1 Title of the Invention
The Title of Invention is “Equipment for Testing of Weapon Control
Actuating Unit".
2 Field ofthelnvention
The present Invention is related to Industrial applications and Military Aircrafts using weapon control system and in particular related to
equipment development for testing of weapon control actuating unit.
3 Background of the Invention
A weapon control system is a complex and integrated system desighed to
manage and control the operation of various types of weapons. These
systems are commonly used in military, defence and security applications
to ensure the effective deployment, targeting and operation of weapons
such as firearms, artillery, guns and more. The weapon control actuating
unit is a component or system that is responsible for controlling and
actuating various functions of the weapons. These units are critical in
ensuring that the weapons operate as intended, accurately and safely.
The specific design and function of a weapon control actuating unit can
vary widely depending on the type of weapon system it serves.
The actuating unit consists of two identical channels of relays, interlocks,
transistors and control each individual station of the weapon head. It works on the discrete input command signals of 27Vo|ts. For a given input command, the relays and transistor circuits in the actuating unit activate the interlocks in the respective channels 1 or 2 and send the output discrete commands of 27V, This output discrete command of the actuating unit triggers the eject command of the weapon station head in the channel
1 or channel 2.
At present the actuating unit is connected to a tester using cables and
tested as per the test sequence and procedures. This test method is a
time consuming process and is not able to measure the actual discrete
output of 27V signal. Also observed that the output lamps are illuminated
with less intensity and gives ambiguous results.
The developed test equipment is a reliable method of testing the actuating
unit and is able to measure, display and records the actual value of 27V
discrete command output appearing at the output test points. Further, it is
less time consuming; no ambiguity in the test results and checks its
complete functionality of the actuating unit.
'
3.1 Prior Art
The actuating unit is tested using a tester as per test sequence and
procedures. This tester consists of 50 switches for ON or OFF position
settings and 60 lamps for displaying output discrete voltage signal of high
or low level illumination. The switches and lamps are sequentially
numbered for identification. The switches in the tester enables the 27V
discrete command inputs to the actuating unit. The actuating unit
generates 27V discrete outputs according to the inputs provided by the
switches. The discrete output illuminates the output lamps with high or low
intensity at the output points.
The above tester involves switching ON I OFF combination of switches as
per the test procedure. Further, it is observed that the output lamps are
illuminated with less intensity and not able to display the actual discrete
output voltage. This kind of tester allows the weapon control actuating unit
to fitted in the aircraft which causes critical failure during weapon control system.
4 Brief Summary of the Invention
Developing a test equipment for actuating unit testing is a challenging task as it consists of multiple discrete inputs and output points tested
simultaneously. The complexity of the design is to simulate and route the
combination of 27V discrete inputs that activate the relays, interlocks and
transistors in each line of the actuating unit of channel 1 or channel 2.
The developed test equipment consists of six components or systems.
The details are power supply. switching unit, control unit, digital multimeter,
interface box and connecting cables. The developed equipment for
testing actuating unit is a reliable method of testing and is capable to
measure, display and records the actual output voltage received at the
output discrete points even with low intensity of output lamps.
5 Detail Description of the Drawings
Figure 1: is the block diagram of actuating unit [10-channel 1 relays and
transistors. 20- channel 2 relays and transistors, 30 - channel 1 weapon
station activation, 40 - channel 2 weapon station activation. 50 - internal
wiring between channel 1 and channel 2, 60 — channel 1 interface connector, 70 - channel 2 interface connector]
Figure 2: is the testing method of actuating unit using a tester [120 - actuating unit, 80 - tester, 90 — connecting cables. 100 — input discrete
switches, 110 — discrete output lamps]
Figure 3: is the flowchart for testing actuating unit as per the test procedure using the tester (80)
Figure 4: is the functional block diagram of developed test equipment for
testing actuating unit [130 — regulated DC power supply, 140 — Input
switching unit, 150 - Interface box, 160 - digital mum-meter, 170 — control
unit. 180 — un-interrupted power supply unit, 190 - interconnecting cables,
200 — relays, 210 — load resistors]
Figure 5: is the block diagram of developed Interface box (150) used for
input and output signal interfacing [200 — relays. 210 - load resistors.
220—27V input sockets, 230—ON/OFF switch unit, 240 — fuse, 250 —LED
indicator, 260 - X1 connéctor. 270 - X2 connector, 280 - digital multi—meter
output socket]
6 Detail Description of the Invention
The actuating unit (120) is a pan of the weapon control system which
triggers and releases the weapons based on commands from its
controller. It consists of two identical channels which comprises of relays,
interlocks and transistors Each channel is controlling the individual station
of the weapon head in the military aircraft.
Figure 1 shows the functional block diagram of the actuating unit (120).
The actuating unit is tested at present using the tester (80) and connecting
cables (90) as shown in Figure 2. The discrete input switches (100) and
discrete output lamps (110) are sequentially numbered and tested as per
the test procedure. The actuating unit generates outputs according to the
inputs provided by the switches. The illumination of the lamps indicates
the discrete outputs from the actuating unit. The testing procedure in the
tester involves switching ON the input switches and verifying the output
lamps illumination as per the requirement The test method continues for
different combination of input sequence to verify the functionality of the
actuating unit output discrete points as shown in the flowchart of figure 3.
The functional block diagram of the developed test equipment is as shown
in figure 4. It consists of a digital power supply (130), an input switching
unit (140), an interface box (150), a digital multi-meter (160), a contro! unit
(170), an un-interrupted power supply unit (180). plurality of
interconnecting cables (190), relays (200) and load resistors (210). The
interface box (150) is the main computation unit in the developed
equipment and the functionality is shown in figure 5. The developed test equipment is a reliable method of testing the actuating
unit and is capable to measure the actual voltage at the discrete output
points which indicates lamp illumination. Even if the lamp illumination is very low. it displays the actual output voltage received at the discrete
output points. Also it is capable to record and stores the test output voltages of all the output test points of the actuating unit for the given input test condition.
The power supply (130) generates 27V and simulates the equivalent input
discrete command voltage. This simulated voitage is received at various
points of the interface box (150). The input switching unit (140) consists of
two types of relay modules which are general purpose relay module
connected to input discrete and the multiplexer relay module connected to
output discrete.
The output voltages are generated at the different output test points of the
actuating units based on input discrete commands. These outputs are
routed as signal lines to the multiplexer relay module. For example, the
|amp1 output voltage is selected in the multiplexer relay module by a
specific input signal from control unit (170). The common points of the
multiplexer module are connected to the digital multi—meter (160). The
output voltage at this lamp1 test point is shown by the multi—meter and the
same is recorded by the control unit. The displayed voltage is stored in the
respective location of Iamp1 output of the control unit as per the test sequence. Similarly, the other output discrete test points of the actuating
units are tested and stored. The developed test equipment is capable to test the complete functionality of the actuating unit and ensures the reliable operation of the weapon control system.
| Claim,
1. The equipment for testing of weapon control actuating unit is designed
and developed for complete functional testing of all discrete inputs and
outputs of weapon control actuating unit of an aircraft and comprising:
A digital power suppty (130), a switching unit (140), an Inten‘ace box
(150). a digital multi-meter (160), a control unit (170) and plurality of
interconnecting cables (190); and
The developed equipment for testing actuating unit is a reliable method
of testing and capable to measure displays and records the actual
output voltage received at the output discrete points even with very
low intensity of output lamps.
2. The proposed invention as said in claim 1 prevents the failure of the
weapon control actuating unit.
3. The proposed test equipment as said in claim 1 and 2 reduces the troubleshooting cycle time of the weapon control actuating unit.