JP7682204B2 - Launching device and method for assembling projectiles in the launching device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a modular launcher for launching propellant-charged projectiles. Additionally, the present invention relates to a method for assembling the projectiles within the launcher using modules.

The main principles utilized in weapon systems involving projectile and propellant handling are, on the one hand, when the projectile and propellant are placed together in a sleeve, constituting a sleeved charge, and, on the other hand, a system in which the projectile and propellant are separated and placed together in the launcher. For projectiles with a caliber of more than about 100 mm, by convention, a system with a sleeve is used, and for projectiles with a diameter of more than 100 mm, a system with a separated projectile and propellant is often used. As an exception, sleeved charges are also used in systems up to 155 mm.

Patent document US 2011/0083548 A1 discloses a sleeveless weapon system. It has a projectile chamber and a propellant chamber that are movably arranged relative to a barrel. The patent document does not disclose that the projectile is composed of parts or modules.

Patent document US8546736B2 discloses a modular projectile. The modules consist of a payload, a guidance module, and a rear module, e.g. including a rocket motor. Furthermore, the payload module may include a detonator. The projectile is pre-assembled or assembled by the manufacturer and placed as a unit in the launcher. The patent document does not disclose that the projectile is composed of parts or modules in the launcher.

Solutions to the above problems and further issues are given below.

One objective of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

Another object solved by the invention is in the context of Insensitive Munition, where the detonator and the projectile body can be kept separate until assembly, or more precisely before assembly. Furthermore, the problem of increased flexibility is solved, since there are more configuration possibilities, when the subsystems are adjusted in conjunction with or precisely before assembly. Furthermore, the problem is solved with respect to conventional artillery, where the detonator is manually placed on the projectile or projectile body, since the detonator is automatically placed on the projectile body in conjunction with or precisely before assembly.

A further object of the present invention is a modular launcher for launching a propellant-filled projectile, in which a detonator is disposed on the projectile body within the launcher, and the projectile is arranged to be assembled with at least one propellant charge within the launcher.

According to a further aspect of the modular launch device according to the invention,
The detonators are disposed in at least one detonator magazine disposed on the launcher, the projectile bodies are disposed within at least one projectile body magazine disposed on the launcher, and the detonators are automatically disposed on the projectile bodies in the launcher.

The propellant charges are disposed in at least one propellant charge magazine disposed in the launcher.

The detonator includes an initiation unit, a safety unit, and an explosion unit;
The initiation unit is placed on the assembled safety unit and the explosion unit,
The explosive unit is placed in the assembled detonation unit and safety unit;
The initiator unit is deployed simultaneously with the safety unit and the explosive unit.

The initiation unit is disposed in at least one initiation unit magazine disposed in the launcher, and/or the safety unit is disposed in at least one safety unit magazine disposed in the launcher, and/or the explosive unit is disposed in at least one explosive unit magazine disposed in the launcher.

The projectile body is composed of a surrounding unit and a payload unit, the payload unit is disposed in at least one payload unit magazine disposed on the launcher, the payload unit is disposed in the surrounding unit, and the surrounding unit is disposed in at least one surrounding unit magazine disposed on the launcher.

The enclosure unit may consist of a shell made of plastic, composite, metal, or a combination of these.

A payload unit consists of one or more explosives, smoke bombs, flares, and/or warheads.

Further in accordance with the present invention, an improved method for assembling a projectile in a launcher using modules is created, comprising the steps of:
A detonator is automatically positioned on the projectile body within the launcher;
a detonator disposed with the projectile body, the detonator being disposed in the launcher;
A propellant charge is disposed in the launcher.

According to a further aspect of the method for assembling a projectile in a launch device by using a module according to the invention,
The detonator is:
Starting units arranged in a starting unit magazine;
Safety units arranged in a safety unit magazine,
an explosive unit disposed in the explosive unit magazine;
The initiation unit, safety unit, and detonation unit are automatically assembled into a launcher,
The projectile body is:
Siege units placed in the siege unit magazine,
a payload unit disposed in a payload unit magazine;
The enclosure unit and the payload unit may be automatically assembled into the launcher.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an initiator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of an initiator separated into subcomponents according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a projectile body according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a projectile body separated into subcomponents in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of an assembled projectile in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of a projectile separated into subcomponents in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention shows a launching device.

The launcher, also called a cannon, howitzer or piece of artillery, is intended to launch a projectile by means of a propellant. Preferably, the propellant, such as gunpowder, is ignited in a part of the cannon, often in a chamber specially adapted for this purpose. Ignition occurs, for example, by igniting the propellant using an ignition cartridge or a lighter in the ammunition unit, which is ignited by impact. As an alternative method of igniting the propellant, the propellant may be ignited by laser or electrical energy. The propellant burns at high speed, producing a lot of gas, which creates a gas pressure in the chamber that pushes the projectile out of the barrel of the launcher. The propellant is adapted to create as constant a pressure as possible on the projectile while it is moving in the barrel, which gives it a high speed when it leaves the mouth of the barrel.

