U.S. patent application number 10/687835 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for fragment projectile.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rheinmetall W & M GmbH. Invention is credited to Jungbluth, Dieter, Thiesen, Stefan.
Application Number | 20040083920 10/687835 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27798341 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040083920 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thiesen, Stefan ; et
al. |
May 6, 2004 |
Fragment projectile
Abstract
A fragment projectile (1) that can be produced at low cost, and
has a sufficient fragment distribution for combating targets, while
avoiding the use of explosives in the interior of space (7) of the
fragment projectile (1). Instead, the interior space (7) normally
required for the explosive for such proximity is at least partially
filled with heavy metal fragments (4) and a relatively compact
pyrotechnical ejector charge (5) is provided to effect the ejection
of the fragments (4) at a desired or predetermined time. The
fragment projectile (1) should preferably be a sub caliber
projectile to attain the highest possible fragment speed in the
target region.
Inventors: |
Thiesen, Stefan; (Willich,
DE) ; Jungbluth, Dieter; (Herschbach, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE, BAETJER, HOWARD AND CIVILETTI, LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
Unterluss
DE
|
Family ID: |
27798341 |
Appl. No.: |
10/687835 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/489 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 12/64 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/489 |
International
Class: |
F42B 012/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 18, 2002 |
DE |
102 48 696.4 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fragment projectile, comprising: a projectile casing having a
hollow interior space; heavy metal fragments at least partially
filling the hollow space; an ejector charge disposed at the rear of
the hollow space to eject the fragments from the projectile casing,
when activated, during the flight of the projectile; and means for
activating the ejector charge at a desired time during the flight
of the projectile.
2. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein the means for
activating, activates the charge at a predetermined time during the
flight of the projectile.
3. The projectile according to claim 2, wherein the means for
activating is a timer.
4. The fragment projectile according to claim 1, wherein the
fragment projectile is a subcaliber projectile provided with a
propelling cage sabot.
5. The fragment projectile according to claim 4, wherein the
fragments are spherical.
6. The fragment projectile according to claim 5, wherein the
fragments comprise tungsten heavy metal.
7. The fragment projectile according claim 1, wherein the means for
activating includes a timer or proximity fuse to ignite the ejector
charge.
8. The fragment projectile according to claim 1, wherein the
fragments are spherical.
9. The fragment projectile according claim 8, wherein the fragments
are formed of tungsten heavy metal.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Application, DE 102 48 696.4 filed Oct. 18, 2002 and which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a fragment projectile.
[0003] Fragment projectiles are known from, for example, German
Patent No. DE 196 26 660 C2 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No.
5,900,580. The subject of this patent is full-caliber projectiles
having a projectile casing, which surrounds a hollow space that is
filled in the front region with heavy-metal fragments.
Additionally, an explosive charge is disposed inside the projectile
casing. The charge is detonated at a predetermined time, and the
fragments are accelerated, for example, in the direction of the
target.
[0004] A drawback of fragment projectiles of this type is that they
have a low rate of effectiveness, because the percentage by mass
that causes the fragmentation effect is low relative to the
projectile weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is the object of the invention to provide a fragment
projectile that can be produced at a low cost and has a sufficient
fragment distribution in the target region for combating
targets.
[0006] In accordance with the invention, this object generally is
accomplished by a fragment projectile, comprising: a projectile
casing that surrounds and defines a hollow space; heavy metal
fragments at least partially filling the hollow space; and an
ejector charge disposed at the rear of the hollow space to eject
the fragments from the projectile casing when activated during the
flight of the projectile. Preferably, the activation takes place at
a predetermined time during flight due to a timer disposed on the
projectile. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are
disclosed.
[0007] The invention is essentially based on the concept of
omitting the use of explosives in the fragment projectile, and
filling the space required for the explosive with fragments. A
relatively compact pyrotechnical ejector charge effects the
ejection of the fragments at a desired, e.g., predetermined
time.
[0008] In addition to offering a less expensive production of such
projectiles, the invention solves the problem of the firing
reliability of explosives that is inherent to conventional fragment
projectiles.
[0009] To avoid the dramatic drop in projectile speed, and thus of
the fragments during flight, that occurs in full-caliber
projectiles, it has proven advantageous to construct the fragment
projectile as a subcaliber projectile in a simple manner. These
projectiles possess a significantly higher muzzle velocity, and
exhibit a much smaller drop in speed during flight. Furthermore, in
fin-stabilized projectiles, the guidance assembly can be
permanently mounted to the projectile. As a result, costs are
further reduced and the hit probability is improved in comparison
to full-caliber projectiles, in which collapsible guidance
assemblies must usually be used.
[0010] While a sub caliber projectile offers less space for the
fragments, the available space typically suffices for effective
target combat, e.g., the threat of armored defense weapons in a
protective position or light-armored vehicles, because of the
absence of the explosive charge.
[0011] Further details about and advantages of the invention ensue
from the following exemplary embodiment explained in conjunction
with a FIGURE.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The FIGURE is a schematic cross-section view of a
fin-stabilized sub-section projectile according to the invention
providing with a propelling cage sabot
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring now to the FIGURE, there is shown a
fin-stabilized, subcaliber fragment projectile 1 that is surrounded
by an aluminum propelling cage sabot 2, which is segmented in a
known manner. The projectile can be fired from a 120-mm caliber
tank gun, for example.
[0014] The fragment projectile 1 includes a projectile casing 3,
having a hollow interior space 7 in which a packet of spherical
fragments 4 comprised of heavy metal, e.g., tungsten (WSM), is
disposed. The projectile casing 3 also contains an ejector charge 5
at the rear of the hollow space and a programmable timer fuse 6. A
fin stabilization unit 8 is affixed to the rear of the casing
3.
[0015] In the intended use of the fragment projectile 1 of the
invention, after the projectile exits the gun barrel, not shown,
the propellant cage sabot 2 initially is ejected in a known manner
and the projectile 1 follows its flight trajectory to the vicinity
of the target region. There, the timer fuse 6 ignites the ejector
charge 5 at a desired, in this case, predetermined time. The charge
pushes the spherical fragments 4 out of the front of the projectile
1 by bursting the tip 7.
[0016] To assure a reproducible ejection of the spherical fragments
4, predetermined fracture points, not shown in the FIGURE, are
provided in the region of the projectile tip 7. After the
projectile tip 7 bursts, the residual projectile abruptly slows its
speed because of the high air resistance. In contrast, at the time
of the fragment ejection process, the relatively heavy spherical
fragments 4 fly further into the target region at about the same
original speed of the projectile.
[0017] Of course, the invention is not limited to the
above-described exemplary embodiment. For example, non-spherical
fragments can be used instead of spherical ones. A heavy metal
other than tungsten heavy metal can also be used as the fragment
material. Furthermore, the fragment projectile can also be
spin-stabilized. Finally, the timer fuse can also be replaced by a
proximity fuse.
[0018] The invention now being fully described, it will be apparent
to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and
modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit
or scope of the invention as set forth herein.
* * * * *