U.S. patent application number 10/838354 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-01 for discarded propelling cage sabot.
Invention is credited to Berg, Martin, Heitmann, Thomas, Imdahl, Michael, Keil, Stefan.
Application Number | 20050188891 10/838354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32981243 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050188891 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heitmann, Thomas ; et
al. |
September 1, 2005 |
Discarded propelling cage sabot
Abstract
A discarded propelling cage sabot for a sub-caliber projectile
is provided. The sabot includes a plurality of propelling cage
sabot sections arranged side-by-side in a circumferential direction
and separated by separating joints, each of the propelling cage
sabot sections having a pressure flange having a groove-shaped
recess, and a frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region which is
positioned rearward in the direction of flight relative to the
pressure flange. The sabot also includes a plurality of sealing
band segments that are arranged side-by-side in the circumferential
direction and are separated by separating joints, each of the
sealing band segments corresponding to one of the propelling cage
sabot sections.
Inventors: |
Heitmann, Thomas;
(Unterluss, DE) ; Imdahl, Michael; (Hermannsburg,
DE) ; Berg, Martin; (Celle, DE) ; Keil,
Stefan; (Welsrode, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20045-9998
US
|
Family ID: |
32981243 |
Appl. No.: |
10/838354 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/523 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 14/061 20130101;
F42B 14/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/523 |
International
Class: |
F42B 010/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 7, 2003 |
DE |
103 20 194.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A discarded propelling cage sabot for a sub-caliber projectile,
comprising: a plurality of propelling cage sabot sections arranged
side-by-side in a circumferential direction and separated by
separating joints, each of the propelling cage sabot sections
having a pressure flange having a groove-shaped recess, and a
frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region which is positioned
rearward in the direction of flight relative to the pressure
flange; a plurality of sealing band segments that are arranged
side-by-side in the circumferential direction and are separated by
separating joints, each of the sealing band segments corresponding
to one of the propelling cage sabot sections and being connected
form-locking and/or force-locking to that propelling cage sabot
section, the plurality of sealing band segments forming a sealing
band of plastic material attached to the outer circumference of the
pressure flange, the sealing band being a ring element with a
detent, which projects inwardly in a radial direction of the sabot
and engages the groove-shaped recess of the pressure flange, and a
frustum-shaped inside surface by which the sealing band supports
itself on the frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region; and a
vulcanizing layer provided at a tail region of the sealing band
that holds together the sealing band segments.
2. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 1,
wherein the tail region of the sealing band is provided with a
recess that is open on the tail end, such that a first sealing lip,
which fits flush against the propelling cage sabot, and a second,
outward pointing sealing lip are formed.
3. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 2,
wherein a bending groove is arranged on the outside of the second
sealing lip.
4. The sabot according to claim 3, wherein the bending groove is
located at a position along an axial direction of the sabot that is
the same as a position along the axial direction at which a forward
most portion of the recess in the tail region of the sealing band
is located.
5. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 1,
wherein each sealing band segment is connected by one of gluing or
welding it the corresponding propelling cage sabot section.
6. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 2,
wherein each sealing band segment is connected by one of gluing or
welding it the corresponding propelling cage sabot section.
7. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 3,
wherein each sealing band segment is connected by one of gluing or
welding it the corresponding propelling cage sabot section.
8. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 1,
wherein the detent on each sealing band segment and the
groove-shaped recess of the corresponding propelling cage sabot
section form a dovetailed, form-locking connection.
9. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 2,
wherein the detent on each sealing band segment and the
groove-shaped recess of the corresponding propelling cage sabot
section form a dovetailed, form-locking connection.
10. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 3,
wherein the detent on each sealing band segment and the
groove-shaped recess of the corresponding propelling cage sabot
section form a dovetailed, form-locking connection.
11. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 1,
wherein the detent on each sealing band segment and the
groove-shaped recess of the corresponding propelling cage sabot
section form a force-locking connection in the manner of a press
fit.
12. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 2,
wherein the detent on each sealing band segment and the
groove-shaped recess of the corresponding propelling cage sabot
section form a force-locking connection in the manner of a press
fit.
