Supply module for supplying an effector system and effector system with a supply module

Abstract

A supply module for supplying a weapon system includes an electric storage device and a thermal storage device that stores coolant. The supply module also includes at least one electrical connection via which power can be transferred from the electric storage device to the effector system, and at least one thermal connection via which the coolant can be transferred from the thermal storage device to the effector system.

Claims

1. A supply module for supplying a weapon system, comprising: an electric storage device within a housing that is receivable by a receiving device coupled to the weapon system, wherein the electric storage device stores electric energy that powers the weapon system, and wherein the weapon system is not powered by an electric generator; a thermal storage tank within the housing, wherein the thermal storage tank stores a coolant; at least one electrical connection between the electric storage device and the weapon system, wherein the at least one electrical connection is configured to transfer the electric energy from the electric storage device to the weapon system, and wherein the at least one electrical connection is established via at least one electric coupling element; and at least one thermal connection between the thermal storage tank and the weapon system, wherein the at least one thermal connection is established via at least one thermal coupling element, and wherein the at least one thermal connection is configured to transfer coolant from the thermal storage tank to the weapon system, wherein the supply module is interchangeable, and wherein the at least one electric coupling element and the at least one thermal coupling element are provided by a receiving device of the weapon system, which is configured to receive the interchangeable supply module via the housing.

2. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection or the thermal connection comprises a quick coupler.

3. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electric storage device has a specific power of at least 1000 W/kg.

4. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electric storage device has a specific power of at least 3000 W/kg.

5. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electric storage device has a specific energy of at least 100 Wh/kg.

6. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electric storage device has a specific energy of at least 120 Wh/kg.

7. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electric storage device is configured to ensure a sustained supply of power to the weapon system for an operating time of at least 100 seconds.

8. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electric storage device is configured to ensure a sustained supply of power to the weapon system for an operating time of at least 150 seconds.

9. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the electric storage device comprises lithium-iron phosphate rechargeable batteries.

10. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the thermal storage tank comprises a latent heat accumulator.

11. The supply module of claim 10, wherein the coolant has a latent heat capacity of at least 20 kJ/kg.

12. The supply module of claim 10, wherein the coolant has a latent heat capacity of at least 40 kJ/kg.

13. A system, comprising: a laser weapon system; at least one interchangeable supply module, which comprises: an electric storage device within a housing that is receivable by at least one receiving device, wherein the electric storage device stores electric energy that powers the weapon system, and wherein the weapon system is not powered by an electric generator; a thermal storage tank within the housing, wherein the thermal storage tank stores a coolant; at least one electrical connection between the electric storage device and the weapon system, wherein the at least one electrical connection is configured to transfer the electric energy from the electric storage device to the laser weapon system; at least one thermal connection between the thermal storage tank and the weapon system, wherein the at least one thermal connection is configured to transfer coolant from the thermal storage tank to the laser weapon system; and the at least one receiving device, which is rigidly connected to the weapon system, wherein the receiving device is provided with at least one electric coupling element to establish the at least one electrical connection and with at least one thermal coupling element to establish the at least one thermal connection, and wherein the at least one interchangeable supply module is configured so that it can be introduced into the at least one receiving device in order to supply the weapon system with electric power and with coolant from the supply module.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a crane, wherein the at least one interchangeable supply module is configured so that it can be introduced into the receiving device or removed from the at least one receiving device by the crane.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the system comprises a second receiving device, wherein the system is configured so that the laser weapon system can be switchable supplied by the at least one and second receiving devices, which allows the laser weapon system to be operated continuously.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a platform, wherein the platform is a mobile platform and the laser weapon system and the at least one receiving device are mounted on the platform.

17. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the housing has an interior volume of approximately 0.29 cubic meters.

18. The supply module of claim 1, wherein the weight of the supply module is approximately 170 kilograms.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the housing has an interior volume of approximately 0.29 cubic meters.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the weight of the supply module is approximately 170 kilograms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) The invention will now be described in detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments, which refer to the appended drawings. Shown are:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic view of the supply module according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic view of the effector system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a supply module 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The supply module 1 comprises an electric storage device 2 and also a thermal storage device 3. The electric storage device 2 is connected to an electrical connection 5, which is designed as a quick coupler. The energy of the electric storage device can be dispensed via the electrical connection 5. Also present is a thermal connection 4, which is likewise designed as a quick coupler. A coolant stored in the thermal storage device 3 can be dispensed via the thermal connection 4.

