Projectile and method for marking the ejection of sub-projectiles of a projectile

Abstract

The invention relates to a projectile (1) having a projectile casing (2), an ignition mechanism (3), an explosive charge (4), and a marking powder (5), wherein the marking powder (5) is disposed in the projectile casing (2). The invention further relates to a method for marking the ejection of sub-projectiles (6) of such a projectile (1). Optical tracking of the projectile (1) is improved by placing a plurality of sub-projectiles (6) in the projectile casing (2), wherein the sub-projectiles (6) can be ejected by igniting the explosive charge (4) by means of the ignition mechanism (3) in order to engage targets, and the marking powder (5) is disposed adjacent to and / or between the sub-projectiles (6) such that the ejection of the sub-projectiles (6) can be marked by an at least partial combustion of the marking powder (5), the combustion being initiated by the ignition of the explosive charge (4).

Description

[0001] Projectile and method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles from a projectile

[0002] The invention relates to a projectile having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles of a projectile.

[0003] Such projectiles consist of a casing, a tip or cap, a firing mechanism, an explosive charge, and a marking powder, the marking powder being located within the casing. Document CA 3189015 A1 describes a medium-caliber marking projectile fired from a cannon. A pyrotechnic marking compound is located in the tip. According to the disclosure, the marking compound comprises magnesium powder as an incendiary agent and an oxidizer that ignites this pyrotechnic material safely and rapidly, thereby producing a very bright flash of light. Ignition occurs upon impact with the target, particularly during training, so that the flash of light allows a shooter and / or another observer to recognize that the target has been hit. The generation of the flash of light is therefore also referred to as marking.

[0004] The disadvantage of the projectile from CA 3189015 A1 is the use of an oxidizer. It is well known that propellant powder and oxidizer combine to create a pyrotechnic product classified at a significantly higher hazard level, and that oxidizers inherently degrade chemically more rapidly, which can lead to unintentional ignitions and other dangerous situations.

[0005] Document WO 2014086533 A1 describes ammunition with a non-explosive projectile which, upon fragmentation upon impact, releases a fuel, such as magnesium powder, or a fuel mixture as an flammable air-fuel mixture. This mixture is spontaneously ignited by at least one non-explosive, spark-generating ignition mechanism triggered upon impact. The resulting optical and thermal target signature, also known as marking, can be detected with the naked eye, as well as with telescopic sights or other optical target acquisition systems, and with night vision and thermal imaging devices. WO 2014086533 A1 thus describes a marking system suitable for medium-caliber ammunition, where impact with the target is required to produce the marking effect.Only upon impact of the projectile is the marking powder, which is in the form of magnesium powder, released inside the projectile, producing the desired flash of light, which is used to mark the point of impact.

[0006] Also known in the art is so-called airburst munition, in which subprojectiles are ejected upon impact with the target or shortly before impact. The ejection of the subprojectiles by detonating a corresponding explosive charge is also referred to as fragmentation. Such airburst munition is particularly suitable for the active defense of close-range airspace with guns, and this active defense of close-range airspace represents a key element in securing vital air superiority. To effectively engage a flying target, good projectile precision and efficient subprojectile deployment are required. However, the hit probability of individual subprojectiles is difficult to estimate. Another known disadvantage of subprojectile deployment is that the actual position, especially during the day, is difficult to determine.This eliminates a crucial control tool for verifying correct weapon settings and calibrating the runtime calculation. Consequently, evaluating hits and the resulting damage assessment is difficult and costly, if not impossible.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the objective of designing and / or further developing the projectile and the method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles of a projectile in such a way that the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided, or at least reduced, in particular where optical tracking of the projectile is improved.

[0008] This problem underlying the invention is now initially solved by a projectile with the features of claim 1.

[0009] One aspect of the invention essentially lies in the arrangement of several subprojectiles in the projectile casing, wherein the subprojectiles can be ejected for target engagement by igniting the explosive charge via the ignition mechanism, wherein the marking powder is arranged adjacent to and / or between the subprojectiles, so that the ejection of the subprojectiles can be marked by at least partial combustion of the marking powder initiated by ignition of the explosive charge.

