Contacting unit and cartridge-based ammunition

Abstract

The invention relates to a contacting unit (10) for electrically contacting cartridge-based ammunition, the contacting unit comprising: a circuit board (56); at least one electrical contact element (64), the contact element being arranged on a first side (68) of the circuit board; a housing (12) which extends along a central longitudinal axis (14) and has a first end (16) and a second end (18), the housing having, at the first end, a receiving portion (20) for receiving the circuit board, and the housing having, at the second end, a connecting portion (44) for connecting the housing to a cartridge casing of the cartridge-based ammunition, the housing being made of plastic, and at least one clamping or snap-in element (46) for holding the housing (12) on the cartridge casing (82) being formed on the connecting portion (44).

Description

The invention relates to a contacting unit for electrically contacting cartridge-based ammunition having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to cartridge-based ammunition having the features of the additional independent claim. A contacting unit of the type mentioned above is known to the applicant from practice. The contacting unit is a component of cartridge-based ammunition and serves in particular to initiate the cartridge-based ammunition, e.g., by means of an ignition device of the cartridge-based ammunition. The contacting unit known to the applicant comprises, among other things, a metallic housing, a separate electronic circuit board, and brass contacting rings attached to the circuit board. The parts of the contacting unit are manually joined, among other things by screwing, to form an assembly and are then overmolded with plastic. Due to the large number of components, the manufacturing process is costly and complex, and there is susceptibility to errors. The housing of the known contacting unit has an external screw thread for fixing the contacting unit in a corresponding internal screw thread of the ammunition casing. Before the contacting unit is screwed into the ammunition casing, a connecting cable extending from the contacting unit must be pre-twisted in the opposite direction in order to avoid damage to the connecting cable as a result of the screw-in process. This makes the assembly of the cartridge-based ammunition more difficult and time-consuming. The object of the invention is to provide a contacting unit having a structurally simple design which can be manufactured cost-effectively and which ensures reliable electrical contacting. The invention achieves this object by means of a contacting unit having the features of claim 1. The contacting unit is designed and / or intended for the electrical contacting of cartridge-based ammunition, in particular electrical or electronic components of the cartridge-based ammunition, e.g., an ignition device. The contacting unit comprises an (electrical or electronic) circuit board and at least one electrical contact element arranged on a first side of the circuit board. Preferably, the circuit board has two electrical contact elements on the first side. The contacting unit also has a housing which extends along a central longitudinal axis and which has a first end and a second end, the housing having, at the first end, a receiving portion for receiving the circuit board, and the housing having, at the second end, a connecting portion for connecting the housing to a cartridge casing of the cartridge-based ammunition. The housing of the contacting unit is made of plastic, and at least one clamping and / or snap-in element, preferably of formlocking type, for holding the contacting unit on the cartridge casing is formed on the connecting portion of the housing. The embodiment of the housing made of plastic allows for simple and cost-effective manufacture of the housing. Even complex parts, such as the housing of the contacting unit, can be easily manufactured from plastic. According to the invention, it was also recognized that the plastic housing has sufficient stability and strength to be used as a component of the cartridge-based ammunition. Furthermore, this allows the housing to be made comparatively lightweight. The plastic housing can also be connected to the cartridge casing particularly easily and reliably by means of the connecting portion. For this purpose, the at least one clamping or snap-in element of the connecting portion of the housing can be inserted into a back end of the cartridge casing and the connecting portion of the housing can be held or fixed on the cartridge casing (in particular on an inner surface of the cartridge casing) at least clampingly, preferably also form-lockingly, by means of the clamping or snap-in element. The back end of the cartridge casing corresponds to an end of the cartridge casing opposite the firing direction (rear end of the cartridge casing). Specifically, the clamping or snap-in element can have the form of a ring or a ring segment. If the clamping or snap-in element has the form of a ring, the clamping or snap-in element can be formed to be completely circumferential along the circumferential direction. If the clamping or snap-in element has the form of a ring segment, the clamping or snapin element can be formed such that it extends