Bullet with a caliber of less than 13mm and a system for tracking a bullet

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a projectile with a caliber of less than 13 mm. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system for tracking such a projectile.

[0002] When using firearms for hunting, it is essential to locate the wounded animal. This can be complicated by various circumstances. For example, a trained tracking dog may not be available, or a non-lethal shot may be taken at dusk, making subsequent searches for the injured animal impossible. Therefore, there is a general need in hunting to facilitate the location of wounded animals, whether alive or dead.

[0003] In military or government applications, it may be necessary to mark a target in order to track its position and / or generate movement profiles.

[0004] Digitally trackable ammunition is known for large-caliber applications, but with the goal of guiding and / or steering the large-caliber projectile after firing. Upon impact, the projectile ignites, destroying it and its electronics. The large dimensions of large-caliber ammunition make it possible to incorporate the electronics required for digital tracking of the projectile, such as a position transmitter and a power source, into the projectile. In the field of small-caliber ammunition, integrated electronics into the projectile do not yet exist. Furthermore, no solution exists to date that allows the electronics to remain intact after the projectile has struck a target.

[0005] From DE 10 2012 022894 A1 a projectile arrangement, in particular a shotgun bullet with a transponder for identification, is known.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to improve the disadvantages of the known prior art, in particular to provide a projectile with a caliber of less than 13 mm and a system for tracking such a projectile, the position of which can be tracked after the firearm has been fired.

[0007] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1 and 3, respectively. According to this, a bullet with a caliber of less than 13 mm, preferably approximately 12.7 mm, less than 12 mm, 11 mm, 10 mm, 9 mm, 8 mm, 7 mm, or less than 6 mm, is provided. Caliber is generally a measure of the outer diameter of a bullet and / or the inner diameter of a firearm barrel.

[0008] The projectile comprises a jacket, preferably made of metal, metal alloys, for example, steel, brass, copper, lead, or the like. The jacket can define the external shape of the projectile. Furthermore, the jacket can extend along a longitudinal axis of the projectile and / or be rotationally symmetrical with respect to a central axis of the projectile. The jacket defines a cavity within its interior. This means that the jacket can be partially hollow.

[0009] According to the invention, a position transmitter is arranged in the cavity. This allows the position of the projectile to be tracked after its completion. The position transmitter can be designed to emit position signals that can be detected, for example, by a position signal receiver.

[0010] According to a further development of the present invention, telemetry transmitters can be used. Telemetry or remote measurement can generally be defined as the transmission of signals from a signal transmitter located at any location to a spatially separate location, in particular where the transmitted signals can be collected, recorded, and / or evaluated. For example, the position transmitter can be an RFID ("radio-frequency identification") transponder. RFID transponders differ, for example, according to the transmission frequency, although there are no restrictions in this regard according to the present invention. The structure of an RFID transponder can, for example, be constructed as follows: an antenna, at least one circuit for receiving and transmitting (transceiver), such as a microcontroller, and a memory containing the preferably immutable identity of the projectile.Furthermore, it is possible that the position transmitter is a GPS transmitter ("Global Positioning System"). The global positioning system is a global navigation satellite system for positioning, i.e., a system for determining positions on Earth and in the air by receiving signals from navigation satellites and / or pseudolites. Furthermore, GPS-based solutions can be considered in which the position transmitter itself does not transmit position signals, but is implemented as a GPS receiver that receives radio waves of the GPS system, for example, from the satellite or pseudolite, and thus the position is determined and tracked via a travel time and distance determination or measurement in relation to the transmitter. It is clear that any other type orType of position transmitter is included in the disclosure content of the present application, which is suitable for the purpose according to the invention, in particular the requirements for transmission ranges in the kilometer range or globally, dimensioning and transmission power in order to be accommodated in the projectile casing cavity and enables position detection.