[0010] By introducing the marking powder into the area of ​​the subprojectiles, it can be ejected along with the subprojectiles after the detonation of the explosive charge, a process that can be accomplished within milliseconds. Due to the rapid dynamics of this process, considerable frictional heat is generated between the subprojectiles and the marking powder placed between them, as well as within the marking powder itself. This heat, combined with the heat of the explosive charge and a detonation wave, is used to ignite the marking powder. The release of the marking powder into the oxygen-containing ambient air provides sufficient oxidizer to ultimately ignite the marking powder. The marking powder is designed to burn very quickly and so hotly that a bright, distinctive flash of light is visible to the human eye.Generating the flash of light thus constitutes marking. This makes optical tracking of the projectile, and in particular detecting the time and / or location of fragmentation, especially easy. The brightness of the flame when the marking powder burns is so high that this tracking is accurate and easy both at night and during the day.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the projectile, the subprojectiles are cylindrical. This simplifies their manufacture. Furthermore, when arranged within the projectile casing, such cylindrical subprojectiles are stacked to create sufficiently large spaces in which the marking powder can be placed in the desired quantity. The subprojectiles preferably contain a heavy metal and / or are made of a heavy metal.

[0012] Furthermore, the axes of the subprojectiles are preferably located essentially parallel to a projectile axis. This allows for good alignment of the subprojectiles with the target during ejection. Additionally, the size of the space formed between the subprojectiles for receiving the marking powder is precisely known due to the controlled parallel alignment of the subprojectile axes, enabling highly accurate adjustment of the amount of marking powder to be placed in the projectile casing.

[0013] Advantageously, the projectile casing has a corrugated inner wall, at least in the area that receives the subprojectiles. This inner wall is periodically structured with alternating ridges and depressions that extend towards and away from the projectile's axis, specifically the central axis of the casing. This corrugated inner wall improves the support of the subprojectiles against the inner wall. The corrugation also prevents the subprojectiles from rotating. Furthermore, this design varies the thickness of the projectile casing, creating predetermined breaking points in the areas of the casing with the thinnest walls. Additionally, the size of the space available for the marking powder between the subprojectiles and the inner wall can be adjusted, thus ensuring optimal combustion of the marking powder.

[0014] In particular, the surfaces of the wave crests and / or wave troughs are essentially aligned parallel to the projectile axis. This further improves the support of the subprojectiles and / or facilitates the alignment of the subprojectile axes parallel to the projectile axis during the filling of the projectile casing.

[0015] It can be advantageous if at least part of the marking powder is arranged between two adjacent subprojectiles, particularly both along and perpendicular to the projectile axis. This allows the frictional heat generated during fragmentation to be transferred from the subprojectiles to the adjacent marking powder particularly effectively and quickly.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the projectile, the ignition mechanism has a delay fuze and / or is designed as a delay fuze. The design of the projectile with a delay fuze has the particular advantage that the deployment of the subprojectiles before impact with the target can be initiated using simple means.

[0017] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the projectile, the marking powder comprises magnesium, preferably with a grain size corresponding to a mesh between 150 and 600, aluminum, and / or titanium. These materials are particularly well suited to burn up upon ejection of the subprojectiles, thus marking the ejection, in particular by generating the described flash of light. The marking powder can also consist of a mixture of the aforementioned materials.

[0018] Preferably, the projectile casing comprises a light metal, magnesium, aluminum, and / or titanium, and / or is made of a light metal, magnesium, aluminum, and / or titanium. Preferably, the projectile casing is designed to at least partially burn with the marking powder. In particular, this increases the brightness of the flash of light and / or extends its duration. This further improves and simplifies the optical tracking of the projectile, especially the detection of the time and / or location of fragmentation. It is also preferably the marking powder is compacted. This increases the amount of marking powder used and, through the compaction of the magnesium powder, prevents the subprojectiles from rotating relative to each other and to the projectile casing. This has the positive effect of increasing the projectile's accuracy and improving transport safety.

[0019] The problem underlying the invention is also solved by a method according to claim 12.

[0020] One aspect of the invention essentially lies in a method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles from a previously described projectile, wherein the subprojectiles are ejected by ignition of the explosive charge using the ignition mechanism for target engagement, wherein the ejection of the subprojectiles is marked by at least partial combustion of the marking powder initiated by ignition of the explosive charge.

[0021] This makes optical tracking of the projectile, especially the detection of the time and / or location of the ejection of the subprojectiles, particularly easy.

[0022] There are now numerous possibilities for advantageously designing and further developing the projectile according to the invention and the inventive method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles from such a projectile. Reference may first be made to the claims subordinate to claim 1. In the following, preferred embodiments of the projectile according to the invention and the inventive method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles from such a projectile are explained and described in more detail with reference to the drawing and the accompanying description. The drawing shows:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the projectile in a side view, partly in section, and

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of the projectile from Fig. 1 in a sectional view along line AA. Figs. 1 and 2 each show, among other things, a projectile 1 with a projectile casing 2, a firing mechanism 3, an explosive charge 4, and a marking powder 5. The marking powder 5 is arranged in the projectile casing 2. This is a medium-caliber projectile, also known as medium-caliber ammunition, with a caliber of 20 mm to 35 mm. The projectile 1 is preferably used for air defense, i.e., for engaging flying objects such as drones, missiles, or aircraft.

