IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,430,033
Granted Patent B2
US 8,430,033 · App. 13/424,327 · Granted Apr 30, 2013

Ammunition assembly with alternate load path

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,430,033
App. No.
13/424,327
Granted
Apr 30, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ammunition round assembly with alternate load path is disclosed herein. The ammunition round assembly includes a projectile, a body engaging the projectile, and a non-combustible base at least partially enclosing the body. A structural member having first and second engagement portions opposite to each other is positioned inside an interior space defined by the body and the base. The first engagement portion firmly engages the base, and the second engagement portion firmly engages the projectile to provide an alternate load path between the projectile and the base.

Claims (34)

1. An ammunition round assembly, comprising:

a projectile with a smart fuse programmable via a signal;

a propellant charge;

a body made of a material consumed upon firing the ammunition round assembly, the body having an interior area containing the propellant charge, a first end portion connected to the projectile, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

a base at least partially enclosing the second end portion of the body, wherein the base comprises one or more data-link contacts;

a data link operatively coupled to the smart fuse and to the data-link contacts to convey the signal therebetween; and

a structural member positioned inside the interior area and having first and second engagement portions, the structural member interconnecting the base and the projectile substantially isolating the body from loads applied to the projectile or the base, the first engagement portion structurally connected to the base and the second engagement portion structurally connected to the projectile, wherein the structural member isolates the data link from the propellant charge between the projectile and the data-link contacts of the base.

2. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the structural member is hollow and a portion of the data link is disposed in the hollow portion of the structural member.

3. The ammunition round assembly of claim 2 wherein the portion of the data link disposed in the hollow portion of the structural member comprises one or more of shielded or unshielded electrical wires, non-electric wires or cables, or optic fibers.

4. The ammunition round assembly of claim 2 wherein the hollow portion of the structural member further houses at least a portion of an ignition device activatable to ignite the propellant charge.

5. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the data link comprises a solid portion of the structural member that propagates the signal between the data-link contacts and the smart fuse.

6. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the smart fuse is programmable, via the signal, to control when or how the projectile will detonate after the ammunition round assembly is fired.

7. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the data-link contacts comprise one or more of: pins, conductive rings, or optic couplers.

8. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the data-link contacts comprise two or more conductive rings separated by one or more insulators.

9. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the data-link contacts are configured to interface with an exterior programming device.

10. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the signal is a first signal and the smart fuse is configured to, in response to the first signal, send a second confirmation signal via the data link to the data-link contacts.

11. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the first end portion of the body is directly attached to the projectile.

12. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the base is a non-consumable base directly attached to the second end portion of the body.

13. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the structural member is a tubular conduit having a plurality of apertures therein that provide an ignition path to the propellant charge.

14. An ammunition round assembly, comprising:

a projectile with a projectile control device programmable via a signal;

a body made of a material consumed upon firing the ammunition round assembly, the body having an interior area containing a propellant charge, a first end portion interconnected to the projectile, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

a non-consumable base connected to the second end portion of the body, wherein the base comprises a communication contact;

a data link operatively coupled to the projectile control device and to the communication contact to convey the signal therebetween; and

a structural member positioned within the interior area and having first and second engagement portions, the structural member interconnecting the base and the projectile substantially isolating the body from loads applied to the projectile or the base, the first engagement portion coupled to the base and the second engagement portion coupled to the projectile, wherein the structural member isolates the data link from the propellant charge between the projectile and the communication contact.

15. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the structural member is hollow and a portion of the data link is disposed in the hollow portion of the structural member.

16. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein the structural member houses at least a portion of an ignition device activatable to ignite the propellant charge.

17. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein a portion of the data link comprises a solid portion of the structural member that propagates the signal between the communication contact and the projectile control device.

18. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein the projectile control device is programmable, via the signal, to control when or how the projectile will detonate after the ammunition round assembly is fired.

19. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein the communication contact comprises one or more of: pins, conductive rings, or optic couplers.

20. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein the communication contact comprises two or more conductive rings separated by one or more insulators.

21. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein the signal is a first signal and the projectile control device is configured to, in response to the first signal, send a second confirmation signal via the data link to the communication contact.

22. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein the first end portion of the body is directly attached to the projectile.

23. The ammunition round assembly of claim 14 wherein the structural member is a tubular conduit having a plurality of apertures therein that provide an ignition path to the propellant charge.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED APRIL 3, 2019 AT REEL/FRAME 048788/0581 Recorded Jun 6, 2024
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
To: TRANSDIGM INC.; TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; AEROSONIC LLC; MOUNTAINTOP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS, INC.; AEROSONIC CORPORATION; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BREEZE-EASTERN LLC; BRUCE AEROSPACE INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, LLC; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; PURE TECHNOLOGIES LTD.; HARCO LABORATORIES, INC.; HARCO LLC; HARCO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; CORRPRO COMPANIES, INC.; HARCO CORPORATION; HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL GMBH; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL AB; NORDISK AVIATION PRODUCTS AS; TURNTIME TECHNOLOGIES AB; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; TRANSICOIL INC.; SOUTHCO, INC.; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS COMPANY; JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY LLC; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; SOURIAU USA, INC.; NMC GROUP, INC.; TA AEROSPACE CO.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; ROLLS-ROYCE PLC; MEMTRON TECHNOLOGIES CO.; CHELTON, INC. (N/K/A CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.); SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; AERO-INSTRUMENTS CO., LLC; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NA, INC.; HARCOSEMCO LLC; HARCO, LLC (N/K/A HARCOSEMCO LLC); PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; TELAIR US LLC; CALSPAN AERO SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, INC.; CALSPAN SYSTEMS, LLC; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; SCHNELLER, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067640/0237 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064961 FRAME: 0671. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 5, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS PREDECESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065132/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS PREDECESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064961/0671 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2023
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
To: TA AEROSPACE CO.; TRANSDIGM, INC.; TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC CORPORATION; AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; AMSAFE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECH TYEE, INC.; BEAM'S INDUSTRIES; BREEZE EASTERN CORPORATION; BRUCE AEROSPACE, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC; HARCO LABORATORIES, INC.; HARCO LLC; HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL LLC; TRANSCOIL LLC; WESTERN SKY INDUSTRIES, LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS COMPANY; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; NMC GROUP INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; CHELTON, INC. (N/K/A CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.); SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063363/0753 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2023
From: TRANSDIGM INC.; TRANSDIGM GROUP INCORPORATED; 17111 WATERVIEW PKWY LLC; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC LLC; AIRBORNE ACQUISITION, INC.; AIRBORNE GLOBAL, INC.; AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NA INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF CA INC.; AMSAFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ANGUS ELECTRONICS CO.; APICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES TNO CO.