Sabo

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sabot (2) for a submerged projectile (4), the sabot having a plurality of sabot segments (8) adjacent to one another in a circumferential direction (6), each of the plurality of sabot segments having a forward portion (12) relative to a launch direction (10) as a push portion and a rearward portion (14) relative to the launch direction (10) as a pull portion, with a pressure flange (16) located between these portions, and the forward portion (12) and the rearward portion (14) of the sabot segment (8) also having recesses (24) opening radially outward, the recesses being defined by struts (26, 28) arranged successively in the circumferential direction (6) and extending in the launch direction (10). According to the invention, the forward end strut region (30) of each of the struts (26) in the forward portion (12) of the sabot segment (8) extends radially outward and integrally transitions into an externally cylindrical ring element segment (32) that holds and supports the ring element segment (32), the ring element segments (32) being adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction (6) to form ring elements (34), the ring elements (34) having through openings (36) that extend in the firing direction (10) and are located between the struts (26) in relation to the circumferential direction (6).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sabot for a submerged-fire projectile, in particular a kinetic energy projectile, the sabot comprising a plurality of sabot segments adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction, each of the plurality of sabot segments having a forward portion in the direction of launch as a push portion and a rearward portion in the direction of launch as a pull portion, with a pressure flange located between these portions, the sabot and the sabot segments having a forward end region in the direction of launch and a rearward end region in the direction of launch, the forward and rearward portions of the sabot segments also having recesses opening radially outward, the recesses being defined by struts arranged continuously in the circumferential direction and extending in the direction of launch, the struts extending between the forward end region in the direction of launch and the pressure flange, and between the rearward end region in the direction of launch and the pressure flange. [Background technology]

[0002] A sabot for a sub-caliber projectile must perform several functions satisfactorily. First, the sabot must seal the remaining annular gap between the projectile and the barrel wall, often called the penetrator in the case of kinetic energy projectiles, allowing the propellant gases to be used effectively to propel the projectile through the weapon barrel. Furthermore, the sabot guides the projectile through the weapon barrel so that it precisely follows the bore axis of the weapon barrel without lateral deflection or deviation. For very small sub-caliber projectiles, the sabot must also support and stabilize the projectile during acceleration through the weapon barrel, and the force introduced into the projectile through the sabot should, if possible, be distributed over a larger cross-section of the projectile's longitudinal extension. If the force applied to the projectile is too concentrated, as is often the case with sabot projectiles with a rear or forward propellant base, the projectile may disintegrate and split under the influence of inertial forces. After the sabot projectile passes through the muzzle, the sabot and projectile separate from each other. Therefore, the final ballistic effect of the projectile is achieved only by the impact of the projectile itself with the target structure, and therefore the kinetic energy stored in the sabot is lost with respect to the final ballistic effect.

[0003] This leads to a first conflict of objectives in the design of modern sabots or sabot projectiles: on the one hand, the sabot must be stable and expansive so as to be able to absorb the propellant charge pressure caused by the detonation of the propellant charge and to transmit this pressure to the projectile in a generally uniform manner and over a substantial longitudinal cross section of the projectile, thereby accelerating the projectile within the barrel of the weapon.

[0004] On the other hand, the sabot should be designed with the lowest possible mass to minimize the kinetic energy unavailable for terminal ballistics.

[0005] German Patent Application Publication No. 102020115703 discloses a sabot of the aforementioned type, designed to optimize weight by providing recesses in the sabot segments. According to the teachings of this publication, the wall thickness of the rear end region of the sabot segments must be thin, thereby achieving low bending stiffness to allow the sabot segments to fold after passing through the muzzle without introducing sudden lateral forces into the projectile. However, the recesses formed in the sabot segments and the resulting filigree design of many of the sabots result in a reduction in the sabot's guiding and support function for the projectile.

[0006] DE 102008029395 A1 shows a sabot projectile, but with a double-shell hollow cylindrical guide cage that is not of the push-pull type with a central pressure flange, but is designed as an extruded profile with a cavity.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 5,196,650 also shows a sabot projectile with a similar, but not identical, type of sabot with a terminally disposed propellant base, i.e., a rearwardly disposed sabot. The sabot and its sabot segments are rigidly formed with rotational symmetry, except for slot-shaped recesses formed therein, which serve to accommodate a temperature-sensitive memory metal plate between each two sabot segments that supports the separation of the sabot segments from each other at the intended time.

[0008] DE 3904626 A1 shows an unconventional sabot projectile having a forward propellant base and a sabot with a cylindrical guide segment in the rear part.

[0009] DE 102004017675 A1 shows a push-pull sabot projectile with a rigidly formed propellant segment, at the front end of which is attached a web made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, which carries an annular support and guide body with a predetermined breaking point. A similar sabot projectile is shown in DE 102004017674 A1, whereby a front annular support and guide body with radial struts and an inner sleeve body, also with a predetermined breaking point, is inserted axially from the front into the assembled sabot segment by means of the inner sleeve body. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention is based on the objective of specifying a sabot that, on the one hand, achieves a high muzzle velocity of the sabot projectile, minimizing the kinetic energy unavailable for terminal ballistics, and, on the other hand, does not significantly impair the sabot's guidance and support functions and does not introduce lateral forces, such as impacts, into the projectile. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] This object is achieved by a casket having the features of claim 1.

[0012] Proceeding from the type of sabot mentioned at the outset, the invention therefore proposes that the front end strut regions of the struts in the front part of the sabot segment extend radially outward and merge integrally into an externally cylindrical ring element segment, which holds and supports said ring element segment, and which ring element segments adjoin one another in the circumferential direction to form a ring element, which ring element has through openings extending in the axial direction and located between the struts in the circumferential direction.

[0013] The struts in the forward portion of the sabot segment absorb and transmit substantially all of the pressure force from the pressure flange toward the projectile. This results in a localized, concentrated force being introduced into the projectile, particularly in the region of the specific strut. Due to the fact that the forward end strut region of each strut in the forward portion of the sabot segment extends radially outward and integrally transitions into the externally cylindrical ring element segment, the strut is radially supported from the outside by the inside of the weapon barrel and guided through the weapon barrel. This prevents or at least reduces the occurrence of uncontrolled vibrations in the region of the forward strut, and thus the application and transmission of impulsive forces from the forward strut to the projectile. According to the present invention, it has been recognized that this makes it possible to design a sabot with an optimized weight without the sabot segments undergoing jerky fluttering movements, which not only have undesirable and detrimental effects on the projectile during acceleration in the weapon barrel, but also affect the projectile's subsequent flight stability. As a result of the fact that the ring elements have through-openings extending further axially and located or opening between the struts in the circumferential direction, the forces acting on the ring element segments caused by air resistance can also be reduced, which has a stabilizing effect on the struts supporting the ring element segments. Furthermore, the struts in the forward end strut region extending radially outward are also stabilized in position by the high air pressure adjacent to the struts in the region of the through-openings. The recesses can be designed so that the pressure flange has pocket-shaped recesses on its front side, which also has the advantage that air can effectively flow through the through-openings into these pocket-shaped recesses after the sabot projectile has passed through the muzzle, allowing the sabot segments to separate from the projectile.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, it proves advantageous if each radially outwardly extending forward end strut region has a greater wall thickness circumferentially and longitudinally concentrically than in the adjacent rearward region of the same strut, which makes the strut in question even more stable, particularly in the stressed forward end region.

[0015] Overall, it proves to be advantageous if the forward or aft struts, preferably the forward and aft struts, are designed such that their wall thickness increases circumferentially and concentrically longitudinally in the direction of the pressure flange, i.e. from the front and from the rear in the direction of the pressure flange, which can also improve the torsional stability of the sabot.

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

[0017] It may also prove advantageous if the through opening is formed and defined by the ring element segments of two adjacent sabot segments, as this design supports the separation of the sabot segments from the projectile after it has passed through the muzzle.

[0018] As already mentioned, it proves advantageous if, in the forward part of the sabot segment in the region of the pressure flange, curved pocket-shaped recesses are formed opposite to the firing direction, and these recesses are circumferentially bounded by struts in the forward part of the sabot segment. This measure can support the weight optimization and separation behavior of the sabot segment from the projectile after passing through the muzzle. It also proves advantageous if the through-openings, as seen in the firing direction, are aligned with the pocket-shaped recesses in the region of the pressure flange. This allows for an effective air flow into the pocket-shaped recesses.

[0019] It has been found to be advantageous for the stable design of the sabot if, when viewed in a longitudinal center plane encompassing the firing direction, the struts of the sabot segments are inclined from the pressure flange in the firing direction and inclined inward toward the rear and forward along their extension. In other words, the struts rise radially outward from the front and rear in the direction of the pressure flange. Thus, the radially outer boundaries of the struts are inclined relative to the firing direction or bore axis of the barrel. This also has a positive effect on the torsional stiffness and stability of the sabot. In addition, the forces exerted by the propellant charge pressure on the rear parts of the three body segments, particularly the pressure flanges, can be transmitted radially inward relative to the projectile as tension forces through the larger strut cross-sections of the rear struts and as compression forces through the front struts.