only partially circumferentially along the circumferential direction, e.g., over an angle of at least 181°. In addition to the clamping or snap-in element in the form of a ring segment, a positioning element can also be formed on the connecting portion, the positioning element being designed to be in contact with an inner surface of the cartridge casing when the contacting unit is in the mounted state. Advantageously, multiple circumferentially distributed clamping and / or snap-in elements movable or deformable transversely to the central longitudinal axis can be formed on the connecting portion of the housing in order to hold the contacting unit on the cartridge casing. This contributes to a uniform and reliable connection of the contacting unit to the cartridge casing of the cartridge-based ammunition. As already indicated above, the clamping and / or snap-in elements can be designed as form-locking or form-lockingly acting clamping and / or snap-in elements. When the connecting portion is inserted into the cartridge casing, preferably at least a segment of each clamping or snap-in element abuts against an inner boundary of the cartridge casing, and the clamping or snap-in elements are moved or (elastically) deformed inward transversely to the central longitudinal axis, preferably radially. This movement or deformation of the clamping or snap-in elements results in a radially outwardly directed force which presses the clamping or snap-in elements against the cartridge casing (or against the inner surface of the cartridge casing) and holds or fixes the housing of the contacting unit on the cartridge casing. In the scope of a preferred embodiment, the contact element can be firmly connected to the circuit board, the contact element and the circuit board together forming a single component. This means that the contact element and the circuit board are combined into one component and can be received simultaneously or together in the receiving portion of the housing. This reduces the number of components in the contacting unit and the time required for assembling the contacting unit. It is also possible to provide more than one contact element, preferably two or three contact elements, and the contact elements can each be firmly connected to the circuit board. Advantageously, the contact element(s) can each be in the form of a planar contact layer applied to the circuit board. When the contact element is in the form of a planar contact layer, a sufficiently large area is provided for the electrical contacting of the contacting unit, while comparatively little material is used. The planar contact layer can be provided, for example, as a (preferably metallic) foil or applied to the circuit board by means of a deposition process. The planar contact layer is preferably arranged on the first side of the circuit board, the first side of the circuit board (when the circuit board is mounted on the housing) corresponding to a side facing away from the housing or from the cartridge casing. Advantageously, the planar contact layer can be gold-plated in each case. This ensures particularly good electrical contacting of the contact element or the contacting unit. In the scope of a preferred embodiment, the receiving portion can receive the circuit board in a recess and can have a clamping or snap device for clampingly gripping the circuit board and holding the circuit board in the recess. In the recess, the circuit board is supported against an inner wall of the recess and is thus securely positioned. The clamping or snap device provides a simple way to fix the circuit board in the recess and prevents the circuit board from falling out of the recess. For this purpose, the clamping or snap device can have circumferentially distributed jaw- or finger-type clamping members which can be widened. For the receiving of the circuit board into the recess, the circuit board can preferably be manually pushed or pressed onto the clamping or snap device of the receiving portion. As a result of the pressing force, the clamping members of the clamping or snap device are widened or deformed outward (away from the central longitudinal axis) transversely to the central longitudinal axis, preferably radially, and clear a (joining) path for the circuit board. Once the circuit board has passed through the clamping or snap device and has been received in the recess, a pressing force no longer acts on the clamping members and each clamping member returns to its initial position. In the initial position, the clamping members hold the circuit board in the recess. In the scope of a preferred embodiment, the housing can be made of a conductive plastic. Making the housing of (electrically) conductive plastic provides a shielding effect against electric or magnetic fields or signals. The shielding effect increases safety, as the risk of unintentional triggering of the cartridge-based ammunition can be minimized. In the scope of a preferred embodiment, the plastic of the housing can be fiber-reinforced. Fiber-reinforced plastics typically exhibit high specific stiffnesses and strengths, thereby increasing the stability and durability of the housing. Furthermore, the mechanical and thermal properties of fiber-reinforced plastics can be adjusted via a plurality of parameters (e.g., via the