Electricity: measuring and testing – Electrical speed measuring – Including 'event' sensing means
Patent
1988-09-27
1990-06-19
Strecker, Gerard R.
Electricity: measuring and testing
Electrical speed measuring
Including 'event' sensing means
73167, 324 72, 324160, 32420715, 324454, G01P 366, G01R 3302
Patent
active
049356976
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring a projectile or parts thereof during flight, possibly into the target region.
Various methods are known in the ballistic measuring art to determine different variables of interest with respect to a projectile or parts thereof. Optical measuring methods are dependent on the weather and the time of day and are expensive. For inductive measuring methods, the projectile must be magnetized which, however, is not always possible for the most varied reasons, for example because the material is not magnetizable (hard core projectiles or the like). Particularly in connection with projectiles produced by explosion, no or only very unsatisfactory results are obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for measuring a projectile or parts thereof, with such method and apparatus being easy to operate, usable in many ways and permitting the use of simple and inexpensive sensors.
This is accomplished by a method in which the electrical charge imparted to the projectile or its parts by friction with the air and/or by the gas fumes generated upon ignition or detonation is detected by means of at least one inductively operating sensor, and the zero passage of the resulting signal is evaluated.
In this connection the fact is utilized that a projectile on its way to the target receives an electrical charge from friction with the air. When passing the sensor or flying through the sensor, this charge, as a result of the magnetic field generated by a moving charge, produces a voltage in the induction coil of the sensor in the form of a signal which passes through zero. This signal can be utilized to measure the flight time of the projectile in that the time between firing and the occurrence of the zero passage is measured from which the velocity of the projectile can be determined. Moreover, the signal may actuate other measuring devices, e.g. target X-ray devices.
Additionally, the velocity of the projectile or its parts can be determined by the use of two or more sensors spaced one after the other at predetermined intervals along the trajectory, with the time difference between the zero passages of the signals of two sensors arranged behind one another being measured.
The fragments of high-explosive projectiles or the like are also electrically charged by the gas fumes of the detonator material and can be measured accordingly, thus permitting the determination of a time resolution of the cloud of fragments.
The method may be implemented by means of an apparatus which includes at least one sensor equipped with an induction coil and disposed in the region of the trajectory. This sensor is coupled with an evaluation device which retains at least the time of the zero passage of the signal generated by the sensor.
Further features of the invention will be found in the description below and in the dependent claims.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to embodiments that are illustrated in the attached drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus for measuring a projectile.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the curve of a signal generated by the sensor of the apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the use of a plurality of sensors along the trajectory of a projectile.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a sensor 1 in the form of an induction coil 3 wound onto a frame 2, for example a simple wooden frame. Frame 2 may be provided with a circumferential groove 4 to accommodate a few windings of the insulated wire forming induction coil 3. Moreover, frame 2 may be provided with a stand 5 which facilitates its placement. The area enclosed by induction coil 3 advisably lies in a range of about 1 to 6 m.sup.2. Additionally, it is advisable to place frame 2 as perpendicularly as possible to the direction
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Lee et al., Determination of Lightning Current Using Frame Aerials IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-98, No. 5 Sep./Oct. 1979, pp. 1669-1675.
Nahrwold Klaus H.
Paesch Alexander
Rheinmetall GmbH
Strecker Gerard R.
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