[0020] It has also proven advantageous if the struts in the rearward portion of the sabot segments have a rearward end strut region with a constant radial wall thickness. In a further development of this idea, it is proposed that the sabot segments are surrounded in their rearward end region by an annular retaining element with a predetermined breaking point, which only separates from the projectile in the advanced stages of folding of the sabot segments, and which can initially contact and hold and support the rearward ends of the sabot segments in a secure locking manner relative to the projectile in the launch direction, so that the sabot segments can fold forward away from the projectile after passing through the muzzle, but initially remain held together at their rearward ends and supported against the projectile, with the annular retaining element finally breaking open to allow the sabot segments to be separated.

[0021] It proves to be advantageous if the retaining element is designed cylindrically in the form of a sleeve, and can be pressed into the end region of the sabot from the rear, in particular after the sabot segment has been mounted on the projectile, or can be molded directly onto the sabot.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the retaining element may have a substantially longitudinally extending line of weakness that defines the predetermined breaking point.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the sabot according to the invention, it proves advantageous if an annular closed guide band is applied radially to the outside of the pressure flange, the guide band being initially manufactured separately from the sabot and then pushed from the rear onto the sabot already containing the projectile 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, in particular a material softer than the material of the sabot, an improved seal and therefore a more effective use of the propellant charge pressure for accelerating the sabot projectile can be achieved.

[0024] It proves to be advantageous if the intended mounting position of the guide band is formed so as to positively lock radially on the outer side of the pressure flange, thereby preventing unintended displacement of the guide band during the acceleration process of the sabot projectile inside the barrel of the weapon.

[0025] It also proves advantageous if the pressure flange has on its outer periphery a sawtooth or wedge-shaped surface portion that is aligned with one another and complementary to a corresponding surface portion formed radially on the inside of the guide band.

[0026] The invention also relates to a sabot projectile comprising a projectile and a sabot according to the invention connected in a separable manner and securely locked to the projectile in the direction of launch, and further to an ammunition comprising such a sabot projectile and a propellant charge.

[0027] Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the appended claims and from the drawings and the subsequent description of preferred embodiments of the sabot according to the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a sabot according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a view of the sabot according to FIG. 1 with a projectile housed inside in the form of an arrow-shaped projectile. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective detailed view of a guide band for mounting on a pressure flange of a sabot according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 with a retaining element with a predetermined break point in the rear end region of the sabot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] 1 and 2 show a sabot 2 according to the present invention for a sub-launch projectile 4, as shown in FIG. 2. The projectile 4 may be a so-called kinetic energy projectile, in particular an arrowhead projectile, such as those typically used for armor-piercing munitions. The projectile is also often called a penetrator. The sabot 2 preferably includes three sabot segments 8, each of which has a 120° segment and is adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction 6. The sabot 2 or the three sabot segments 8 includes a forward portion 12 in the launch direction 10 or longitudinal direction, which will be referred to as the push portion for reasons explained below, and a rearward portion 14 in the launch direction 10 or longitudinal direction, which will be referred to as the pull portion. Between the forward portion 12 and the rearward portion 14 is located a pressure flange 16, by means of which the sabot 2 is in direct or indirect sealing contact with the inner wall of the barrel of the weapon, so that the propellant charge pressure generated when the propellant charge of the ammunition burns can accelerate the sabot 2 and therewith the projectile 4 within the barrel of the weapon in a manner known per se.

[0030] The sabot 2 or its sabot segment 8 defines a radially inwardly continuous barrel portion formed by a groove formation 18 or a thread formation or by other positive locking means to form a positive locking connection with the inner projectile 4 in relation to the firing direction 10 in a known manner.

[0031] The sabot 2 or sabot segment 8 further comprises a rearward end region 20 relative to the firing direction 10 and further comprises a forward end region 22 relative to the firing direction 10 .

[0032] The sabot segments 8 are not formed rigidly and rotationally symmetrically with respect to the firing direction 10 or the longitudinal direction, but the front part 12 and the rear part 14 also have recesses 24 opening radially outward, which are successively arranged in the circumferential direction 6 and are elongated in the firing direction 10 or the longitudinal or axial direction. They are delimited laterally by struts 26 of the front part 12 and struts 28 of the rear part 14, respectively, which extend in the firing direction 10. This makes it possible to achieve a reduction in the mass of the sabot 2, which at least essentially entails a weakening of the sabot 2, but as will be shown below, this is tolerable and can be compensated for by further developments.

