Penetrator, projectile, cartridge ammunition and method for transmitting data and / or energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a penetrator (10) for a projectile (100), having a main body (12) having a terminal ballistic effect, wherein the main body (12) extends along a central longitudinal axis (14) from a rear end (16) to a front end (18) in each case relative to a firing direction (S), wherein a first electroacoustic transducer (20) is attached to the rear end (16) of the main body (12), and a second electroacoustic transducer (22) is attached to the front end (18) of the main body (12) such that data and / or electrical energy can be transmitted between the rear end (16) of the main body (12) and the front end (18) of the main body (12) via the two electroacoustic transducers (20, 22) and the main body (12) by means of structure-borne sound.

Description

[0001] Rheinmetall Weapons and Munitions GmbH

[0002] Heinrich-Ehrhardt-Straße 2

[0003] 29345 Südheide

[0004] Penetrator, projectile, cartridge ammunition and method for transmitting data and / or energy

[0005] Description

[0006] The invention relates to a penetrator with features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a projectile and cartridged ammunition with the features of the respective dependent claims. In addition, the invention relates to a method for transmitting data and / or energy between a rear end and a front end of a main body of a penetrator with the features of a further dependent claim.

[0007] A penetrator is a part of a projectile that achieves its effect—namely, at least the penetration of a target's armor and, in particular, the associated destruction of the target—typically solely through kinetic energy. The design and function of penetrators are known from the prior art.

[0008] Such a penetrator is disclosed, for example, in DE 102019 126604 Al. The penetrator has a main body, usually made of a solid material, such as a tungsten heavy metal. The main body is the terminally effective part of the penetrator, which is usually cylindrical with a pointed end face (front; forward in the direction of fire). To improve the (external) ballistic flight phase of the projectile, i.e., the path from the muzzle of a projectile tube from which the penetrator or the corresponding projectile is fired to the target where the penetrator or the main body exerts its terminal ballistic effect, a tail assembly is also arranged on the penetrator. This tail assembly is attached to an end face of the main body opposite the pointed end face (tail; rear in the direction of fire). The tail assembly serves to...is designed to aerodynamically stabilize the penetrator during the (external) ballistic flight phase, thereby ensuring the penetrator's accuracy.

[0009] Depending on the design of a penetrator, its intended use requires that, shortly before firing, target information, such as flight time, be transmitted from a weapon system's fire control computer to a control unit typically located near the front of the main body, i.e., the tapered end (front). This is conventionally accomplished via a signal line running along the penetrator's central longitudinal axis from the rear end (tail end), i.e., the end with the tail assembly, to the front of the main body. This signal line receives, for example, the signals from the weapon system's fire control computer at the rear and forwards them to the control unit.

[0010] Various solutions for routing the signal line from the rear to the front end of the main body are known in the prior art. For example, the applicant is aware from practical experience of routing the signal line within the main body through a cavity extending along the longitudinal axis of the main body, e.g., through a bore formed in the main body (signal line routed directly into the bore).

[0011] German patent DE 102021 130961 discloses a penetrator in whose main body a bore is formed into which one or more inserts are inserted. The inserts each have a passage which is significantly smaller in diameter than the bore and through which the signal line is guided (signal line in the inserts and thus indirectly in the bore).

[0012] In DE 102022 134792 Al a penetrator is described whose main body has an external thread, wherein the signal line is guided along a thread base of the external thread, so to speak around the main body in the external thread base.

[0013] Each of the aforementioned options allows for routing a signal line from the rear end to the front end of the main body of a penetrator. However, there is a risk that any machining of the main body required to accommodate the signal line (e.g., material removal) may impair the mechanical properties of the penetrator (power-to-weight ratio and mechanical stability), potentially leading to reduced penetration performance.

[0014] The invention is based on the objective of enabling a durable and easy-to-assemble signal and energy transmission between the front and rear ends of the main body of a penetrator. It is desirable that the signal and energy transmission interferes as little as possible with the main components of the penetrator or projectile.

[0015] The invention solves this problem by means of a penetrator having the features of claim 1.

[0016] The penetrator is designed and / or intended for a projectile, in particular a sub-caliber kinetic energy penetrator. The penetrator has a terminal ballistically effective main body (penetrator body) for engaging an armored target.

[0017] The main body extends along a central longitudinal axis from, in each case with respect to a firing direction, a rear end (rear in the firing direction) to a front end (from the firing direction).

