Automatic rapid attachable warhead section

Patent · Tue May 10 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:7106326

Trennel, A J

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for automatically selecting warheads or reentry vehicles from a storage area containing a plurality of types of warheads or reentry vehicles, automatically selecting weapon carriers from a storage area containing at least one type of weapon carrier, manipulating and aligning the selected warheads or reentry vehicles and weapon carriers, and automatically coupling the warheads or reentry vehicles with the weapon carriers such that coupling of improperly selected warheads or reentry vehicles with weapon carriers is inhibited. Such inhibition enhances safety of operations and is achieved by a number of means including computer control of the process of selection and coupling and use of connectorless interfaces capable of assuring that improperly selected items will be rejected or rendered inoperable prior to coupling. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus wherein the stated principles pertaining to selection, coupling and inhibition are extended to apply to any item-to-be-carried and any carrying assembly. 10 figures.

• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5311436
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-652736
• OSTI ID: 7106326
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450000* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense
AUTOMATION
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COUPLING
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MILITARY EQUIPMENT
MISSILES
ON-LINE CONTROL SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
REENTRY VEHICLES
RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
SAFETY
SPACE VEHICLES
STORAGE
VEHICLES
WEAPONS