selection of the fibers) and matched to the application-specific requirements. The housing can expediently be metallized, in particular nickel-plated, and / or formed by an injection molding process. Metallization refers to the coating of the housing with a metal layer. This means that the plastic of the housing is provided with a metal layer (e.g., a layer of nickel). Metallization can further improve the conductive effect of the housing. Manufacturing the housing using an injection molding process makes it possible to produce housings in large quantities and by means of cost-effective and proven methods. In the scope of a preferred embodiment, the housing can have a passage extending along the central longitudinal axis and adjoining the circuit board, into which passage a potting compound can be or has been introduced, in particular can be or has been poured, the potting compound protecting the circuit board on a second side of the circuit board from environmental influences or influences of the cartridge-based ammunition. Preferably, the second side of the circuit board is completely or partially covered by the potting compound, in particular over the entire cross section of the passage, achieving particularly good protection, for example against the ingress of moisture as far as the circuit board and against corrosion of components of the circuit board. Specifically, the passage can be dimensioned such that the circuit board, when received in the recess, completely covers the passage. In particular, the passage can have, in an end region adjoining the recess or along the entire length of the passage, a cross section or an inside diameter which is smaller than the cross section or the outside diameter of the circuit board. In the scope of a preferred embodiment, the connecting portion can be tapered, in particular in its outside dimension, preferably its outside diameter, relative to the receiving portion, the connecting portion having, at its end facing the receiving portion, a preferably circumferential sealing element, in particular a sealing ring such as an O-ring. Because the connecting portion is tapered, a shoulder is formed which allows for a defined stop when the connecting portion is inserted into the cartridge casing. The sealing element contributes to a sealing effect between the cartridge casing and the housing of the contacting unit. Advantageously, a groove (surrounding the passage), which is preferably circumferential, can be formed in the recess, adjacent to a second side of the circuit board, in the receiving portion, in which groove a further sealing element, which is preferably circumferential, in particular a further sealing ring such as an O-ring, is arranged. This contributes to sealing between the circuit board and the housing of the contacting unit, thus reducing the risk of moisture ingress. The aforementioned object is also achieved by means of cartridge-based ammunition having the features of the additional independent claim. The cartridge-based ammunition comprises at least a cartridge casing, a projectile, an ignition device (e.g., a squib), and a contacting unit according to any of the preceding claims. Optionally, the cartridge-based ammunition may comprise further components, e.g., an effect charge (e.g., pyrotechnics) and a propellant charge or ejection charge. With regard to the advantages that can be achieved with the cartridge-based ammunition, reference is made to the relevant statements relating to the contacting unit. The measures discussed above in connection with the contacting unit and / or the measures explained below can serve for the further design of the cartridge-based ammunition. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, wherein identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference signs, but, where applicable, only once. In the figures: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a unit; contacting Fig. 2 is an illustration of the contacting unit assembled state, corresponding to Fig. 1; in an Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of based ammunition; cartridge- Fig. 4 is a partial and sectional view of a back end of the cartridge-based ammunition in accordance with Fig. 3 and of the contacting unit according to Fig. 1 in a non-connected state, along a section plane denoted by IV-IV in Fig. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is an illustration during the connecting of the contacting unit to the cartridge-based ammunition, corresponding to Fig. Fig. 6    is an illustration of and of the contacting corresponding to Fig. 4; and the cartridge-based ammunition unit in a connected state, 4 and 5. An embodiment of a contacting unit 10, said embodiment being designated overall by reference sign 10, serves to electrically contact cartridge-based ammunition 84, i.e., to electrically contact electrical or electronic components of the cartridge-based ammunition 84. Fig. 1 shows the contacting unit 10 in an exploded view. The contacting unit 10 comprises a housing 12. In the example, the housing 12 is rotationally symmetrical and extends along a central longitudinal axis 14 between a first end 16 and a second end 18. Proceeding from the first end 16 of the housing 12, a receiving portion 20 of the housing 12 is formed, said receiving portion extending along the central longitudinal axis 14. The receiving portion 20 is delimited radially outward by a substantially cylindrical receiving-portion lateral surface 22; in the example, the receiving-portion lateral surface 22 defines an outer diameter 24 of the receiving portion 20. The receiving portion 20 of the housing 12 has an axial passage 26 extending along the central longitudinal axis 14. The axial passage 26 is delimited by a passage opening 27 extending orthogonally to the central longitudinal axis 14 and by a cylindrical inner wall 28 extending along the central longitudinal axis. In the example, the inner wall 28 defines an inner diameter 30 of the receiving portion 20. At the first end 16, the receiving portion 20 has an end-face portion 32 extending orthogonally to the central longitudinal axis 14. The end-face portion 32 is circumferentially delimited by an annular boundary 33 formed by an end portion of the receiving-portion lateral surface 22. A recess 34 of the receiving portion 20 is formed at the endface portion 32. The forming of the recess 34 is associated with the fact that the passage opening 27 of the axial passage 26 is arranged at an axial offset from the annular boundary 33 toward the second end 18. The recess 34 has a circumferential inner wall 36, the diameter of the inner wall 36 being between the outer diameter 24 of the receiving portion 20 and the inner diameter 30 of the receiving portion. The recess 34 is delimited toward the second end 18 of the housing 12 by a support surface 38, the support surface 38 being formed at least partly by a boundary of the passage opening 27 of the axial passage 26. In the region of the recess 34, the receiving portion 20 has a clamping or snap device 40 having a plurality of circumferentially distributed clamping members 42. The clamping members 42 are of a jaw- or finger-type design and are elastically deformable; in particular, the clamping members 42 can be widened radially outward relative to the central longitudinal axis 14. The clamping members 42 preferably have segments which extend parallel to the end-face portion 32 and which at least partially cover the recess. The segments are preferably oriented toward the central longitudinal axis 14. Proceeding from the receiving portion 20, a connecting portion 44 is formed on the housing 12 along the central longitudinal axis 14 toward the second end 18. The axial passage 26 described above extends along the entire housing 12 and also continues through the connecting portion 44 of the housing 12. The axial passage 26 thus extends as far as the second end 18 of the housing 12. In the example, the connecting portion 44 has multiple circumferentially distributed clamping or snap-in elements 46. The clamping or snap-in elements 46 are of a jaw- or fingertype design. In particular, the clamping or snap-in elements 46 are movable and / or (elastically) deformable transversely to the central longitudinal axis 14. The clamping or snap-in elements 46 are each radially outwardly delimited by a clamping-element lateral surface 50, the clamping-element lateral surfaces 50 defining an outer diameter 52 of the connecting portion 44. The outer diameter 52 of the connecting portion 44 is smaller than the outer diameter 22 of the receiving portion 20. In other words, the connecting portion 44 is designed as an axially extending projection which is tapered relative to the receiving portion 20. The clamping or snap-in elements 46 or the clamping-element lateral surfaces 50 can each have profiling features, e.g., radially outwardly projecting, nose-type protrusions 54. The clamping or snap-in elements 46 can therefore be designed as form-locking clamping or snap-in elements 46. The contacting unit 10 also has a circuit board 56. In the example, the circuit board 56 is discoid and has a circular cross section. The circuit board 56 is delimited outward by a circular border 58. An outside diameter 60 of the circuit board 56 is matched to a diameter of the wall 36 of the recess 34. On a first side 62 of the circuit board 56, a first contact element 64 and a second contact element 66 are arranged. The first side 62 of the circuit board 56 corresponds to a side of the circuit board 56 which (in the mounted state) faces away from the housing 12. In the present case, the contact elements 64 and 66 are in the form of planar contact layers 65 and are firmly connected to the circuit board 56, in particular integrally, e.g., by adhesive bonding. In this way, the circuit board 56 and the contact elements 64, 66 form a single part. On a second side 68 of the circuit board 56 (facing the housing 12), a conductor element 70, e.g., a multi-core cable 70, is arranged, which is electrically connected to the contact elements 64, 66. In the example, a connecting element, e.g., a plug 72, is attached to the end of the cable 70, which end is facing away from the circuit board 56. The circuit board 56 can be received into the recess 34 of the receiving portion 20 of the housing 12. For this purpose, the plug 72 and the cable 70 are fed through the axial passage 26 of the housing 12, and a geometric center point of the circuit board 56 is brought into alignment with the central longitudinal axis 14 of the housing 12. Then the circuit board 56 is brought into physical contact