[0018] A first electroacoustic transducer is mounted at the rear end of the main body. A second electroacoustic transducer is mounted at the front end of the main body. Thus, data and / or electrical energy can be transmitted between the rear end of the main body (first electroacoustic transducer) and the front end of the main body (second electroacoustic transducer) via structure-borne sound through the two electroacoustic transducers and the main body.

[0019] The proposed penetrator allows signal and energy transfer between a front end and a rear end of the main body without requiring or taking any action on the material of the main body (no material removal from the main body to accommodate a signal or energy transmission line or a signal or energy line).

[0020] This prevents any impairment of the mechanical properties of the main body and the penetrator (e.g., due to material loss). This contributes to a favorable power-to-weight ratio and high mechanical stability, which promotes high penetration efficiency. Without the potentially complex routing of cables on the main body, the assembly of the penetrator is significantly simplified, and potential scrap is reduced. The need for complex insulation of electrical conductors is thus largely eliminated. In particular, the present penetrator is free of any electrical conductor (signal or power line) running from a rear end to a front end of the main body. One could also describe this as a conductorless or cable-free design of the main body.

[0021] With the proposed design of the penetrator, no structural changes to the propellant cage of a projectile equipped with the penetrator are required to enable signal and energy transmission, nor are any changes required to the cartridge case of a cartridged ammunition equipped with the penetrator.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, a data transmission and / or control unit can be arranged at the front end of the main body, which is electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer. Data transmission can occur via the main body and the two electroacoustic transducers by means of a data transmission unit. In this way, a portion of the sound coupled out at the front end, or a portion of an electrical signal generated from it, can be used for data transmission. Target information can be supplied to the control unit, for example, from a fire control computer of a weapon system. This enables the provision of a modern penetrator ("Smart Penetrator") that can be equipped with electrical properties and / or functions.

[0023] Advantageously, an electrical energy harvesting device (electrical energy generation device) can be arranged at the front end of the main body, which is electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer or to a further electroacoustic transducer (third electroacoustic transducer) attached to the front end of the main body. This allows a portion of the sound waves coupled out at the front end, or an electrical signal derived from them, to be converted into electrical energy. This electrical energy can then be used to power electrical or electronic components located at the front end of the main body, in particular the data transmission and / or control unit. The electrical energy is only available (unlike, for example, a battery) when it is actually needed and sound waves are transmitted through the main body.This increases operational reliability and significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access or tampering. Specifically, the main body can be free of a permanent electrical energy storage device, such as an electrochemical battery, at its front end. Any third electroacoustic transducer can be positioned at the front end of the main body, adjacent to the second electroacoustic transducer.

[0024] The energy harvesting device can be electrically coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit in such a way that the data transmission and / or control unit can be supplied with electrical energy by the energy harvesting device. This contributes to high operational reliability and reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs, as a permanent electrical energy storage device, such as an electrochemical battery, is no longer required and therefore does not need to be replaced. Specifically, the energy harvesting device can be coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit via an electrical supply line. The data transmission and / or control unit can be activated by the energy harvesting device using a wake-up signal.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, a splitting device can be connected downstream of the second electroacoustic transducer. This splitting device is electrically or electronically coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit and the energy generation unit, respectively. In this way, sound waves, which are coupled out at the front end of the main body by means of the second electroacoustic transducer and converted into an electrical signal, can be appropriately split and fed to the data transmission and / or control unit and the energy generation unit. The splitting device is specifically configured to separate a first part from an electrical signal of the second electroacoustic transducer (output signal) for data acquisition (feed to the data transmission and / or control unit) and a second part for generating electrical energy (feed to the energy generation unit).The signal splitting device can be designed as an (electronic) filter device, e.g., as a bandpass filter or a crossover network. This allows a data signal (modulated carrier signal) to be extracted from the electrical signal of the second electroacoustic transducer before rectification.

[0026] Specifically, the energy generation device can include a rectifier and / or an electrical energy storage device. This allows electrical energy to be easily generated from the electrical signal of the second or third electroacoustic transducer. The output signal of the electroacoustic transducer(s) can be at least partially an alternating current signal. The rectifier can consist of one or more interconnected diodes or be designed as such. The rectifier rectifies the output signal of the respective electroacoustic transducer (direct current). The electrical energy storage device allows the generated electrical energy to be (temporarily) stored and subsequently supplied, for example, to the data transmission and / or control unit. The electrical energy storage device can be designed as a capacitor or as an accumulator.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, a first modulation device can be electrically or electronically coupled to the first electroacoustic transducer, and / or a second modulation device can be electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer. In this way, the sound waves can be modulated to couple in information and / or signals (modulated carrier waves) and, particularly after passing through the main body, demodulated (demodulated carrier waves) to extract the information and / or signals from the sound waves. The modulation devices can be configured for both modulation and demodulation (bidirectional functionality). A first oscillator and / or a first data processing device (data input and output device) can be coupled to the first modulation device.The second modulation unit can be coupled to a second oscillator and / or a second data processing unit (data input and output unit). The components can be configured such that the sound waves and / or the carrier waves (a component of the sound waves) are in the ultrasonic range. Each oscillator can generate an electrical oscillation, which can then be used to excite one of the electroacoustic transducers. In addition, the oscillators can generate a reference signal with a specific frequency.

[0028] Advantageously, a further electroacoustic transducer (fourth electroacoustic transducer) can be attached to the rear end of the main body, which is electrically or electronically coupled to a (further) oscillator. This allows sound to be transmitted through the main body via separate transmission paths, optionally with different sound frequencies. Thus, the transmission of electrical energy through the main body of the penetrator and the transmission of signals and / or data between the main body and the oscillator can be carried out separately.

[0029] Information is transmitted via separate transmission paths. This allows for corresponding optimization of each transmission path and reduces the electrical load (compared to using a single transmission path and a corresponding split). The aforementioned task is also solved by a projectile comprising a propulsion cage, a guide vane, and a penetrator with one or more of the aforementioned features. Regarding the advantages achievable with this design, please refer to the relevant section on the penetrator. Further development of the projectile can be achieved using the measures discussed in connection with the penetrator and / or those explained below.

[0030] The aforementioned task is also accomplished by cartridge ammunition comprising a cartridge case and a projectile as described above. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the relevant explanations concerning the penetrator. Further modifications to the projectile can be achieved using the measures discussed in connection with the penetrator and / or those explained below.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge case can have an electrical contact at its base, which is electrically or electronically coupled to one or more electroacoustic transducers mounted at the rear of the main body. This ensures simple connectivity to the fire control computer of a weapon system firing the cartridged ammunition or projectile. The electrical contact at the base can be single-pole or multi-pole and electrically connected to the ignition element. The ignition element, in turn, can be coupled to the electroacoustic transducer(s) mounted at the rear of the main body via an electrical cable.

[0032] The aforementioned task is also solved by a method for transmitting data and / or energy with the features of the further subordinate claim.

[0033] The method serves to transmit data and / or energy via structure-borne sound between, in each case relative to a firing direction, a rear end of the main body of a penetrator and a front end of the main body of the penetrator. The method comprises the following steps:

[0034] Coupling of sound waves at one of the two ends of the main body, whereby the sound waves are transmitted from one end to the other via structure-borne sound. The coupling of the sound waves can be achieved using an electroacoustic transducer (coupling electroacoustic transducer). Coupling of sound waves at the other end of the main body and conversion of the coupled sound waves into an electrical signal to obtain data and / or electrical energy. The coupling of the sound waves and, optionally, their conversion into an electrical signal can be achieved using another electroacoustic transducer (coupling electroacoustic transducer).

[0035] As explained above in connection with the penetrator, it is thus possible to transmit signals, data and / or electrical energy between the ends of the main body, in the simplest case from the rear end to the front end of the main body, preferably bidirectionally (from the rear end to the front end of the main body and vice versa).

[0036] In principle, sound waves and / or carrier waves are conceivable in various frequency ranges. Preferably, the sound waves and / or carrier waves are in the ultrasound range (frequencies from 20 kHz to 1 GHz). This results in particularly lossless data and energy transmission.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the sound waves, or a carrier signal representing the sound waves, or a corresponding carrier frequency (containing data, signals, or information to be transmitted), can be modulated before or during coupling. In this way, the sound waves can be supplemented and / or modified with the corresponding data, signals, or information. In other words, the modulation is performed to imprint the data, signals, or information to be transmitted onto the sound waves (modulated carrier waves). This modulation can be carried out, for example, by a first modulation device, as explained above.

[0038] Advantageously, the modulated sound waves, the modulated carrier waves, or the electrical signal converted from the sound waves (coupled out of the main unit and demodulated) can be demodulated during or after coupling. This allows the data, signals, or information to be extracted from the sound waves. This demodulation can be performed, for example, by a second modulation device, as explained above.

