U.S. patent application number 10/959430 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for gun ammunition.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH. Invention is credited to Jungbluth, Dieter, Thiesen, Stefan.
Application Number | 20050132922 10/959430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34306379 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050132922 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thiesen, Stefan ; et
al. |
June 23, 2005 |
Gun ammunition
Abstract
Gun ammunition having a propellant is provided. The ammunition
being for loading from a closed ammunition hold into the loading
chamber of a gun. The ammunition has a tail region and an
oxygen-releasing substance arranged in the tail region. The
oxygen-releasing substance is for releasing oxygen after ignition
of the propellant in the loading chamber of the gun, the release of
the oxygen being for oxidizing carbon monoxide that forms during
the firing in the loading chamber into carbon dioxide.
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 Waffe Munition
GmbH
Aschau am Inn
DE
|
Family ID: |
34306379 |
Appl. No.: |
10/959430 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/469 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 5/18 20130101; F42B
5/181 20130101; C06B 23/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/469 |
International
Class: |
F42B 005/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2003 |
DE |
103 47 372.6 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Gun ammunition having a propellant, the ammunition being for
loading from a closed ammunition hold into the loading chamber of a
gun, the ammunition comprising: a tail region; and an
oxygen-releasing substance arranged in the tail region, wherein the
oxygen-releasing substance is for releasing oxygen after ignition
of the propellant in the loading chamber of the gun, the release of
the oxygen being for oxidizing carbon monoxide that forms during
the firing in the loading chamber into carbon dioxide.
2. The gun ammunition according to claim 1, wherein the ammunition
is a cartridge-type ammunition having a case bottom, and the
oxygen-releasing substance is arranged on an inside of the case
bottom.
3. The gun ammunition according to claim 2, wherein the ammunition
has a combustible case, and the oxygen-releasing substance is
arranged outside of the combustible case.
4. The gun ammunition according to claim 3, wherein the
oxygen-releasing substance is arranged between the combustible case
and the case bottom of the ammunition.
5. The gun ammunition according to claim 4, wherein the
oxygen-releasing substance takes the form of a collar arranged
between the case bottom and the combustible case.
6. The gun ammunition according to claim 2, wherein the ammunition
has a centrally positioned propellant igniter, and the
oxygen-releasing substance is a ring-shaped element which is
arranged on a lower part of the propellant igniter and encloses the
lower part of the propellant igniter in the manner of a ring.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Application, DE 103 47 372.6 filed Oct. 11, 2003, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to gun ammunition provided with a
propellant charge that can be loaded from a closed ammunition hold
into the loading chamber of a gun.
[0003] A negative oxygen balance frequently occurs during the
combustion of high-performance propellant powders, such as the ones
used for firing tank ammunition. A negative oxygen balance is when
the oxygen contained in the propellant powder is not sufficient for
a complete reaction with the propellant powder. As a result, the
gas clouds contain poisonous gases and in particular carbon
monoxide. During a rapid re-loading of the gun, the poisonous gases
in part flow into the crew compartment of the respective combat
vehicle when the breech is opened, thus endangering the crew.
[0004] German Reference DE 20 36 670 A1 discloses the use of liquid
oxidizers for increasing the performance of conventional propellant
powders with a negative oxygen balance, wherein these oxidizers are
melted into thin-walled glass capsules. The glass capsules are
embedded in the propellant powder and are influenced by the
pressure and/or the temperature developing as a result of the
firing such that their content is released for the desired
oxidation of the powder clouds.
[0005] However, embedding oxidizers in the propellant powder does
not prevent relatively high amounts of carbon monoxide from forming
on the cartridge bottom side. This carbon monoxide is then released
into the tank crew compartment when the breech of the respective
gun is opened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide gun
ammunition of the aforementioned type which, when used as directed,
allows only a relatively small amount of carbon monoxide to enter
the crew compartment of the combat vehicle, even with high rates of
fire.