[0033] The struts 26 extend within the forward section 12 between the aforementioned forward end region 22 and the pressure flange 16, while the struts 28 extend within the aft section 14 between the aft end region 20 and the pressure flange 16. In the illustrated exemplary and preferred case, the radial height of the struts 26 and 28 increases in the direction of the pressure flange 16. This allows for the stable introduction and dissipation of tensile and compressive forces from the pressure flange 16 to the struts 26, 28 and the remaining sabot material. When the aft section 14 of the sabot 2 is subjected to the full propellant charge pressure, it is subjected to radially inward tensile stress due to its positively locking connection with the projectile, which is why it is called the "pull section." However, starting from the pressure flange 16, pressure or thrust is exerted and introduced into the forward section 12, which is why it is called the "push section." In the material-reduced design of the sabot 2 considered here, the introduction and transmission of tensile forces to the rear section 14 and compressive forces to the front section 12 is primarily via the elongated struts 28 or 26, and from there further radially inward via the positively locking support of the sabot segments 8 against the projectile 4. According to the invention, the struts 26 in the forward sections 12 of the sabot segments 8 extend radially outward with their respective, preferably rounded, forward end strut regions 30, which merge integrally into the externally cylindrical ring element segments 32 that, together with the radially outward extending strut regions 30, hold and support the ring element segments 32. The ring element segments 32 adjoin one another in the circumferential direction 6, thus forming a closed ring element 34. This ring element 34 is designed radially outward so that it can be positioned against the inside of the weapon barrel in a sealing and supporting manner. In this manner, the ring element 34 and its ring element segments 32 provide radially inward support and stabilization for the elongated strut 26. This prevents the sabot segments 8 from bouncing up and distributes high thrust loads within the forward strut 26 evenly around the circumference to the projectile 4.

[0034] The aforementioned forward end strut region 30 is preferably formed with a wall thickness d in the circumferential direction 6 that is greater than the adjacent regions of each strut 26 that are clearly visible in Figure 1. This wall thickness d increases radially outward at the transition to each ring element segment 32 to allow stable support of the ring elements 34.

[0035] The ring element 34 further comprises through-openings 36 which extend in the firing direction 10 and are located between the struts 26 in the circumferential direction 6. On the one hand, these through-openings 36 reduce the air resistance of the ring element 34, and on the other hand, these through-openings are aligned with pocket-shaped recesses 38 which are curved in the firing direction 10 and which start from the front side of the pressure flange 16 and extend towards it, thereby reducing the mass. On the other hand, the formation of the pocket-shaped recesses 38 after the sabot projectile has passed through the muzzle exerts a radially outward tilting force on the three sabot segments 8, as a result of which the sabot segments 8 fold away from the projectile and separate.

[0036] As already indicated, the struts 26, 28 of the sabot segment 8 are inclined relative to the direction of fire 10 when viewed in a longitudinal center plane transverse to and surrounding the direction of fire. Starting from the pressure flange 16, the struts of the sabot segment are inclined radially inward aft and forward; in other words, their radially outer boundaries rise from aft and forward in the direction of the pressure flange 16. Their circumferential wall thickness also increases in the direction of the pressure flange 16. This also supports the dissipation of tensile and compressive forces, primarily coming from the pressure flange 16, and increases the torsional stiffness of the entire sabot 2.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a sabot 2 mounted on a projectile 4 .

[0038] Furthermore, the struts of the rear portion 14 of the sabot segment 8 may have a rear end strut region with a constant radial wall thickness. It is also contemplated that the rear end region 20 of the sabot segment, particularly those exceeding a length of several centimeters, up to about 8 cm in length, may be formed as an outer cylinder, whereby no struts are formed therein.

[0039] Independently of this, an annular retaining element 44 with a predetermined longitudinal breaking point 46 can be applied to the rear end region 20, which, as explained at the outset (this is shown in FIG. 4), only separates from the projectile 4 when the sabot segments 8 advance in their folding process. In the simplest case, the retaining element 44 can be designed cylindrically in the shape of a sleeve and have a line of weakness as the predetermined breaking point 46 that extends substantially in the launch or longitudinal direction.

[0040] 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an annular closed guide band 50. The annular closed guide band 50 can be manufactured separately from the sabot segments 8 and then pushed from the rear onto the sabot 2 already housing and surrounding the projectile 4 until it reaches its intended mounting position radially outside the pressure flange 16 under radial expansion and springback. As can be seen from the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the guide band 50 has a wedge-shaped surface portion 52 that is complementary to a corresponding surface portion 54 formed radially inside the pressure flange 16 in alignment with each other.

