Weapon System Interrupter Unit for Ammunition Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In weapon systems on surface ships, such as surface combat ships, there is a risk of ammunition from different weapons colliding and posing a danger to the carrier platform, particularly when large-caliber ammunition like rockets are fired, which can result in missed targets or platform damage, due to the limited effective radius of fire.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an interrupter unit that prevents the second weapon from firing when the first weapon is active, allowing for a temporary intervention in the firing process rather than a spatial restriction, enabling the simultaneous and safe use of multiple weapons by defining overlapping firing corridors and using a controllable switch or time relay to manage firing circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical stops are used to limit the firing corridor of a rotating weapon to prevent collisions, then collision safety is improved, but the effective range of the weapon is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the firing corridor restriction temporary rather than permanent. The mechanical stops are only engaged when another weapon is actively firing, allowing the rotating weapon to achieve full 360-degree coverage during periods when no other weapons are operational. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both collision safety when needed and full effective range when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between multiple weapons, coordinating their firing sequences to prevent collisions without permanently restricting any single weapon's range. The controller monitors the operational status of all weapons and dynamically adjusts the firing corridors of rotating weapons based on real-time conditions, enabling full adaptability while maintaining safety through intelligent mediation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the firing corridor is permanently restricted to prevent collisions, then collision hazard is reduced, but the weapon's spatial utilization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating the engagement of mechanical stops based on the firing status of other weapons. When another weapon fires, the rotating weapon's corridor is temporarily restricted; when that weapon stops firing, the restriction is removed. This periodic adjustment maintains safety during critical periods while preserving full spatial utilization during safe periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of firing corridor restriction dynamically rather than maintaining a fixed state. The mechanical stop positions are adjusted based on real-time operational conditions, transforming the firing corridor from a permanently restricted state to a conditionally restricted state, thereby reducing collision hazard only when necessary while maximizing spatial utilization otherwise.
3Productivity
If multiple weapons operate simultaneously without coordination, then weapon productivity is improved, but the risk of fratricide increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the firing status of all weapons and automatically adjusting the mechanical stops of rotating weapons based on this information. When the system detects that another weapon is firing, it triggers the mechanical stops to restrict the rotating weapon's corridor, and reverses this when safe. This feedback mechanism enables coordinated simultaneous operation while preventing fratricide.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by pre-positioning mechanical stops that can be quickly engaged or disengaged based on operational conditions. Rather than reacting after a collision risk arises, the control system proactively activates or deactivates the mechanical restrictions before potential hazards develop, enabling safe simultaneous operation of multiple weapons.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
AI summary
A weapon system (22) comprising an interrupter unit (36), a first weapon (22a) and a second weapon (22b) is disclosed. The first weapon (22a) is designed to fire first ammunition within a first corridor (24). The second weapon (22b) is designed to fire second ammunition within a second corridor (26), wherein the first corridor (24) and the second corridor (26) intersect in a region (28) in which a collision of the first and the second ammunition constitutes a risk for a carrier platform (20) of the weapon system. The interrupter unit (36) is designed to prevent firing of the second weapon (22b) when the first weapon (22a) is firing.