Cartridge comprising an inner casing for receiving a plurality of submunitions containing an irritant
The cartridge design addresses the lack of diverse effects in existing cartridges by using a bombette and spherical subbodies to disperse irritants effectively over a large area with controlled release and uniform ignition.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing cartridges fail to produce effects other than artificial fog, particularly in caliber 40 mm, and lack the capability to disperse irritants effectively over a large area.
A cartridge design comprising a cylindrical case with a bombette and spherical subbodies containing irritant smoldering compounds, propelled by a charge that ignites and ejects the subbodies to disperse irritants after impact, utilizing ignition layers and delay mechanisms to control release.
The design ensures efficient dispersal of irritants over a large area, with controlled release and uniform ignition, enhancing the effectiveness of irritant delivery.
Smart Images
Figure EP2026050929_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] "CARTRIDGE"
[0002] The invention relates to a cartridge, in particular in caliber 40 mm.
[0003] EP 0 322 951 B1 discloses a munition for generating artificial smoke in a predetermined target area, wherein a plurality of briquetted smoke compositions are stored in a container and can be simultaneously ignited and dispersed by a centrifugal charge. The smoke compositions comprise at least one metal oxide and at least one oxygen carrier and / or one halogen carrier. Each individual smoke composition is enclosed by a hydrophobic ignition layer that completely surrounds it.
[0004] The invention is based on the objective of creating a cartridge that can produce effects other than artificial fog.
[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
[0006] The invention proposes a cartridge, particularly in caliber 40 mm, comprising: - a substantially cylindrical case,
[0007] - a bombette, showing:
[0008] - an essentially cylindrical housing that is essentially coaxially accommodated in the sleeve,
[0009] - several subbodies that are contained within the housing, the subbodies being essentially spherical,
[0010] - a propellant charge to drive the bombette out of the casing,
[0011] where
[0012] - each subbody contains at least one irritant, in particular an irritant smoldering compound.
[0013] Irritants are chemical substances intended to impair the functioning of the human body by causing irritation. In one exemplary embodiment, at least one of the irritants comprises an eye irritant and / or a nasal / pharyngeal irritant. The irritant is contained, in particular, in an irritant smoldering mixture. Hereinafter, the irritant smoldering mixture is also referred to as the smoldering mixture. The irritant smoldering mixture consists of an irritant component and a smoldering mixture component as a homogeneous mixture. The smoldering mixture component serves as a pyrotechnic heating element. After ignition, the smoldering mixture component reacts in an exothermic reaction, thus generating heat and gases. The actual irritant (CS) is not burned or ignited, as this would cause it to decompose. The heat and the resulting gases cause the CS irritant to be emitted and dispersed into the air.
[0014] After the propellant charge is ignited, the bombette is ejected from an opening in the top of the casing and typically travels a distance of 30 to 150 meters. The ignited propellant charge directly or indirectly ignites the sub-bodies, causing the casing to open after a certain flight time, allowing the ignited sub-bodies to disperse and release the irritant.
[0015] The subbodies are essentially spherical. This allows them to roll across the ground after impact, releasing the irritant over a larger area.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, it is determined that at least one of the subbodies has a core, in particular a spherical one, containing the at least one irritant, and a covering layer that substantially encloses the core and forms an ignition element for igniting the irritant.
[0017] The cladding layer is ignited directly or indirectly by the propellant charge and then in turn ignites the core or a smoldering compound forming the core, which contains at least one irritant. The irritant is emitted by the heat of the smoldering compound.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, it is determined that at least one of the subbodies has an intermediate layer between the core and the cladding layer, which substantially surrounds the core and forms a delay set to delay the ignition of the irritant smoldering composition.
[0019] The outer layer is ignited directly or indirectly by the propellant charge and then in turn ignites the delay element, which then ignites the core or the smoldering element. This ensures that at least one irritant is only released once the respective subbody has landed in the target area.
[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the housing has an inner layer on its inner circumferential surface which forms an ignition composition for igniting the sub-bodies.
[0021] The inner layer is ignited directly or indirectly by the propellant charge, ensuring a more even ignition of the sub-bodies.
[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the bombette has an ignition tube extending substantially coaxially in the housing from a lower end wall, and an ignition charge for igniting the subbodies, which is arranged at the lower end of the ignition tube.
[0023] The ignition charge is ignited directly or indirectly by the propellant charge and then produces a flame that spreads upwards in the ignition tube and exits it to ignite the sub-body and the inner layer, if present.
[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the ignition tube has several through-holes distributed along its length and / or circumference.
[0025] The through-holes allow the flame generated by the ignition charge to exit the ignition tube evenly. This results in a more uniform ignition of the sub-body and any inner layer.
[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the ignition tube has an outer layer on its outer circumferential surface, which forms an ignition composition for igniting the subbodies.
[0027] The outer layer is ignited directly or indirectly by the propellant charge and / or the ignition charge, if present, or by the flame it generates, ensuring more uniform ignition of the sub-bodies. In an exemplary embodiment, the ignition tube is designed to have predetermined breaking points distributed along its length and / or circumference.
[0028] The predetermined breaking points cause the ignition tube to rupture due to thermal stresses generated by the propellant charge and / or the pilot charge, if present, or the flame it produces. This allows the flame generated by the pilot charge to exit the ignition tube evenly. This results in more uniform ignition of the sub-body and the inner layer, if present.
[0029] In one exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the ignition tube is made of a combustible material.
[0030] The ignition tube is ignited directly or indirectly by the propellant charge and / or the pilot charge, if present, or by the flame it generates, ensuring more even ignition of the sub-bodies. Once the ignition tube has burned out, the mass of the remaining parts in the bombette or casing is minimal, thus reducing the safety risk.
[0031] In one exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the flammable material comprises cardboard and / or paper and / or celluloid.
[0032] If the flammable material comprises or consists of celluloid, an outer layer for the ignition tube is preferably omitted.
[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, it is determined that
[0034] - a lid closes an upper opening of the sleeve; and / or
[0035] - a lid closes an upper opening of the housing.
[0036] The cap for the cartridge case provides a moisture-proof seal, ensuring that the sub-cartridge and various pyrotechnic charges and compositions inside remain functional for as long as possible. It is ejected from the case when the bombette is fired.
[0037] The lid for the housing allows the sub-bodies to be kept in the housing until a desired time at which they are removed from the opening.
[0038] In one exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the housing has predetermined breaking points distributed along its length and / or circumference.
[0039] The predetermined breaking points cause the casing to rupture due to the internal pressure generated by the propellant charge and / or the ignition charge, if present, or the flame it produces. This allows the sub-bodies to be ejected essentially radially outwards, or perpendicular to the flight direction of the projectiles.
[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, it is specified that the bombette comprises an ejection charge for ejecting the subbodies from the housing, which is arranged on a lower end wall of the housing.
[0041] Preferably, the casing has no predetermined breaking points, so that the subbodies are ejected essentially axially forward in the direction of flight of the bombette. If a lid closes an upper opening of the casing, it will be expelled from the casing by the subbodies, which are driven towards the upper opening by the ejection charge, and by the resulting internal pressure.
[0042] The casing preferably contains between 25 and 200 subbodies. This has the advantage that the subbodies have a large overall surface area and are activated quickly, thus rapidly releasing the irritant. Furthermore, the subbodies are small and numerous enough that they cannot all be thrown back. A trade-off is made between the size and number of subbodies. Small subbodies are also less fragile, as the ratio of fall velocity to weight is favorable, and they burn faster. However, subbodies that are too small have a lower yield of the active ingredient, as the ratio of igniter to active ingredient is less favorable.
[0043] When the terms "approximately" or "about" or "essentially" are used in this disclosure in connection with values or ranges of values, or with properties or geometries, they are to be understood as a tolerance range that a person skilled in the art considers customary in this field. In particular, when using the terms "approximately" or "about" in connection with values or ranges of values, a tolerance range is ±20%, preferably ±10%, and more preferably ±5%. Lower limits of value ranges may thus be undershot by 5% to 20%. Upper limits of value ranges may thus be exceeded by 5% to 20%. Where different value ranges, for example, preferred and more preferred value ranges, are specified in the present invention, the lower limits and the upper limits of the different value ranges can be combined with one another.
[0044] In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The individual features resulting therefrom are not limited to the individual embodiments, but can be combined with individual features described above and / or with individual features of other embodiments. The details in the drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only, not as limiting. The reference numerals contained in the claims are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention in any way, but merely refer to the embodiments shown in the drawings.