[0011] To increase the transmission and / or reception performance of the position transmitter, it can be provided that the bullet casing has, at least in sections along a longitudinal direction of the bullet, a transmission section, preferably made of plastic, which is characterized by increased permeability for signals, in particular electromagnetic waves, compared to the rest of the bullet casing. The position transmitter can, for example, be assigned to the transmission section and / or arranged adjacent to the transmission section in the cavity in such a way that the position signals transmitted by the position transmitter reach the outside via the transmission section. According to an exemplary development, the bullet casing serves as a device for emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic waves, in particular as a transmitting and / or receiving antenna.In this case, it can be provided that a contact is established, for example by means of a cable, between the position transmitter and the bullet casing. The position transmitter can, for example, have an output contact that is coupled to an input contact of the bullet casing, in particular such that the position signals generated by the position transmitter are radiated outwards, in particular in the form of free-space waves, via the bullet casing. According to a further development, the position signals are transmitted and / or received essentially exclusively via the coupling between the position transmitter and the bullet casing. In this case, it can be provided that the position transmitter is insulated / shielded against the transmission of position signals, such as electromagnetic waves, except for the coupling to the bullet casing.

[0012] According to the invention, the position transmitter has a passive state in which the position transmitter does not transmit any position signals. The passive state is a de-energized state in which the position transmitter receives no energy, in particular is not supplied with power. Furthermore, the position transmitter has an active state in which the position transmitter transmits position signals. In the active state, the position transmitter is supplied with power, in particular with energy. According to an alternative embodiment not belonging to the invention, the position transmitter can be supplied with energy, i.e. with power, both in the passive state and in the active state, wherein a switch can be provided for changing between the active and passive states. Switching from the passive state to the active state can be referred to as activating the position transmitter, and switching from the active state to the passive state can be referred to as deactivating the position transmitter.

[0013] In a further exemplary embodiment of the projectile according to the invention, the position transmitter switches from the passive state to the active state immediately before or immediately after the firing of the firearm.

[0014] The inventors of the present invention have discovered that position tracking may only be necessary once the projectile has left the firearm, i.e., after the firearm has been fired. According to a further development, the position transmitter can be supplied with electrical energy immediately before or immediately after the firearm is fired.

[0015] According to the invention, an energy source for supplying power to the position transmitter is arranged in the cavity. The energy source can be, for example, an electric battery, in particular a button cell. A button cell is generally an electrochemical cell, for example, with a round cross-section whose height is smaller than its diameter, and which preferably delivers voltages between 1.35 and 3.6 volts. The small dimensions and sufficient voltage output of button cells enable their use in the cavity of a bullet casing of a projectile according to the invention. Button cells can be differentiated depending on the electrode material, silver oxide, mercury oxide, or lithium. In a further exemplary embodiment, the energy source is free of electrical contact with the position transmitter in the passive state and is in electrical contact with the position transmitter in the active state.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment not forming part of the invention, the position transmitter, in particular the RFID transponder, is powered by an external energy source. For example, it can be provided that the position transmitter can be powered externally by the external energy source using high-frequency radio waves. This can be achieved by exposing the RFID transponder to a high-frequency alternating electromagnetic field containing high-frequency energy, which is used to power the RFID transponder.

[0017] In an embodiment of the projectile not forming part of the invention, the position transmitter and, if applicable, the energy source are arranged in the projectile jacket cavity in such a way that the position transmitter and, if applicable, the energy source remain intact after the projectile impacts a target. The behavior of the projectile during or after impact with the target can be referred to as terminal ballistics or target ballistics. The projectile has suitable terminal ballistics that allow the position transmitter to continue transmitting position signals to enable tracking of the projectile even after the projectile has impacted the target. The inventors of the present invention have discovered that this can be achieved by suitably arranging the position transmitter and, if applicable, the energy source in the cavity and / or dimensioning the projectile jacket.For example, knowledge of the deformation behavior of the bullet, especially the bullet jacket, can be used to dimension the bullet jacket accordingly and / or to position the position transmitter and, if applicable, the energy source appropriately within the cavity. For example, the bullet jacket is dimensioned in such a way that the impact and deformation energy generated when the bullet impacts the target is dissipated in areas where the position transmitter and, if applicable, the energy source are not located.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment not forming part of the invention, the projectile casing has a bow-side ogive section 5 and a rear section 7 opposite the ogive section 5. Provision can be made for the position transmitter to be housed in the cavity on the rear side and the energy source to be housed in the cavity on the bow side.