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; AUXITROL WESTON USA, INC.; AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BETA TRANSFORMER TECHNOLOGY LLC; BREEZE-EASTERN LLC; BRIDPORT HOLDINGS, INC.; BRIDPORT-AIR CARRIER, INC.; BRUCE AEROSPACE INC.; CDA INTERCORP LLC; CEF INDUSTRIES, LLC; CENTURY HELICOPTERS, INC.; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; CHELTON AVIONICS HOLDINGS, INC.; CHELTON AVIONICS, INC.; CHELTON DEFENSE PRODUCTS, INC.; CMC ELECTRONICS AURORA LLC; DART AEROSPACE USA, INC.; DART BUYER, INC.; DART HELICOPTER SERVICES, INC.; DART INTERMEDIATE, INC.; DART TOPCO, INC.; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ESTERLINE EUROPE COMPANY LLC; ESTERLINE INTERNATIONAL COMPANY; ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES SGIP LLC; HARCOSEMCO LLC; HARTWELL CORPORATION; HELI TECH, INC.; HYTEK FINISHES CO.; ILC HOLDINGS, INC.; JANCO CORPORATION; JOHNSON LIVERPOOL LLC; KIRKHILL INC.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; LEACH HOLDING CORPORATION; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; LEACH MEXICO HOLDING LLC; LEACH TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE DE, INC.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE HOLDINGS, INC.; MCKECHNIE AEROSPACE US LLC; NAT SEATTLE INC.; NMC GROUP, INC.; NORDISK AVIATION PRODUCTS LLC; NORTH HILLS SIGNAL PROCESSING CORP.; NORTH HILLS SIGNAL PROCESSING OVERSEAS LLC; NORWICH AERO PRODUCTS, INC.; OFFSHORE HELICOPTER SUPPORT SERVICES, INC.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; PARAVION TECHNOLOGY, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; POWER DEVICE CORPORATION; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.; SKANDIA, INC.; SKURKA AEROSPACE INC.; SYMETRICS INDUSTRIES, LLC; TA AEROSPACE CO.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TDG ESL HOLDINGS INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR US LLC; TEXAS ROTRONICS, INC.; TRANSICOIL LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; BRIDPORT ERIE AVIATION, INC.; TRANSDIGM UK HOLDINGS PLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 063012/0788 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 9, 2020
From: AIRBORNE SYSTEMS NORTH AMERICA OF NJ INC.; ACME AEROSPACE, INC.; ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE, INC.; AEROCONTROLEX GROUP, INC.; AEROSONIC CORPORATION/LLC; AIRBORNE HOLDINGS, INC.; AMSAFE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS INC.; AMSAFE, INC.; ARKWIN INDUSTRIES, INC.; AVIONIC INSTRUMENTS LLC; AVIONICS SPECIALTIES, INC.; AVTECHTYEE, INC.; BEAM’S INDUSTRIES; BREEZE-EASTERN CORPORATION; BRUCE AEROSPACE, INC.; CEF INDUSTRIES, INC.; CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC; DATA DEVICE CORPORATION; DUKES AEROSPACE, INC.; ELECTROMECH TECHNOLOGIES LLC; HARCO LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED; HARCO LLC; HARTWELL CORPORATION; MARATHONNORCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PEXCO AEROSPACE, INC.; PNEUDRAULICS, INC.; SCHNELLER LLC; SEMCO INSTRUMENTS, INC.; SHIELD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; TACTAIR FLUID CONTROLS, INC.; TEAC AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELAIR INTERNATIONAL LLC; TRANSDIGM, INC.; TRANSCOIL LLC; WESTERN SKY INDUSTRIES, LLC; WHIPPANY ACTUATION SYSTEMS, LLC; YOUNG & FRANKLIN INC.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS COMPANY; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; NMC GROUP, INC.; TA AEROSPACE CO.; MASON ELECTRIC COMPANY; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE AND NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052352/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2019
From: SOURIAU USA, INC.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; TA AEROSPACE CO.; ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP, INC.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; MEMTRON TECHNOLOGIES CO.; JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY, LLC; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048788/0581 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2019
From: SOURIAU USA, INC.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; TA AEROSPACE CO.; ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP, INC.; PALOMAR PRODUCTS, INC.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; MEMTRON TECHNOLOGIES CO.; JOSLYN SUNBANK COMPANY, LLC; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; ARMTEC COUNTERMEASURES CO.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG
Reel/Frame 048788/0719 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; KIRKHILL-TA CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP,INC.; PACIFIC AEROSPACE & ELECTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048609/0901 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2015
From: ADVANCED INPUT DEVICES, INC.; ARMTEC DEFENSE PRODUCTS CO.; KIRKHILL-TA CO.; KORRY ELECTRONICS CO.; LEACH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; MASON ELECTRIC CO.; NMC GROUP, INC.; PACIFIC AEROSPACE & ELECTRONICS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 035676/0001 →