Claims

1. A sabot (2) for a reduced-projectile (4), particularly for a kinetic energy projectile, comprising a plurality of sabot segments (8) adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction (6), wherein each of the plurality of sabot segments (8) has a forward portion (12) as a push portion with respect to the launch direction (10) and a rear portion (14) as a pull portion with respect to the launch direction (10), with a pressure flange (16) positioned between these portions, wherein the sabot (2) and the sabot segments (8) have a forward end region (22) with respect to the launch direction (10) and a rear end region (20) with respect to the launch direction (10), the forward portion (12) and the rear portion (14) of the sabot segments (8) have recesses (24) that open radially outward, the recesses (24) are arranged continuously in the circumferential direction (6) and are defined by struts (26, 28) extending in the launch direction (10), and the In a sabot (2), the struts (26, 28) extend between the front end region (22) with respect to the firing direction (10) and the pressure flange (16), and between the rear end region (20) with respect to the firing direction (10) and the pressure flange (16), wherein each front end strut region (30) of the strut (26) in the front portion (12) of the sabot segment (8) extends radially outward and transitions integrally into an externally cylindrical ring element segment (32) to hold and support the ring element segment (32), the ring element segment (32) is adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction (6) to form a ring element (34), the ring element (34) has a through opening (36), the through opening (36) extends in the firing direction (10) and is located between the struts (26) with respect to the circumferential direction (6).

2. The sabo according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the front end strut regions (30) extending radially outward has a larger wall thickness in the circumferential direction (6) and concentrically in the longitudinal direction than the adjacent rear region of the same strut.

3. The sabot according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the front strut (26) and the rear strut (28) is designed to have a wall thickness that increases in the circumferential direction (6) concentric with the longitudinal direction in the direction of the pressure flange (16).

4. The sabot according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the front portion (12) of the sabot segment (8), exactly one strut (26) extending in the launch direction (10) is provided for each sabot segment (8), so that the ring element segment (32) of each sabot segment (8) is held and supported by exactly one strut (26).

5. The sabo (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the through opening (36) is formed and defined by the ring element segments (32) of two adjacent sabo segments (8).

6. The sabot (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that, in the front portion (12) of the sabot segment (8) in the region of the pressure flange (16), curved pocket-shaped recesses (38) are formed on the side opposite to the firing direction (10), and these recesses (38) are defined in the circumferential direction (6) by the strut (26) in the front portion (12) of the sabot segment (8).

7. The sabot according to claim 6, characterized in that the through-opening (36) is aligned with the pocket-shaped recess (38) in the region of the pressure flange (16) when viewed in the firing direction (10).

8. The struts (26, 28) of the sabot segment (8) are inclined toward the launch direction (10) from the pressure flange (16) when viewed in the longitudinal central plane surrounding the launch direction (10), and are inclined inward toward the rear and forward along their extended portions, as described in claim 1 or claim 2, the sabot (2).

9. The sabot (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the strut (28) in the rear portion (14) of the sabot segment (8) has a rear end strut region (20) with a constant radial wall thickness.

10. The sabot segment (8) is surrounded in its rear end region (20) by an annular retaining element (44) having a predetermined break point (46), the annular retaining element (44) only separates from the projectile (4) during the folding stage of the sabot segment (8), the annular retaining element (44) can contact, hold and support the rear end of the sabot segment (8) so as to securely lock it against the projectile (4) in the firing direction (10), thereby allowing the sabot segment (8) to fold forward away from the projectile (4) after passing the muzzle, but initially remaining held together at their rear ends and supported against the projectile (4), and the annular retaining element (44) is ultimately broken and released to allow the sabot segment (8) to separate.

11. The sabo (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the annular retaining element (44) is designed in a sleeve shape and cylindrical.

12. The sabot (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the annular retaining element (44) has a fragile line extending in the firing direction (10).

13. The sabot (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an annular closed guide band (50) is applied radially to the outside of the pressure flange (16), and the guide band (50) is initially manufactured separately from the sabot (2) and then pushed from the rear onto the sabot (2), which already houses the projectile (4), until it reaches a radially intended mounting position outside the pressure flange (16) under radial expansion and springback.

14. The sabo (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the intended mounting position of the guide band (50) is formed to lock radially to the outside of the pressure flange (16).

15. The sabo (2) according to claim 14, characterized in that the pressure flange (16) is aligned with each other and has a serrated or wedge-shaped surface portion (54) on its outer circumference that is complementary to a corresponding surface portion (52) formed radially inside the guide band (50).

16. A sabot launcher having a projectile (4) and a sabot (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2 connected to the projectile (4) in a manner that is securely locked to and separable from the projectile in the firing direction.

17. The ammunition comprising a sabot projectile and a propellant loader as described in claim 16.

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