Various types of projectiles, such as artillery shells, often include some form of warhead and some form of detonator to activate the warhead. Detonators, also known as fuses, come in a variety of types, typically percussion, designed to explode on contact with an object, timer fuse, designed to explode at a pre-determined time, and zone fuse, designed to explode when an object comes within a certain distance of the projectile. Zone fuses are preferred for combating flying objects, while timer fuses and percussion may be used to combat a number of different objects. Advantageously, different types of detonation functions can be combined in the same detonator, such that if a zone fuse detonator does not detect an object, the projectile will explode after a certain time. However, having all detonations in the same detonator can be costly and complicated, and is not always utilized in combating an object.

The warhead preferably includes some form of explosive charge and some form of fragmentation-producing casing surrounding the explosive charge. Additionally, various steering means such as fins can be located either on the detonator or on a dedicated subcomponent.

A projectile for artillery typically includes a warhead, a shell, and a fuse that is placed on the shell before the projectile is placed or stuffed into the cannon. For safety and logistical reasons, it is preferred that the fuse not be placed on the shell until before stuffing. Often the fuse is placed with a screw and screwed onto the shell. The fuse can be programmed to be mechanically corrected, for example by twisting a portion of the fuse into a desired position, or it can be programmed electrically, such as by contact or induction/capacity programming of the fuse.

A munition unit typically contains a propellant, often formed of gunpowder, a warhead containing an explosive, and a detonator containing a primary explosive to set off the explosive. The munition unit is designed to be suitable for long-term storage and to withstand significant mechanical stresses, such as those encountered during transport. If a component within the munition unit, such as a battery, needs to be replaced, extensive measures are required to dismantle the munition unit and replace the battery. Similarly, dismantling a munition unit requires extensive dismantling of the various components that make up the munition unit.

For example, one common manufacturing method involves pouring explosives into the warhead, but this makes removing the explosives relatively complicated.

Detonators often incorporate electronic circuits, and the technology is continually being developed. Improvements to their functionality are also continually being developed, and new technologies, including Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) systems, new sensor systems, and new algorithms using artificial intelligence, may be installed in detonators one after another.

The advantages of arranging the projectiles composed of subcomponents in a launcher are as follows:
By combining different subcomponents before loading, the projectile's performance can be altered.
By transporting precision parts separately and non-precision parts separately, the risk of damage and accidents can be reduced, logistics is improved,
The possibility of replacing or upgrading obsolete subcomponents is improved without replacing the entire ammunition unit or projectile unit.

Functional Description The modular launcher 1 is adapted to fire or shoot a projectile 100 having a propellant charge 10. The propellant charge 10, which can be, for example, gunpowder, burns after initiation and creates high pressure, which propels the projectile 100 out of the barrel. The projectile is placed in the barrel by a process known as ramming. It often happens that the girdle surrounding the projectile deforms against a groove located in the barrel that holds the projectile in the barrel. The propellant charge 10 is placed in a place often called a chamber, in which the propellant charge burns and creates gas or gunpowder gases that move the projectile in the barrel. Preferably, a continuous or constant pressure is created in the chamber, which also fills the barrel behind the projectile as the projectile moves towards the mouth of the barrel. The placement of the detonator 20 in the projectile body 50 to create the projectile 100 before and close to ramming can solve many technical problems. The initiator 20 is advantageously located in the projectile body 50 close to the ramming, both in time and distance, before the ramming.

The projectile body may be placed in the projectile body magazine 60, although the projectile body or a portion of the projectile body may be placed in multiple magazines and combined to form the projectile body in the launcher. Additionally, the detonator may be placed in the detonator magazine 30, although the detonator or a portion of the detonator may be placed in multiple magazines and combined to form the detonator in the launcher. Additionally, the detonator may be programmed prior to being placed in the launcher.

The propellant charge 10 can be placed in a propellant charge magazine 12, which can be constructed, for example, from a modular charge, Uniflex, or another standard propellant charge construction. Furthermore, the chamber can be adapted to the particular propellant charge construction used, for example, if a smaller amount or fewer units of propellant charge is used, the chamber volume is reduced, and if a larger amount or more units of propellant charge is used, the chamber volume is increased. Increasing or decreasing the chamber volume can be done by physically changing the volume, but since a certain number of propellant charge units are always loaded in the chamber, depending on the range, the propellant charge units may be constructed with several units containing high-energy materials and some units that only generate spacing, such as metal units that are reused after the launch of the projectile.