with the receiving portion 20 and preferably manually pushed or pressed onto the clamping or snap device 40. As a result of the pressing force, the clamping members 42 of the clamping device 40 are widened radially outward (i.e., away from the central longitudinal axis 14) and clear a (joining) path for the circuit board 56. Once the circuit board 56 has passed through the clamping or snap device 40 and has been received in the recess 34, a pressing force no longer acts on the clamping members 42 and each clamping member 42 returns to its initial position (deformation or movement toward the central longitudinal axis 14). In the initial position, the clamping members 42 clampingly hold the circuit board 56 in the recess 34. Preferably, in the initial position the segments of the clamping members 42 partially cover (engage behind) the first side 62 of the circuit board 56 and securely prevent the circuit board 56 from falling out of the recess 34. In the recess 34, the circuit board 56 is circumferentially supported against the wall 36 of the recess 34 and thereby positioned. Toward the second end 18, the circuit board 56 is in physical contact with the support surface 38 of the recess 34 and is supported on the support surface 38. Before the circuit board 56 and the housing 12 are joined, it is possible to arrange a first sealing ring, such as an O-ring 74, preferably in a groove in the recess 34. The first O-ring 74 serves to seal the circuit board 56 on the second side 68 relative to the housing 12 and protects the circuit board 56 from environmental influences. Once the circuit board 56 is received in the recess 34 of the receiving portion 20, a potting compound 76 can be introduced, in particular poured, into the axial passage 26 from the second end 18 of the housing 12. The potting compound 76 moves through the axial passage 26 and covers—in the example, over the entire cross section of the passage 26—the second side 68 of the circuit board 56, which second side is arranged in the recess 34. The potting compound 76 protects the second side 68 of the circuit board 56 from environmental influences and also increases the stability of the coupling between the housing 12 and the circuit board 56. Once the potting compound 76 has been poured in, the potting compound 76 only partially surrounds the cable 70 along the longitudinal extension of the cable. In particular, the cable 70 extends through the potting compound 76, so that the plug 72 does not come into contact with the potting compound 76 and is at a distance from the potting compound 76. Preferably, it is possible to arrange a second O-ring 78 on the connecting portion 44 of the housing 12. The second Oring 78 is led over the clamping-element lateral surfaces 50 and is placed against a shoulder or stop 80 formed by an annular subregion of the receiving portion 20. The second Oring 78 serves to seal the housing 12 relative to the cartridge casing 82 of the cartridge-based ammunition 84. Fig. 2 shows the contacting unit 10 in an assembled state. The circuit board 56 has been received in the recess 34 of the receiving portion 20 of the housing 12 and is clampingly held by means of the clamping members 42 of the clamping or snap device 40. The clamping members 42 can engage behind the circuit board 56 on the first side 62. In the assembled state, the contact elements 64, 66 of the circuit board 12 are oriented to be facing away from the housing 12. Furthermore, the cable 70 extends substantially along or parallel to the central longitudinal axis 14 beyond the second end 18 of the housing 12, the plug 72 thus being at a distance from the housing 12. In the assembled state, the contacting unit 10 can be connected to a cartridge casing 82 of cartridge-based ammunition 84 (cf. Fig. 3). The cartridge casing 82 has a hollow cylindrical shell body 86, which in the example is rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis 88. The cartridge casing 82 extends along the longitudinal axis 88 between a first, front end 90 and a second, back end 92. The front end 90 of the cartridge casing 82 has a front opening 94 extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 88. A projectile 96 (only schematically indicated) of the cartridge-based ammunition 84 is inserted into and fixed in the front opening 94. The front opening 94 of the cartridge casing 82 may optionally be closed by the projectile 96 itself or by a separate cap (not shown). The back end 92 of the cartridge casing 82 has a rear opening 98 extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 88. The rear opening 98 is delimited by an annular inner boundary 100 of the shell body 86, the annular inner boundary 100 defining an inside diameter 102 of the cartridge casing 82. Proceeding from the annular inner boundary 100, an annular base surface 106 of the cartridge casing 82 running orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 88 extends to an annular outer boundary 104 of the shell body 86. The annular outer boundary 104 defines an outside diameter 108 of the cartridge casing 82. The shell body 86 of the cartridge casing 82 has a cylindrical outer surface 110 and a cylindrical inner surface 112. The cylindrical inner surface 112, the front opening 94 and the rear opening 98 delimit an interior 114 of the cartridge casing 