[0025] Several subprojectiles 6 are arranged in the projectile casing 2. The subprojectiles 6 can be ejected for target engagement by detonating the explosive charge 4 via the ignition mechanism 3. The marking powder 5 is arranged adjacent to and / or between the subprojectiles 6, so that the ejection of the subprojectiles 6 can be marked by at least partial combustion of the marking powder 5 initiated by the ejection of the subprojectiles 6. A cavity formed by the projectile casing 2 in the projectile 1, in which the subprojectiles 6 are arranged, is also referred to as the payload chamber. The marking powder 5 is thus also arranged in the payload chamber. All remaining spaces between the subprojectiles 6 and the projectile casing 2 are filled with the marking powder 5. The combustion of the marking powder 5 can be carried out in a short time and thus results in a flash of light. This flash of light can be detected optically, e.g.from a human eye, so that the weapon used to fire the projectile can subsequently be adjusted more precisely.

[0026] The subprojectiles 6 are cylindrical. Alternatively, subprojectiles of other shapes, e.g., angular, could also be provided. Preferably, all subprojectiles 6 have the same shape.

[0027] The axes of the subprojectiles 6 are essentially parallel to a projectile axis L, particularly if the subprojectiles 6 are cylindrical. "Essentially" in this context means that deviations of up to 10° from these parallel arrangements are permissible. It would also be conceivable to arrange the subprojectiles chaotically, i.e., loosely packed within the projectile casing, resulting in varying angles between the axis of each subprojectile and the projectile axis.

[0028] The projectile casing 2 has a corrugated inner wall 7, at least in one area that receives the subprojectiles 6, namely in particular in the payload chamber. This corrugated inner wall 7 predetermines the arrangement of the subprojectiles 6 to a certain extent, and thus makes it less random. Alternatively, for the sake of simplicity, the inner wall could also be made cylindrical.

[0029] The surfaces of the wave crests 8 and / or wave troughs 9 extend essentially parallel to the projectile axis L. "Essentially" in this context means that deviations of up to 10° from these parallel arrangements are permissible. The curvature of at least a portion of the wave crests 8 and / or wave troughs 9 is less than the curvature of a circumferential surface of the subprojectiles 6, thus creating additional space for the marking powder 5. Wave crests 8 project into the cavity of the projectile 1 formed by the projectile casing 2. Wave troughs 9 are formed as recesses in the projectile casing 2 that enlarge this cavity. Wave crests 8 are therefore convex and wave troughs 9 concave. There are six eccentric, sector-shaped wave troughs 9 in cross-section.The cavity is preferably first produced by means of a drill or milling cutter rotating parallel to the projectile axis L, wherein the wave crests 8 and wave troughs 9 are subsequently produced by means of a drill or milling cutter of smaller diameter rotating parallel to the projectile axis L, in particular by moving perpendicular to the projectile axis L.

[0030] The subprojectiles 6 are arranged in several rows, the axes of the subprojectiles 6 of each row essentially forming a straight line parallel to the projectile axis L. Furthermore, the end faces of adjacent subprojectiles 6 lie perpendicular to the projectile axis L and preferably in planes oriented perpendicular to the projectile axis L.

[0031] Between two adjacent subprojectiles 6, particularly both along the projectile axis L and perpendicular to it, at least a portion of the marking powder 5 is arranged. Nevertheless, it is conceivable that two adjacent subprojectiles 6 make contact, at least partially. Furthermore, contact between the outer subprojectiles 6 and the projectile casing 2 is conceivable.

[0032] The firing mechanism 3 has a delay fuse and / or is designed as a delay fuse. The delay fuse allows the explosive charge 4 to be detonated after a specific travel time of the projectile 1 following its launch from a gun barrel. This travel time can be calibrated and calculated based on the marking, in particular the flash of light. It is also conceivable that the firing mechanism 3 has a distance fuse and / or is designed as a distance fuse, so that the explosive charge 4 can be detonated at a specific distance from the target. Even when using the delay fuse, the aim is to eject the subprojectiles 6 before they reach the target.

[0033] The marking powder 5 contains magnesium, preferably with a grain size corresponding to a mesh between 150 and 600, aluminium and / or titanium, and / or is made of magnesium, preferably with a grain size corresponding to a mesh between 150 and 600, aluminium and / or titanium.

