U.S. patent application number 13/435428 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-04 for magazine-integrated ammunition.
Invention is credited to Andre KLASEN.
Application Number | 20120247310 13/435428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43302717 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120247310 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KLASEN; Andre |
October 4, 2012 |
MAGAZINE-INTEGRATED AMMUNITION
Abstract
A device is provided to connect the ammunition and the magazine
to each other not only in terms of design, but also in terms of
function. The magazine and ammunition are combined to form
sub-modules, wherein a plurality of sub-modules would then be
comparable to the quantity of conventional ammunition in the
launcher tube. The sub-modules are then assembled and locked. The
individual sub-module contains, inter alia, rifling, by means of
which, during firing, the ammunition/submunition is caused to
rotate and is thereby stabilized.
Inventors: |
KLASEN; Andre; (Muellheim,
DE) |
Family ID: |
43302717 |
Appl. No.: |
13/435428 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/EP2010/005662 |
Sep 15, 2010 |
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13435428 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
89/1.816 ;
89/1.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41F 1/08 20130101; F42B
5/155 20130101; F41A 9/63 20130101; F42B 39/26 20130101; F42B 4/20
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/1.816 ;
89/1.8 |
International
Class: |
F41F 3/048 20060101
F41F003/048; F41A 9/63 20060101 F41A009/63 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 30, 2009 |
DE |
10 2009 043 483.6 |
Claims
1. A magazine configured for munitions for a launcher for
protection against end phase-guided munitions, the munitions being
magazine-integrated so as to be accepted by submodules and several
submodules directly form the magazine, which is pushed into the
launcher or the launcher chute.
2. The magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magazine is
closed by a handle and/or a locking device for transportation.
3. The magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the submodules are
connected together.
4. The magazine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the submodules
comprise undercuts and protrusions for interconnection, wherein the
first submodule of the magazine does not comprise a protrusion.
5. The magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the submodules
comprise at least one hook in a lower region and comprises cups
corresponding to the submodules for receiving the hook(s) of the
other submodules.
6. The magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a latching device
for the submodules is incorporated in an upper region of the
submodules.
7. The magazine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the latching device
is provided in the form of a notch and a protrusion that can latch
into it.
8. The magazine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the latching device
is in the form of a spring bolt, which is configured to engage in
or behind a recess of a part extending away from the module.
9. The magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein horizontal and
vertical slats are arranged on the submodules, which engage in each
other in the latched condition.
10. The magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the submodules
comprise rifling.
Description
[0001] This nonprovisional application is a continuation of
International Application No. PCT/EP2010/005662, which was filed on
Sep. 15, 2010, and which claims priority to German Patent
Application No. DE 10 2009 043 483.6, which was filed in Germany on
Sep. 30, 2009, and which are both herein incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a magazine or magazine-integrated
munitions, in particular for a launcher.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] One or more munitions are provided in the corresponding
weapon and launcher system individually, in a belt or even in a
magazine. Mechanical loads are withstood by the munitions itself.
The magazine or the belt represents a munitions holder, storage
facility or delivery facility for the weapon in the real sense.
[0006] A cartridge belt is depicted in AT 345 697 B and AT 346 736
B. Further cartridge belts are known from DE 1 222 824 C (which
corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,512), DE 33 36 192 A1 or DE 44
17 782 C2. DE 202 05 689 U1 discloses a cartridge belt with plastic
elements.
[0007] DE 103 46 001 B2 discloses a launcher of the known type for
protecting against end phase guided missiles. The launcher
comprises juxtaposed disposed launcher chutes, whose covering is
opened for ejection of the munitions from the launcher.
[0008] DE 196 17 701 A1, a further application of the applicant is
concerned with a method for providing a decoy target. The active
substances are ejected from a launcher and positioned by a shell
that is rotated.
[0009] Such launcher systems are also subject to the wish to
increase the range. If the propulsion system for the munitions and
their cartridges are changed for this purpose, higher loads then
act on the interface between the launcher and the munitions, so
that these loads exceed the permissible level. This fact could be
countered, for example, by stiffening the cartridge tube for the
munitions, but a change of the magazining of the munitions in the
launcher system would also have to be carried out, which in turn is
undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide an
arrangement, with which an increase in range can be achieved in a
simple manner and taking costs into account.
[0011] In association with an increase in range for weapons systems
and launcher systems, the relocation of functions from the
munitions into the area of the magazine is worthy of consideration,
since these cannot be undertaken by the munitions alone. Even from
the viewpoint of a cost reduction, the colocation of individual
functions of the system components should be reconsidered.