82. An ignition device 118, which is known per se, is arranged in the interior 114 of the cartridge casing 82. The ignition device 118 preferably comprises a receiving device, e.g., a bush 120. The cartridge-based ammunition 84 is preferably ammunition for generating an artificial smoke (“smoke ammunition”). Preferably, the cartridge-based ammunition 84 has a caliber of 40 mm (outside diameter 108). The contacting unit 10 can be connected to the cartridge-based ammunition 84 at the back end 92 of the cartridge casing 82. For connection, the contacting unit 10 is arranged adjacent to the rear end 92 of the cartridge casing 82 (cf. Fig. 4). The cable 70 and the plug 72 of the contacting unit 10 are inserted into the interior 114 of the cartridge casing 82 through the rear opening 98 (this is not shown in Fig. 4). In the interior 114, the plug 72 is electrically connected to the ignition device 118 via the bush 120 (this is not shown in Fig. 4). If the plug 72 has been received in the bush 120, the contact elements 64, 66 are in electrical connection with the ignition device 118 via the circuit board 56 and the cable 70. Then the central longitudinal axis 14 of the contacting unit 10 is brought into alignment with the longitudinal axis 88 of the cartridge casing 82 of the cartridge-based ammunition 84. Proceeding from this, the connecting portion 44 of the contacting unit 10 is inserted into the interior 114 of the cartridge casing 82 through the rear opening 98 (cf. Fig. 5). During insertion, the clamping-element lateral surfaces 50 of the clamping or snap-in elements 46 of the connecting portion 44 come into contact with the inner surface 112 of the cartridge casing 82. In the present case, the outer diameter 52 of the connecting portion 44, said outer diameter being defined by the clamping element lateral surfaces 50, is slightly larger than the inside diameter 102 of the cartridge casing 82. As a result, the clamping or snap-in elements 46 of the connecting portion 44 are moved or (elastically deformed) toward the central longitudinal axis 14 during insertion into the cartridge casing 82. As a result of the compressing of the clamping or snap-in elements 46, a force acting radially outward (i.e., acting radially away from the central longitudinal axis 14) is built up, said force pressing the clamping-element lateral surfaces 50 against the inner surface 112 of the cartridge casing 82 and ensuring that the contacting unit 10 is clampingly held on the cartridge-based ammunition 84. Since the radially outwardly projecting, nose-type protrusions 54 of the clamping or snap-in elements 46 increase the movement or deformation of the clamping or snap-in elements 46, the outwardly acting force is intensified and a particularly secure and reliable connection is achieved. Once the connecting portion 44 of the contacting unit 10 is completely inserted into the interior 114 of the cartridge casing 82, a connected state is achieved (cf. Fig. 6). The connected state is characterized in that the contacting unit 10 is clampingly held on the cartridge casing 82 of the cartridge-based ammunition by means of the clamping or snap-in elements 46 of the connecting portion 44. In other words, the contacting unit 10 is fixed to the cartridge casing 82 of the cartridge-based ammunition 84 and can be moved together with the cartridge-based ammunition 84 as a component of the cartridge-based ammunition 84. In the connected state, a contact surface formed between the clamping-element lateral surfaces 50 and the inner surface 112 of the cartridge casing 82 is maximized, resulting in a large frictional force between the clamping-element lateral surfaces 50 and the inner surface 112. This ensures that the contacting unit 10 is held particularly securely in the cartridge casing 82. It is also possible that the inner surface 112 of the cartridge casing 82 has a surface structure, e.g., annular depressions. The annular depressions are preferably matched to the radially outwardly projecting, nose-type protrusions 54 of the clamping elements 46. In the connected state, the protrusions 54 engage in the annular depressions and allow for a particularly secure and reliable connection of the contacting unit 10 to the cartridge casing 82 (form-locking connection between the protrusions 54 of the clamping elements 46 and the surface structure, e.g., annular depressions, of the inner surface 112). In the connected state, the contacting unit 10 of the cartridge-based ammunition 84 can be brought into electrical contact with a triggering device known per se (not shown in the figures) via the contact elements 64, 66. If the triggering device generates an electrical pulse to initiate the cartridge-based ammunition 84, the electrical pulse is received by the contact elements 64, 66 and transmitted to the ignition device 118 by means of the circuit board 56, the cable 70 and the plug 72. The ignition device 118 generates, e.g., by means of a corresponding propellant, an overpressure in the interior 114 of the cartridge casing 82, as a result of which the 5 projectile 96 is accordingly started and accelerated. The projectile 96 leaves the cartridge casing 82, which remains behind together with the contacting unit 10, e.g., in a corresponding launcher for firing the cartridge-based ammunition. 10