[0039] In a further advantageous manner, a (first) portion of the converted electrical signal used to obtain data, signals, or information can be separated, and / or a further (second) portion can be used to generate electrical energy. Thus, on the one hand, data, signals, or information can be transmitted (first portion). On the other hand, a portion of the extracted sound waves or the signal derived from them can be converted into electrical energy (second portion). This allows, for example, a data transmission unit and / or a control unit of the penetrator to be supplied with electrical energy, as described above. Data and energy transmission can therefore take place on a single transmission path through the main body of the penetrator, requiring only one electroacoustic transducer at the front end of the main body.The converted electrical signal can be split into a first part and a second part using a splitting device, as described above.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, sound waves with different frequencies can be used for data transmission and electrical energy transmission. Data can be transmitted via a first frequency of the sound waves, while electrical energy can be transmitted via a second frequency of the sound waves that differs from the first. This allows the power supply by the main body and the data transmission to be optimized separately.

[0041] In one advantageous design option, data and electrical energy can be transmitted separately through the main body via separate transmission paths. This allows the electroacoustic transducers to be better adapted to their specific application. Furthermore, the electrical complexity can potentially be reduced, as no splitting of the converted electrical signal is required, and, for example, a splitting device can be omitted.

[0042] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, where identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals, possibly only once. The figures show:

[0043] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a cartridged ammunition comprising a projectile and a penetrator in a schematic longitudinal section;

[0044] Fig. 2 shows a possible embodiment of the cartridge ammunition from Figure 1 with one electroacoustic transducer at the front end and one at the rear end of the main body of the penetrator in a schematic longitudinal section (enlarged partial view); and Fig. 3 shows a possible embodiment of the cartridge ammunition from Figure 1 with two electroacoustic transducers at the front end and one at the rear end of the main body of the penetrator in a schematic longitudinal section (enlarged partial view).

[0045] Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a cartridge case, designated as 200. The cartridge case 200 comprises a cartridge case 202 and a projectile 100. The cartridge case 202 has a case wall 203, a case base 204 at the rear (in the direction of firing S), and a mouth 206 at the front (in the direction of firing S). The case wall 203 and the case base 204 define an interior 208 in which propellant powder 210 is arranged.

[0046] The projectile 100 has a sabot 102, preferably formed from several segments, a fin 104 and a penetrator 10. The projectile 100 is arranged axially in sections within the cartridge case 202 and projects forward in the firing direction S from the mouth 206 of the cartridge case 202.

[0047] The penetrator 10 has a terminal ballistic main body 12 which extends along a central longitudinal axis 14 from a rear end 16 in the direction of firing S to a front end 18 in the direction of firing S.

[0048] A first electroacoustic transducer 20 is attached to the rear end 16 of the main body 12. A second electroacoustic transducer 22 is attached to the front end 18 of the main body 12. The electroacoustic transducers 20 and 22 are each attached to the main body 12 in such a way that sound waves (structure-borne sound) can be coupled into and out of the main body 12.

[0049] The main body 12 and the electroacoustic transducers 20, 22 are tuned to each other such that data and / or electrical energy can be transmitted unidirectionally or bidirectionally between the rear end 16 and the front end 18 of the main body 12 via structure-borne sound (signal and energy transmission occurs via structure-borne sound). The penetrator 10 and the main body 12 are each free of any (wired) electrical conductor between the rear end 16 and the front end 18 of the main body 12. The main body 12 is largely monolithic and made of a metal, preferably tungsten. At the front end 18, the main body 12 has a cap 13, which is tapered or ogive-shaped (section 24 tapering towards the front end 18). The tail assembly 104 is attached to the rear end 16 of the main body 12, e.g.screwed to the main body 12.

[0050] In this example, a data transmission and / or control unit 26 is arranged at the front end 18 of the main body 12, which is electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer 22. Although other arrangements are conceivable, the electroacoustic transducer 22 and the data transmission and / or control unit 26 are preferably both arranged in the tapered section 24 or below the cover 13, respectively.

[0051] The further design of the penetrator 10 is described below with reference to Figure 2. This figure shows the electroacoustic transducers 20, 22, the data transmission and / or control unit 26 and other components in a schematic diagram.

[0052] An electrical energy harvesting device 28 is arranged at the front end 18 of the main body 12. In this example, it is electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer 22. Electrical energy can be harvested from the output signal of the second electroacoustic transducer 22 (sound waves coupled out at the front end 18 or an electrical signal converted therefrom) by means of the energy harvesting device 28. The energy harvesting device 28 is electrically coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit 26 in such a way that the data transmission and / or control unit 26 can be supplied with electrical energy by the energy harvesting device 28. In this case, the energy harvesting device 28 is coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit 26 via an electrical supply line 30.

