Sabot

Abstract

The invention relates to a sabot (2) for a subcaliber projectile (4), comprising a plurality of sabot segments (8), which adjoin each other in a circumferential direction (6) and which each have a front part (12) with respect to a firing direction (10), as a push part, and a rear part (14) with respect to the firing direction (10), as a pull part, between which a pressure flange (16) is located, wherein the front part (12) and also the rear part (14) of the sabot segments (8) have recesses (24) which are open radially outward, said recesses being arranged consecutively in the circumferential direction (6) and being delimited by struts (26, 28) extending in the firing direction (10). According to the invention, a front terminal strut region (30) of each of the struts (26) in the front part (12) of the sabot segments (8) runs radially outward and integrally transitions into an externally cylindrical ring element segment (32) and holds and supports said ring element segment (32), and the ring element segments (32) adjoin each other in the circumferential direction (6) and form a ring element (34), and the ring element (34) has through-openings (36), which extend in the firing direction (10) and are located between the struts (26) with respect to the circumferential direction (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sabot for a sub-caliber projectile, in particular for a kinetic energy projectile, comprising several sabot segments connected to one another in a circumferential direction, each having a forward part in a firing direction as a push part and a rear part in the firing direction as a pull part, between which a pressure flange is located, wherein the sabot and the sabot segments have an end region forward in the firing direction and an end region rearward in the firing direction, wherein the front part and also the rear part of the sabot segments have radially outwardly open recesses, which are arranged successively in the circumferential direction and are bounded by struts extending in the firing direction, wherein the struts extend between the end region forward in the firing direction and the pressure flange and between the end region rearward in the firing direction and the pressure flange.

[0002] A sabot for a sub-caliber projectile should satisfactorily fulfill several functions. First, it must seal the annular gap between the projectile, often called a penetrator in the case of kinetic energy projectiles, and the barrel wall, so that the propellant gases can be used effectively to propel the projectile within the barrel. Furthermore, the sabot guides the projectile within the barrel, ensuring it precisely follows the bore axis without lateral deflection or deviation. For significantly sub-caliber projectiles, the sabot must also support and stabilize the projectile during acceleration within the barrel, with the force transferred to the projectile via the sabot being distributed as evenly as possible over a larger portion of the projectile's length.If the force applied to the projectile is too concentrated—as is often the case with sabot projectiles with a rear or front sabot—the projectile risks collapsing and breaking apart under the influence of inertial forces. After exiting the muzzle of a sabot projectile, the sabot and projectile separate. The terminal ballistic effect of the projectile is therefore solely due to the projectile itself impacting the target structure. The kinetic energy stored in the sabot is thus lost with regard to terminal ballistic effect.

[0003] This results in a first conflict of objectives in the design of modern sabots and sabot projectiles. On the one hand, the sabot should be stable and large enough to withstand the propellant pressure generated by the explosion and to transfer this pressure to the projectile in the gun barrel in a largely uniform manner and over a significant portion of its length.

[0004] On the other hand, the propulsion cage should be designed with the smallest possible mass to minimize the kinetic energy that is not available in terminal ballistics.

[0005] From DE 10 2020 115 703 A1, a propellant cage of the aforementioned type is known, which is designed to be weight-optimized by providing recesses in the propellant cage segments. According to the teaching of this document, the wall thickness in the rear end region of the propellant cage segments should be thin to achieve low bending stiffness in this area, thus enabling the propellant segments to fold down after passing through the muzzle without introducing sudden lateral forces into the projectile. However, the recesses formed in the propellant cage segments and the associated increasingly delicate design of the propellant cage result in a deterioration of the propellant cage's guiding and supporting function for the projectile.

[0006] DE 10 2008 029 395 A1 shows a projectile with a propellant cage, but not of the push-pull type with a central pressure flange, but with a double-shell hollow cylindrical guide cage, which is designed as an extruded profile with cavities.

