Patents by Inventor Rainer Schoffl

Rainer Schoffl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6488231
    Abstract: The invention relates to a missile guidance method, more particularly for anti-armor projectiles fired directly at a target. In order to avoid missing a target by a narrow margin, the invention provides that the distance to the target (3) be measured with a range finder (8) before the projectile is fired. The flying time previously calculated on the basis of target distance is inputted to the projectile (1). The projectile (1) has one or several sensors which are activated after a predetermined flying time, said sensor or sensors determining whether the projectile (1) will fly over the target at a minimum distance. Optionally, the projectile (1) conducts a single trajectory adjustment with a fixed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel GmbH Explosivstoff-und Systemtechnik
    Inventor: Rainer Schoffl
  • Patent number: 5309855
    Abstract: In a submarine weapon, particularly for combating submarines, a rocket engine with continuous rocket thrust is utilized as the submarine drive unit. An actively locating, acoustic target seeking device is provided for target detection and target pursuance, the ranging frequency of which is selected so that the echo level to be expected from its detection range lies above the noise level of the rocket engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bottger, Uwe Kellermeier, Gerrit Plumecke, Rainer Schoffl
  • Patent number: 5169093
    Abstract: A parachute associated with an object unfolds faster in an airstream if the object is first accelerated in the direction of descent. This principle can be applied advantageously to a mine system combating military targets from the air because the time between starting from an ambush position in the terrain to the onset of searching movements in the air can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Schoffl
  • Patent number: 4979444
    Abstract: A mine, particularly a land mine, is equipped with at least one active (i.e. destructive) element which is accommodated in a housing of the mine and can be brought to the functional level by means of a rocket engine. For attaining a definite ascent of the active element, the rocket engine is mounted to this active element in such a way, and is designed in such a way, that its exhaust nozzles are located outside the mine housing and the propellant gases of the rocket engine effect extraction of the active element from the mine housing which is open at an upper end. The rocket engine furthermore exerts preferably a torque on the active element about the longitudinal axis of the element so that, in conjunction with an effective charge, the effective direction of which is inclined obliquely downwardly, the effective area on the ground continuously increases in a spiral fashion during ascent of the active element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Schoffl
  • Patent number: 4823700
    Abstract: A seeker head and an associated electronic system are mounted to the front end of a warhead in order to guide the missile to the target and to initiate detonation at the right time. To prevent the seeker head and the electronic system from confusing an impeding the hollow-charge jet produced by the hollow charge, the components arranged in front of the warhead are accelerated away from the warhead by a pyrotechnical charge shortly before hitting the target so that the seeker head and electronic system separate from the warhead and the hollow-charge jet produced by the warhead can thus hit the target without obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Alker, Walter Diesinger, Rainer Schoffl
  • Patent number: 4681017
    Abstract: A practice ammunition system for a rocket launcher having a guide tube for receiving an original rocket, the original rocket including an ignition device which, prior to launch, performs a data exchange via at least one data line with an external fire control unit for the rocket launcher. The practice ammunition system includes a practice rocket having a rocket engine and an igniter for igniting the rocket engine thereof, the practice rocket being insertable in the guide tube of the rocket launcher, a simulator external to the practice rocket arranged for connection with the practice rocket and the fire control unit with the external simulator, after connection with the training rocket and the fire control unit, simulating functions of the ignition device of the original rocket for performing a data exchange dwith the fire control unit and for enabling launching of the practice rocket from the rocket launcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nikolaus H. J. Fischer, Christoph Mathey, Rainer Schoffl
  • Patent number: 4488489
    Abstract: An ordnance system which includes a warhead accommodating a number of secondary elements, especially explosive elements as a payload, with the secondary elements adapted to be distributed over a target area. The warhead includes a coaxially arranged rotation-producing propulsion unit such as a rocket engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rainer Schoffl