[0012] The invention is based on the idea that the munitions and
the magazine can not only be structurally linked but also
functionally linked. The munitions and the magazine are merged into
sub-modules, so to speak, wherein a plurality of submodules (e.g.
4) is comparable with the number of conventional munitions (in the
launcher or launcher chute). These submodules are then preferably
connected together and locked (as a module), which is also
comparable with a conventional magazine loaded with munitions. The
individual sub-modules include, among other features, rifling, by
means of which during firing the munitions/submunitions are set in
rotation and thereby stabilized (transfer of a function from the
munitions).
[0013] According to the invention, the submunitions/projectiles are
integrated directly into a magazine/magazine segment, which in turn
can take up the load of the munitions and can undertake
munitions-relevant functions. The magazine segments or submodule
segments can be connected together to form a magazine as a result
of their structural shape. Alternatively, there can also be
tilt/latch connections, by means of which the submodules can be
connected together.
[0014] The magazine is compatible with existing launcher systems
and the magazine segments are compatible with each other, which
also allows an exchange of the segments within the magazine group
(modular design).
[0015] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a plan view representation of a magazine formed by
the ammunition;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view representation of the magazine shown
in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a further variant of the submodule;
[0020] FIGS. 4a, b illustrate an alternative connection with hooks
and cups at the lower end of the munitions as shown in FIG. 3;
and
[0021] FIGS. 5a, b illustrates a connection option in the upper
area of the munitions as shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] In FIG. 1, submodules or magazine segments labeled with 1
are shown in a plan view, wherein four submodules 1 (1.1-1.4) form
a magazine 2. The magazine 2 is preferably closed by a handle or a
lock 3.
[0023] Cartridges or munitions (active bodies) that are not shown
in detail are integrated into the segments 1. The individual
submodules/magazine segments 1.1-1.4 comprise inter alia rifling 8,
by means of which they are set rotating during firing of the
munitions/submunitions/active body and are thereby stabilized.
[0024] The first submodule 1.1 comprises, for example, on one side,
an undercut 5, which is structurally adapted to a protrusion 6 on
the further submodules 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, so that both can be connected
together. For this reason, the following submodules 1.2-1.n
comprise, in addition to the protrusion 6, an undercut 5, whereas
the first submodule 1.1 comprises only an undercut 5.
[0025] The magazine 2 is constructed by connecting the submodules
1.1-1.4 together. The handle 3 can be inserted into the undercut of
the last submodule 1.4, in particular for transportation, and it is
preferably connected with a locking device.
[0026] The embodiments described here comprise primarily a magazine
2 for a launcher with four munitions disposed one above the other.
This embodiment is preferable, since known magazines generally
comprise only four ejector tubes disposed one above the other (cf.
DE 103 46 001 B2), which on their part form a launcher chute.
[0027] It is understood, however, that for other launcher types
and/or applications, a plurality of submodules 1 can be joined
together. If the submodules 1 were also to comprise lateral
undercuts, a connection to further submodules 1 using this
interface would also be possible.
[0028] A further variant of the design of the munitions package is
shown in FIG. 3. In this case the submodules 10 (10., 10.2 and so
on) are latched together.
[0029] The alternatives for the connection of these submodules 10
to each other are shown in FIGS. 4a, b and 5a and b.
[0030] The submodule 10 comprises at least one hook 11 on one side,
preferably in the lower region, which can be brought into
engagement with the cup 12 of the next submodule 10. For this
purpose, the hook/hooks 11 of one submodule 10 are suspended in the
cups 12 of the preceding module 10. In order to ensure a secure
connection of the modules 10 in the upper region, a latch 13 can be
incorporated. This can take the simple form of a snapper, for which
the front module 10 comprises a notch and the next module comprises
a protrusion that can engage the notch (not shown in detail). A
spring bolt 14 is used as a preferred variant, which can engage
behind or in a recess 15 of a part 16 extending away from the
module 10.1. This allows easy release of the modules 10.1 and 10.2
from each other, (FIGS. 5a, b). In FIG. 1, the spring bolt 14 is
shown and the latch is open; in FIG. 4b, the spring bolt 14 is
closed and thus the latch is in operation. Moreover, horizontal and
vertical slats 17 are located on the submodules 10.1, 10.2. These
engage in each other in the latched condition. By means of the
slats 17, the external forces, e.g. caused by handling etc., are
captured and relieve the load on the hooking devices and the
latching devices or the locking devices. The number of slats 17 can
be chosen depending on the introduced force to be expected,
depending on the material and depending on the configuration.
[0031] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *