SADDLE CAGE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sabot according to claim 1 and to ammunition with a sabot according to claim 6.

[0002] The sabot of a sub-caliber kinetic energy projectile fulfills several functions. The sabot must seal the annular gap remaining between the projectile and the barrel wall of a weapon barrel so that the propellant gases can be used effectively to propel the projectile. The sabot also guides the projectile within the weapon barrel, ensuring that it follows the bore axis without lateral deflection and thus as precisely as possible. In very sub-caliber projectiles, the sabot must support the projectile during acceleration within the weapon barrel, thereby distributing the force introduced into the projectile via the sabot over a larger area of ​​the projectile's length. A point-like force introduction under the influence of inertial forces would otherwise cause the projectile to collapse or break off.

[0003] After passing through the muzzle, the sabot and projectile separate. Terminal ballistic effect is achieved solely by the projectile as a flying missile. Separation before the muzzle occurs due to the multi-part design of the sabot. The sabot is divided into several segments, which, starting at the tip, detach radially from the projectile as soon as they are no longer held together by the barrel wall. The necessary propulsive force is usually generated by an air pocket exposed to the dynamic pressure of the ambient air.

[0004] In practice, either pure push-type or pure pull-type sabots are used. The pressure flange of the sabot is located either behind or in front of the actual sabot. To achieve the lowest possible sabot mass, both push-type and pull-type sabots are shape-optimized. Furthermore, high-strength materials are used. This places a high degree of stress on the material, as evenly as possible.

[0005] DE 198 43 787 CI discloses a sub-caliber kinetic energy projectile with a penetrator and a segmented central cage comprising two axially arranged supports. A front and a rear air pocket are designed such that the dynamic pressure resulting from the flight of the kinetic energy projectile creates a common force application point. This common force application point is to be located within a sub-area in which a case cover and a sabot are bonded together and are spaced from a rear end of the sabot. This is intended to prevent the penetrator from oscillating.

[0006] A segmented sabot can also be found in DE 199 44 376 B4. This has a first front support and a second rear support arranged at an axial distance behind it. A releasable sabot for a sub-caliber projectile can be found in DE 103 20 194 A1. This has several sabot segments.

[0007] From DE 10 2013 006 498 A1 a sabot projectile is known which is characterized in that a narrow segmented steel disc is used as the guide element, which is positively and / or non-positively connected on the side facing the guide cage to a segmented, hollow cylindrical covering part made of plastic.

[0008] Typical for high-performance balanced ammunition are sabots, in which a pressure flange is located approximately in the center of the elongated, arrow-like projectile. A section of the sabot located in front of this pressure flange accelerates the projectile through compression, while a section behind it accelerates through tension. The tension section is additionally subjected to propellant pressure, while the compression section is free of external loads. Such sabots are also called push-pull sabots.

[0009] Conventional push-pull sabots are designed to be very rigid at the sabot's tail. This shortens the interaction time during separation, but due to their high rigidity, these sabots have a low damping effect. As a result, lateral disturbances (separation shock) are transmitted directly to the projectile during the separation process. If this loading is asymmetrical, external transmission to the projectile is problematic, which can cause the projectile to oscillate.

[0010] The unpublished DE 10 2019 125 128.1 relates to a sabot designed in such a way that it has a push function on the one hand and a pull function on the other, whereby these functions act or exist independently of one another. As a result of this design, the push function and the pull function are separated on the sabot. To separate the functions, the sabot is divided or separated into sabot parts such that at least one sabot part takes on the pull function and at least one further sabot part takes on the push function. The sabot parts are in turn connected to a projectile via a positive connection. However, a positive connection between the sabot parts can be dispensed with. Preferably, however, the sabot parts are mechanically separated from one another so that there is no positive connection between them. The sabot is then made up of several parts.Alternatively, a mechanical connection can be provided between the sabot parts, resulting in a one-piece sabot while dividing the functions. This reduces the mass of the sabot.

[0011] EP 0 626 558 A1 discloses a sabot for a sub-caliber projectile which is fired from a weapon barrel provided with rifling grooves, wherein the sabot has several segments and the separation surfaces between the segments are not arranged radially but parallel and offset to the radial plane.

[0012] US 4 450 770 A discloses a sabot for a sub-caliber projectile, wherein sabot segments are held at their rear end in the direction of fire by an annular mechanism, said mechanism acting as a hinge device after passage through the muzzle, whereby the sabot segments pivot about their rear end in the direction of fire.

[0013] The invention aims to make the release process of a sabot smoother so that the initial oscillation of the projectile is reduced.

[0014] The problem is solved by the features of patent claim 1. Preferred embodiments can be found in the subclaims.

[0015] DE 39 20 254 C2 and EP 0 403 730 A2 disclose a segmented, releasable sabot, which, among other things, consists of at least two sabot segments with adjacent plane-parallel segment separation surfaces. This indicates that the lower the sabot mass and, above all, the lower the moment of inertia of the sabot segments around their rear rolling edge, the faster the detachment process and the lower the kinetic energy loss of the penetrator. For this purpose, the penetrator has a constriction with a rear rolling edge. The sabot segments, in turn, are provided with a corresponding shape in this area.

[0016] The idea underlying the invention is to provide a sabot consisting of several segments. The sabot itself can consist of at least two, preferably three segments. More than three segments are also possible. These segments are structurally designed or kept almost cylindrical at their rear ends, opposite the direction of fire, and have a very thin wall thickness. For ammunition with a caliber of 105 mm, for example, this cylindrical shape can be created within the last 20 mm to 30 mm of the sabot. The wall thickness can be approximately 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm. For ammunition with a smaller caliber, the cylindrical section of the sabot is shorter and the wall thickness should be correspondingly thinner. For ammunition with a larger caliber, the cylindrical section of the sabot should be longer and the wall thickness thicker. The sabot rolls or rolls at these ends.The sabot segments roll over the projectile when released.

[0017] These special ends exhibit low flexural rigidity. This flexibility allows these ends to reduce impact forces between the sabot and the projectile. This eliminates the need for an additional rolling edge on the penetrator during production, while improving the separation process between the sabot or sabot segments and the projectile or penetrator. Further advantages resulting from this design include reduced initial oscillation, thus optimizing the impact pattern.

[0018] The sabot or sabot segments are also designed in such a way that they perform a push-pull function.

[0019] A sabot with a push-pull function is proposed, comprising several sabot segments. The sabot or sabot segments are characterized by the fact that they are designed at an end opposite the firing direction in such a way that low flexural rigidity is achieved at this end. The sabot has a cylindrical shape (a kind of tail) at this end, which has low flexural rigidity, such that impact forces are reduced and the sabot rolls off when detached. A sabot with three sabot segments is preferred. The sabot or sabot segments comprise / comprise a part located in front of a pressure flange in the firing direction as the push part, and a part located behind the pressure flange in the firing direction as the pull part. To optimize shape and weight, the part located behind the pressure flange and the part located in front of the pressure flange have recesses.The recesses are inserted between struts, or struts remain between the recesses. The sabot or sabot segments have pockets that are integrated in the part located in front of the thrust flange in the firing direction.

[0020] The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment and drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a sabot according to the invention in perspective in the firing direction from behind, Fig. 2 a sectional view of the sabot from Fig.1 .

[0021] In Fig. 1 is a propellant fig 1 for a sub-caliber projectile not shown in detail. The propellant fig 1 is shown diagonally from behind, seen in the direction of fire. The propellant fig 1 consists of at least two sabot segments 1.1, 1.2. Preferably, the sabot fig 1 It has three sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. The material can be plastic, aluminum, or similar. Such materials are common and well-known in the industry.

[0022] The Treibkä fig 1 The sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 are characterized by their push-pull design. A part 3 of the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (front part), located in front of a pressure flange 2, accelerates the sub-caliber projectile (not shown in detail) through pressure, while a part 4 (rear part) of the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, located behind the pressure flange 2, accelerates the projectile through tension. The tension part 4 is also subjected to propellant pressure, while the compression part 3 is free of external loads.

[0023] The front part 3 (push part) and the rear part 4 (pull part) are, in turn, preferably optimized in terms of shape and weight. For this purpose, the rear part 4 as well as the front part 3 have recesses 5, 6 in the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3. The remaining struts 8, 9 between these serve to ensure sufficient rigidity of the sabot. figs 1 or the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3.

[0024] The Treibkä fig 1 or the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 has pockets 7 which are integrated in the front part 3.

[0025] According to the invention, the propellant fig 1 The sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 are designed to be very thin at one end 10 opposite the firing direction, forming a kind of tail. For an ammunition with a caliber of 105 mm, for example, this cylindrical shape (or tail) can be found within the last 20 mm to 30 mm of the sabot. figs 1 or the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3. The wall thickness can be approximately 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm. Due to this construction, this special end 10 has a low bending stiffness. This flexibility allows for the absorption of impact forces between the sabots. fig 1 or the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and the projectile or penetrator (not shown in detail). By homogenizing the release forces of all sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, the initial oscillation of the projectile is also reduced. A so-called release edge 11 is inserted between the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.

[0026] 12 denotes a shot of the projectile (not shown in detail). Projectile and propellant fig 1 are connected to each other via an indicated threaded connection.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows the propellant fig 1 or a sabot segment 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 in a sectional view.

[0028] The operation is as follows: The propellant gases drive the propellant fig 1 The sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, together with the projectile, are driven through a gun barrel (not shown in detail). The gun barrel guides the projectile in the gun barrel. After passing through the muzzle, the sabot separates. fig 1 from the projectile, the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 separate from each other. The necessary force is generated by the dynamic pressure in the pockets 7 of the sabot figs 1 or the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 when these pockets 7 are exposed to ambient air. The sabot fig 1 The sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 roll over the projectile during detachment. Due to the low bending strength of the ends 10 of the sabot figs 1 or the sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, the separation forces of the sabot are homogenized. figs 1 , ie all sabot segments 1.1, 1.2, 1.3.

Claims

1. Sabot (1) having a push-pull function, the sabot comprising a plurality of sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) adjoining one another in a circumferential direction, which sabot segments each have a front part (3) in a firing direction as a push part, and a rear part (4) in the firing direction as a pull part, between which front part and rear part a pressure flange (2) is located, the sabot (1) having a rear end (10) opposite the firing direction and a front end in the firing direction, the sabot (1) being designed at the rear end (10) opposite the firing direction in such a way that a low degree of flexural rigidity is achieved at this end (10), in that the end is approximately cylindrical and is formed with a thinner wall thickness of the relevant rear part (4) of the sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) than further forward in the firing direction at the relevant rear part (4) of the sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3), andcharacterized in that the rear part (4) and the front part (3) have recesses (5, 6) in the sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3), which recesses are delimited in the peripheral direction by struts (8, 9) extending in the firing direction, the struts (8, 9) extending between the rear end (10) opposite the firing direction and the pressure flange (2), and between the front end in the firing direction and the pressure flange (2).

2. Sabot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sabot (1) comprises at least two sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3).

3. Sabot (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sabot comprises three sabot segments (1.1, 1.2, 1.3).

4. Sabot (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sabot (1) has pockets (7) which are integrated in the part (3) located in front of the pressure flange (2) in the firing direction.

5. Sabot (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material of the sabot (1) is plastics material, aluminum or the like.

6. Ammunition having a sabot (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5.

7. Ammunition according to claim 6, characterized in that the ammunition caliber is 105 mm.

8. Ammunition according to claim 7, characterized in that the approximately cylindrical end can be located within the last 20 mm to 30 mm of the sabot (1).

9. Ammunition according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the wall thickness can be approximately 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm.