Ordnance nose cone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11067372-B2
Application number	US-201916703023-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2019
Priority date	Dec 4, 2019
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

An ordnance includes a nose cone configured to be attached to a fuze or a warhead. The nose cone, when attached or coupled to the fuze or warhead, covers the fuze and at least a portion of the warhead to provide the ordnance with an aerodynamic profile. The nose cone has a shape that improves the aerodynamic profile of the ordnance as compared to ordnance that does not include a cover over the fuze. The improved aerodynamic profile enables the ordnance to achieve a greater range (approximately 20% or more) than ordnance that does not have a separate nose cone covering the fuze.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ordnance comprising:
a threaded “C” ring configured to be coupled to an outer surface of the ordnance; and
a nose cone configured to be coupled to the threaded “C” ring wherein the nose cone covers a forward portion of the ordnance to smooth air flow.

2. The ordnance of claim 1 , wherein the nose cone includes threads configured to engage with the threaded “C” ring.

3. The ordnance of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the ordnance includes one or more wrench flats configured to engage with one or more flat surfaces of the threaded “C” ring.

4. The ordnance of claim 3 , wherein the one or more flat surfaces of the threaded “C” ring include deformable features.

5. The ordnance of claim 1 , wherein the nose cone has an ogive shape.

6. The ordnance of claim 1 , wherein the nose cone includes at least one of a plastic material and a metal material.

7. The ordnance of claim 6 , wherein the plastic material includes at least one of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and wherein the metal material includes aluminum.

8. The ordnance of claim 1 , wherein the nose cone comprises a radiation-absorbent material or a non-reflecting material to absorb or scatter electromagnetic radiation, light, or sound.

9. The ordnance of claim 1 , wherein an external surface of the nose cone comprises annular ridges, longitudinal ridges, grooves, or fins to reduce drag-inducing turbulence about the ordnance.

10. An ordnance comprising:
a nose cap on a forward portion of the ordnance and coupled to the ordnance;
one or more features on an outer surface of the ordnance, the features comprising at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove;
a fastener configured to be coupled to the at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove;
a nose cone configured to be coupled to the at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove via the fastener and to smooth air flow, wherein the nose cone covers the nose cap.

11. The ordnance of claim 10 , wherein the fastener includes is a threaded “C” ring.

12. The ordnance of claim 11 , wherein the nose cone includes threads configured to engage with the threaded “C” ring.

13. The ordnance of claim 10 , wherein the fastener includes a flexible member that deflects when pressed against the ordnance and is configured to snap into the at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove.

14. The ordnance of claim 10 , wherein the fastener includes a rigid member configured to engage with the at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove.

15. An ordnance kit comprising:
a fastener configured to be coupled to at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove disposed on an outer surface of an ordnance;
a nose cone configured to be coupled to the fastener and to cover a forward portion of the ordnance to smooth air flow; and
wherein the nose cone comprises a radiation-absorbent material or a non-reflecting material to absorb or scatter electromagnetic radiation, light, or sound.

16. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the fastener is a threaded “C” ring, and wherein the nose cone is configured to be coupled via the ring.

17. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the fastener includes a flexible member that deflects when pressed against ordnance and is configured to snap into the at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove.

18. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the fastener includes a rigid member configured to engage with the at least one slot, ring, wrench flat, or annular groove.

19. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the nose cone includes at least one of a plastic material and a metal material, wherein the plastic material includes at least one of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and wherein the metal material includes aluminum.

20. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the nose cone has an ogive shape.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Information And Electronic Systems
• Bae Sys Inf & Elect Sys Integ

Inventors

• Schorr David J
• Batchelder Jason
• Spitsberg Richie
• Cleveland Kenneth

Classifications

• F42B10/46 Primary

  Streamlined nose cones; Windshields; Radomes {(F42B12/105 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F42B10/34

  Tubular projectiles · CPC title