AERIAL TARGET WITH A PULLED IR FLARE SYSTEM

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The proposed invention relates to an aerial target provided with a towed IR flare system as an infrared radiation emitter device for marking aerial targets, such that the device can mark the aerial target at short and medium distances (up to 3-4 km) and even at long distance using to that end a dual IR radiation source, by means of respective flares emitting in a narrow band of the spectrum that is compatible with the scanning band of the infrared guidance system in anti-aircraft defense missiles.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The field of the invention is comprised in the aeronautic and auxiliary engineering industry, also having applications in the defense industry.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There are various methods for marking targets in the market of aerial targets today.

[0004] Most methods relate to conventional heat sources, such as gas or fuel burners, although another type of radio emitters is also under development.

[0005] Patent US4356984 (WORTH ROBERT N ET AL) describes a tow target system for use with a remotely piloted aircraft, including deployment of the target(s) from wing launchers on a tow line, braking of the tow line, release of target and tow line from the aircraft, and parachute recovery of the jettisoned target.

[0006] The effectiveness of the device proposed in this invention surpasses all the devices mentioned above, particularly the state-of-the-art devices, because the radiation source emits in a narrow band of the spectrum that is compatible with the scanning band of the infrared guiding system in anti-aircraft defense missiles.

[0007] Furthermore, the system of separating flares at a suitable distance by means of respective securing cables allows the emitted signal to be suitably calibrated and located where required.

[0008] Therefore, the features of this invention are considered new, and all these features combined are not anticipated in any known embodiment.

[0009] The inventor is not aware of any earlier invention which incorporates the arrangements of the present invention or the advantages entailed by said arrangement.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention is defined by an aerial target according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The proposed invention relates to an aerial target provided with a towed IR flare system as an infrared radiation emitter device for marking aerial targets, preferably located at the tip of the wings of the mentioned aerial target.

[0011] The device can therefore mark the aerial target at short and medium distances (up to 3-4 km) and even at long distance using to that end a dual IR radiation source by means of respective flares emitting in a narrow band of the spectrum that is compatible with the scanning band of the infrared guidance system in anti-aircraft defense missiles.

[0012] The aerial target is made up of a support device for an assembly which supports several elements mainly including, among others, a fixing support screwed to the wing of the aircraft, wherein a double L-shaped front support is located in the front portion which will be used for aligning steel pulling cables and on the sides there are located, perpendicular thereto, respective shafts bearing respective rollers along with respective clutches intended for winding / unwinding respective braided steel cables which, following passage through cable alignment supports, are secured to at least two IR flares, and wherein the internal control elements would be an electronic control unit, a battery for powering the assembly, respective magnetic switches for activating beacons, a pyrotechnic sequencer, a protection sequencer to prevent the accidental firing of flares, and an autopilot (15). A target controller (CCS) is present as an external element.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to better understand the invention, a set of drawings showing the following is attached: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the support for the flares. Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the entire system.

[0014] Identical elements are referred to with the same reference numbers in said figures, and these elements include: (D).- support device for the assembly, (1).- plate for fixing to the wing, (2).- body of the fixing support, (3', 3").- clutches of the rollers, (4', 4").- rollers for winding cables, (5', 5") .- cable alignment supports, (6', 6").- braided steel cable, (7', 7").- through holes of the cables, (8', 8").- IR flares, (9',9").- securing elements for securing the cable to the flare, (10).- a battery for powering the assembly, (11).- electronic control unit, (12', 12").- magnetic switches for activating IR beacons, (13).- pyrotechnic sequencer, (15).- autopilot, (16).- protection sequencer, (17).- upper holes, (18).- double L-shaped front support, (19', 19").- shafts for supporting the rollers, (CCS).- External remote controller for the aerial target. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The proposed invention relates to an aerial target provided with a towed IR flare system as an infrared radiation emitter device for marking aerial targets, such that the device can mark the aerial target at short and medium distances (up to 3-4 km) and even at long distance using to that end a dual IR radiation source by means of respective flares emitting in a narrow band of the spectrum that is compatible with the scanning band of the infrared guidance system in anti-aircraft defense missiles.

[0016] In a more detailed manner, the aerial target is made up of a support device for an elongated T-shaped assembly (D), made of a high-performance metal alloy and fixed to the tip of the wing of the mentioned aerial target, acting as a support for the following elements: .- a fixing support (1), formed by a rectangular-shaped thin plate located in the vertical of the imaginary axis of the assembly "D" and the two upper vertices of which have circular extensions with respective holes (17) that will be used for screwing or riveting the assembly (D) to the wing of the aircraft, .- a double L-shaped front support (18) located in the front portion of the part (D) and made up of two L-shaped parts with flat opposing bases, and wherein there can be seen therein respective rectangular windows (5') and (5") that will be used for aligning braided steel cables (6') and (6).