The step of assembling the projectile into a launcher using the modules may include:
The detonator is automatically deployed on the projectile body within the launcher,
The detonator is disposed in the projectile body and packed into the launcher;
The propellant charge is placed into a launcher, which then fires the propellant charge, expelling a projectile from the barrel of the launcher.

The detonator is one of the following:
Starting units arranged in a starting unit magazine;
Safety units arranged in a safety unit magazine,
an explosive unit disposed in an explosive unit magazine;
The initiation unit, safety unit and detonation unit are automatically assembled into the launcher,
The projectile body is as follows:
a siege unit arranged in a siege unit magazine;
a payload unit disposed in a payload unit magazine;
The envelopment unit and the payload unit are automatically assembled within the launcher.

1 shows that the detonator 20 is composed of an initiation unit 22, a safety unit 24, and an explosion unit 26, also called the primary explosive. Furthermore, the detonator in the illustrated embodiment is arranged with a threaded connection 25 for placement on the projectile body. The threaded connection 25 is commonly used for large caliber guns such as artillery, for example projectiles having a diameter larger than 100 mm. Other methods of placement of the detonator on the projectile body can also be used, for example, press-fit, adhesive, soldering, welding, bayonet connectors, locks such as click locks, etc.

The initiation unit 22 includes appropriate sensors and/or calculation units for the initiation of the explosion, e.g.
Impact, i.e. when the projectile hits the target,
Delayed impact, where the onset occurs a specific time after the impact;
After a certain period of time, also called a timing fuse,
Proximity to the target, also known as zone fuse;
Height, starting at a certain height,
Other ways to get started.

The safety unit 24, also called the SAT device, contains a layout to ensure safe initiation of the detonation unit 26. For example, the SAT device may have transportation safeties, travel safeties within the barrel, and ballistic safeties so the detonation unit is not initiated at the wrong time. The safety unit may be fully mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, or a combination of these. For example, the safety unit may have a latch that requires a specific rotation or a specific acceleration before the detonation unit is enabled.

The explosive unit 26 is part of the detonator 20 and contains high energy material or explosives for initiating a warhead or projectile body disposed in the detonator 20. The explosive unit 26 is part of a so-called ignition chain that is initiated at the explosive device. The detonator 20 includes an initiator unit 22, a safety unit 24, and an explosive unit 26, which are arranged in relation to one another, for example, as follows:
The initiation unit 22 is disposed in the assembled safety unit 24 and explosive unit 26;
An explosive device 26 is disposed in the assembled initiation unit 22 and safety unit 24;
The initiation unit 22 is disposed simultaneously with the safety unit 24 and the explosive unit 26 .

Each part of the initiation unit 22, the safety unit 24, and the detonation unit 26 can be arranged separately for arrangement together in the launcher 1. The initiation unit 22 can then be arranged in at least one initiation unit magazine 23 arranged in the launcher 1, the safety unit 24 can be arranged in at least one safety unit magazine 25 arranged in the launcher 1, and the detonation unit 26 can be arranged in at least one detonation unit magazine 27 arranged in the launcher 1. By separating the different components into separate magazines when launching a projectile, detonators with different performance and configuration can be arranged together in the launcher. It is important to separate the detonation unit 26 from the other components because it may be sensitive to external influences. Furthermore, if the detonation unit 26 can be separated from the initiation unit 22 and the safety unit 24, the other detonation device components can be handled safely. Since the initiation unit 22 often includes electronic equipment that is undergoing rapid technological development, it is appropriate to update the initiation unit 22 in line with technological developments. If the starter unit is integrated with the detonator or the entire launch unit, then rebuilding the detonator/propellant unit would be required, which would be complex, time-consuming, and costly. If the starter unit 22 is a separate unit that is deployed within the launcher to launch the detonator/projectile, then replacement of the starter unit 22 and recovery of the replacement starter unit 22, such as dismantling and disposal, would be much easier.

As shown in FIG. 2, the detonator 20 is divided into free-standing components: an initiation unit 22, a safety unit 24, and an explosion unit 25. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the explosion unit 26 is disposed in the safety unit 24. The initiation unit 22 is disposed in the safety unit 24, for example, by a click-lock or screw coupling, not shown.

In FIG. 3, a projectile body 50 is shown. The detonator 20 can be disposed on the projectile body 50 at the nose 51 of the projectile body. Preferably, the nose 51 is positioned such that the detonator 20 can initiate a warhead, pyrotechnic charge, flare or smoke device, or other payload disposed on the projectile body 50.