[0045] The drawings show in:
[0046] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a cartridge according to the invention, which has a first embodiment of a bombette, which has a first embodiment of subbodies;
[0047] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a second embodiment of one of the subbodies; FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a second embodiment of the bombette;
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a third embodiment of the bombette;
[0049] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a fourth embodiment of the bombette;
[0050] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of a fifth embodiment of the bombette; and FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of a sixth embodiment of the bombette.
[0051] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a cartridge 10 according to the invention. The cartridge 10 includes, by way of example, a substantially cylindrical sleeve 12, a bombette 14 designed according to a first embodiment, a propellant charge 16 for driving the bombette 14 out of the sleeve 12, a cap 18 that seals the upper opening of the sleeve 12 (as shown in FIG. 1) in a moisture-tight manner, and a primer 20 in the base of the sleeve for igniting the propellant charge 16. A sealing element 48 is arranged around a dome of the bombette 14 (not otherwise specified).
[0052] The bombette 14 is shown separately in FIG. 3 and comprises a substantially cylindrical housing 22, several subbodies 24, a lid 26, an ignition tube 28, a igniter charge 30 for igniting the subbodies 24, an intensifying charge 32 for amplifying the ignition, and an ejection charge 34 for ejecting the ignited subbodies 24 from the housing 22. The housing 22 is received substantially coaxially in the sleeve 12. The subbodies 24 are received in the housing 22. The lid 26 closes the upper opening of the housing 22 shown in FIG. 1. The ignition tube 28 extends substantially coaxially in the housing 22 from a lower end wall 22a of the housing 22 almost to the lid 26 and has several through-holes 28a distributed along its length and circumference. The propellant charge 16 is arranged between the cartridge base on one side and the lower end wall 22a and the ignition charge 30 on the other side and borders the percussion cap 20.The ignition charge 30 is arranged at the lower end of the ignition tube 28. The booster charge 32 is arranged at the lower opening of the ignition tube 28 and on top of the ignition charge 30. The ejection charge 34 is arranged on a lower end wall of the housing 22 around the lower end of the ignition tube 28.
[0053] To fire the cartridge 10, the primer 20 is ignited, for example, by means of a firing pin (not shown), thereby igniting the propellant charge 16. The ignited propellant charge 16 ignites the primer charge 30 and simultaneously pushes the bombette 14 in FIG. 1 upwards away from the base of the cartridge case, causing it to blow off the cap 18 and fly out of the cartridge case 12. The ignited primer charge 30 burns during its flight and ignites the booster charge 32, producing a flame that spreads upwards from below through the ignition tube 28 and radially outwards through the through-holes 28a between the sub-bodies 24, igniting them.
[0054] The subbodies 24 each have a substantially spherical core 36 and a shell 38. The core 36 consists of an irritant smoldering agent, for example, an eye irritant. The shell 38 encloses the core 36 and forms an ignition agent for igniting the irritant. The shell 38 is indirectly ignited by the propellant charge 16, namely via the ignition charge 30 and the booster charge 32, or the flame generated by them, and then in turn ignites the core 36 or the smoldering agent.
[0055] FIG. 2 shows a subbody 24 separately, which is designed according to a second embodiment. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment of the subbody 24, so the differences will be explained in more detail below.
[0056] In this embodiment, the subbody 24 has an intermediate layer 39 between the core 36 and the cladding layer 38, which surrounds the core 36 and forms a delay set to delay the ignition of the irritant smoldering composition.
[0057] The outer layer 38 is indirectly ignited by the propellant charge, namely via the ignition charge 30 and the booster charge 32, or rather the flame they generate, and then in turn ignites the intermediate layer 39, which then in turn ignites the core 36, or the smoldering charge. This allows the irritant to be released later, preferably only after the respective subbody 24 has landed in the target area.
[0058] Figure 4 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the bombette 14. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, so the differences will be explained in more detail below.
[0059] In this embodiment, the housing 22 has an inner layer 40 on its inner circumferential surface, which forms an ignition element for igniting the subbodies 24.
[0060] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a third embodiment of the bombette 14. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, so the differences will be explained in more detail below.
[0061] In this embodiment, the ignition tube 28 has predetermined breaking points 42 instead of through holes 28a, which are distributed along its length and circumference. The predetermined breaking points 42 cause the ignition tube 28 to rupture due to the thermal stresses generated by the propellant charge 16 and the ignition charge 30, or the flame produced by it. This allows the flame produced by the ignition charge 30 to exit the ignition tube 28 uniformly.