[0034] Under the short-term dynamic conditions during the ignition of the explosive charge 4, namely during sufficiently rapid detonation or during sufficiently strong detonation of the explosive charge 4, aluminum, zirconium and titanium have similar properties to magnesium.

[0035] The projectile casing 2 comprises a light metal, in particular magnesium, aluminum and / or titanium, and / or is made of a light metal, magnesium, aluminum and / or titanium. The projectile casing 2 is designed to burn at least partially with the marking powder 5. The projectile casing 2 burns like the marking powder 5, preferably producing a flash of light.

[0036] In a preferred combination, magnesium 5 is used as the marking powder and aluminum 2 for the bullet casing.

[0037] The marking powder 5 is compacted. When filling the projectile casing 2 with the marking powder 5, a specific pressure is exerted on the marking powder 5. The projectile casing 2 is preferably filled alternately, with layers of subprojectiles 6 and layers of marking powder 5 being filled alternately into the projectile casing 2, the layers of marking powder 5 being compacted, in particular before the next layer of subprojectiles 6 is filled.

[0038] In a method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles 6 from the projectile 1, the subprojectiles 6 are ejected for target engagement by detonating the explosive charge 4 via the ignition mechanism 3. The ejection of the subprojectiles 6 is marked by at least partial combustion of the marking powder 5, initiated by the ejection of the subprojectiles 6. The projectile 1 itself is fired from a gun barrel towards a target to be engaged. The ejection of the subprojectiles 6 then occurs after a specific time and / or at a specific distance from the target. The marking, in particular the accompanying flash of light, allows a shooter, for example, to visually determine whether the timing of the ejection of the subprojectiles 6 was well-chosen for the successful engagement of the target.For the firing of a next identical or similar projectile 1, a corresponding adjustment can then be made if the timing of the ejection of the subprojectiles 6 was not yet optimally chosen.

[0039] By means of the projectile 1 described here and the method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles 6 such projectiles 1, in particular a successful active defense of a nearby airspace with guns equipped with barrels and a securing of air superiority is made possible. Reference list

[0040] 1 floor

[0041] 2-shell

[0042] 3 Ignition mechanism

[0043] 4 explosive charges

[0044] 5 marking powders

[0045] 6 subprojectiles

[0046] 7 Interior wall

[0047] 8 wave crests

[0048] 9 wave troughs

[0049] L floor axis

Claims

Patent claims 1. Projectile (1) comprising a projectile casing (2), an ignition mechanism (3), an explosive charge (4) and a marking powder (5), wherein the marking powder (5) is arranged in the projectile casing (2), characterized in that several subprojectiles (6) are arranged in the projectile casing (2), wherein the subprojectiles (6) can be ejected for target engagement by detonating the explosive charge (4) by means of the ignition mechanism (3), wherein the marking powder (5) is arranged adjacent to and / or between the subprojectiles (6), so that the ejection of the subprojectiles (6) can be marked by at least partial combustion of the marking powder (5) initiated by detonating the explosive charge (4).

2. Projectile (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the subprojectiles (6) are cylindrical in shape.

3. Projectile (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the axes of the subprojectiles (6) are substantially parallel to a projectile axis (L).

4. Projectile (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projectile casing (2) has a wave-shaped inner wall (7) at least in an area receiving the subprojectiles (6).

5. Projectile (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that straight lines lying in wave crests (8) and / or wave troughs (9) are oriented essentially parallel to the projectile axis (L).

6. Projectile (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between two adjacent subprojectiles (6), in particular both in the direction of the projectile axis (L) and perpendicular to it, at least a portion of the marking powder (5) is arranged.

7. Projectile (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ignition mechanism (3) has a delay fuze and / or is designed as a delay fuze.

8. Projectile (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the marking powder (5) comprises magnesium, preferably with a grain size corresponding to a mesh between 150 and 600, aluminum and / or titanium, and / or is made of magnesium, preferably with a grain size corresponding to a mesh between 150 and 600, aluminum and / or titanium.

9. Projectile (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projectile casing (2) comprises a light metal, magnesium, aluminum and / or titanium and / or is made of a light metal, magnesium, aluminum and / or titanium 10. Projectile (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projectile casing (2) is designed to burn at least partially with the marking powder (5).

11. Projectile (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the marking powder (5) is compacted.

12. Method for marking the ejection of subprojectiles (6) of a projectile (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the subprojectiles (6) are ejected for target engagement by ignition of the explosive charge (4) by means of the ignition mechanism (3), wherein the ejection of the subprojectiles (6) is marked by at least partial combustion of the marking powder (5) initiated by ignition of the explosive charge (4).

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