U.S. patent application number 11/366240 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-25 for ammunition, especially programmable large-caliber ammunition.
Invention is credited to Rainer Himmert, Joachim Kuhnle, Wolfgang Mosig, Torsten Niemeyer.
Application Number | 20080314235 11/366240 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36228646 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080314235 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Niemeyer; Torsten ; et
al. |
December 25, 2008 |
AMMUNITION, ESPECIALLY PROGRAMMABLE LARGE-CALIBER AMMUNITION
Abstract
A separating device is integrated in ammunition, with which a
line is separated at the earliest possible time during a firing
process. The separating device is composed mainly of a piston,
which preferably has a sharp edge, is guided in a rigidly mounted
cylinder, and, in the unloaded state, is positioned by a shear
flange. The cable is preferably securely supported in a protective
tube which is connected with a propellant charge primer, and in
which the cable is guided as far as the tip of the propellant
charge primer and is then further guided to the rear end of the
projectile. In the upper area of the cylinder, the cable is guided
through a bore, which preferably lies transversely to the direction
of acceleration of the piston, so that when the piston moves
forward, the cable is separated by the sharp edge of the
piston.
Inventors: |
Niemeyer; Torsten; (Celle,
DE) ; Kuhnle; Joachim; (Hermannsburg, DE) ;
Himmert; Rainer; (Lauf a.d. Pregnitz, DE) ; Mosig;
Wolfgang; (Hartmannshof, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Klaus P. Stoffel
One Boland Drive
West ORange
NJ
07052
US
|
Family ID: |
36228646 |
Appl. No.: |
11/366240 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42C 19/06 20130101;
F42B 5/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/6 |
International
Class: |
F42C 17/04 20060101
F42C017/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 2, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 010 125.9 |
Claims
1. Ammunition, comprising: a shell; a projectile; an electronic
fuse arranged in the projectile; at least one propellant charge
primer integrated in a propulsion system, the propellant charge
primer being arranged in the shell and having a line or a cable by
which electric power and/or data is supplied to the electronic fuse
in the projectile; and a separating device operatively mounted on a
tip of the propellant charge primer for separating the line or
cable, the separating device including a piston guided in a rigidly
mounted cylinder so as to be movable forward toward the
projectile.
2. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, and further
comprising a protective tube connected with the propellant charge
primer and in which the cable is securely supported and guided as
far as the tip of the propellant charge primer, and the cable
extending to a rear end of the projectile.
3. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
separating device is screwed onto a primer tube.
4. (canceled)
5. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, wherein the piston
has a sharp edge.
6. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, and further
comprising a shear flange arranged to position the piston in an
unloaded state.
7. The ammunition in accordance with claim 5, wherein a bore is
provided in an upper area of the cylinder, the cable being guided
through the bore so that when the piston moves forward the cable is
separated by the sharp edge of the piston.
8. The ammunition in accordance with claim 7, wherein the bore lies
transversely to a direction of acceleration of the piston.
9. The ammunition in accordance with claim 6, wherein a
through-bore is arranged in the propellant charge primer so that an
applied internal pressure of the propellant charge primer acts on
the piston through the through-bore when strength of the shear
flange is exceeded.
10. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cylinder
has a diameter reduction provided so as to stop movement of the
piston.
11. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
propellant charge primer has a screw plug, the cylinder and the
piston being integrated in the screw plug of the propellant charge
primer, the screw plug being mounted on an end face of the
propellant charge primer.
12. The ammunition in accordance with claim 11, wherein the piston
and the cylinder are held in and anchored with the screw plug by
parts that are screwed on or inserted.
13. The ammunition in accordance with claim 12, wherein the piston
and the cylinder are held in and anchored with the screw plug by a
screw cap and a bushing.
14. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, wherein free spaces
present for working through the cable and the separating device are
filled in with a liquid, curable compound.
15. The ammunition in accordance with claim 1, and further
comprising a sealing element incorporated in or below the piston to
seal an interior of the propellant charge primer and/or to protect
against moisture.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Various approaches to data transmission are known for
setting the fuse of ammunition or programming ammunition in cannon
systems.
[0002] CH 691 143 A5 discloses a device for measuring projectile
velocity at the muzzle of the barrel of a high-cadence cannon.
After the velocity has been measured, the fuse is programmed
immediately after the projectile has left the muzzle. For this type
of programming, the fuse has a programming coil. CH 693 248 A5
describes a similar device.
[0003] In addition, EP 0 992 762 B1 discloses a method and a device
for transmitting information to programmable projectiles. Here
again, the information is transmitted inductively. With reference
to U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,795 A, this document addresses the problem
that it is important to be able to reset the fuse even in the
loaded state.
[0004] Especially in the case of large-caliber ammunition, which is
stockpiled for extended periods of time and does not have its own
voltage or power supply for integrated electronics, the power
and/or data supply for the ammunition is realized by a galvanic
connecting line between the system electronics of the weapon and
the ammunition electronics. This line is located for this purpose
inside the ammunition from the shell base to the electronics in the
projectile. To allow the transmission of information, the line must
be a continuous and secure connection that can be worked through
the shell. This can lead to a problem if, upon firing, parts of the
line are ejected rearward from the weapon together with the base of
the shell, while other parts of the line must leave the barrel at
the muzzle end. This can cause remnants of the line or parts of the
line to remain in the barrel, which represents a danger especially
with respect to the operation of the weapon, for example, in a
tank.
[0005] In the past, in addition to cables or lines that were
securely connected at one end with the propellant charge primer and
at the other end with the projectile, exposed plug connections were
also used, at which a disconnection of the line was to occur. There
is no guarantee that some of the parts will not remain in the
barrel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the invention is to provide ammunition that
performs a well-defined disconnection of the continuous, plugless
line in order to prevent undesired remains of the line from
remaining in the barrel.
[0007] Pursuant to this object, and others which will become
apparent hereafter, once aspect of the present invention resides in
ammunition comprised of a projectile, an electronic fuse arranged
in the projectile, at least one propellant charge primer integrated
in a propulsion system, the propellant charge primer having a line
or cable by which electric power and/or data is supplied to the
electronic fuse in the projectile, and a separating device
operatively mounted on a tip of the propellant charge primer for
separating the cable.
[0008] The invention is based on the idea of incorporating a
separating device, with which the separation of the line can be
effected at the earliest possible time. The line would preferably
be separated at the propellant charge primer. The early separation
of the precisely separated line makes it easier to take the line
along in the initial stage. In this way, remnants of the cable or
line are carried (driven) out of the barrel.
[0009] The separating device is incorporated in the ammunition and
in a preferred embodiment consists mainly of a piston, which is
guided in a rigidly mounted cylinder and preferably has a sharp
edge as the cutting device. In the unloaded state, the piston is
positioned by a shear flange. The cable is preferably securely
supported in a protective tube, which is connected with the
propellant charge primer and in which the cable is guided as far as
the tip of the propellant charge primer, on which the separating
device is mounted. The cable is then guided further to the rear end
of the projectile. In the upper area of the separating device, in
this case the cylinder, the cable is guided through a bore, which
preferably lies transversely to the direction of acceleration of
the cutting device, so that when the cutting device moves forward,
the cable is separated by the sharp edge of the piston.
[0010] It was found to be advantageous to attach the cable to
existing components. Thus, the first length of the cable can be
supported on the propellant charge primer, and the remaining length
of the cable can be supported on the projectile. Since the exposed
piece of cable between the propellant charge primer and the
projectile is accelerated forward out of the barrel along with the
projectile, the separating device is preferably integrated in the
propellant charge primer.
[0011] To separate the cable, a piston is provided, which is guided
in a cylinder and cannot move in the unpressurized state due to
suitable measures, such as a mounted shear flange. The piston is
set in motion only when pressure builds up inside the propellant
charge primer as a result of ignition when the loaded shell is
fired and the powder bed ignites in the further course of the
firing process. The cable, which preferably lies transversely to
the piston, is sheared off by a separating device, such as a
cutting edge on the surface of the piston on the opposite side from
the pressure zone. This occurs early in the firing process.
[0012] The separation of the cable is thus coupled with the
pressure buildup that is necessary for the firing process, which
has the additional advantage that the time of the separation is
reproducible. The cable separation occurs as soon as the
pyrotechnic materials in the propellant charge primer have been
ignited. The components of the separating device are preferably
enclosed to prevent the formation of remnants of the separating
device itself. In addition, it is advantageous that the fuse can be
reset right up to the time of firing, since the line is closed
until this time.
[0013] Another advantage is that simple and inexpensive
retrofitting is possible. The previously known design of the
propellant charge primer for ignition of the shell needs to be only
slightly modified. In the simplest variant, the solution is found
in the screw plug of the propellant charge primer. In this way, an
effect on the ignition length of the propellant charge primer and
on the ignition of the powder bed is ruled out.
[0014] Other measures can be employed to modify the additional
components without any negative effects on the requirements on the
propellant charge primer. For example, the interior of the
propellant charge primer can be protected from the penetration of
moisture, e.g., by gaskets or packing washers.
[0015] The invention is explained in greater detail below with
reference to the specific embodiment illustrated in the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a section of a shell.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of section A in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3a shows a cross-sectional view of a shear flange of
the separating device of FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 3b shows one embodiment of the shear figure.
[0020] FIG. 3c shows another embodiment of the shear flange.
[0021] FIGS. 4a-4c show different bores for optimization inside the
separating device of FIG. 2.
