Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-11-13
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
C244S003280, C244S003200, C244S198000, C244S003240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314886
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a projectile designed to be fired from a weapon barrel and stabilized by a guide assembly.
Projectiles of the above type have been known for a long time. The guide assembly includes a plurality of stabilizing wings which are mounted on the rearward portion of the projectile in a circumferentially uniformly distributed array and which are deployed (pivoted outwardly) as the projectile leaves the weapon barrel. In the weapon barrel the wings lie against the projectile body and as the projectile leaves the weapon barrel the wings pivot rearwardly into their deployed (open) position.
In conventional projectiles where in the folded state of the guide assembly the pivot axis of the respective wing is located radially outwardly relative to the center or gravity of the wing, the wings lie against the projectile while accelerated in the barrel. Disadvantageously, however, relatively large forces are needed for opening the guide assembly after the projectile has left the weapon barrel. This circumstance requires, for example, expensive and heavy spring systems which are necessarily accelerated with the projectile as dead weight.
In guide assemblies in which the respective center of gravity of the wings is, in the folded state of the guide assembly, located radially outwardly relative to the rotary axis of the respective wing, due to acceleration in the weapon barrel, the wings are frequently pressed against the inner barrel wall and thus may cause damage thereto. Thus, the wings may “hook” into the delicate inner chromium layer of the weapon barrel.
German Patent No. 1,232,500 discloses a projectile having a fixed guide assembly. On the upper wing edges narrow plastic gliding bodies are mounted for guidance in the weapon barrel. To ensure that the gliding bodies are cast off after the projectile leaves the weapon barrel, they have a relatively complex construction: Between the gliding body and the respective stabilizing wing a hollow space is formed which is externally accessible by connecting channels. A significant quantity of propellant gases penetrates into the hollow chamber during the firing process and causes a separation of the gliding body from the stabilizing wing after the projectile leaves the weapon barrel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved projectile of the above-outlined type wherein the stabilizing wings and the inner face of the weapon barrel do not damage one another as the projectile passes through the weapon barrel and wherein the stabilizing wings open in a simple manner as soon as the projectile has cleared the weapon barrel.
This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, the projectile to be fired from a weapon barrel includes a projectile body and a plurality of stabilizing wings circumferentially distributed about a rearward portion of the projectile body. A pin pivotally attaches each stabilizing wing to the projectile body for pivotal motion about a pivot axis to assume a folded state and an outwardly pivoted, deployed state. In the folded state of the stabilizing wings the center of gravity of the respective stabilizing wings is at a greater radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the projectile body than the pivot axis. A gliding body is releasably mounted on each stabilizing wing. Each gliding body has a wing-shaped extension for contacting an inner surface of the barrel in the folded state of the stabilizing wings as the projectile travels in the barrel upon firing. In the deployed state of the stabilizing wings the wing-shaped extensions are exposed, during the flight of the projectile, to an air stream causing the gliding bodies to be stripped from the stabilizing wings.
According to the basic principle of the invention, in a projectile having stabilizing wings, the center or gravity of the wings in the folded state of the guide assembly is located radially outwardly relative to the pivot axes of the wings (that is, the radial distance of the center of gravity from the projectile axis is greater than that of the pivot axis) and the stabilizing wings are supported on the inner face of the weapon barrel by gliding bodies. To ensure a simple removal of the gliding bodies after the projectile has left the weapon barrel, the gliding bodies have, as viewed in the circumferential direction, arcuate wing-like extensions conforming to the inner face of the weapon barrel so that the gliding bodies, after the stabilizing wings open, are stripped by the forces of the air flow to which the wing-like extensions are exposed.
Advantageously, the preferably plastic gliding bodies are disposed in recesses of the upper edge of the stabilizing wings.
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Arendt Norbert
Heitmann Thomas
Kuhnle Joachim
Niemeyer Torsten
Jordan Charles T.
Kelemen Gabor J.
Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
Semunegus Lulit
Venable
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