US4741245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for aiming artillery with GPS NAVSTAR
Assignee: DKM ENTERPRISES
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Filing: 1986-10-03
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Granted: 1988-05-03
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Expires: 2006-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for aiming artillery by incorporating the GPS NAVSTAR system directly into a mobile artillery unit such as a howitzer. A firts GPS ground station is incorporated into a howitzer. A second GPS ground station is located at a distance from the first station. A Receiver Processor Unit at the first GPS ground station receives the position of both first and second ground stations, as well as any other GPS ground stations that are in range, and determines an external reference direction and a reference angle for the second GPS station with respect to the reference direction. An azimuth transfer mechanism is aligned with the second GPS station at the reference angle so that the howitzer shares a common alignment with all guns in an artillery battery and the entire artillery battery may be aimed at a single target. Preferably the second GPS station also comprises a howitzer so that the artillery battery disperses in tactically preferred groups of two howitzers each.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel K. Malone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:24
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/14; F41G3/16; F41G3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for aiming a ballistic trajectory launcher or other ordenance, comprising: first and second geopositioning system (GPS) ground stations for determining first and second positions, respectively, said first and second positions being remote from each other, said first GPS ground station being integral with a first piece of artillery; means for communicating the position of said second GPS ground station to said first GPS ground station; a first Receiver Processor Unit (RPU) for determining an external reference direction from said first and second position determinations at said first GPS ground station; means for computing a first azimuthal angle of said second GPS ground station relative to said external reference direction at said first GPS ground station; and first means for transferring said first azimuthal angle to the first piece of artillery, including means for aligning said second GPS ground station at said first azimuthal angle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for aiming a ballistic trajectory launcher or other ordenance, comprising: first and second geopositioning system (GPS) ground stations for determining first and second positions, respectively, said first and second positions being remote from each other, said first GPS ground station being integral with a first piece of artillery; means for communicating the position of said second GPS ground station to said first GPS ground station; a first Receiver Processor Unit (RPU) for determining an external reference direction from said first and second position determinations at said first GPS ground station; means for computing a first azimuthal angle of said second GPS ground station relative to said external reference direction at said first GPS ground station; and first means for transferring said first azimuthal angle to the first piece of artillery, including means for aligning said second GPS ground station at said first azimuthal angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for determining a distance between said first and second GPS ground stations at said first GPS ground station; and means for supplying said distance to said first RPU at said first GPS ground station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for determining the distance between the first and second GPS ground stations comprises a separate range finding device at said first GPS ground station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for determining the distance between the first and second GPS ground stations comprises means for accommodating differential techniques in performing the GPS computations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for determining the distance between the first GPS ground station and additional GPS ground stations at said first GPS ground station
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for making said first transfer means directly available to a gunner; and means for protecting said gunner from chemical, biological and radioactive (CBR) contaminates at said first piece of artillery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first transfer means includes back up means for transferring an azimuthal angle from an object having a position known by survey techniques.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first piece of artillery comprises a howitzer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said howitzer includes a trunnion; and said GPS ground station and RPU are incorporated into said trunnion so as to be directly accessed by a crewman of said howitzer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first piece of artillery comprises an air defense artillery system such as a missile battery or a Remotely Piloted Vehicle battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second ground stations receive the P code from the geopositioning system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second ground stations receive the CA code from the geopositioning system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for communicating the position of said first GPS ground station to said second GPS ground station, said second GPS ground station being integral with a second piece of artillery; a second Receiver Processor Unit (RPU) for determining an external reference direction from said first and second position determinations at said second GPS ground station; means for computing a second azimuthal angle of said first GPS ground station relative to said external reference direction at said second GPS ground station; and second means for transferring said second azimuthal angle to the second piece of artillery, including means for aligning said first GPS ground station at said second azimuthal angle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: means for determining a distance between said first and second GPS ground stations at said second GPS ground station; and means for supplying said distance to said second RPU at said second GPS ground station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means for determining the distance between said first and second GPS ground stations comprises a separate range finding device at said second ground station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said means for determining the distance between said first and second GPS ground stations comprises means for accommodating differential techniques in performing the GPS computations at said second GPS ground station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for determining the distance between said second GPS ground station and additional GPS ground stations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: means for making said second transfer means directly available to a gunner; and means for protecting said gunner from chemical, biological and radioactive (CBR) contaminates at said second piece of artillery.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second transfer means includes back up means for transferring an azimuthal angle from an object having a position known by survey techniques.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second piece of artillery comprises a howitzer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second piece of artillery comprises an air defense artillery system such as a missile battery or a Remotely Piloted Vehicle battery.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of aiming a ballistic trajectory launcher or other ordenance, comprising the steps of: determining first and second positions of first and second geopositioning system (GPS) ground stations, respectively, said first and second positions being remote from each other, said first GPS ground station including a first piece of artillery; communicating the position of said second GPS ground station at said first GPS ground station; determining the external reference direction from said first and second position determinations at said first GPS ground station with a first Receiver Processor Unit (RPU); computing a first azimuthal angle of said second GPS ground station relative to said external reference direction at said first GPS ground station; and transferring said first azimuthal angle to the first piece of artillery by aligning said second GPS ground station at said first azimuthal angle.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of aiming a ballistic trajectory launcher or other ordenance, comprising the steps of: determining first and second positions of first and second geopositioning system (GPS) ground stations, respectively, said first and second positions being remote from each other, said first GPS ground station including a first piece of artillery; communicating the position of said second GPS ground station at said first GPS ground station; determining the external reference direction from said first and second position determinations at said first GPS ground station with a first Receiver Processor Unit (RPU); computing a first azimuthal angle of said second GPS ground station relative to said external reference direction at said first GPS ground station; and transferring said first azimuthal angle to the first piece of artillery by aligning said second GPS ground station at said first azimuthal angle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of: determining a distance between said first and second GPS ground stations at said first GPS ground station; and supplying said distance to said first RPU at said first GPS ground station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of: making said first azimuthal angle directly available to a gunner; and protecting said gunner from chemical, biological and radioactive (CBR) contaminates at said first piece of artillery.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of determining said first and second positions includes the steps of receiving and decoding the P code from said geopositioning system
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of determining said first and second positions includes the steps of receiving and decoding the CA code from said geopositioning system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
112 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of: communicating the position of said first GPS ground station to said second GPS ground station, said second GPS ground station being integral with a second piece of artillery; determining an external reference direction from said first and second position determinations at said second GPS ground station with a second Receiver Processor Unit (RPU); computing a second azimuthal angle of said first GPS ground station relative to said external reference direction at said second GPS ground station; and transferring said second azimuthal angle to the second piece of artillery by aligning said first GPS ground station at said second azimuthal angle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of: determining a distance between said first and second GPS ground stations at said second GPS station; and supplying said distance to said second RPU at said second GPS ground station.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of: making said second azimuthal angle directly available to a gunner; and protecting said gunner from chemical, biological and radioactive (CBR) contaminates at said second piece of artillery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-03 | 1991-11-02 | 1992-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-03 | 1995-11-02 | 1996-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-03 | 1999-11-02 | 2000-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |