SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system consisting of a weapon barrel, a muzzle brake, and a projectile arranged as ammunition in the weapon barrel. The muzzle brake is arranged at one end of the weapon barrel and has a hollow body with three outlet openings arranged radially on the body and at an angle of 120 degrees to each other. Muzzle brakes (MBRs) are used for mounting on weapon barrels to reduce recoil loads acting on the weapon barrel after a shot.

[0002] Accordingly, the muzzle brake can also reduce the recoil load indirectly via the barrel to the vehicle or to the weapon station.

[0003] The shape and size of a corresponding chamber muzzle brake depends essentially on the required performance factor.

[0004] According to the state of the art, KMBs with at least one chamber and laterally oriented outlet openings are known. In these chamber muzzle brakes, the corresponding outlet openings are often arranged symmetrically to the sides.

[0005] A sub-caliber projectile is a projectile with a sabot (TK). The sabot at least partially surrounds the projectile and ensures that the caliber is aligned with the weapon barrel. The propulsion of the projectile is achieved by the combustion of the powder contained in the propellant with the aid of the TK.

[0006] Hole muzzle brakes are also known from the prior art. In contrast to the chamber muzzle brake, this one comprises a cylindrical body with multiple holes, which deflects the gases generated during firing to the side. In contrast, chamber muzzle brakes consist of a continuous chamber in a cylindrical base body, with this chamber having radially arranged outlet openings. The radially arranged outlet openings cause the escaping powder gases to be diverted to the side. When a sabot-carried bullet passes through such a muzzle brake, the escaping powder gases are radially diverted through the outlet openings, resulting in the aforementioned reduction in recoil.

[0007] A system with a barrel and chamber muzzle brake is known from US 3,455,203.

[0008] Another chamber muzzle brake is known, for example, from US 2005 / 0252365 A1. This version features two radially arranged outlet openings through which the escaping powder gases are diverted to the side of the muzzle brake during firing. The muzzle brake itself is mounted on the end of a weapon barrel.

[0009] A muzzle brake with a hole is known, for example, from EP 0 085 754 A1. This muzzle brake is also arranged at one end of the weapon barrel and has a cylindrical body with a plurality of radially arranged small holes.

[0010] Modern sabots typically consist of three segments. This means that, in a muzzle brake with two outlet openings, a different lateral force load acts on each of the three cage segments due to the powder gases escaping to the sides. As a result, the sabot might not detach symmetrically from the bullet, negatively affecting the bullet's accuracy. FR2507765 discloses a three-part sabot and a muzzle brake with three outlet openings.

[0011] The disadvantage of using a hole muzzle brake is that it cannot counteract the resulting recoil forces as effectively as a chamber muzzle brake. Accordingly, the performance figures for hole muzzle brakes are lower than for chamber muzzle brakes. To achieve the same performance figures as a hole muzzle brake, a longer barrel section with the corresponding holes of the hole muzzle brake is required.

[0012] The object of the present invention is therefore to achieve, in a system of the type mentioned above, as uniform a transverse force load as possible on the sabot segments, so that the sabot can detach from the projectile as symmetrically as possible. Another object of the present invention is to achieve a high performance index.

[0013] This object is achieved according to the invention by a system having the features of claim 1.

[0014] Due to the claimed design of the system, each segment of the sabot can be assigned an outlet opening so that the same transverse force can act on each segment of the sabot during firing.

[0015] The chamber muzzle brake itself preferably has a fastening means for attaching it to the weapon barrel. For example, a screw connection is conceivable for this purpose, whereby the chamber muzzle brake can be screwed onto a corresponding external thread of the weapon barrel using an internal thread.

[0016] The chamber muzzle brake is preferably positioned on the weapon barrel so that one of the exhaust ports faces away from the ground on which the weapon system and barrel rest. Accordingly, the other two exhaust ports face as diagonally as possible to the sides. The goal of this arrangement is to minimize the stirring up of ground contaminants during firing. Stirred-up ground contaminants pose a risk of injury, but in any case, visibility is impaired. Both of these should be prevented as far as possible.

[0017] As with other muzzle brakes, the chamber muzzle brake according to the invention has a central axis which, when the chamber muzzle brake is mounted on a weapon barrel, is aligned with the central axis of the weapon barrel.

