Ammunition and explosives – Cartridges – Case
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-06-19
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Cartridges
Case
C102S469000, C102S470000, C102S472000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247411
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a cartridge which is adapted to be fired from a large-caliber weapon and is of the type which has a cartridge case accommodating at least one electronic unit. The cartridge case has a metal bottom in which a contact is disposed in an electrically insulated manner. The contact provides for an electric connection between the electronic unit or units within the cartridge case and an electronic evaluating and control device of the weapon, situated externally of the cartridge. The electronic units may be, for example, humidity and/or temperature sensors as well as memory units in which data characterizing the ammunition are stored, while the electronic evaluating and control device may be, for example, a fire control computer.
In cartridges of the above-outlined known type the connection between the electronic evaluating and control device and the electronic units disposed in the cartridge case is effected by the primer housing disposed in an insulated manner in the case bottom and by the case bottom electrically contacting the grounded weapon tube.
It is a disadvantage of the above-outlined cartridges that the electronic units within the cartridge (for example, the electronic igniter circuit) may be activated via the contacts even when the cartridge is not in the weapon tube. Further, the contacting and current conducting through the primer housing is relatively complex and frequently the primer housing does not provide for a reliable contacting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cartridge of the above-outlined type in which a contacting between the electronic evaluating and control device and the electronic units situated in the cartridge case may be effected in a simple and operationally reliable manner.
This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, the electric contact assembly is combined with a cartridge to be fired from a weapon barrel. The cartridge has a cartridge case including a metal bottom having an externally exposed outer face; and an electronic unit disposed in the cartridge case. The electric contact assembly includes a contact arrangement for establishing an electric connection between the electronic unit and an evaluating and control apparatus situated externally of the cartridge. The contact arrangement includes a contact ring disposed in the case bottom and surrounds the longitudinal axis of the cartridge. The contact ring has an outer face which is approximately flush with the outer face of the case bottom. An insulation electrically insulates the contact ring from the case bottom. A magnetic field sensor emits a signal upon closing a breechblock of the weapon in which the cartridge is positioned. A switch is connected between the electronic unit and the contact ring. The switch has an open state in which electric connection between the contact ring and the electronic unit is interrupted and a closed state in which electric connection between the contact ring and the electronic unit is maintained. The magnetic field sensor is connected to the switch for placing the switch into the closed state solely in response to the signal emitted by the magnetic field sensor.
The invention is essentially based on the principle that instead of providing an electric contact via the primer housing of the cartridge, a separate contact ring is utilized which is accessible from the outside. To prevent an unauthorized manipulation of the electronic units within the cartridge via the contact ring, a switching device is provided which connects the electronic units within the cartridge case with the evaluating and control device of the weapon and which is further coupled with a magnetic field sensor disposed in or on the cartridge case bottom.
In the unloaded state of the weapon the contact ring of the cartridge is not connected with the electronic unit (or units) situated in the cartridge case, so that any manipulation with the contact ring has no effect on the electronic units. If, on the other hand, the cartridge is situated in the weapon barrel and the breechblock is closed, the magnetic field sensor emits a switching signal which causes the switching device to be closed and thus the electronic units are connected with the evaluating and control device of the weapon.
According to an advantageous feature of the invention the magnetic field sensor is arranged directly at the contact ring and the switching device is situated in the cartridge case.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3009419 (1961-11-01), Clay, Jr. et al.
patent: 5421264 (1995-06-01), Petrick
patent: 6131519 (2000-10-01), Thiesen et al.
patent: 0729372-A1 (1955-05-01), None
Carone Michael J.
Kelemen Gabor J.
Semunegus Lulit
TZN Forschungs- und Entwicklungs-zentrum
Venable
LandOfFree
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