Projectile test system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025207898-A1
Application number	US-202418989607-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2024
Priority date	Dec 21, 2023
Publication date	Jun 26, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing projectiles is disclosed. The system can include a projectile with one or more portions. Each portion can be rotatable about a major axis of the projectile. The projectile can include one or more sensors. The sensors can determine at least a relative position of the first portion to the second portion. The test system can include a radial centrifugal housing. The centrifugal housing can receive an intake of air, circulate the air radially around the major axis of the projectile, and rotate a first portion of the projectile at a first rate. The test system can include measurement unit to determine a condition of the projectile responsive to rotation of the first portion of the projectile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for testing a projectile, comprising:
a projectile comprising:
a first portion rotatable about a major axis of the projectile at a first rate;
a second portion rotatable about the major axis of the projectile at a second rate different than the first rate; and
one or more sensor arrays disposed in the second portion and configured to determine at least a relative position of the first portion to the second portion;
a radial centrifugal housing configured to:
receive an intake of air;
circulate the air radially around the major axis of the projectile; and
rotate the first portion of the projectile at the first rate,
wherein the first portion of the projectile is disposed at least partially in the radial centrifugal housing; and a measurement unit configured to determine a condition of the projectile responsive to rotation of the first portion of the projectile.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a second radial centrifugal housing is configured to:
receive a second intake of air; circulate the second air radially around the major axis of the projectile; and rotate the second portion of the projectile at the second rate, wherein the second rate opposes the first rate.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second radial centrifugal housing is configured to at least partially concurrently rotate the second portion.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the second radial centrifugal housing is configured to at least partially concurrently rotate the second portion based on the relative position of the first portion to the second portion.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial centrifugal housing is coupled to a tapered air input to provide the intake of air to the radial centrifugal housing.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the tapered air input has a first inner diameter of 0.25-1.00 inches tapering to a second inner diameter of 0.05-0.24 inches.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tapered air input is coupled to an inlet of the radial centrifugal housing and wherein a section of the tapered air input coupled to the inlet of the radial centrifugal housing is curved at least 270 degrees.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the radial centrifugal housing is configured to rotate the first portion at a rate of between 10,000-225,000 rpm.

9 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a clamp configured to hold the second portion of the projectile stationary during the circulation of the air.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the projectile is between 6-160 mm in diameter.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition is one of a wear of the projectile, a tolerance of the projectile, power generation of the projectile, friction forces of the projectile, or a speed of rotation of the projectile.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least the projectile and the housing are arranged within a transparent enclosure.

13 . An enclosure for testing a projectile, comprising:
a projectile comprising:
a first portion rotatable about a major axis of the projectile at a first rate;
a second portion rotatable about the major axis of the projectile at a second rate different than the first rate; and
one or more sensor arrays disposed in the second portion and configured to determine at least a relative position of the first portion to the second portion;
a radial centrifugal housing configured to:
receive an intake of air;
circulate the air radially around the major axis of the projectile; and
rotate the first portion of the projectile at the first rate,
wherein the first portion of the projectile is disposed at least partially in the radial centrifugal housing; and a measurement unit configured to determine a condition of the projectile responsive to rotation of the first portion of the projectile.

14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein a second radial centrifugal housing is configured to:
receive a second intake of air; circulate the second air radially around the major axis of the projectile; and rotate the second portion of the projectile at the second rate, wherein the second rate opposes the first rate.

15 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the radial centrifugal housing is configured to at least partially concurrently rotate the second portion.

16 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the radial centrifugal housing is configured to at least partially concurrently rotate the second portion based on the relative position of the first portion to the second portion.

17 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the radial centrifugal housing is coupled to a tapered air input to provide the intake of air to the at least one radial centrifugal housing.

18 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the radial centrifugal housing is configured to rotate the first portion at a rate of between 40,000-150,000 rpm.

19 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a clamp configured to hold the second portion of the projectile stationary during the circulation of the air.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the condition is one of a wear of the projectile, a tolerance of the projectile, power generation of the projectile, friction forces of the projectile, or a speed of rotation of the projectile.

Assignees

• Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc

Inventors

• Teece Bryan
• Thoren Glenn R

Classifications

• F42B35/00 Primary

  Testing or checking of ammunition {(apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14)} · CPC title