Ammunition and explosive-charge making – Ammunition shell unloading
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-02
2004-03-02
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Ammunition and explosive-charge making
Ammunition shell unloading
Reexamination Certificate
active
06698329
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 101 32 175.9 filed Jul. 30, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for replacing a fuse casing riveted to the casing of an active component containing an explosive charge.
The ammunition depots of many countries contain large numbers of projectiles, for which the use period has expired or will expire in a few years. To extend the use period of these projectiles, the old fuses must frequently be replaced with new fuses. This is problematic, particularly with bomblet projectiles, because the old fuses are riveted to the casing for the active component containing the explosive charge and can be removed only by destroying the rivet points or closing heads. As a result, only the remaining rivet parts on the active component casing are available for attaching the new fuse.
In those cases where the original riveting occurred through a one-sided expanding of the rivet point or closing head, it is sufficient—according to a known solution—to mill off only this stressed portion of the rivet point or closing head during the removal of the old fuse and to use the remaining, non-deformed portion for riveting on the new fuse.
The low strength of such a connection has proven to be a disadvantage with this method, particularly if the stress increases due to a higher firing acceleration or a larger mass of the new fuse. A method of this type additionally can be used only if the rivet closing head was simply expanded during the original riveting operation, but not if the wobble riveting method was used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a method of the aforementioned type for attaching the new fuse casing easily and securely to the active component casing, such that it holds even during high firing stresses, without this resulting in unacceptably high thermal stresses to the explosive charge in the active component.
The object generally is achieved according to the invention by a method for replacing a fuse casing that is riveted to the casing of an active component containing an explosive charge, which method comprises: removing at least a portion of the rivet points of the rivets mounting the fuse casing to the component casing and subsequently removing the fuse casing to be replaced; fitting a new fuse casing onto the casing of the active component, such that the rivet parts remaining on the active component are inserted into bores of the new fuse casing that are provided for the rivets; and, attaching a new fuse casing to the remaining rivet parts by laser welding, and using a welding filler material, starting from a side facing away from the casing of the active component. Additional, particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
The invention is essentially based on the idea of attaching the new fuse casing to the remaining rivet parts on the active component casing by laser welding and by using welding filler material.
This method can also be used advantageously with bomblets where the old fuse was attached with the wobble riveting method. The method according to the invention furthermore leads to a higher and easier to reproduce strength for the connection between fuse and active component casing as compared to rivets with half a rivet head. Finally, the method according to the invention has the great advantage of being suitable for an automated series production with safety precautions.
Welding powders or welding pastes can be used as filler materials, which are filled into the gap between the remaining rivet parts and the bores in the fuse casing before the rivet remnants are welded to the fuse casing.
It has proven to be particularly advantageous if discs covering the bores in the fuse casing are used as welding fillers. These discs are placed over the fronts of the remaining rivet parts and are welded to the rivet points. The discs can be welded with the aid of welding powders, welding pastes or a welding wire to the remaining rivet parts to compensate for gaps that may exist between the fronts of the remaining rivet parts and the discs.
Further details and advantages of the invention follow from the exemplary embodiments, explained with the aid of Figures, which show in:
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patent: 5295428 (1994-03-01), Heitmann et al.
patent: 5789695 (1998-08-01), Scherer et al.
patent: 2003/0005817 (2003-01-01), Hoffmann et al.
patent: 4202781 (1993-08-01), None
Hoffmann Wolfgang
Schiller Wolfgang
Schmidt Wolfgang
Hayes Bret
Jordan Charles T.
Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
Smith Stuart I.
Venable LLP
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