Figure 4 shows a projectile body 50 consisting of an enveloping unit 52 and a payload unit 54, which may consist of, for example, one or more explosives, smoke bombs, flares, and/or warheads. The enveloping unit 52 may consist of a shell or other cover made of plastic, composite, metal, and/or combinations thereof. If the assembled projectile is a fragmentation projectile, the shell is designed with suitable fragments, such as hard metal balls embedded in a metal shell.

The payload unit 54 can be placed in at least one payload unit magazine 55, which is arranged in the launcher 1, such that the payload unit 54 can be placed in the enveloping unit 52 in the launcher 1. The enveloping unit 52 can also be placed in at least one enveloping unit magazine 53, which is arranged in the launcher 1.

Figure 5 shows the projectile 100 with the detonator 20 disposed in the projectile body 50. The projectile 100 is ready to be launched from the launcher 1.

Figure 6 shows a projectile 100 with components separated according to one embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated embodiment is comprised of an initiation unit 22, a safety unit 24 and an explosion unit 26, an enclosure unit 52, and a payload unit 53. In other embodiments, all or some of the components shown may be used. Other components not shown or described in the present invention may also be used, such as a steering module with fins located on both the detonator and the projectile body.

Exemplary Embodiments Examples of modular launch systems include 40-155mm caliber projectiles with a variety of detonators designed for impact, time, or zone fuse functions, as well as projectiles designed for fragmentation or explosive effects.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS The present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments shown, but various modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, it is clear that the number, size, material and shape of the parts and elements constituting the modular launch system can be adapted according to the projectile or collection of projectiles and other design characteristics of the particular case.

For example, projectiles can be designed for explosive effects, fragmentation effects, combustion effects, thermobaric effects, firefighting, training projectiles, flames, smoke, electromagnetic effects, electromagnetic interference, or other payloads and functions.

Claims (9)

A launcher for launching a projectile (100) having a propellant charge , said projectile (100) being assembled with a projectile body (50) in the launcher and an initiator (20) disposed thereon, i.e. said projectile (100) being disposed in a barrel of said launcher together with at least one propellant charge in said launcher ,
The detonator (20) includes an initiation unit (22), a safety unit (24), and an explosion unit (26);
The launching device, characterized in that the initiation unit (22) is arranged in at least one initiation unit magazine (23) arranged in the launching device , and/or the safety unit (24) is arranged in at least one safety unit magazine (25) arranged in the launching device , and/or the explosive unit (26) is arranged in at least one explosive unit magazine (27) arranged in the launching device . 2. The launcher of claim 1, wherein the detonators (20) are disposed in at least one detonator magazine (30) disposed in the launcher, the projectile bodies (50) are disposed in at least one projectile body magazine (60) disposed in the launcher, and the detonators (20) are automatically disposed in the projectile bodies (50) in the launcher . 2. The launcher according to claim 1, wherein the propellant charges are arranged in at least one propellant charge magazine (12) arranged on the launcher . The initiation unit (22) is disposed in an assembled safety unit (24) and explosion unit (26);
The explosive unit (26) is disposed in the assembled initiation unit (22) and safety unit (24);
4. A launching device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the initiation unit (22) is arranged simultaneously with a safety unit (24) and an explosive unit (26). 5. The launcher according to claim 1, wherein the projectile body (50) comprises an enveloping unit (52) and a payload unit (54), the payload unit (54) being arranged in at least one payload unit magazine (55) arranged in the launcher, and the payload unit (54) being arranged in the enveloping unit (52) being arranged in at least one enveloping unit magazine (53) arranged in the launcher . 6. The launcher of claim 5, wherein the enveloping unit (52) comprises a shell made of plastic, composite, metal, or a combination thereof. 6. The launcher of claim 5, wherein the payload unit (54) comprises one or more explosives, smoke bombs, flares, and/or warheads. the detonator is automatically positioned on the projectile within the launcher;
a detonator disposed in the projectile is loaded into the launcher;
the propellant charge is disposed in a launcher; and the initiator includes:
a starter unit disposed in a starter unit magazine disposed in the launcher ;
a safety unit disposed in a safety unit magazine disposed in the launcher ;
an explosive unit disposed in an explosive unit magazine disposed in the launcher ;
the initiation unit, the safety unit, and the explosive unit are automatically assembled to the projectile within the launcher;
13. A method for assembling a projectile in a launcher comprising the steps of: The projectile comprises:
a siege unit arranged in a siege unit magazine;
a payload unit disposed in a payload unit magazine ;
9. The method for assembling a projectile within a launcher of claim 8, wherein the enclosure unit and the payload unit are automatically assembled to the projectile within the launcher.

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