Claims

1. Contacting unit (10) for electrically contacting cartridge-based ammunition (84), the contacting unit (10) comprising:- a circuit board (56),- at least one electrical contact element (64), the contact element (64) being arranged on a first side (62) of the circuit board (56),- a housing (12) which extends along a central longitudinal axis (14) and has a first end (16) and a second end (18),- the housing (12) having, at the first end (16), a receiving portion (20) for receiving the circuit board (56), and- the housing (12) having, at the second end (18), a connecting portion (44) for connecting the housing to a cartridge casing (82) of the cartridge-based ammunition (84),characterized in that the housing (12) is made of plastic, at least one clamping or snap-in element (46) for holding the housing (12) on the cartridgecasing (82) being formed on the connecting portion (44).

2. Contacting unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that multiple circumferentially distributed clamping or snap-in elements (46) movable or deformable transversely to the central longitudinal axis (14) areformed on the connecting portion (44) in order to hold the housing (12) on the cartridge casing (82).

3. Contacting unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact element (64) is firmly connected to the circuit board (56), the contact element (64) and the circuit board (56) together forming a single component.

4. Contacting unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact element (64) is in the form of a planar contact layer (65) which is applied to the circuit board (56).

5. Contacting unit (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the planar contact layer (65) is gold-plated.

6. Contacting unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving portion (20) receives the circuit board (56) in a recess (34) and has a clamping or snap device (40) for clampingly gripping the circuit board (56) and holding the circuit board in the recess (34).

7. Contacting unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) is made of a conductive plastic.

8. Contacting unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plastic is fiber-reinforced.

9. Contacting unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) ismetallized, in particular nickel-plated, and / or is formed by an injection molding process.

10. Contacting unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) has a passage (26) extending along the central longitudinal axis (14) and adjoining the circuit board, into which passage a potting compound (76) can be or has been introduced, the potting compound (76) protecting the circuit board (56) on a second side (68) from environmental influences.

11. Contacting unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting portion (44) is tapered relative to the receiving portion (20), the connecting portion (44) having, at its end facing the receiving portion (20), a preferably circumferential sealing element, in particular a sealing ring (78).

12. Contacting unit (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that a preferably circumferential groove is formed in the recess (34), adjacent to a second side (68) of the circuit board (56), in the receiving portion (20), in which groove a further sealing element (74), in particular a further sealing ring (74), is arranged.

13. Cartridge-based ammunition (84) at least comprising a cartridge casing (82), a projectile (96), an ignition device (118) and a contacting unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims.

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