[0022] FIGS. 5a-5d show seals of the propellant charge primer of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of, for example, a
large-caliber shell 100 with the parts needed to explain the
invention. The shell 100 has a propellant charge primer 1, which is
integrated in the propulsion mechanism and is part of the shell
base 2. The propellant charge primer 1 has a line or a cable 3, by
which electric power and/or data is supplied to an electronic fuse
4 in the projectile 101. In a preferred embodiment, the cable 3 is
securely supported in a protective tube 5, which is connected with
the propellant charge primer 1 and in which the cable 3 is guided
as far as the tip 6 of the propellant charge primer 1 and,
preferably without further interruption, is guided from the
propellant charge primer 1 to the rear end 7 of the projectile,
where it can be securely anchored.
[0024] To realize a well-defined separation of the unprotected
cable section 3a, a separating device 102 is screwed onto the tip 6
of the propellant charge primer 1, preferably on the primer tube 1a
(FIG. 2). The separating device 102 allows separation of the cable
3 in region 3a.
[0025] In the simplest embodiment, the separating device 102 can
consist mainly of a piston 9, which is guided in a rigidly mounted
cylinder 8 and has a sharp edge. In the unloaded state, the piston
is positioned by a shear flange 10. In the upper area of the
cylinder 8, the cable 3 is guided through a bore 8a, which
preferably lies transversely to the direction of acceleration of
the piston 9, so that when the piston 9 moves forward, the cable is
separated by the sharp edge of the piston 9. The acceleration of
the piston 9 is effected when the piston 9 is acted upon by the
applied internal pressure of the propellant charge primer 1 via a
through-bore 14 arranged on the inside, and the strength of the
shear flange 10 is exceeded. As soon as the reaction of the powder
required for the ignition of the propellant charge occurs inside
the propellant charge primer 1, and thus as soon as a pressure
buildup P occurs, the surface of the piston 9 is also acted upon.
After the shear flange 10 has been sheared off, the internal
pressure P drives the piston 9 forward at high speed, and the
cutting edge severs the cable 3. After the cable 3 has been severed
in this way, the movement of the piston 9 is stopped, for example,
by a diameter reduction in the cylinder 8. The conveyance of the
cable 3 towards the muzzle of a barrel (not shown) is then taken
over by the reacting powder bed. At this time, the cable 3 is no
longer securely connected with the propellant charge primer 1.
[0026] The cylinder 8 and the piston 9 are preferably integrated in
the screw plug 15 of the propellant charge primer 1. The screw plug
15 is mounted on the end face of the propellant charge primer 1.
Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the piston 9 and cylinder
8 are held in and anchored with the screw plug 15 by parts that are
screwed on or inserted, such as screw cap 11 and bushing 12, so
that no remnants can arise outside the propellant charge primer 1,
by the parts of the separating device 102 itself. The free spaces
13 possibly necessary for working through the cable 3 and the
components or parts can be filled in, if necessary, with a liquid,
curable compound, e.g., epoxy resin.
[0027] The piston 9 preferably consists of a material that has
greater strength than the material of the cable 3. In the
embodiment preferred here, the piston 3 consists of a metal.
Functional optimization of the piston 3 can be achieved by
variation of the thickness "s" of the shear flange, the geometry of
the shear flange, and/or the edge geometry. The cutting edge
preferably forms a very sharp angle "w" to effect an optimum
separation (FIG. 3a). The thickness "s" of the shear flange 10 can
vary, depending on the level of pressure inside the propellant
charge primer 1 (FIG. 3b). The shear flange 10 (FIG. 3b), which,
for example, has a circular shape, can also have a shape of the
type shown in FIG. 3c by reduction of the shear surfaces.
[0028] The application of pressure is preferably realized by the
bore 14 (FIG. 4) in the screw plug 15. The diameter and the shape
of the bore 14a,14b,14c depend on the physical and geometric
conditions at the tip 6 of the propellant charge primer 1. To avoid
blockage in the bore 14 by parts that get into the bore during the
pressure buildup and close the channel, the bore 14b can also be
designed with several steps. To assist the shearing process, a
pyrotechnic secondary charge 16 can be integrated in the piston 9.
This secondary charge 16 is ignited by the gases in the propellant
charge primer 1 and assists the movement of the piston 9.
[0029] The shearing process of the shear flange 10 can be further
supported in a suitable way by providing an undercut 17 between the
shear flange 10 and the piston surface (FIG. 5a). To support the
freedom of movement of the piston 9, the piston 9 can have a
peripheral recess 18 (FIG. 5b). Sealing elements 19, 20 can be
incorporated to seal the interior of the propellant charge primer 1
and/or to protect against moisture. An embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 5c has an O-ring seal 19 that preferably consists of a soft
material integrated in the piston. Another seal embodiment is
illustrated in FIG. 5d. This seal is produced by a packing washer
20 that acts over the entire inside diameter of the cylinder 8 and
is arranged below the piston 9. This seal 20 also preferably
consists of a soft material, such as plastic.
[0030] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modification and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
only by the appended claims.
* * * * *