Abstract:
Methods providing naturally driven routing of air bleed derived from the external air pressure field typically developed about a moving vehicle were conceived. By design, internal ductways are to be used for providing an open flow path from relatively higher air pressure sources (such as that in the undercarriage region of a driven car) into lower base pressure regions (typically developed aft of blunt trailing body regions) as are generally found on road and ‘airdrop’ cargo delivery air vehicles having open rear doors. Low energy air bleed flow injected into the vehicle's separated afterbody region acts to replenish entrained base flow and its base drag reduction is thereby achieved.
Abstract:
A hypersonic vehicle having in one or more embodiments a control surface that is movable to a deployed position. The control surface is movable in a pivotal manner that establishes a gap between the leading edge of the control surface and the outer surface of the vehicle to provide a flow path. The gap allows a boundary layer along the outer surface of the vehicle to pass through the flow path with out separation from the outer surface, to further improve the effectiveness of the control surface.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a gliding submersible transport system. Exemplary submersible gliders have wings capable of providing sufficiently high lift-to-drag ratios such that the submersible gliders of may be used for transporting large volumes of military or commercial hardware, equipment, personnel, or the like. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a submersible glider has a step-wise glider range. The glider includes a substantially cylindrical hull having a bow and a stern. A generally planar lifting surface is disposed toward the stern. The lifting surface has a pair of generally planar stabilizer surfaces that extend generally perpendicular to a plane of the lifting surface from ends of the lifting surface. A nose cone and at least one steering device are disposed toward the bow.
Abstract:
A reusable, mach-velocity mobile platform delivers a weapons payload via vertical launch, powerless glide, weapons release, and landing operation phases. The platform includes a generally tubular shaped body having an aft and forward end, and a payload section. An arch wing is supported by the body aft end. The arch wing has an upper and a lower wing joined at distal ends by two curved end plates. A nose assembly is connected at the forward end having an upward directed fixed angle-of-attack to generate forward end lift. Thermal tiles attached under the body and the lower wing under-side radiate/dissipate heat generated during a high angle-of-attack platform reentry. Radar absorptive or radar translucent material is used. The platform preferably discharges payload from the aft end for safe separation. A landing gear is extended for the landing phase of operation.
Abstract:
A system for guiding the flight of a projectile to a target. The system comprises a tracking and guidance system, the projectile, and a projectile reference and control system that is part of the projectile. The tracking and guidance system includes a target tracker, a projectile tracker for providing a projectile-tracking laser beam, and a target designator for designating the target using a target-tracking laser beam, and for providing range data indicative of the range to the target. A processor is coupled to the target designator, the target tracker, and the projectile tracker for processing target and projectile return signals and target range signals to generate an actuator command signal that is transmitted by the projectile tracker using the projectile-tracking laser beam and that is used to alter the flight of the projectile. The projectile reference and control system includes an optical reference including polarized and unpolarized retroflectors for reflecting the projectile-tracking laser beam back to the projectile tracker, and a detector that is responsive to the projectile-tracking laser beam provided by the projectile tracker, for detecting the actuator command signal transmitted by the projectile tracker. A command operated actuator is coupled to the detector for processing the actuator command signal and for generating a trajectory modification signal that is used to alter the flight of the projectile. A divert assembly coupled to the command operated actuator for generating thrust that diverts the trajectory of the projectile in response to the trajectory modification signal.
Abstract:
A hypersonic vehicle having in one or more embodiments a control surface that is movable to a deployed position. The control surface is movable in a pivotal manner that establishes a gap between the leading edge of the control surface and the outer surface of the vehicle to provide a flow path. The gap allows a boundary layer along the outer surface of the vehicle to pass through the flow path with out separation from the outer surface, to further improve the effectiveness of the control surface.
Abstract:
A reusable, mach-velocity mobile platform delivers a weapons payload via vertical launch, powerless glide, weapons release, and landing operation phases. The platform includes a generally tubular shaped body having an aft and forward end, and a payload section. An arch wing is supported by the body aft end. The arch wing has an upper and a lower wing joined at distal ends by two curved end plates. A nose assembly is connected at the forward end having an upward directed fixed angle-of-attack to generate forward end lift. Thermal tiles attached under the body and the lower wing under-side radiate/dissipate heat generated during a high angle-of-attack platform reentry. Radar absorptive or radar translucent material is used. The platform preferably discharges payload from the aft end for safe separation. A landing gear is extended for the landing phase of operation.
Abstract:
An air vehicle having an elongated body structure, which has an aft portion and an arch wing device that is coupled to the aft portion of the body structure. The arch wing device includes a lower wing, which has a swept back leading edge and a swept back trailing edge, an upper wing, which has a swept back leading edge and a swept back trailing edge, and a pair of interconnecting portions that couple each of the opposite outboard lateral edges of the upper wing to an associated outboard lateral edge of the lower wing.
Abstract:
A technique for reducing the lateral force exerted upon a projectile launched into a flowing medium. The inventive technique includes the step of injecting a pressurized jet (J) into a medium (14), upstream of the launch point, flowing laterally relative to the anticipated path of a projectile (16). The projectile (16) is then propelled from a first location (18) into the medium (14) proximate the jet (J) injected therein.
Abstract:
The overall drag upon a missile body after launch can be reduced and hence the range and average speed of the missile increased by reducing the aerodynamic drag at supersonic velocities attributable to missile hooks which are normally used to attach and launch the missile body from a launcher assembly. After launch a pair of splitter plates are popped up into position next to each missile hook. One splitter plate is positioned in front of the missile hook and a second splitter plate positioned behind the missile hook. The splitter plates are generally planar and arranged so that their planar surfaces are approximately parallel to the fore and aft direction of the missile body. In the illustrated embodiment, the splitter plates are erected into an operative configuration with respect to their missile hooks by rotating each splitter plate about a hinge line. The splitter plate is biased to assume the erect configuration by means of a torsion spring. An electromechanical latch maintains the splitter plates in a folded configuration against the missile body until the missile body has cleared the launch assembly. Thereafter the latch releases the splitter plates allowing the torsional spring to rotate each splitter plate into an operative configuration. Upon full erection of each splitter plate, each splitter plate is mechanically locked into the erect configuration. In one embodiment a fifty percent reduction in the drag coefficient is realized at supersonic velocities as a result of the splitter plates.