[0007] US 5,196,650 shows a non-standard projectile with a sabot and a sabot with a rear-mounted sabot. The sabot and its segments are, except for internally formed slot-shaped recesses, solidly rotationally symmetrical. These recesses are designed to hold temperature-sensitive memory metal plates between each pair of sabot segments, facilitating the separation of the segments at the intended time.

[0008] DE 39 04 626 A1 shows a non-standard projectile with a driving cage featuring a front-mounted driving mirror and a cylindrical guide segment in the rear part.

[0009] DE 10 2004 017 675 A1 discloses a push-pull type propellant cage projectile with solidly constructed propellant segments, at the front ends of which ribs made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic are attached, supporting an annular support and guide body with predetermined breaking points. A similar propellant cage projectile is disclosed in DE 10 2004 017 674 A1, in which a front annular support and guide body, also with predetermined breaking points, with radial struts and an inner sleeve body, is inserted axially from the front into the assembled propellant segments by means of the inner sleeve body.

[0010] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a propellant cage in which, on the one hand, a high muzzle velocity of the propellant projectile is achieved and the kinetic energy not available for terminal ballistics is minimized, and on the other hand, the guiding and supporting function of the propellant cage is not significantly impaired and no shock-like lateral forces are introduced onto the projectile.

[0011] This problem is solved by a drive cage having the features of claim 1.

[0012] Starting from a drive cage of the type mentioned at the outset, it is therefore proposed according to the invention that the struts in the front part of the drive cage segments extend radially outwards with a respective front end strut area and thereby merge integrally into an outer cylindrical ring body segment and hold and support this ring body segment, and that the ring body segments adjoin each other in the circumferential direction and form a ring body, and that the ring body has axially extending through-openings which are arranged circumferentially between the struts.

[0013] The struts in the front part of the sabot segments absorb and transmit essentially all the compressive forces from the pressure flange forward to the projectile. This results in a locally concentrated force being applied to the projectile, specifically in the area of ​​each strut. Because the struts also extend radially outward in their respective front end sections and merge seamlessly into the outer cylindrical ring segment, they are counter-supported radially outward by the inside of the gun barrel and guided through it. This prevents or at least reduces the occurrence of uncontrolled vibrations in the area of ​​the front struts and thus prevents sudden force impacts and transmission from the front struts to the projectile.It was recognized according to the invention that this enables a weight-optimized design of the sabot without the sabot segments entering into jerky fluttering movements, which have an undesirable and detrimental effect on the projectile during acceleration in the gun barrel and also on the subsequent flight stability of the projectile. Furthermore, by having through-openings extending further in the axial direction in the ring body, which are arranged circumferentially between or open into the struts, forces on the ring body segments caused by air resistance can be reduced, which in turn has a stabilizing effect on the struts supporting the ring body segments. Moreover, the struts in the front, radially outward extending end section are also stabilized by the high air pressure flanking them in the area of ​​the through-openings.Furthermore, the recesses have the advantage that the pressure flange can be designed with pocket-shaped recesses on its front side, and that these pocket-shaped recesses can be effectively supplied with airflow through the through-openings after the muzzle of the propellant cage projectile has passed through, so that the propellant cage segments can detach from the projectile.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, it proves advantageous if the respective front end-facing, radially outward extending strut section has a greater wall thickness in the circumferential direction concentric to the longitudinal direction than in an adjoining and behindward section of the same strut. This makes the strut in question even more stable in the particularly stressed front end section.

[0015] Overall, it proves advantageous if the front or rear struts, and preferably both the front and rear struts, are designed such that their wall thickness increases concentrically to the longitudinal direction in the circumferential direction towards the pressure flange, i.e., from the front and from the rear towards the pressure flange. This also results in improved torsional stability of the drive cage.

[0016] It is further advantageous if the propellant cage is designed such that in the front part of the propellant cage segments, exactly one strut extending in the firing direction is provided for each propellant cage segment, so that the ring body segment of each propellant cage segment is held and supported by exactly one strut. In this way, a particularly weight-optimized design of the propellant body segments can be achieved in the area in front of the pressure flange, i.e., forward in the firing direction.

[0017] Furthermore, it proves advantageous if a through-opening is formed and limited by the ring body segments of two adjacent propellant cage segments. This design facilitates the separation of the propellant segments from the projectile after it passes through the muzzle.

[0018] As already mentioned, it proves advantageous if, in the front part of the propellant cage segments, in the area of ​​the pressure flange, convex, pocket-shaped recesses are formed opposite to the direction of fire, and these recesses are circumferentially bounded by the struts in the front part of the propellant cage segments. This measure can optimize the weight and the separation behavior of the propellant segments from the projectile after it passes through the muzzle. Furthermore, it proves advantageous if the openings in the direction of fire are aligned with the pocket-shaped recesses in the area of ​​the pressure flange. This ensures effective airflow into the pocket-shaped recesses.

[0019] With regard to a stable design of the propellant, it proves advantageous if the struts of the propellant cage segments, viewed in a longitudinal median plane encompassing the firing direction, are inclined from the pressure flange towards the firing direction and slope downwards inwards along their extent both rearwards and forwards, or in other words, the struts rise radially outwards from the front and rear towards the pressure flange. .The radially outer boundary line of the struts is therefore inclined towards the firing direction or bore axis. This also has a beneficial effect on the torsional stiffness and stability of the sabot. Furthermore, the forces exerted by the propellant pressure on the rear part of the three body segments, and especially on the pressure flange, can be transferred radially inwards to the projectile via the larger cross-section of the rear struts as tensile forces and the front struts as compressive forces.

[0020] Furthermore, it proves advantageous if the struts in the rear part of the sabot segments have a rear end strut section with a constant radial wall thickness. Further developing this idea, it is proposed that the sabot segments are surrounded in their rear end region by an annular retaining element with shear points, which only detaches from the projectile at an advanced stage of the sabot segments' folding action. This element initially holds the rear end of the sabot segments in contact with and positively locked against the projectile in the direction of fire, so that the sabot segments can fold away from the projectile after passing through the muzzle, but remain initially held together at their rear end and supported against the projectile. Finally, the annular retaining element breaks open to allow the sabot segments to detach.

[0021] It proves advantageous if the retaining element is cylindrically shaped like a sleeve. In particular, it can be slid onto the end of the propellant cage from behind after the propellant cage segments have been mounted on the projectile, or it can be directly injection-molded against the propellant cage.

[0022] In further development, the retaining element can essentially have weakening lines extending in the longitudinal direction, which form the predetermined breaking points.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the propellant cage according to the invention, it proves advantageous if an annular, closed guide band is applied radially to the outside of the pressure flange. This guide band is first manufactured separately from the propellant cage and then pushed onto the propellant cage, which already holds the projectile, from behind until it reaches its intended mounting position radially outside the pressure flange under radial expansion and springback. By selecting a suitable material for the guide band, particularly a material softer than that of the propellant cage, this allows for improved sealing and thus more effective use of the propellant pressure to accelerate the projectile.

[0024] It proves advantageous if the guide band's intended mounting position is radially outward on the pressure flange and forms a positive fit. This prevents unintentional displacement of the guide band during the acceleration of the sabot projectile in the gun barrel.

[0025] It is further advantageous if the pressure flange has sawtooth or wedge-shaped surface sections on its outer circumference that run and are aligned with each other and are complementary to corresponding surface sections radially inside the guide belt.

[0026] The invention also relates to a sabot projectile comprising a projectile and a sabot that is positively and releasably connected to the projectile in one direction of fire, according to the present invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to ammunition comprising such a sabot projectile and a propellant charge.

[0027] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the attached claims and from the drawing and subsequent description of a preferred embodiment of the drive cage according to the invention. The drawing shows: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the drive cage according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the drive cage according to the invention. Figure 1 with a projectile in the form of an arrow projectile contained therein; Figure 3 a perspective detail view of a guide band for mounting on the pressure flange of the propellant cage according to the invention; Figure 4 a view accordingly Figure 2 with a retaining element with predetermined breaking points in a rear end area of ​​the drive cage.

[0028] The Figure 1 and 2 show a drive cage according to the invention figure 2 for a sub-caliber projectile 4, which is in Figure 2This is indicated. Projectile 4 could be a so-called kinetic energy projectile, in particular a darting projectile, as typically used for armor-piercing ammunition. It is also frequently referred to as a penetrator. The propellant figure 2 The drive cage comprises, for example and preferably, three adjoining cage segments 8 in a circumferential direction 6, each of which comprises a segment of 120°. figure 2 The three drive cage segments 8 comprise a forward part 12 in a firing direction 10 or longitudinal direction, which, for reasons to be explained later, is referred to as the push part, and a rear part 14 in the firing direction 10 or longitudinal direction, which is referred to as the pull part. A pressure flange 16 is arranged between the forward part 12 and the rear part 14, by means of which the drive cage figure 2directly or indirectly seals against the inner wall of the gun barrel so that the propellant pressure generated during the combustion of the ammunition's propellant charge seals the propellant chamber figure 2 and can use this to accelerate projectile 4 in the gun barrel in a manner known per se.

[0029] The greenhouse figure 2 or whose drive cage segments 8 radially limit a continuous tube section on the inside, which is formed by means of a groove structure 18 or thread structure or by means of other positive locking means, in order to form a positive locking connection to the inner projectile 4 in a known manner in the direction of firing 10.

[0030] The greenhouse figure 2 or the drive cage segments 8 further comprise a rear end area 20 in the direction of firing 10 and a front end area 22 in the direction of firing 10.

[0031] The drive cage segments 8 are not solidly rotationally symmetrical to the firing direction 10 or longitudinal direction, but rather the front part 12 and also the rear part 14 have radially outwardly open recesses 24, which are arranged successively in the circumferential direction 6 and are elongated in the firing direction 10, longitudinal direction, or axial direction. They are laterally bounded by struts 26 extending in the firing direction 10 in the front part 12 and struts 28 in the rear part 14. This allows for a reduction in the mass of the drive cage. fig 2 to be realized, which, however, at least in principle also involve a weakening of the greenhouse effect. fig 2 which, however, as will be shown below, is acceptable and can be compensated for by further training.

[0032] The struts 26 extend in the front section 12 between the aforementioned front end region 22 and the pressure flange 16, and the struts 28 extend in the rear section 14 between the rear end region 20 and the pressure flange 16. In the exemplary and preferably illustrated case, the radial height of the struts 26 and 28 increases towards the pressure flange 16. This allows for a stable introduction and dissipation of tensile and compressive forces originating from the pressure flange 16 to the struts 26, 28 and the remaining cage material. When the rear section 14 of the cage fig 2When subjected to the full propellant pressure, this rear part 14 is subjected to tensile stress radially inside due to the positive-locking coupling with the projectile, which is why it is referred to as the pull part. Conversely, compressive or shear forces are exerted and introduced into the front part 12 from the pressure flange 16, which is why this front part 12 is referred to as the "push part". In the material-reduced design of the propellant chamber discussed here, fig 2The introduction and transmission of tensile forces into the rear section 14 and compressive forces into the front section 12 occurs predominantly via the elongated struts 28 and 26, respectively, and from there radially inward via the positive-locking support of the sabot segments 8 against the projectile 4. According to the invention, the struts 26 in the front section 12 of the sabot segments 8 extend radially outward with a respective front end strut section 30, preferably rounded, and thereby merge integrally into an outer cylindrical ring body segment 32. The struts 26, with their radially outward extending strut section 30, hold and support the ring body segments 32. The ring body segments 32 adjoin each other in the circumferential direction 6 and thus form a closed ring body 34. This ring body 34 is radially designed to fit against the inside of the gun barrel in a sealing and supporting manner.In this way, the ring body 34 and its ring body segments 32 exert a radially inward supporting and stabilizing function on the elongated struts 26. This prevents the drive cage segments 8 from fluttering and ensures that the high shear load in the front struts 26 is distributed evenly around the circumference into the projectile 4.

[0033] The aforementioned front end-side strut area 30 is preferably also formed with a greater wall thickness d in the circumferential direction 6 than an adjacent area of ​​the strut 26 in question, which results from Figure 1 This is clearly visible. This wall thickness d increases further radially outwards at the transition to the respective ring body segment 32 in order to provide stable support for the ring body 34.

[0034] The ring body 34 further comprises through-openings 36 extending in the direction of fire 10, which are arranged circumferentially 6 between the struts 26. These through-openings 36 reduce the air resistance of the ring body 34 and, on the other hand, align with pocket-shaped recesses 38 that are curved inwards in the opposite direction of fire 10 and are formed from a front face of the pressure flange 16 into the pressure flange 16. This, in turn, reduces mass. Furthermore, the shape of the pocket-shaped recesses 38 exerts a tilting force radially outwards on the three propellant cage segments 8 after the muzzle of the sabot projectile, causing the propellant cage segments 8 to fold away from the projectile and detach.

[0035] As already indicated, the struts 26, 28 of the drive cage segments 8 are inclined to the direction of firing when viewed transversely to the firing direction 10 and in a longitudinal median plane encompassing the firing direction. They slope downwards radially inwards from the pressure flange 16 rearwards and forwards, or, in other words, their radially outer boundary line rises from the rear and frontwards towards the pressure flange 16. Their circumferential wall thickness also increases towards the pressure flange 16. This further facilitates the transfer of tensile and compressive forces, which are primarily generated by the pressure flange 16, and increases the torsional stiffness of the drive cage. fig 2 as a whole.

[0036] Figure 2 shows the propellant applied to a floor 4 figure 2 .

[0037] It may further be provided that the struts in the rear part 14 of the drive cage segments 8 have a rear end strut area with a constant radial wall thickness. It would also be conceivable that the rear end area 20 of the drive cage segments, particularly over a length of a few centimeters, approximately up to 8 cm, is externally cylindrical, so that no struts are formed there.

[0038] Regardless, a ring-shaped retaining element 44 with longitudinally extending predetermined breaking points 46 could be applied in the rear end region 20, which only detaches from the projectile 4 as the folding of the drive cage segments 8 progresses, as described at the beginning (this is in Figure 4(shown). In the simplest case, the retaining element 44 could be cylindrical in shape and essentially have weakening lines extending in the firing direction or longitudinal direction as predetermined breaking points 46.

[0039] In Figure 3 Figure 1 shows a sectioned partial view of an annularly closed guide band 50. The annularly closed guide band 50 can be manufactured separately from the drive cage segments 8 and subsequently attached from behind to the drive cage that already receives and surrounds the projectile 4. figure 2 It is pushed on until, under radial expansion and springback, it reaches its intended mounting position radially outside the pressure flange 16. As can be seen from the sectional view of the Figure 3As can be seen, the guide belt 50 has wedge-shaped surface sections 52 extending and aligned towards each other, which run and are formed radially outside the pressure flange 16 in a complementary manner to corresponding surface sections 54.

Claims

1. Sabot (2) for a sub-caliber projectile (4), in particular a kinetic energy penetrator, comprising a plurality of sabot segments (8) which adjoin one another in a circumferential direction (6) and each have a part (12) which is at the front in a firing direction (10) and acts as a push part as well as a part (14) which is at the rear in the firing direction (10) and acts as a pull part, between which parts a pressure flange (16) is located, the sabot (2) and the sabot segments (8) having an end region (22) which is at the front in the firing direction (10) and an end region (20) which is at the rear in the firing direction (10), the front part (12) and also the rear part (14) of the sabot segments (8) having radially outwardly open recesses (24) which are arranged one after the other in the circumferential direction (6) and are delimited by struts (26, 28) extending in the firing direction (10), the struts (26, 28) extending between the end region (22) which is at the front in the firing direction (10) and the pressure flange (16) and between the end region (20) which is at the rear in the firing direction (10) and the pressure flange (16), characterized in that a front, end-side strut region (30) of each of the struts (26) in the front part (12) of the sabot segments (8) runs radially outward and thereby transitions integrally into an outer-cylindrical annular-body segment (32) and holds and supports this annular-body segment (32), and in that the annular-body segments (32) border on one another in the circumferential direction (6) and form an annular body (34), and in that the annular body (34) has through openings (36) extending in the firing direction (10) which are arranged between the struts (26) in the circumferential direction (6).