[0007] This object is solved by providing gun ammunition having a
propellant. The ammunition being for loading from a closed
ammunition hold into the loading chamber of a gun. The ammunition
has a tail region and an oxygen-releasing substance arranged in the
tail region. The oxygen-releasing substance is for releasing oxygen
after ignition of the propellant in the loading chamber of the gun,
the release of the oxygen being for oxidizing carbon monoxide that
forms during the firing in the loading chamber into carbon
dioxide.
[0008] The invention is based on the idea of arranging an
oxygen-releasing substance in the tail region of the ammunition so
that, in particular, the carbon monoxide gases that develop after
the firing in the area around the breech assembly are oxidized to
carbon dioxide and cannot escape into the crew compartment
following the opening of the breech.
[0009] The oxygen-releasing substance preferably is selected such
that it releases the oxygen at the latest possible moment to help
ensure that the oxidizer has an insignificant influence on the
combustion behavior of the propellant powder. In particular, the
use of this substance should not result in a reduction in
performance.
[0010] With cartridge ammunition in particular, it has proven
useful if the oxygen-releasing substance is arranged on the inside,
near the case bottom.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, comprising
ammunition with a combustible case, the oxygen-releasing substance
is preferably positioned between the combustible case and the case
bottom and takes the form of a collar.
[0012] The oxygen-releasing substance according to a different
embodiment of the invention, for which the ammunition is provided
with a centrally installed propellant igniter, takes the form of a
ring-shaped element which is arranged on, and encloses the lower
portion of, the propellant igniter in the manner of a ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further advantages and details of the invention follow from
the exemplary embodiments and are explained in the following with
the aid of the Figures, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a case bottom
region for a cartridge-type gun ammunition according to the
invention, for which the oxygen-releasing substance consists of a
collar that fits against the case bottom; and
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the case
bottom region for a cartridge-type gun ammunition according to the
invention, for which the oxygen-releasing substance is a
ring-shaped element, arranged around the lower portion of a
propellant igniter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] FIG. 1 shows the bottom region 1 of a cartridge, having a
case bottom 2 of metal and a combustible case 3. The propellant
powder 4 within the combustible case 3 can be ignited with a
centrally located propellant igniter 5.
[0017] According to the invention, a collar 7 that comprises an
oxygen-releasing substance is arranged between the case bottom 2
and a cartridge-bottom region 6 of the combustible case 3.
[0018] Thus, if the cartridge 1 is positioned inside a gun barrel
(not shown), then the propellant powder 4 is initially ignited with
the propellant igniter 5, following the firing. The case 3
subsequently burns and sufficiently heats up the collar 7, so that
it begins to release oxygen into the bottom region of cartridge 1
and thus also into the breech area of the gun.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention,
for which an oxygen-releasing substance takes the form of a
ring-shaped element 8 that is positioned on the bottom part 9 of
the propellant igniter, again with reference 5, and encloses the
igniter in the shape of a ring. The loading of the respective
cartridge 10 is particularly easy in that case since the
ring-shaped element 8 only needs to be fitted onto the propellant
igniter 5.
[0020] Of course, the invention is not limited to the
above-described exemplary embodiments. For example, the
oxygen-releasing substance for reducing the amount of carbon
monoxide can also be used for non-cartridge ammunition. In that
case, a corresponding module with an oxygen-releasing substance is
inserted into the gun loading chamber, following the loading of the
final charge module (propellant module), which then releases
oxygen, for example after a predetermined gas pressure is reached
in the gun barrel. The module can also be provided with one or
several ignition channels, for example, such that the ignition of
the propellant modules is not impeded in any way.
[0021] Of course, the invention is not limited to the
above-described exemplary embodiment and does not necessarily have
to be in the shape of a pin. For example, it can also have a
bracket-type design.
[0022] It will be apparent, based on this disclosure, to one of
ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can
be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof.
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