Rotating rapid-firing defense weapon system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present system relates to the field of the U.S. Navy's weapon systems. Specifically, it relates to a surface-to-air defense weapon system. This system will be used primarily to protect the Navy's aircraft carriers. It would have the ability to destroy all of many incoming ballistic missiles and bombs, and their fragmentation over a wide area.

2. Description of the Related Art

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

The monthly magazine Seapower is about the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. It is a sea services directory that gives the latest information on all weapons and many other things as well. It will be the subject of ships' surface-to-air weapons that I am concerned with for this system, the defense against ballistic missiles in particular.

The phalanx CIWS, a Gatling gun, is a last-ditch defense system against aircraft and anti-ship missiles and surface craft, not ballistic missiles that comes down from the edge of space. This system fills a gap. The Navy needs a last-ditch defense system against many incoming ballistic missiles and bombs and their fragmentation over a wide area.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is primarily a last-ditch defense weapon system for the Navy's aircraft carriers and the Marine Corps' amphibious landings. This system would have the ability to destroy all of many incoming ballistic missiles and bombs and their fragmentation over a wide area.

The ships are out at sea and are moving; falling debris is only a minor problem compared to getting hit by a bomb or a missile. The advantages and object of this system will be described in the specification and shown in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ship and a rotating circular platform combination.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the platform assembly on the ship's deck.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the pattern the fired projectiles will make over a given defended area.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rotating platform assembly on the ship's deck.

FIG. 5 is a partial section view of the platform and deck combination.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the entire system.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a modified gun.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a power source.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a cooling system.

FIG. 10 is a top view of three guns mounted on the platform.

FIG. 11 is a top view of two guns mounted on the platform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a good place to place this system. The rotating circular platform 40 is placed on a ship's forward deck 60, or on a land based structure. The ship can be modified existing one or a new one. The ship can have its own ballistic missiles detection ability or rely on other ships of a Navy battle group for detection of incoming ballistic missiles.

FIG. 2 shows a powerful electric motor 45 and its electrical connection 49 under the deck 60, the platform 40 is rotated with the motor's shaft 47. On the platform 40 is mounted four modified guns. Many types of modified guns can be used from a single barrel to a multiple barrel. Each of these guns 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D comprises an inner regulated power supply section, equipment protection section fire-control mechanisms and outer multiple barrels 22 and an ammunition drum 24; gun 20B is omitted for clarity. The equipment support column 55 and electrical connections are omitted for clarity.

The stationary guns 20A and 20C lean to the right approximately five degrees C., and guns 20B and 20D lean to the left approximately 5 degrees C.; degrees of other amounts can be used. Each gun's line-of-fire B points substantially upward; each line-of-fire B makes an angle C with the vertical. The guns 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D are approximately ninety degrees apart around the outer portion of the platform 40. Each gun has no search or tracking radar; they are not needed. The guns 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D are fired simultaneously.

FIG. 3 shows how the projectiles from the guns are dispersed. They form a slightly exaggerated point A on the rotating platform 40 on the deck 60. The two sets of guns create a nearly cone-shaped line-of-fire B and an angle C around the vertical axis of the platform 40. The angle C is approximately five degrees. The maximum effective range D is a minimum of two miles; it can be much, much higher. A nearly umbrella-shaped pattern E of projectiles will be produced when three guns are fired simultaneously while rotating. This umbrella pattern E will have a minimum diameter of 1,848 feet or more.

FIG. 4 shows the approximately ninety degree angle between the guns 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D. The motor 45 and an equipment support column 55 are in the center of the platform 40 on the ship's deck 60. Electrical connections are omitted for clarity. An outer multiple barrel 22 and an ammunition drum 24 are shown on 20A. 81, 82, 83 and 84 are power sources; 81A, 82A, 83A and 84A are cooling systems.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view. The equipment support column 55 is connected to the platform 40. The motor's shaft 47 rotates the platform 40 and the motor 45 is powered through an electrical line 49 under the ship's deck 60.

FIG. 6 shows the entire ROTATING RAPID-FIRING DEFENSE WEAPON SYSTEM 10. The control cables W, X, Y and Z are between the remote receivers RR1, RR2, RR3 and RR4 and the modified guns 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D and the antennas. The remote receivers RR1, RR2, RR3 and RR4 control cables W, X, Y and Z and the antennas are mounted on the equipment support column 55.

The stationary remote control transmitters RT1, RT2, RT3, and RT4 are mounted on the ship facing the rotating remote receivers RR1, RR2, RR3 and RR4 on the rotating platform 40. A stationary structure on land or sea can be a good mounting place for stationary objects of the system 10. The ship's structure is an example.

Each gun 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D has a power source 81, 82, 83 and 84 and a cooling system 81A, 82A, 83A and 84A adjacent to it. The central control room 75 will house the control panels/video screens 85 that are physically and electronically connected to the remote control transmitters RT1, RT2, RT3 and RT4 and outer antennas. There is an electric line 49 to the motor 45. An independent electric power source 65 will supply all the power needed by the control room 75.

A land-based system will have a central control room. There should be a means for supplying electric power for all versions of this system 10.

FIG. 7 shows the output electrical power OEP into each gun 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D. Each control cable W, X, Y, and Z makes electrical connections inside each gun. Each gun 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D comprises a regulated power supply section, equipment protection section and fire control mechanism; and each gun has multiple barrels 22 and an ammunition drum 24 (see FIG. 2). There is a cooling connection CC to each gun.

FIG. 8 shows the output electrical power OEP out of each power source 81, 82, 83, and 84. For this means for power source 81, 82, 83, and 84, there is a small fossil fuel engine that power an electrical generator. Each engine is controlled through a cable W, X, Y, and Z.

The regulated power supply takes place within each gun 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D as shown in FIG. 7. Another option is to change the output electrical power OEP to a regulated power supply before going into each gun. The output electrical power OEP will be 440 volts (v) at 60 cycles (Hz) in both cases.

FIG. 9 shows the cooling connection CC out of each cooling system 81A, 82A, 83A, and 84A. For this means for cooling 81A, 82A, 83A, and 84A, there is a water reserve and auxiliary units. The auxiliary units are controlled through a cable W, X, Y, and Z. One auxiliary unit would be a water pump.

FIG. 10 shows an assembly of three guns A1B1 and C1 the rotating platform 41. They are approximately 120 degrees apart; 46 is the electric motor and 56 is the support column. FIG. 11 shows an assembly of two guns N and O on the rotating platform 42 and opposite one another. The number of guns used could increase or decrease the effectiveness of this system. A substantial number of guns would be best; 48 is the motor and 58 is the column.

This system would be relatively economical to design and manufacture. This is due to the technology needed for such a system has already been developed. And there is ongoing progress in the improvement of this technology.

The ships are out at sea and are moving; falling debris is only a minor problem compared to getting hit by a bomb or missile. A land or port version of this system may be of some interest.

There has been a lot of talk about how to defend against a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles. The above system is one way; any type of gun can be used. This system has the ability to shoot down anything that comes in range of its projectiles.