13. The discarded propelling cage sabot according to claim 3,
wherein the detent on each sealing band segment and the
groove-shaped recess of the corresponding propelling cage sabot
section form a force-locking connection in the manner of a press
fit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Applications DE 103 20 194.7 filed May 7, 2003, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a discarded sabot for a sub-caliber
projectile. The sabot comprises several propelling cage sabot
sections that are arranged side-by-side in a circumferential
direction and separated by joints. The sabot further comprises a
pressure flange that is followed on the tail end by a
frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region.
[0003] Propelling cage sabots of this type are known, for example,
from references EP 0 703 428 B1 or DE 199 29 915 A1 and are
primarily used for large-caliber ammunition, in particular, those
fired from tanks. The known propelling cage sabots generally are
provided with a continuous sealing band of plastic around the outer
circumference of the pressure flange which is either sprayed onto
the pressure flange or is pressed as a complete component into a
groove-shaped recess of the pressure flange.
[0004] Known propelling cage sabots, among other things, have the
disadvantage of being relatively heavy because the sealing band is
supported nearly full caliber by the pressure flange of the
propelling cage sabot. In addition, the sealing bands of known
propelling cage sabots are relatively short. As a result, long and
deep erosion damage in the weapon barrel cannot be compensated for
with these known bands. Finally, the known sealing bands must be
provided with additional milled slots (predetermined breaking
points) to aid the separation of the propelling cage sabot sections
after the projectile has left the weapon barrel.
[0005] FIG. 1 of reference DE 38 43 566 C1 furthermore shows that a
ring element can be used as a sealing band, which has a detent that
projects on the front toward the inside and engages in a
corresponding groove-shaped recess in the pressure flange. On the
tail end, this detent is followed by a frustum-shaped inside
surface by means of which the sealing band supports itself on the
frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region. This sealing band
projects at the tail end over the pressure flange. However, the
reference does not disclose further information concerning the
purpose of this sealing band design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The applicant has determined that a sealing band as shown in
reference DE 38 43 566 C1 can be considerably wider for use than is
the case for standard propelling cage sabots where the sealing band
rests on the pressure flange, thus making it easy to increase the
sealing length of the sealing band. In addition, the weight of the
propelling cage sabot, which generally is made from aluminum, can
be decreased considerably by replacing parts of the propelling cage
sabot with the more light-weight sealing band of plastic. However,
it has turned out that when using relatively massive sealing bands
of this type, a trouble-free separation of the sealing bands, and
thus also the propelling cage sabot sections, is no longer
possible, even if predetermined breaking points are provided. As a
result, the respective projectiles have a relatively poor strike
accuracy.
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a propelling
cage sabot of the aforementioned type, for which the separation of
the propelling cage sabot sections from the projectile is not, or
not noticeably, hindered by the sealing band.
[0008] The invention is primarily based on the idea of the sealing
band having several sealing band segments, arranged side-by-side in
a circumferential direction and separated by joints. One sealing
band segment is assigned to a propelling cage sabot section and is
connected to it in a form-locking and/or force-locking manner.
[0009] The sealing band therefore is no longer sprayed as a
complete component onto the propelling cage sabot, in the standard
manner, or pressed as a complete component onto the pressure flange
of the propelling cage sabot. Rather, each individual propelling
cage sabot section is connected to a separate sealing band segment.
The sealing band segment can be connected to the corresponding
propelling cage sabot section, for example by gluing it on, welding
it on, with the aid of a form-locking connection (e.g. a dovetailed
connection) or a force-locking connection (e.g. an axial press
fit).
[0010] In particular embodiments of the invention, the propelling
cage sabot is held together only by the vulcanizing layer arranged
on the tail end of the propelling cage sabot and by the base lid,
provided it exists. The vulcanizing layer additionally causes an
initial seal before the projectile is pushed into the caliber
region of the respective weapon barrel during firing.
[0011] It has proven advantageous if the tail region of the sealing
band is provided with a recess that is open at the tail end, so as
to form a first sealing lip that fits against the propelling cage
sabot, as well as a second sealing lip that points toward the
outside. As a result, the propelling cage sabot weight is
additionally reduced. On the other hand, the propellant charge
gases push the second sealing lip against the inside wall of the
weapon barrel during firing, thus resulting in an improved seal
against propellant gases that would otherwise flow past the
propelling cage sabot on the side. This sealing movement of the
second sealing lip can be further supported by a bending groove
that is arranged on the outside of the second sealing lip, at the
level of the recess bottom.
[0012] Particular embodiments of the invention provide a discarded
propelling cage sabot for a sub-caliber projectile. The sabot
includes a plurality of propelling cage sabot sections arranged
side-by-side in a circumferential direction and separated by
separating joints, each of the propelling cage sabot sections
having a pressure flange having a groove-shaped recess, and a
frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region which is positioned
rearward in the direction of flight relative to the pressure
flange. The sabot also includes a plurality of sealing band
segments that are arranged side-by-side in the circumferential
direction and are separated by separating joints, each of the
sealing band segments corresponding to one of the propelling cage
sabot sections and being connected form-locking and/or
force-locking to that propelling cage sabot section. The plurality
of sealing band segments form a sealing band of plastic material
attached to the outer circumference of the pressure flange, the
sealing band being a ring element with a detent, which projects
inwardly in a radial direction of the sabot and engages the
groove-shaped recess of the pressure flange, and a frustum-shaped
inside surface by which the sealing band supports itself on the
frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region. The sabot also
includes a vulcanizing layer provided at a tail region of the
sealing band that holds together the sealing band segments.
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 side view, including a partial sectional
view, of a projectile provided with a discarded propelling cage
sabot according to the invention having three sections, which is
provided with a sealing band having three separate segments on its
pressure flange arranged on the tail end; and
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a preferred sealing band
segment in according with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The number 1 in FIG. 1 refers to a sub-caliber projectile
that can be fired from a smooth bore tank cannon. Essentially, it
comprises a penetrator 2 with guide fins 3 arranged on the tail end
and a propelling cage sabot 4 that encloses the penetrator 2 and is
provided on the tail end with a base lid 5 for connecting the
projectile 1 to a cartridge case that is not shown herein.
[0017] The propelling cage sabot 4 of, for example, aluminum is
provided with two guide flanges 6, 7 for guiding it inside the
weapon barrel, wherein a frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot
region 8 follows the guide flange 7, henceforth also called
pressure flange, on the tail end of the cage. The propelling cage
sabot 4 has three propelling cage sabot sections 9 that are
arranged side-by-side in a circumferential direction around
penetrator 2. The propelling cage sabot sections 9 are separated by
separating joints 11 which extend in the direction of the
longitudinal axis 10 of the projectile 1.
[0018] A plastic sealing band 12 is attached, for example glued, to
the outer circumference of the pressure flange 7 and has three
sealing band segments 14 which are arranged side-by-side in a
circumferential direction around penetrator 2 and are separated by
separating joints 13. Each of the sealing band segments 14 is
attached to one of the three propelling cage sabot sections 9.
[0019] The three sealing band segments 14 together form a ring
element with a detent 15 on its leading edge that projects inward
and engages in a corresponding groove-shaped recess 16 of the
pressure flange 7. The sealing bands also have a frustum-shaped
inside surface 17, which follows the detent 15 at the tail end, by
which the sealing band 12 supports itself on the frustum-shaped
propelling cage sabot region 8.
[0020] The tail region of the propelling cage sabot 4 as well as
the sealing band 12 is provided with a vulcanizing layer 18 which
holds together the propelling cage sabot sections 9 and the sealing
band segments 14.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows that the tail end of the sealing band segment
14' is provided with a recess 19, so that two sealing lips 20, 21
are formed. First sealing lip 20 fits itself against the
frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region 8 and a second, outward
pointing sealing lip 21 that can deform to form a seal against the
weapon barrel when subjected to pressure. To aid the outward
movement of the second sealing lip 21, it has proven advantageous
if an additional bending groove 22 is arranged on the outside of
the second sealing lip 21, at, for example, the bottom 23 level of
recess 19.
[0022] Of course, the invention is not limited to the
above-described exemplary embodiments. The sealing band segments
14, 14' can also be welded instead of glued to the associated
propelling cage sabot section 9. However, the detent 15 on the
respective sealing band segment 14, 14' and the groove-shaped
recess 16 in the associated propelling cage sabot section 9 can
also be designed to form a dovetailed connection, or can be
designed such that a force-locking press fit is created with the
detent 15 and the groove-shaped recess 16. Also, although the
example sabot shown has three segments, more than three segments
can be used.
[0023] 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.
* * * * *