Countermeasure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12055371-B2
Application number	US-202017770534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2020
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

A countermeasure ( 200 ) for use against a vehicle having an electric motor comprising at least one magnet. The countermeasure ( 200 ) comprises an ejection system ( 205 ) comprising a plurality of pieces of magnetic material ( 203 ). The ejection system ( 205 ) is configured to release the plurality of pieces ( 203 ) in response to receipt of a trigger signal ( 209 ). Also a method of disrupting the operation of a vehicle having an electric motor comprising at least one magnet using an ejection system ( 205 ) containing a plurality of pieces ( 203 ) of magnetic material. The method comprises detecting the vehicle; receiving, at the dispersal system, a trigger signal ( 209 ); in response to the receipt of the trigger signal ( 209 ), the ejection system ( 205 ) releasing the plurality of pieces ( 203 ); some of the plurality of pieces ( 203 ) being attracted to the magnet, sticking to the magnet, and thereby obstructing the motor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A countermeasure for use against a vehicle having an electric motor comprising at least one magnet, the countermeasure comprising:
a dispersal system containing a plurality of pieces of magnetic material, the dispersal system being configured to release the plurality of pieces in response to a trigger signal, and wherein the pieces of magnetic material consist essentially of iron filings.

2. A countermeasure according to claim 1 , further comprising a control system, wherein the control system is configured to generate the trigger signal.

3. A countermeasure according to claim 2 , wherein:
the control system comprises a proximity fuse, the proximity fuse being configured to generate the trigger signal in response to detecting that a distance to the vehicle has fallen below a pre-determined threshold; or
the control system comprises a time-delay fuse, the time-delay fuse being configured to generate the trigger signal in response to a pre-determined period of time having elapsed since the countermeasure was launched.

4. A countermeasure according to claim 1 , wherein the dispersal system comprises an ejection system configured to eject the plurality of pieces from the dispersal system.

5. A countermeasure according to claim 4 , wherein the ejection system comprises one or more of: a pyrotechnic charge, pressurised gas and/or an ejection mechanism.

6. A countermeasure according to claim 1 , wherein the dispersal system comprises a container within which the plurality of magnetic pieces are contained.

7. A countermeasure according to claim 6 , wherein the container comprises one or more openings via which pieces of magnetic material can exit the container and the dispersal system comprises one or more lids mounted for movement relative to an opening between a first position in which the lid covers the opening and a second position in which the lid does not cover the opening.

8. A countermeasure according to claim 1 , wherein the pieces are sized and shaped to be ingested into the electric motor.

9. A countermeasure according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, for example one of: a rotary wing aircraft, a fixed wing aircraft, and an unmanned air system.

10. A countermeasure according to claim 8 , wherein the vehicle comprises an unmanned air system less than 25 kg in mass.

11. A countermeasure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the countermeasure is mounted on a missile or an aircraft; or
the dispersal system forms part of a grenade.

12. A missile comprising a countermeasure according to claim 1 .

13. A method of disrupting the operation of a vehicle having an electric motor comprising at least one magnet using a countermeasure comprising a dispersal system containing a plurality of pieces of magnetic material, the method comprising:
the dispersal system releasing the plurality of pieces in response to a trigger signal; and
some of the plurality of pieces being attracted to the magnet and thereby obstructing the motor; and wherein the pieces of magnetic material consist essentially of iron filings.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising detecting that a trigger condition has been met and, in response to the detecting, transmitting the trigger signal to the dispersal system.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein detecting that the trigger condition has been met comprises:
determining that a distance to the vehicle has fallen below a pre-determined threshold; or
determining that a pre-determined period of time has elapsed since launch of the countermeasure.

16. A method according to claim 13 , wherein being attracted to the magnet comprises being ingested into the electric motor through an air intake.

17. A method according to claim 13 , wherein releasing the plurality of pieces comprises creating an airburst to disperse the plurality of pieces.

18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein:
the dispersal system comprises a pyrotechnic charge and creating the airburst comprises detonating the pyrotechnic charge; or
the dispersal system comprises a container of pressurised gas and creating the airburst comprises releasing the pressurised gas.

19. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the electric motor further comprises a rotor, a stator, and an air gap between the rotor and the stator, and wherein the plurality of pieces obstruct the motor by at least partially filling the air gap.

20. A countermeasure for use against a vehicle having an electric motor comprising at least one magnet, the countermeasure comprising:
a dispersal system containing a plurality of pieces of magnetic material, the dispersal system being configured to release the plurality of pieces in response to a trigger signal, wherein the dispersal system comprises a container within which the plurality of magnetic pieces are contained, and wherein the container comprises one or more openings via which pieces of magnetic material can exit the container and the dispersal system comprises one or more lids mounted for movement relative to an opening between a first position in which the lid covers the opening and a second position in which the lid does not cover the opening.

Assignees

• Mbda Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Hamnett Luke A

Classifications

• F41H11/02

  Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile {or anti-torpedo} defence installations or systems (cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; {informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00}) · CPC title

• F42B12/56 Primary

  for dispensing discrete solid bodies (F42B12/70 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B12/50 Primary

  by dispersion · CPC title