2. Sabot according to claim 1, characterized in that each front, end-side strut region (30) running radially outward has a greater wall thickness in the circumferential direction (6) running concentrically with respect to the longitudinal direction than in a region of the same strut that adjoins and is located behind said strut region.

3. Sabot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front or the rear struts (26, 28) and preferably the front and the rear struts (26, 28) are designed such that their wall thickness in the circumferential direction (6) running concentrically with respect to the longitudinal direction increases toward the pressure flange (16).

4. Sabot according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that in the front part (12) of the sabot segments (26), exactly one strut (26) extending in the firing direction (10) is provided per sabot segment (8), with the result that the annular-body segment (32) of each sabot segment (8) is held and supported by exactly one strut (26).

5. Sabot (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a through opening (36) is formed and delimited by annular-body segments (32) of two sabot segments (8) that border on one another.

6. Sabot (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the front part (12) of the sabot segments (8), pocket-shaped recesses (38) that are curved counter to the firing direction (10) are formed in the region of the pressure flange (16), which recesses are delimited in the circumferential direction (6) by the struts (26) in the front part (12) of the sabot segments (8).

7. Sabot according to claim 6, characterized in that the through openings (36), when viewed in the firing direction (10), are aligned with the pocket-shaped recesses (38) in the region of the pressure flange (16).

8. Sabot (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the struts (26, 28) of the sabot segments (8), when viewed in a longitudinal center plane enclosing the firing direction (10), are inclined from the pressure flange (16) toward the firing direction (10) and slope inwardly to the rear and to the front respectively along their extension.

9. Sabot (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the struts (28) in the rear part (14) of the sabot segments (8) have a rear, end-side strut region (20) with a constant radial wall thickness.

10. Sabot according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sabot segments (8) are surrounded in their rear end region (20) by an annular holding element (44) with predetermined breaking points (46) which detaches from the projectile (4) only at an advanced stage of the folding-away of the sabot segments (8) and by means of which holding element the back end of the sabot segments (8) can initially be held in contact and interlockingly supported in the firing direction (10) against the projectile (4), with the result that the sabot segments (8) can fold away from the projectile (4) at the front after passing through the muzzle, but initially remain held together at their back end and are supported against the projectile (4), the annular holding element (44) finally being broken open to allow the sabot segments (8) to be detached.

11. Sabot (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding element (44) is designed in a sleeve-shaped, cylindrical manner.

12. Sabot (2) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the holding element (44) has weakening lines extending substantially in the firing direction (10) are.

13. Sabot (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an annularly closed driving band (50) is applied radially to the outside of the pressure flange (16), which driving band is first manufactured separately from the sabot (2) and is then pushed from behind onto the sabot (2) already accommodating the projectile (4) until it reaches an intended mounting position, under radial expansion and springback, radially on the outside of the pressure flange (16).

14. Sabot (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the intended mounting position of the driving band (50) is formed interlockingly radially on the outside of the pressure flange (16).

15. Sabot (2) according to claim 14, characterized in that the pressure flange (16) has surface portions (54) on the outer circumference which run toward one another in a sawtooth-like or wedge-shaped manner, are aligned with one another and are formed radially on the inside of the driving band (50), complementary to corresponding surface portions (52).

16. Sabot projectile comprising a projectile (4) and a sabot (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, which sabot is detachably connected to the projectile (4) in a manner interlocking in a firing direction.

17. Ammunition comprising a sabot projectile according to claim 16 and comprising a propellant charge.

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