Projectiles adapter

Abstract

The invention has as its object an adapter for reducing the caliber of projectiles, wherein the adapter comprises an outer casing (40) that acts as ammunition (100), the aforementioned outer casing having a first caliber CR1, and comprises a substantially annular-shaped housing (20) surrounding a projectile (10), wherein the projectile (10) and the aforementioned housing have a second caliber CR2, the second caliber CR2 being much smaller than the first caliber CR1, allowing small caliber (CR2 « CR1) projectiles to be used in caliber weapons that use much larger caliber ammunition.

Description

[0001] TITLE: PROJECTILES ADAPTER

[0002] DESCRIPTION TEXT

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention has as its object an adapter for reducing the caliber (or subcaliber) of ammunition projectiles.

[0005] In particular, the invention has as its object an adapter for a projectile whose caliber is reduced from 40 mm to 20 mm for use in 40 mm automatic grenade launchers (from the American MK19 to the German GMG), currently in service in numerous NATO and non-NATO countries.

[0006] The invention can in any case be applied, with appropriate dimensional modifications, also to reduce the caliber of the .357 Magnum projectile to 5.7 mm Magnum or 4.6 mm caliber or in other cases.

[0007] KNOWN PRIOR ART

[0008] As known, the MK19 grenade launcher is a 40 mm automatic machine gun used by the United States Army and other military forces. It is a tactical support weapon that is used to provide short and medium range cover fire. The MK19 grenade launcher is mounted on a movable support, such as an armoured vehicle or fixed platform, and can be used in either automatic or semi-automatic mode. It is capable of firing single shots or bursts of incendiary, fragmentation, or gas ammunition.

[0009] The GMG grenade launcher also has a 40 mm caliber.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to extend the flexibility of this weapon system, in particular when used on a remote control station (CROWS) or on a ground drone (UGVs). As is known, the CROWS (Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station) remote control station is an armament system mounted on military vehicles, such as tanks and armored vehicles, which allows you to control and fire a firearm from a protected position inside the vehicle. The CROWS is equipped with a thermal camera, an optical viewfinder and a laser pointing system, which are used to locate and aim targets.

[0011] The weapon is mounted on a stabilized platform that can be rotated and tilted to follow the movement of the targets. The CROWS arming system is controlled by an operator inside the vehicle through a control panel and a monitor that display the images transmitted by the thermal camera and the optical viewfinder. The CROWS remote control station is primarily used to provide fire support for military vehicles during combat operations.

[0012] On the other hand, weapons devices such as those described in US 3009 394 are known in the art which describe a mesh of ammunition that cooperates with other similar meshes to form a belt for ammunition, each of said meshes comprising a first annular ring element having corrugated portions for engagement with a slot in said ammunition, said first annular ring element being provided with an offset edge portion, a second element consisting of a pair of annular rings connected to their edges by a bridge portion, said bridge portion engaging said offset edge portion allowing a relative angular movement between said first and second element, the annular rings of said second element being dimensioned to allow the rotation of said second member with respect to the received ammunition.

[0013] Such a device not being inherent to the scope of interest of the present invention as will be described above.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to describe an adapter that allows lower caliber projectiles to be used in ammunition of a caliber much higher than the projectile.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to use as few new components as possible to achieve the above results.

[0016] Not least object of the invention is to obtain the aforesaid results in an economical and practical way.

[0017] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

[0018] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The objects described are achieved by an adapter for reducing the caliber of projectiles for ammunition, that is, an adapter for projectiles, that is, an adapter for projectiles to allow lower caliber projectiles to be used in higher caliber ammunition, the aforementioned adapter comprises an outer casing, which also acts as a casing for the ammunition, and where the outer casing has a containment volume of propellant, the aforementioned containment volume being positioned at the base of the projectile, the aforementioned outer casing having a first caliber CR1 , and comprising a substantially annular-shaped housing surrounding a projectile, wherein the aforementioned projectile and the housing have a second caliber CR2, characterized in that the second caliber CR2 of said housing and of the projectile being much lower than the caliber CR1 of the aforementioned outer casing CR2«CR1 , i.e. the caliber of the ammunition casing, wherein the aforementioned annular housing is interposed between the outer casing of the ammunition and the projectile, said adapter allowing the use of projectiles of much lower caliber CR2«CR1 in ammunition of higher caliber CR1 allowing you to use different types of projectiles with the same weapon even if created for projectiles / ammunition of much higher caliber CR1 .

[0020] It should be noted that the present invention is well distinguished from a common ammunition that is adapted to contain a projectile, in fact the ammunition usually has a caliber very similar, just slightly higher, to that of the projectile it contains: instead the present invention, on the contrary, intends to describe a projectile adapter that has a caliber much larger than that of the projectile it contains, said adapter certainly functions or comprises an ammunition body, this ammunition unlike those of known art has a caliber CR1 much larger than the caliber CR2 of the projectile, therefore CR1 »CR2, unlike common ammunition that has a caliber CRmu=CR2 that is a caliber substantially equal to or slightly higher than that of the projectile CR2. The present invention, in fact, advantageously wants to allow to use any projectiles even with weapons created for much larger calibres as will be better evident from the description of the figures and from the rest of the text.

[0021] Note that the caliber CR2 of the projectile and its housing as described are substantially the same, which is why the caliber CR2 was used for convenience for both (a few mm difference to be able to contain the projectile).

[0022] One of the advantages of this innovative adapter is that it can use lower caliber projectiles in higher caliber ammunition or cartridges, for example to reduce recoil during firing or to reduce the cost of ammunition.

[0023] In general, it would be possible to use a single type of outer casing for different sizes of projectiles, simply by using an appropriate adapter to obtain greater flexibility in the use of ammunition and greater economy.

[0024] That is, it will be possible to have an outer casing of said adapter, which will also be that of the ammunition, always of the same caliber CR1 and a annular-shaped housing of any caliber CR2 as long as it is smaller than the caliber CR1 of the outer casing CR2«CR1.

[0025] The invention also comprises a modified barrel for use with the described adapter, and wherein said barrel provides a chamber suitable for the under-calibrated projectile.

[0026] The invention also comprises a ammunition configured for use with the disclosed adapter, wherein the first caliber of the outer casing is equal to 40 mm and the overall dimensions of the ammunition are equal to the dimensions of a 40x53 mm HV grenade. In one aspect of the invention, the second caliber of the 20mm projectile and the projectile is that commonly used in 20x102mm ammunition.

[0027] Other calibers and other sizing are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0028] The invention also includes a feeding system by means of a belt for ammunition, in which the aforementioned system provides for the use of links configured to engage in an indentation in the outer casing of the adapter - and therefore of the ammunition - said indentation are made to hold the ammunition in place or provides for the use of standard links and the appropriate shaping of the outer casing of the ammunition for engagement with the aforementioned standard links. Further characteristics of the invention can be deduced from the dependent claims.

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The advantages of the invention are evident from an examination of the figures illustrated in the attached tables, where: figure 1 illustrates an ammunition according to an embodiment of the invention, represented in section with respect to a longitudinal plane; figure 2 illustrates the ammunition as in figure 1 , inserted inside a barrel modified according to another aspect of the invention; and figure 3 illustrates a group of ammunition connected to each other, according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] With initial reference to figure 1 , an ammunition according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, represented in section with respect to a longitudinal plane and globally indicated with reference numeral 100.

[0033] In the example shown, the ammunition 100 is of the type used for use in 40 mm automatic grenade launchers.

[0034] To such ammunition 100 is applied, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an adapter for reducing (or sub-calibrating) the caliber of the relative projectile 10.

[0035] The adapter comprises a substantially annular-shaped housing 20 which surrounds the projectile 10 and which is interposed between an outer casing 40 of the ammunition 100 and the projectile 10.

[0036] Preferably, the annular housing 20 is made of plastic material to lighten the adapter and consequently the ammunition.

[0037] In particular, to make the outer casing 40, the normal casing of the grenade is elongated and simplified, for example by removing parts of the High-Low Pressure system, to accommodate the projectile 10 with a caliber of 20 mm.

[0038] The outer casing 40 of the ammunition 100 has recesses 45 configured to hold the annular housing 20 in place and has a propellant containment volume 30, wherein said containment volume 30 is positioned at the base of the projectile 10.

[0039] The adapter in question is therefore designed to allow the use of projectiles of lower caliber than standard projectiles in ammunition for firearms.

[0040] The invention also comprises a modified barrel 200 for use with the adapter, having a chamber suitable for the under-calibrated projectile.

[0041] In other words, the barrel 200 has an initial portion 210 suitable for housing an ammunition has an initial portion 210 suitable for housing a calibre CR1 ammunition and a narrower end portion 220 suitable for a calibre CR2«CR1 ammunition.

[0042] In fact, the ammunition remaining in the barrel - in the initial portion of greater caliber, and the projectile being expelled from the narrower end portion 220 suitable for the caliber of the projectile.

[0043] In one embodiment said barrel 200 has an initial portion 210 suitable for housing a 40 mm ammunition and a narrower end portion 220 suitable for a 20 mm ammunition.

[0044] The length and rifling twist are sized to ensure the best possible ballistics, while still keeping the overall weight of the weapon system contained.

[0045] Furthermore, the invention provides an ammunition 100 configured for use with the disclosed adapter wherein the first caliber of the outer casing 40 is equal to 40 mm and the overall dimensions of the ammunition are equal to the dimensions of a 40x53 mm HV grenade.

[0046] In the ammunition 100, the second caliber of the projectile 10 is equal to 20 mm and the projectile 10 is the one commonly used in 20x102 mm ammunition. Finally, the invention provides a feeding system by means of a belt for ammunition that can use both standard links and links 300 configured for engagement with the outer casing of the adapter.

[0047] In particular, the links 300 configured for engagement with the outer casing in the adapter each comprise a ring 310 surrounding the outer casing 40 of the ammunition 100 and a locking hook 320 providing a shaped portion 330 for engagement with the recess 55 of the outer casing 40. The links 300 are connected to each other by using a connection assembly 340.

[0048] Naturally, amendments or improvements may be made to the invention as described, dictated by contingent or particular reasons, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Projectile adapter (20) to allow lower caliber projectiles (10) to be used in higher caliber ammunition (100), the aforementioned adapter comprises an outer casing (40), which also acts as a casing for the ammunition (100), and wherein the outer casing (40) has a containment volume (30) of propellant, the aforementioned containment volume (30) being positioned at the base of the projectile (10), the aforementioned outer casing (40) having a first caliber (CR1 ), and comprising a substantially annular-shaped housing (20) surrounding a projectile (10), wherein the aforementioned projectile (10) and the housing (20) have a second caliber (CR2), characterized in that he second caliber (CR2) of said housing (20) and the projectile (10) being much smaller than the caliber (CR1 ) of the aforementioned outer casing (40) (CR2«CR1 ) then the caliber of the ammunition (100), wherein the aforementioned annular housing (20) is interposed between the outer casing (40) of the ammunition (100) and the projectile (10), said adapter allowing the use of projectiles (10) of caliber (CR2) (CR2«CR1 ) much lower in ammunition (40) of a higher caliber (CR1) allowing the use of different types of projectiles (10) with the same weapon even if created for projectiles of a much higher caliber (CR2).

2. Adapter as in claim 1 , wherein said annular housing (20) is made of plastic material to lighten the adapter and therefore the ammunition.

3. Modified barrel (200) for use with an adapter as in claims 1 and 2, wherein said barrel (200) provides a chamber suitable for the projectile (10).

4. Modified barrel (200) for use with adapter as in the preceding claims, wherein the barrel (200) has an initial portion (210) suitable for housing a caliber (CR1 ) ammunition and a narrower end portion (220) suitable for a caliber (CR2«CR1 ) ammunition.

5. Ammunition (100) configured for use with an adapter as in claims 1 and 2, wherein the first caliber of the outer casing (40) is equal to 40 mm and the overall dimensions of the ammunition are equal to the dimensions of a 40x53 mm HV grenade.

6. Ammunition (100) as in claim 4, wherein the second caliber of the projectile (10) is 20mm and the projectile (10) is the one commonly used in 20x102 mm ammunition.

7. Feeding system by means of a belt for ammunition as in claims 4 and 5, wherein the aforementioned system provides for the use of links (300) configured to engage in the recesses (55) in the outer casing (40) of the ammunition to hold the ammunition in position or the use of standard links and the appropriate shaping of the outer casing (40) of the ammunition for engagement with the aforementioned standard links.

8. Feeding system as in claim 6, wherein the links (300) configured for engagement with the outer casing (40) of the adapter each comprise a ring (310) surrounding the outer casing (40) of the ammunition (100) and a locking hook (320) providing a shaped portion (330) for engagement with the recess (55) of the outer casing (40) and wherein the links (300) are connected to each other by using a connection assembly (340).

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