Orbital Research MODULAR AND FLEXIBLE HEAVY ORDNANCE HANDLING SYSTEM - Manual

Orbital Research, Inc.
4415 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44103
Contact: Frederick J. Lisy, Ph.D.
Telephone (216) 649-0399
E-mail [email protected]
www.orbitalresearch.com
Copyright 2003
Rev RRE 10-24-03
ODULAR AND LEXIBLE EAVY
RDNANCE ANDLING YSTEM
M F H
O H S
Orbital Research’s ship automation mission
ERGM an d 5 in ch Pr ojectile Hardware
Demonstration
Phase II Program goal
is to
develop and commercialize innovative modular and
flexible hardware and software technologies and
services to meet manpower reduction needs of ships at
sea while enhancing crewmembers’ quality of life. The
modular components will facilitate automation of
vessels under dynamic sea-states and will significantly
expedite the stowage or breakout of stores and
weapons. We are dedicated to implementing and
supporting our state-of-the art technologies working
closely with the Navy or ship manufacturer to produce a
cost affordable and robust automation system.
was to demonstrate an
innovative control and hardware system utilized for
ordnance stowage and handling. This modular system
was designed to fulfill the Navy’s needs for reduction of
manpower in all manners of labor intensive
environments and to accommodate ammunition too
heavy for manual handling. The system also had to be
affordable, robust and survivable while facilitating strike-
down and also maintaining fire during high sea states. To
avoid conflicting with Blue and Gold team DD-21 ship
designs, Orbital Research set out to automate the DDG-
51 (Arleigh Burke Class) 5-inch gun magazine to
demonstrate our technologies. The weapons magazine
of the 5-inch gun is currently not automated. Further, it
will need to handle the Extended Range Guided
Munitions (ERGM) as well as the conventional 5-inch
projectiles.
– To demonstrate our modular
hardware and software concepts, Orbital Research
produced a 65% scale handling system for loading the
ERGM, conventional projectiles, propellant and
containers. Linear electric motors power the
demonstrator. The motor’s electromagnetic flux is
completely contained which means that there are no
EMI concerns within the magazine. The system included
a "tilt and elevate" projectile handling tray and
components to prevent loose weapons in the magazine.
The hardware demonstrated the capability to sustain a
firing rate of 6-10 ERGMS as well as conventional rounds
per minute with a common loading mechanism.
Conceptual Drawing of Orbital Research’s munition handling
hardware demonstration (above) and a photograph of the
handling system loading an ERGM into a lower hoist mock-up