(5) Preference is given to the module consisting of a cylindrical steel or aluminum container 0.5 m in diameter and 1.5 m in length. In this container is housed the electric storage device 2 in the form of electric storage batteries, whereas the thermal storage device 3 comprises a liquid coolant, which in turn comprises a latent heat accumulating material.

(6) Preferably the electrical energy is stored by means of lithium-iron phosphate rechargeable batteries, which have a specific power of 3000 W/kg and a specific energy of 120 Wh/kg. With the electric storage device 2, 50 kW of power can be dispensed for 140 seconds, the electric storage device having a weight of only 16.7 kg and a volume of 50 l.

(7) The thermal storage device 3 comprises a coolant, which comprises an aqueous emulsion of paraffin-filled plastic capsules. Preferably, the plastic capsules have a dimension of ca. 5 m. This emulsion possesses a latent heat capacity of 40 kJ/kg at a predefined phase transition temperature. This phase transition temperature is 20 C. During a cooling process by the aqueous emulsion, this temperature remains constant because the absorbed heat effects a phase transition of the paraffin from solid to liquid. The thermal storage device has in particular a weight of 100 kg and a volume of 100 l. 4 MJ of cooling energy can thus be provided.

(8) According to the exemplary embodiment, the total weight of the supply module is about 170 kg. The supply module 1 is thus very easy to manipulate. The supply module can in particular be introduced into a receiving device 8, as shown in FIG. 2.

(9) FIG. 2 shows an effector system 6, which comprises a weapon system 7 to be supplied. The weapon system 7 is a high energy laser weapon system. The weapon system 7 is connected to the receiving device 8 by means of a fluid conduit 11 and by means of an electric conduit 12. The previously described supply module 1 can be introduced into the receiving device 8. The receiving device 8 also makes it possible to connect the electrical connection 5 to the electric conduit 12 via an electric coupling element 10, and thus to supply the weapon system 7 with electrical energy. The receiving device 8 furthermore makes it possible to connect the thermal connection 4 of the supply module 1 to the thermal conduit 11 via a thermal coupling element 9, and thus to supply the weapon system 7 with the coolant.

(10) For supplying the weapon system 7, an electric control unit is arranged within the weapon system 7, which controls the supplying of the weapon system 7 with power from the electric storage device 2. Also present is a cooling pump, which draws the coolant from the thermal storage device 3 and feeds the coolant back into the thermal storage device 3. Between withdrawal and in-feeding of the coolant, the coolant is used to absorb and discharge the waste heat of the weapon system 7.

(11) The weapon system 7 has an output of 50 kW, wherein an optical power output of 10 kW can be generated. The weapon system thus has an efficiency of 20%. The supply module 1 according to the aforementioned exemplary embodiment thus makes it possible to supply the weapon system 7 for an operating time of at least 100 seconds.

(12) As soon as the supply module 1 is expended, the latter can be removed from the receiving device 8 so that another supply module 1 can be inserted therein. In this manner the weapon system 7 is operational again within a very short time span such that the effector system 6 is characterized by a high rate of availability. The spent supply module 1 can then be prepared for re-use by a recycling device, wherein the electric storage device is recharged and the coolant of the thermal storage device is restored to a ready-to-cool state by another phase transition.

(13) The effector system 6 advantageously has at least two receiving devices 8. Thus, it is possible to remove a supply module 1 from one of the receiving devices 8 while another supply module 1 in the other receiving device 8 is supplying the weapon system 7. This means that replacement of the supply modules 1 is possible while the weapon system 7 is in operation. The weapon system 7 can therefore be operated in a continuous mode, which is not possible or only possible with considerable effort in prior art systems. Lastly, the effector system 6 is affixed to a platform 13. This means that both the weapon system 7 and the receiving device 8 are mounted on the platform 13. Preferably the platform 13 is a mobile platform, in particular as a land vehicle or as a watercraft. Because the effector unit 6 is rapidly and easily moved to a location where it is needed, the platform 13 enables a highly varied and diverse use of the weapon system 7.

(14) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(15) 1 Supply module 2 Electric storage device 3 Thermal storage device 4 Thermal connection 5 Electrical connection 6 Effector system 7 Weapon system 8 Receiving device 9 Thermal coupler 10 Electric coupler 11 Thermal conduit 12 Electric conduit 13 Platform