[0062] Figure 6 schematically shows a fourth embodiment of the bombette 14. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, so the differences will be explained in more detail below.
[0063] In this embodiment, the ignition tube 28 has no through-holes 28a and is made of a combustible material, for example cardboard. In an alternative embodiment, the material is celluloid and the inner layer 40 is omitted.
[0064] The ignition tube 28 is ignited by the propellant charge 16 and by the ignition charge 30 or the flame produced by it, and ensures uniform ignition of the sub-bodies 24.
[0065] Figure 7 schematically illustrates a fifth embodiment of the bombette 14. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, so the differences will be explained in more detail below.
[0066] In this embodiment, the housing 22 has predetermined breaking points 44 distributed along its length and circumference. Furthermore, the cover 26 is firmly connected to the housing 22.
[0067] The predetermined breaking points 44 cause the casing 22 to rupture due to the internal pressure generated by the propellant charge 16 and the ignition charge 30, or the flame produced by them. This allows the sub-bodies 24 to be ejected essentially radially outwards, or transversely to the direction of flight of the bombette. (See also: List of reference symbols)
[0068] 10 cartridges
[0069] 12 sleeve
[0070] 14 Bombette
[0071] 16 propellant charge
[0072] 18 lids for 12
[0073] 20 firelighters
[0074] 22 cases
[0075] 22a lower end wall of 22
[0076] 24 subbodies
[0077] 26 lids for 22
[0078] 28 Ignition tube
[0079] 28a Through holes of 28
[0080] 30 firelighters
[0081] 32 amplifier charge
[0082] 34 ejection charge
[0083] 36 core
[0084] 38 Envelope layer
[0085] 39 Intermediate shift
[0086] 40 inner layer
[0087] 42 predetermined breaking points out of 28
[0088] 44 predetermined breaking points out of 22
[0089] 48 sealing element
Claims
Patent claims:
1. Cartridge (10), in particular in caliber 40 mm, comprising: - an essentially cylindrical sleeve (12), - one bombette (14), showing: - a substantially cylindrical housing (22) which is received substantially coaxially in the sleeve (12), - several subbodies (24) which are contained in the housing (22), wherein the subbodies (24) are essentially spherical, - a propellant charge (16) for driving the bombette (14) out of the sleeve (12), characterized in that - each subbody (24) contains at least one irritant, in particular an irritant smoldering set.
2. Cartridge (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the subbodies (24) has a core (36) containing the at least one irritant in a smoldering composition and a covering layer (38) that substantially encloses the core (36) and forms an ignition composition for igniting the irritant.
3. Cartridge (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the subbodies (24) has an intermediate layer (39) between the core (36) and the cladding layer (38), which substantially surrounds the core (36) and forms a delay element for delaying the ignition of the smoldering charge.
4. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (22) has an inner layer (40) on its inner circumferential surface which forms an ignition composition for igniting the subbodies (24).
5. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bombette (14) has an ignition tube (28) extending substantially coaxially in the housing (22) from a lower end wall (22a), and a igniting charge (30) for igniting the subbodies (24) which is arranged at the lower end of the ignition tube (28).
6. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims and claim 5, characterized in that the ignition tube (28) has several through holes (28a) distributed over its length and / or circumference.
7. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims and claim 5, characterized in that the ignition tube (28) has an outer layer on its outer circumferential surface which forms an ignition composition for igniting the subbodies (24).
8. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims and claim 5, characterized in that the ignition tube (28) has predetermined breaking points (42) distributed over its length and / or circumference.
9. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims and claim 5, characterized in that the ignition tube (28) is made of a combustible material.
10. Cartridge (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the flammable material comprises cardboard and / or paper and / or celluloid.
11. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims and claim 5, characterized in that - a lid (18) closes an upper opening of the sleeve (12); and / or - a lid (26) closes an upper opening of the housing (22).
12. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims and claim 5, characterized in that the housing (22) has predetermined breaking points (44) distributed over its length and / or circumference.
13. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bombette (14) comprises an ejection charge (34) for ejecting the subbodies (24) from the housing (22), which is arranged on a lower end wall (22a) of the housing (22).
14. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the irritants comprises an ocular irritant and / or a nasal / pharyngeal irritant.
15. Cartridge (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (22) contains between 25 and 200 subbodies (24).