[0019] According to an exemplary development not belonging to the invention, a bow-side ogive section 5 of the projectile jacket is designed to absorb, in particular to a large extent, preferably at least 50%, 60%, 70% or at least 80%, of the impact and deformation energy resulting from the projectile's impact with the target. For example, the ogive section 5 comprises an absorber, preferably manufactured separately from the projectile jacket, for absorbing the impact and deformation energy. It can further be provided that the impact and deformation energy is transferred to a rear section 7 opposite the ogive section 5 in such a way that a base body of the projectile jacket connecting the ogive section 5 to the rear section 7 remains substantially intact. For example, the ogive section 5, the rear section 7 and the base body are manufactured from one piece, preferably from metal.The targeted transfer of impact and deformation energy between the ogive section 5 and the tail section 7 ensures, among other things, that the electronics arranged in the cavity, i.e., the position transmitter and, if applicable, the energy source, remain intact, so that the position transmitter can transmit position signals for tracking even after the projectile has impacted the target. The absorber can, for example, be implemented as a layered structure or as a sandwich structure and / or consist of a sequence of at least two layers, preferably made of metal, of different densities and / or different expansion coefficients. This allows the impact and deformation energy to be advantageously absorbed, in particular, absorbed and / or dissipated.

[0020] In a further exemplary embodiment not forming part of the invention, an electrical insulator is arranged between the position transmitter and the energy source to temporarily prevent electrical contact. In particular, the electrical insulator prevents electrical contact in the passive state of the position transmitter; in particular, the electrical insulator ensures the passive state. For example, the electrical insulator is arranged such that the position transmitter is activated when the insulator is removed. This can ensure that the position transmitter is only switched to the active state / activated at a specific time. For example, the insulator should be removed immediately before or immediately after the firearm is fired.Furthermore, it can be provided that heat generated when the firearm is fired causes the electrical insulator to dissolve, preferably melt, preferably in order to establish electrical contact between the energy source and the position transmitter and / or to activate the position transmitter.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment not forming part of the invention, the position transmitter and the energy source are arranged at a distance from one another such that, upon impact of the projectile with a target, the impact and deformation energy causes a deformation of the projectile jacket at the nose, in particular of the ogive section 5, which establishes electrical contact between the position transmitter and the energy source. According to this exemplary embodiment, the position transmitter is activated upon impact of the projectile with a target, enabling the position of the projectile to be determined from the moment of impact.

[0022] In another exemplary embodiment of the projectile not forming part of the invention, the position transmitter is separated from the energy source by a compartment wall that divides the cavity into two compartments, in particular, a compartment wall made of a single piece with the projectile jacket. The compartment wall can ensure the passive state of the position transmitter, in particular, preventing electrical contact between the position transmitter and the energy source. For example, the compartment wall is designed to deform, in particular to destroy, upon impact of the projectile with a target in such a way that electrical contact between the position transmitter and the energy source is established.Furthermore, the compartment wall can be dimensioned such that the impact and deformation energy resulting from the impact of the projectile on the target, which is transferred from a bow-side ogive section 5 via the projectile jacket into the compartment wall, causes the deformation, in particular destruction, of the compartment wall.

[0023] According to an exemplary development not belonging to the invention, a bow-side ogive section 5 of the projectile jacket comprises an applicator, preferably made of metal, such as lead, steel, copper, or the like, which, when the projectile hits a target, presses the position transmitter in the direction of the energy source or the energy source in the direction of the position transmitter to establish the electrical contact.

[0024] The applicator can be made of a different material, in particular one with a different density and / or different expansion coefficient, than the material of the bullet casing. For example, the applicator can push the position transmitter toward the energy source, or the energy source toward the position transmitter, thereby deforming, preferably destroying, the compartment wall.