[0017] On the sides of the mentioned part (18) there are located, perpendicular thereto, respective shafts (19') and (19") bearing respective rollers (4') and (4") along with respective clutches (3') and (3'') intended for winding / unwinding respective braided steel cables (6') and (6") which, following passage through cable alignment supports (5') and (5"), are secured to the IR flares (8') and (8") by means of flare securing elements (9') and (9") after going through the through holes (7') and (7").

[0018] The following are provided as internal control elements: .- an electronic control unit (11), .- a battery for powering the assembly (10), .- magnetic switches for activating IR beacons (12') and (12") to prevent the explosion of the beacons during manipulation. .- a pyrotechnic sequencer (13), .- a protection sequencer (16) to prevent the accidental firing of flares (8') and (8") .- autopilot (15),

[0019] There is arranged externally a remote controller (CCS) which manipulates the target by remote control through the communication system of the electronic control unit (11) and the autopilot.

[0020] The control and operation of the aerial target are performed by means of the (CCS) which is an external remote controller acting on the electronic control unit (11) to mobilize the aerial target by means of the autopilot (15) and the IR flares (8') and (8") by means of the braided steel cables (6') and (6") securing the flares by means of respective securing elements (9') and (9"), and wherein, in turn, the cables (6') and (6"), by means of the clutches (3') and (3") that gradually unwind the cables wound on the rollers (4') and (4'') going through the alignment supports (5') and (5"), go through the holes (17) until they are secured in the IR flares (8') and (8") so that they can be slowly unwound as controlled by the external controller (CCS).

[0021] The aerial target thus formed can be fixed on one wing or on both wings of the aerial target.

[0022] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it should be stated that the arrangements indicated above and depicted in the attached drawings are susceptible of detail modifications provided that said modifications still fall under the scope of protection which is defined by the following claims..

Claims

1. An aerial target provided with a towed IR flare system, comprising a support device having an elongated T-shaped assembly (D), made of a high-performance metal alloy and fixed to the tip of a wing (14) of the mentioned aerial target, the support device further comprising the following elements: .- a fixing support (1), formed by a rectangular-shaped thin plate located in the vertical axis of the T-shaped assembly (D) and two upper vertices of which have circular extensions with respective holes (17) for screwing or riveting the T-shaped assembly (D) to the wing of an aircraft, .- a double L-shaped front support (18) located in the front portion of the T-shaped assembly (D) and made up of two L-shaped parts with flat opposing bases comprising respective rectangular windows (5', 5") for aligning braided steel cables (6', 6"); the support device further comprising on the sides of the double L-shaped front support (18), perpendicular thereto, respective shafts (19', 19") bearing respective rollers (4', 4") along with respective clutches (3', 3") intended for winding / unwinding respective braided steel cables (6', 6") which, following passage through cable alignment supports (5', 5"), are secured to the IR flares (8', 8") by means of flare securing elements (9', 9") after going through through holes (7', 7") located in the T-shaped assembly (D); the aerial target further comprising the following internal control elements: .- an electronic control unit (11), .- a battery for powering the assembly (10), .- magnetic switches (12', 12") for activating IR beacons, .- a pyrotechnic sequencer (13), .- a protection sequencer (16) to prevent the accidental firing of flares (8', 8") .- autopilot (15); a target controller (CCS) being present as an external element.

2. The aerial target provided with a towed IR flare system according to claim 1 and characterized in that the control and operation of the aerial target are performed by means of the (CCS) which is an external remote controller acting on the electronic control unit (11) to mobilize the aerial target by means of the autopilot (15) and the IR flares (8') and (8") by means of the braided steel cables (6') and (6") securing the flares by means of respective securing elements (9') and (9"), and wherein, in turn, the cables (6') and (6"), by means of the clutches (3') and (3") that gradually unwind the cables wound on the rollers (4') and (4") going through the alignment supports (5') and (5"), go through the holes (17) until they are secured in the IR flares (8') and (8") so that they can be slowly unwound as controlled by the external controller (CCS).

3. The aerial target provided with a towed IR flare system according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the flare support device (2) is fixed on one wing or on both wings of the aerial target.