an integration element (13') connected to the calculation element (20) and designed to generate a momentum value from the running thrust value.

Inventors: KOMSTADIUS SVEN, KOMSTADIUS, SVEN
Applicants: SAAB AB
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F02K9
IPC codes: F02K9, F41G7, F42B10, F42B15