[0025] In another exemplary embodiment of the projectile not forming part of the invention, the position transmitter and / or the energy source are / are arranged loosely in the cavity such that acceleration forces acting on the projectile upon firing of the firearm cause the position transmitter to come into electrical contact with the energy source. Loosely arranged can mean, for example, that no fastening, in particular axial fastening in the longitudinal direction of the projectile, is provided for the energy source and / or the position transmitter.Furthermore, loosely arranged can mean that the cavity of the bullet jacket is incorporated with a holding device for holding the energy source and / or the position transmitter in such a way that before the firearm is fired, the energy source and / or the position transmitter is substantially fastened to the bullet jacket and after the firearm is fired, the energy source and / or the position transmitter detach from the holding device in order to be able to establish electrical contact. For example, the holding device can be overcome, for example destroyed, due to the acceleration forces acting on the bullet. Furthermore, it can be provided that acceleration forces occurring when the firearm is fired and acting on the projectile cause the position transmitter and / or the energy source to move towards the other in order to establish electrical contact.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a system for tracking a projectile with a caliber of less than 13 mm is provided. The system according to the invention comprises a projectile configured according to one of the previously described embodiments of the invention and a position signal receiver for receiving the position signals emitted by the projectile's position transmitter. Depending on the position transmitter used, a corresponding position signal receiver may be used, which is configured to receive, process, and / or evaluate the position signals emitted by the position transmitter. Furthermore, the position signal receiver may have suitable software, which may be implemented depending on the field of application of the system according to the invention.

[0027] Preferred embodiments are given in the subclaims.

[0028] In the following, further properties, features and advantages of the invention will become clear by describing preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a projectile according to the invention; and Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a projectile according to the invention.

[0029] In the following description of exemplary embodiments, a projectile according to the invention having a caliber of less than 13 mm, preferably of about 12.7 mm, is generally provided with the reference numeral 1.

[0030] Referring to Figure 1A first exemplary embodiment of the projectile 1 according to the invention is shown in a schematic sectional view. The projectile 1 has a projectile jacket 3 that essentially defines the external shape of the projectile 1. The projectile jacket 3 extends along a longitudinal axis L of the projectile and is essentially rotationally symmetrical with respect to this axis. The projectile 1 or the projectile jacket 3 is essentially divided into three sections, preferably made from one piece, in particular from metal: a rear-end tail section 7, a bow-end ogive section 5, and a base body 9 connecting the rear section 7 to the ogive section 5.The tail section 7 is largely made of solid material, preferably metal, and forms a tail surface 11 oriented essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the projectile. From this surface, a tail surface 13 oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis L of the projectile extends toward the projectile nose. The tail surface 13 merges in the longitudinal direction L of the projectile into the main body 9, which has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape with a constant wall thickness. The main body 9 terminates at the nose end in the ogive section 5, which has a circumferential nose surface 17 curving toward a projectile nose 15.

[0031] The projectile jacket 3 defines a cavity 19 in its interior, which extends in the longitudinal direction L of the projectile over at least 50% of a dimension of the projectile 1 in the longitudinal direction L of the projectile, preferably at least 60% or at least 70%. According to the invention, a position transmitter 21 is accommodated in the cavity 19, which is designed to transmit position signals so that the position of the projectile 1 can be tracked. Figure 1 Also schematically shown is a position signal receiver 23 for receiving the position signals emitted by the position transmitter 21 to form a system 100 according to the invention for tracking a projectile 1. Furthermore, an energy source 25, which may be a button cell, for example, is housed in the cavity 19 for supplying the position transmitter 21 with energy.

[0032] Further referring to Figure 1An electrical insulator 27 is arranged between the position transmitter 19 and the energy source 25 to temporarily prevent electrical contact between the position transmitter 19 and the energy source 25. The electrical insulator 27 prevents electrical contact when the position transmitter 19 is in the passive state. To activate the position transmitter 19, the electrical insulator 27 must be removed. This can be achieved, for example, by manually pulling the insulator 27 out of the cavity 19. For example, the bullet casing 3 has an opening 29 from which the insulator 27 partially protrudes, so that a user can grasp it and pull the insulator 27 out of the interior 19 via the opening 29. This ensures that the position transmitter 19 is only switched to the active state / activated at a specific time, preferably immediately before the firearm (not shown in detail) is fired.

[0033] Furthermore, the ogive section 5 of the bullet jacket 3 comprises an absorber 31, 32, preferably manufactured separately from the bullet jacket, for absorbing, in particular, a large part, preferably at least 50%, 60%, 70%, or at least 80%, of the impact and deformation energy resulting from the impact of the bullet 1 on the target. The absorber 31, 32 can transfer the impact and deformation energy into the tail section 7 in such a way that the base body 9 and, above all, the electronics arranged in the cavity 19, i.e., the position transmitter 21 and the energy source 25, remain substantially intact. As exemplified in Figure 1As shown, the absorber 31, 32 can comprise a layered structure or a sandwich structure. A sequence of layers / plies arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction L of the floor can be provided, wherein, for example, a sequence of metal layers of different densities and / or different expansion coefficients can be provided. For example, the absorber 31, 32 is realized as a sequence of an absorption layer 31 and an absorption layer 32, wherein the absorption layer 32 has a different density and / or a different expansion coefficient compared to the absorption layer 31.

