Ammunition and explosives – Projectiles – Composite
Patent
1994-12-09
1996-02-20
Tudor, Harold J.
Ammunition and explosives
Projectiles
Composite
102439, 102524, 102532, F42B 1400
Patent
active
054920647
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The scope of the present invention is that of munitions designed to be fired from artillery guns, and more specifically, those which are fired by means of a propellant charge which may or may not be separated from the actual projectile.
Presently, there is a tendency nowadays to increase gun calibers (i.e., the diameter of the barrel), and more particularly those of tank guns. Higher initial projectile speeds may thereby be obtained.
However, the diameter of the chamber is generally not increased in the same proportions so as to restrict the overall diameter of the weapon.
Weapon designers therefore find themselves forced to increase the length of the chamber in order to maintain an expansion ratio (total volume barrel+chamber/volume chamber) which enables the desired speed performances to be reached.
In such a context the problem of the overall size of the munitions arises. This problem is often solved by dividing the load into two load elements (one carrying the projectile and possibly some powder, and another of powder alone).
However, if it is possible, with such a division of the munition, to design projectile munitions of the arrowhead type (sub-caliber shafts, fin-stabilized) wherein the length of the load remains limited, it is not possible to define munitions with explosive projectiles without being forced to:
- either lengthen the projectile carrying load,
- or reinforce the mechanical resistance of the projectile, thereby reducing its stability and effectiveness.
In fact, the arrowhead shafts are able to penetrate to a relative depth into the powder without any problems of mechanical resistance.
The envelope of explosive munitions can not penetrate the explosive charge without it becoming essential to increase its thickness, which leads to a decrease in its stability and a reduction in the internal volume devoted to the explosive charge, thereby reducing its effectiveness.
The obturator which ensures gastightness must therefore be situated to the rear of the envelope of the explosive projectile, forcing the projectile carrying load to be lengthened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object aim of the invention is to produce a munition to be fired from an increased caliber gun, a munition which must be neither too long nor have a projectile envelope which is too thick.
The invention is therefore likely to be applicable to all cases where a projectile is to be fired wherein the rear part must not be subject, at least at first, to the pressure generated by the propellant gases. In other terms:
- a projectile with a thin envelope, such as a missile or cargo,
- a projectile carrying a propellant charge which must be initiated later in the barrel or during the trajectory.
With this end in view, the invention may be applied both to a two-load munition and a single-load cased munition.
One object of the invention is to solve the basic problem wherein a projectile sensitive to gas pressure may be fired from a gun without necessarily having its structure reinforced.
To fulfil the above objective the invention concerns a device comprising:
- a piston integral with the projectile which insulates the projectile from the main propellant charge,
- sealing structure positioned around the piston and fitted with a seal which ensures low pressure gastightness between the piston and the weapon chamber and an obturator ensuring high pressure gastightness between the piston and the barrel.
Such structure therefore enable explosive munitions to be defined wherein the overall axial size is relatively reduced as the projectile may be entirely lodged inside the chamber.
This structure also enable munitions which are sensitive to gas pressure such as missiles to be fired from a tank gun. These are isolated from an ejector propellant charge by means of a piston according to the invention.
Delay initiating structure will permit initiation of the propellant charge integrated in the missile after leaving the gun barrel.
Lastly this structure enables munitions carrying a propellant charge on-board ("
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patent: H403 (1988-01-01), Glasser
patent: 648243 (1900-04-01), Dawson et al.
patent: 868938 (1907-10-01), Puff
patent: 3216356 (1965-11-01), Kaufmann, Jr.
patent: 4043269 (1977-08-01), Ambrosini
patent: 4384529 (1983-05-01), Burns et al.
patent: 4549488 (1985-10-01), Hoffmann et al.
patent: 4800816 (1989-01-01), Meyer
patent: 5014624 (1991-05-01), Baxter et al.
Giat Industries
Tudor Harold J.
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