[0018] To reduce the weight of such a muzzle brake, it is proposed to at least partially remove the material from the chamber muzzle brake. To this end, it is proposed to provide the chamber muzzle brake with at least one recess in a special embodiment to reduce weight. These recesses can be designed according to performance specifications and must be designed so that the chamber muzzle brake can absorb the corresponding forces acting on it, while still not being excessively heavy.

[0019] Preferably, the chamber muzzle brake is made of metal. Particularly preferably, the chamber muzzle brake is designed as a single piece. This allows for a simple manufacturing process for a muzzle brake according to the invention.

[0020] In the system according to the invention, depending on the combination of weapon and ammunition used, it can be advantageous for the hit behavior if the segments of the TK are aligned with the outlet openings.

[0021] Further features are shown in the attached drawings. They show: Figure 1 : A chamber muzzle brake of the system according to the invention in perspective view; Figure 2 : A chamber muzzle brake of the system according to the invention with inserted projectile.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a chamber muzzle brake 1 with a hollow body that is essentially cylindrical in shape. According to the invention, three outlet openings 2 are also provided, and these are arranged radially on the body of the chamber muzzle brake 1. The three outlet openings 2 are arranged radially on the body of the chamber muzzle brake 1 such that they form an angle 7 of 120° to one another.

[0023] The chamber muzzle brake 1 is intended for installation on a weapon barrel 3, wherein the chamber muzzle brake 1 comprises at least one fastening means 6 for this purpose. The fastening means 6 is designed, for example, as a screw connection. For this purpose, the chamber muzzle brake 1 has a thread. Via this thread, the chamber muzzle brake 1 can be screwed onto the weapon barrel 3.

[0024] The chamber muzzle brake 1 as well as the weapon barrel 3 each have a central axis 4, whereby when the muzzle brake 1 is mounted on the weapon barrel 3, the two central axes 4 are aligned with each other.

[0025] To reduce the weight of the chamber muzzle brake 1, recesses 5 may be provided. The weight of the chamber muzzle brake 1 will then be reduced by the removed material.

[0026] Figure 2 shows the insertion of a corresponding projectile 8 into a gun barrel 3, whereby the Figure 2shows the chamber muzzle brake 1 according to the invention in front view.

[0027] It is clearly visible that the projectile 8 used comprises a three-part sabot. Aligning the sabot to the openings of the KMB, as shown in Figure 2 It is not absolutely necessary to be able to see the ammunition. Depending on the ammunition, certain orientations may result in advantages in accuracy.

[0028] The recesses 5 are clearly visible again, designed to reduce the weight of the chamber muzzle brake 1. Since the three segments of the sabot are arranged symmetrically, the outlet openings 2 of the chamber muzzle brake 1 are spaced at the same distance from each other, namely 120°. This angle 7 (120°) therefore exists between each two outlet openings 2.

[0029] The invention is not limited to the aforementioned features. Rather, further embodiments are possible. For example, additional fastening means 6 would be conceivable, such as snap-in connections or permanent connections such as welding. REFERENCE SYMBOLS LIST 1 Chamber muzzle brake

[0030] 2 Outlet openings 3 Gun barrel 4 Centerline of 1 5 Recess 6 Fastening means 7 Angle 8 Projectile

Claims

1. A system consisting of a weapon barrel (3), a chamber muzzle brake (1), and a projectile (8) which is arranged as ammunition in the weapon barrel, wherein the chamber muzzle brake (1) is arranged at one end of the weapon barrel (3) and has a hollow body with three outlet openings (2) which are arranged radially on the body and at an angle (7) of 120 degrees to each other, wherein in that the ammunition comprises a sabot which is designed in three parts, and in that the three parts of the sabot are arranged symmetrically, characterized in that the three parts of the sabot can be aligned according to the outlet openings (2) of the chamber muzzle brake (1) in order to improve the impact performance.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one fastening means (6) is provided to fasten the chamber muzzle brake (1) to a weapon barrel (3).

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening means (6) is designed as a thread.

4. The system according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that, with the chamber muzzle brake (1) fastened to the weapon barrel (3), the weapon barrel is aligned with a base and one of the outlet openings (2) is aligned in the direction opposite to the base.

5. The system according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hollow body is designed to be symmetrical and has a central axis (4).

6. The system according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one recess (5) is provided to reduce the weight of the chamber muzzle brake (1).

7. The system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the chamber muzzle brake (1) is made of metal.

8. The system according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the chamber muzzle brake (1) is designed in one piece.