Pressure ejection of a weapon placed in a container in a weapon barrel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for ejecting a weapon 22 arranged in a container 20 from a weapon barrel 10 by means of a pressure ejection, wherein the weapon barrel 10 has a pressure inlet 16, wherein the container 20 has at least one pressure inlet opening 24, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) extending the container 20 until the pressure inlet 16 and the pressure inlet opening 24 are aligned with one another, b) ejecting the weapons 22 arranged in the container 20 with the pressure ejection.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for ejecting a weapon arranged in a container in a weapon barrel.

[0002] A weapon barrel is typically designed to deliver a heavy-duty torpedo, for example, with a diameter of 533 mm. This typically represents the upper limit for a weapon that can be delivered from the weapon barrel. However, it is usually also intended to be able to deliver other weapon systems from a submarine. Some weapons, such as mines, can be designed for this caliber to be particularly well-suited for delivery by submarines. Others, such as missiles, are often adapted to the system, for example, by using containers in which the weapon is housed.

[0003] There are various options for ejecting a weapon. Compressed air and pressurized water ejection are very common, as they allow a relatively heavy torpedo to be accelerated relatively quickly over the short distance of the gun barrel. However, this can cause problems with other weapons fired from the gun barrel.

[0004] In a submarine, a weapon barrel extends from the interior of the pressure hull to the water-flushed area beneath the outer hull. For practical reasons, the pressure exhaust is located outside the pressure hull. This means that the supply, for example for the pressurized water, is also located outside the pressure hull and, to put it simply, in the center of the weapon barrel. If a container is used, the container has openings at the end behind the weapon, i.e. in an area inside the pressure hull usually very close to the end of the weapon barrel. This means that the pressure medium, especially water, has to be guided from the supply to the container openings in a very narrow gap between the weapon barrel and the container. This leads to a drop in pressure and therefore suboptimal acceleration.

[0005] In addition, the lead between the muzzle flap and the outer skin has only a weak guide, which is naturally designed for the large and heavy torpedoes and a correspondingly small weapon is hardly or not guided at all.

[0006] A submarine is known from DE 10 2011 087 889 A1.

[0007] From FR 2 976 063 A1 a launching device for an underwater moving body is known.

[0008] A launching device for a submersible body is known from DE 10 2008 025 015 A1.

[0009] From KR 20-493241 Y1 a device for opening and closing the water inlet in the launch tube of a submarine is known.

[0010] A capture device for an unmanned underwater vehicle for a submarine is known from KR 20-0470981 Y1.

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a pressure ejection system which functions reliably and effectively even for weapons arranged in a container.

[0012] This object is achieved by the method having the features specified in claim 1 and by the submarine having the features specified in claim 6. Advantageous further developments emerge from the subclaims, the following description and the drawings.

[0013] The method according to the invention serves to eject a weapon arranged in a container from a weapon barrel by means of a pressure ejection. A weapon barrel is a device for ejecting a weapon arranged in the weapon barrel. A typical example of a weapon barrel is a torpedo tube, which is usually arranged horizontally. Weapon barrels primarily designed for missiles can also be arranged vertically. While a weapon barrel is primarily designed for a heavyweight torpedo, for example, other weapons, such as missiles or mines, can also be ejected. These are taken on board in a container, particularly since they often have a smaller caliber than the weapon barrel, and inserted into the weapon barrel within this container. This makes it easier to eject a larger number of weapons from a weapon barrel without having to adapt the weapon barrel to the respective weapon.To eject the weapon, the weapon barrel has a pressure ejection, which can be designed either as a pressurised water ejection or as a compressed air ejection. The advantage of the pressure ejection is that the weapon can be accelerated relatively strongly over the short distance of the weapon barrel. The weapon barrel has a pressure inlet. The compressed air or pressurised water is supplied via the pressure inlet to eject the weapon. The container has at least one pressure inlet opening. The pressure medium, compressed air or pressurised water, which flows into the weapon barrel via the pressure inlet can flow from the weapon barrel into the container through the pressure inlet openings and thus eject the weapon from the container. It can be provided that the pressure inlet and the pressure inlet openings are not correctly aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction after the weapon barrel has been loaded. The method comprises the following steps: . a) Extend the container until the pressure inlet and pressure inlet opening are aligned, b) Eject the weapons arranged in the container with the pressure ejection.

[0014] The pressure inlet and pressure inlet opening are aligned with each other when the pressure flow can flow unhindered. In the simplest case, they are virtually parallel (due to their round shape) and aligned. A pressure inlet opening can also be arranged, for example, on the back of the container. The optimal alignment with each other is achieved when the container is extended far enough that the pressure inlet is just released, thus enabling direct and unhindered flow through the aligned pressure inlet opening. This ensures that the path between the pressure inlet and pressure inlet opening is free and as short as possible. Furthermore, the pressure inlet can, for example, be arranged all the way around, i.e. over the entire 360°. This makes the pressure inlet larger than the pressure inlet opening or openings.In this case, the pressure inlet and pressure inlet opening are considered to be aligned if the smaller pressure inlet opening is aligned with the larger pressure inlet. The pressure inlet opening, or preferably a plurality of pressure inlet openings, can thus form a small opening area, so that alignment can be considered within the meaning of the invention even if the pressure inlet opening or all pressure inlet openings are aligned with the pressure inlet, but areas of the pressure inlet face the wall of the container.

[0015] In the context of the invention, alignment means that the pressure inlet opening is arranged in the same cylinder segment of the weapon barrel as the pressure inlet. In particular, the pressure inlet can be designed to be quasi-flat, i.e. as a widening of the cylinder of the weapon barrel. The pressure inlet openings are usually a plurality of openings that only leave certain areas free. Aligned therefore means that they are arranged in such a way that the flow resistance into the interior of the container is minimal. In this case, the pressure inlet openings can also be shorter or longer than the pressure inlet in the longitudinal direction of the weapon barrel, which can result in several aligned positions or an area in which an aligned arrangement occurs.

[0016] A key point is therefore that the container remains level in position during ejection in step b), so that the pressure inlet and pressure inlet opening remain aligned and ejection can occur. Step a) is therefore a particularly slow extension, where precision alignment at the end point is more important to achieve alignment. Only then does the actual ejection take place after step b), in which a high acceleration of the weapon is achieved during the ejection process. Both steps are therefore clearly separated in terms of function and time.

[0017] This has two advantages over the conventional method. Firstly, by aligning the pressure inlet and pressure inlet opening in step a), the flow resistance for the pressure medium is minimized. Normally, the pressure medium must first flow in the gap between the outer wall of the weapon barrel and the container, which creates significant flow resistance. This makes ejection much more effective, and the weapon can be accelerated to higher speeds more easily. Secondly, by extending the container, it is partially moved into the forerun, i.e. the area between the muzzle flap and the outer skin flap. This improves the weapon guidance over a longer section, and in particular, course deviation of the weapon during the forerun is minimized. The disadvantage is that a suitable means of extension must be provided for the extension in step a).During the ejection in step b), the container preferably also assumes the function of the lead-in, at least for part of the route. Since the extension in step a) occurs with less force, no high acceleration is required, and no guidance is required in the lead-in during this step.

[0018] Before step a), the gun barrel can be placed in a ready position; in particular, the gun barrel can be flooded and the muzzle flap of the gun barrel opened. This is the case, for example, when a torpedo tube is used as the gun barrel.

[0019] However, there are also gun barrels that are already flooded. In this case, the container is preferably initially closed and filled with air. In this case, the container is flooded first.

[0020] The weapon barrel does not necessarily have to have a muzzle flap; rather, a weapon barrel, especially a permanently flooded one, can have a pierceable closure. This is irreversibly opened by piercing it with the weapon or, in this case, with the container. Alternatively, the assembly can also be located in a frame that is folded out or extended. In this case, the weapon barrel is folded out or extended beforehand.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the deployment in step a) is carried out by means of a deployment device arranged below the container. This device can be permanently integrated into the weapon barrel or can be additionally inserted into the weapon barrel along with the container.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the deployment device is arranged on the side of the container facing the interior of the boat. This allows the deployment device to be very easily inserted into a standard weapon barrel, like a weapon, which only has a pressure discharge. Such deployment devices are known, for example, from the deployment of mines.

[0023] For example, a dispensing device may be a push chain, a hydraulic feed device, or other mechanical or electrical device, such as a linear motor.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, the extension in step a) is carried out hydraulically. The advantage of a hydraulic drive, for example, is that the device can be very easily locked in one position by closing the hydraulic line, thus eliminating the need for locking or locking devices. The waterproof design is also more reliable than electrical systems.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, a holding device is released before step a). The holding device can, for example, be a holding latch, as is common for heavyweight torpedoes. For this purpose, the container preferably has an element that can be secured by the holding device, for example a holding lug, as is also used, for example, in torpedoes. Accordingly, for the usual use of a torpedo, the weapon barrel has a holding latch as a holding device to secure the holding lug and thus the weapon stored in the weapon barrel. Before the container is moved in step a), this must of course be released. After the container has been returned to the weapon barrel, the fixable element, for example the holding lug, is usually no longer secured by the holding device. Since there is then no weapon in the container, this does not pose a problem.

[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, the container is retracted after step b). Alternatively, the container could also be ejected completely. However, reusability is advantageous. This requires that the empty container is first brought inside the boat before a new weapon can be loaded. Afterward, a muzzle flap sealing the weapon barrel is preferably closed, and the weapon barrel is drained.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the invention, a firing release is received between step a) and step b). This prevents the execution of step a) from leading to an unintentional ejection of the weapon.

[0028] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a submarine with a weapon barrel and a container arranged in the weapon barrel. A weapon is arranged in the container. The weapon barrel has a pressure ejection device. The weapon barrel has a pressure inlet, which is a component of the pressure ejection device. The container has at least one pressure inlet opening. A deployment device is arranged in the weapon barrel. The deployment device is connected to the container. In the case of a cylindrical basic shape, the container has the pressure inlet opening on the cylinder jacket. Although an additional pressure inlet opening can be arranged on the end face facing the interior of the boat, this cannot be arranged flush, so that at least one pressure inlet opening is arranged on the surface closest to the weapon barrel.Preferably, the at least one pressure inlet opening for the media inlet of the ejection medium can be arranged exclusively on the cylinder jacket of the container. Furthermore, the pressure inlet can particularly preferably also be arranged exclusively in the jacket surface of the weapon barrel, wherein the pressure inlet is preferably at least twice the diameter of the weapon barrel from the boat-side end of the weapon barrel. The pressure inlet opening is thus arranged such that it can be aligned with the pressure inlet by extending the container in the longitudinal direction of the weapon barrel.

[0029] The submarine according to the invention is therefore suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0030] The deployment device does not have to be permanently connected to the weapon barrel, but can be inserted and removed just like the container.

[0031] If the weapon barrel is a torpedo tube with a forward trajectory, the container should preferably be long enough so that, when extended, it is less than half the length of the weapon from the outer skin. The container should preferably reach to the outer skin or extend beyond it. This ensures optimal guidance of the weapon, even when forward trajectory.

[0032] In a further embodiment of the invention, the deployment device has a maximum deployment distance. The maximum deployment distance is such that, at maximum deployment, the pressure inlet and pressure inlet opening are aligned. This makes it comparatively easy to always deploy into the aligned configuration. A deployment that is too short or too long can thus be easily avoided. A disadvantage is that the deployment device must therefore be precisely adapted to the gun barrel of a boat, or at least one boat type. This reduces interoperability in favor of robustness, since control or steering measures or position detection can be dispensed with.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the invention, the weapon barrel has a first caliber ring. The first caliber ring is arranged in the weapon barrel such that the container protrudes through the first caliber ring when extended. By means of a caliber ring, the cross-section of the weapon barrel is adapted to the container at one point in the weapon barrel in order to minimize the loss of pressure medium that flows unused past the side of the container to the outside. In a preferred development, the weapon barrel has a second caliber ring. The first caliber ring is arranged, for example, adjacent to the pressure inlet and the second caliber ring is adjacent to the muzzle flap. The first caliber ring and the second caliber ring are preferably foldable; this enables the use of different weapons with different calibers in a simple manner.The container is preferably designed so that it has a constant diameter on its outside along its length, which is not larger than the inner diameter of the first caliber ring or caliber rings.

[0034] In a further embodiment of the invention, the container has at least one caliber ring. A caliber ring can be fixedly arranged on the outside of the container. Alternatively, the caliber ring can be deployable, for example in the form of a hose which can be filled with air, for example, and thus seals the space around the container as a caliber ring. The arrangement of the caliber ring on the container is such that, after extension, the caliber ring is located between the pressure inlet and the muzzle flap. The container preferably has a control device in order to fold out the caliber ring after extension, to unfold it, or in another suitable manner to reduce or even close the gap between the container and the wall of the weapon barrel.

[0035] In a further embodiment of the invention, the weapon barrel has at least one sensor for detecting the extended position of the deployment device. This makes it possible to detect whether, for example, a blockage prevents the container from being extended into the aligned position. In addition to the loss of efficiency, this also results in reduced guidance during the advance.

[0036] In a further embodiment of the invention, the container has a closable pressure inlet opening. This is advantageous when the container with the weapon is stored in a permanently flooded gun barrel. Thus, only the exterior of the container, but not the weapon, is exposed to the ambient water. For pressure-related reasons, the interior of the container in such an embodiment can be filled with alcohol, for example, propanol, glycerin, or even pure water (demineralized water). The closable pressure inlet opening is preferably opened immediately before, during, or shortly after extension in step a) and before step b) to enable ejection.

[0037] The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment shown in the drawings. Fig. 1 Congestion Fig. 2 emissions

[0038] The Fig. 1 und Fig. 2 show the same exemplary gun barrel 10, in Fig. 1 in a traffic jam and Fig. 2 during the ejection process.

[0039] In Fig. 1 the muzzle flap 12 of the weapon barrel 10 is closed. The container 20 with the weapon 22 inside is in the stowed position, so it can be stored for long periods. The weapon barrel 10 has a pressurized water ejection system. The pressurized water is supplied via the pressurized inlet 16 during ejection. The pressurized inlet 16 is more than twice the diameter of the weapon barrel 10 from the boat-side end of the weapon barrel 10. The forward section 14 is arranged in front of the weapon barrel 10 up to the outer skin (indicated by the circular arc on the right). With this weapon barrel 10, for example, a torpedo or a missile can be ejected in a container 20. In order to eject a weapon 22, for example a missile, from the weapon barrel 10, the weapon 22 is arranged in the container 20. The container 20 has pressure inlet openings 24 at the rear end; six pressure inlet openings 24 arranged in three consecutive annular rows are shown.The first caliber ring 18 serves to ensure that as little pressurized water as possible escapes unused past the side of the container 20 to the outside.

[0040] In addition, a deployment device 30 is arranged inside the weapon barrel, which is connected to the container 20 via a loading bracket 32.

[0041] If the weapon 22 is to be ejected, the muzzle flap 12 is first opened. The ejection device then extends the container 20 until the pressure inlet openings 24 are aligned with the pressure inlet 16. The container 20 thus extends at least partially through the forward section 14, thus ensuring safe guidance of the weapon in the forward section 14. The pressure is then ejected. Water is fed under pressure through the pressure inlet 16 into the weapon barrel 10 and flows through the pressure inlet openings 24 into the container 20, thus driving the weapon 22, which is thus greatly accelerated. Fig. 2the condition shortly before the complete ejection of the weapon 22 is shown.

[0042] The container 20 is then pulled back into the weapon barrel 10 by means of the deployment device 30, the muzzle flap 12 is closed, and the weapon barrel 10 is ventilated. Thus, the empty container 20 can be removed into the ship's interior and a new weapon 22 can be loaded into the weapon barrel 10. Reference symbol

[0043] 10Gun barrel 12Muzzle 14Forward 16Pressure inlet 18First caliber ring 20Container 22Weapon 24Pressure inlet 30Ejection device 32Loading bracket

Claims

1. Method for ejecting a weapon (22) arranged in a container (20) from a weapon barrel (10) by means of a pressure ejection, wherein the weapon barrel (10) has a pressure inlet (16), wherein the container (20) has at least one pressure inlet opening (24), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) extending the container (20) until the pressure inlet (16) and the pressure inlet opening (24) are aligned with one another, b) ejecting the weapons (22) arranged in the container (20) with the pressure ejection.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension in step a) is carried out by means of a deployment device (30) arranged below the container (20).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension in step a) is carried out hydraulically.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that before step a) a holding device is released.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after step b) the container (20) is retracted again.

6. Submarine with a weapon barrel (10) and a container (20) arranged in the weapon barrel (10), wherein a weapon (22) is arranged in the container (20), wherein the weapon barrel (10) has an opening for a pressure discharge, wherein the weapon barrel (10) has a pressure inlet (16), wherein the container (20) has at least one pressure inlet opening (24), wherein a deployment device (30) is arranged in the weapon barrel (10), wherein the deployment device (30) is connected to the container (20).

7. Submarine according to claim 6, characterized in that the dispensing device (30) has a maximum dispensing distance, wherein the maximum dispensing distance is such that the pressure inlet (16) and pressure inlet opening (24) are aligned during maximum dispensing.

8. Submarine according to one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the weapon barrel (10) has a first caliber ring (18).

9. Submarine according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the weapon barrel (10) has at least one sensor for detecting the extended position of the deployment device (30).

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