Missile having a pivotal warhead

US5631442A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rheinmetall Industrie AG · DE

Inventors

• Wilfried Becker · Düsseldorf, DE
• Dirk Kilfitt · Velbert, DE
• Werner Grosswendt · Ratingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 1996
• Grant date: May 20, 1997
• Expiry date: May 1, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B12/14
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A missile includes a warhead accommodated in an inner space at a front portion of the missile; a ball joint being in alignment with the longitudinal missile axis and pivotally supporting the warhead; and an aiming device for placing the warhead into a desired pivotal orientation. The aiming device includes a plurality of inflatable vessels arranged axially adjacent the warhead in a distribution about the missile axis. Each vessel has a first end oriented toward the warhead and a second end oriented away therefrom. The vessels are supported at their second end by a disk situated in the inner space of the missile. A gas generator is coupled to each vessel for charging the vessel with a gas to place the vessel into its inflated state. In the inflated state each vessel exerts a torque on the warhead about the ball joint by an engagement between the first end of the respective vessel and the warhead. Further, an electronic control system is accommodated in the inner space of the vessel. The electronic control system is connected to each gas generator for actuating a selected gas generator to place the warhead into a desired inclined orientation relative to the missile axis.