[0034] Referring to Figure 2 A further exemplary embodiment of the projectile 1 according to the invention is described. To avoid repetition, the same components are given the same reference number and the following description refers to the opposite Figure 1Instead of the electrical insulator 27, the position transmitter 21 and the energy source 25 are arranged at a distance from each other with respect to the longitudinal direction L of the projectile. According to the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 2The distance is achieved by a compartment wall 33, which is made in particular in one piece with the projectile jacket 3 and divides the cavity 19 into a rear compartment 35 and a bow compartment 37. It can be seen that the position transmitter 21 is arranged in the rear compartment 35 and the energy source 25 is arranged in the bow compartment 37. The compartment wall 33 can, for example, be formed continuously from solid material or, for example, have a through-opening 39 approximately in the middle. The compartment wall 33 can ensure the passive state of the position transmitter 19, in particular prevent electrical contact between the position transmitter 19 and the energy source 25. When the projectile 1 impacts a target, the compartment wall 33 deforms in such a way that electrical contact is established between the position transmitter 19 and the energy source 25.For example, the impact and deformation energy transferred from the ogive section 5 via the projectile jacket 3 into the compartment wall 33 upon impact of the projectile 1 on the target can cause a deformation, in particular destruction, of the compartment wall 33, so that an electrical contact is established between the position transmitter 21 and the energy source 25, for example by moving the position transmitter 21 and the energy source 25 towards each other in the longitudinal direction L of the projectile.

[0035] Further referring to Figure 2 The ogive section 5 comprises an applicator 41, which is preferably manufactured separately from the projectile jacket 3. When the projectile 1 strikes a target, the applicator 41 pushes the energy source 25 essentially in the longitudinal direction L of the projectile toward the position transmitter 21 to establish electrical contact. This can occur with deformation, preferably destruction, of the compartment wall 33.

[0036] The position signal receiver 23 can be selected depending on the position transmitter 21 used in order to receive, process, and / or evaluate the position signals transmitted by the position transmitter 21. Furthermore, the position signal receiver 23 can have software (not shown in detail), which can be implemented depending on the application of the system 100 according to the invention. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1 Projectile 3 Projectile jacket 5 Ogive section 7 Tail section 9 Base body 11 Tail surface 13 Projectile tail surface 15 Projectile nose 17 Projectile nose surface 19 Cavity 21 Position transmitter 23 Position signal receiver 25 Energy source 27 Insulator 29 Opening 31, 32 Absorber 33 Compartment wall 35, 37 Compartment 39 Passage opening 41 Applicator 100 System Longitudinal axis of the storey

Claims

1. A projectile (1) with a caliber of less than 13 mm, comprising a projectile jacket (3) defining a cavity (19) and a position transmitter (21), such as a GPS transmitter, a telemetry transmitter or an RFID transponder, arranged in the cavity (19), wherein the position transmitter (21) has a de-energized passive state in which the position transmitter (21) does not transmit position signals, and an energized active state in which the position transmitter (21) transmits position signals, characterized in that an energy source (25), such as an electric battery, in particular a button cell, is arranged in the cavity (19) for supplying power to the position transmitter (21), wherein the energy source (25) does not electrically contact the position transmitter (21) in the passive state and does electrically contact the position transmitter (21) in the active state.

2. The projectile (1) according to claim 1, wherein the position transmitter (21) switches from the passive state to the active state immediately before or immediately after firing of the firearm, wherein in particular immediately before or immediately after firing of the firearm the position transmitter (21) is supplied with electrical energy.

3. A system (100) for tracking a projectile, comprising a projectile (1) according to any one of the preceding claims having a caliber of less than 13 mm and a position signal receiver (23) for receiving position signals transmitted by the position transmitter (21).