[0053] A signal-splitting device 32 is connected downstream of the second electroacoustic transducer 22. This device is electrically or electronically coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit 26 and to the energy generation unit 28. The signal-splitting device 32 is configured to separate a first part of the electrical signal from the second electroacoustic transducer 22 (output signal) for data acquisition (feed to the data transmission and / or control unit) and a second part for generating electrical energy (feed to the energy generation unit). The signal-splitting device 22 can be designed as an (electronic) filter device, e.g., as a bandpass filter. The energy generation unit 28 comprises a rectifier 34 and an electrical energy storage device 36. The output signal of the electroacoustic transducer 22 can be rectified (direct current) by means of the rectifier 34.The rectifier 34 can have one or more interconnected diodes or be designed as such. The electrical energy generated can be temporarily stored by means of the electrical energy storage device 36 and then supplied to the data transmission and / or control unit 26 via the supply line 30. The electrical energy storage device 36 can be designed as a capacitor or an accumulator.

[0054] The first electroacoustic transducer 20 is electrically or electronically coupled to a first modulation device 38. This allows sound waves to be modulated to couple in information and / or signals (modulated carrier waves). The first modulation device 38 is also coupled to a first oscillator 40 and a first data processing device 42 (data input and output device).

[0055] A second electroacoustic transducer 22 is electrically or electronically coupled to a second modulation unit 44. This allows modulated carrier waves to be demodulated after passing through the main body 12 (demodulated carrier waves) in order to extract the information and / or signals from the sound waves. A second oscillator 46 and a second data processing unit 48 (data input and output unit) are coupled to the second modulation unit 44. The modulation unit 44 and the oscillator 46 can be assigned to the data transmission and / or control unit 26 or form components of the data transmission and / or control unit 26.

[0056] The cartridge case 202 has an electrical contact 212 at its base 204, which is electrically or electronically coupled to the electroacoustic transducer 20 (see Figure 1). This enables connectivity to a fire control computer of a weapon system (not shown). The electrical contact 212 can be single-pole or multi-pole and is electrically connected to an ignition element 214. The ignition element 214 is coupled to the electroacoustic transducer 20, which is attached to the rear end 16 of the main body 12, by means of an electrical cable 216.

[0057] The cartridge ammunition 200, the projectile 100 and the penetrator 10 work as follows:

[0058] By means of a suitable device of a weapon system firing the projectile 100 (not shown), e.g., a fire control computer, a signal and electrical energy are supplied to the electrical contact 212 on the cartridge case base 204. The signal and electrical energy are then transmitted via the ignition element 214 and an electrical cable 216 connected to it to the (first) electroacoustic transducer 20, which is located at the rear end 16 of the base body 12 of the penetrator 10. The electrical energy and the signal are then transmitted via the base body 12 (structure-borne sound) to the other (front) end 18 of the base body 12 and transmitted to the data transmission and / or control unit 26.

[0059] To transmit data and electrical energy (carrier waves) through the main body 12 using structure-borne sound, sound waves are coupled in at the rear end 16 of the main body 12 with a first electroacoustic transducer 20 and coupled out at the front end 18 of the main body 12 with a second electroacoustic transducer 22.

[0060] With an energy recovery device 28, at least a part of the sound waves coupled out at the front end 18 or an electrical signal converted therefrom is converted into electrical energy, which is used to operate a data transmission and / or control unit 26 arranged at the front end 18 of the main body 12.

[0061] A first modulation unit 38 modulates carrier waves with data to be transmitted, which are coupled into the main body 12 as sound waves and transmitted through the main body 12. A second modulation unit 44 serves to demodulate the transmitted carrier waves coupled out of the main body 12. Advantageously, the electrical energy obtained from the sound waves is supplied to the data transmission and / or control unit 26.

[0062] Although the components of the penetrator 10 involved in the coupling, transmission and extraction of the sound waves can be operated at different frequencies, the sound waves and / or carrier waves are preferably in the ultrasound range (efficient data and energy transmission).

[0063] Advantageously, the sound waves coupled out at the second electroacoustic transducer 22 are converted into an electrical signal. A first part of this signal is separated and demodulated for data acquisition (feed to the data transmission and / or control unit 26) by means of a splitting device 32, which can be designed as an electronic filter device. A second part is used to generate electrical energy (feed to the energy generation unit 28). In this way, data and energy transmission can take place on a single transmission path through the main body 12, requiring only one electroacoustic transducer 22 at the front end 18 of the main body.

[0064] The proposed design provides that the data transmission and / or control unit 26 can be supplied with electrical energy. For this purpose, the electrical signal (output signal of the second electroacoustic transducer 22) is routed via a line branch 25 to the energy generation unit 28. There, the electrical signal is rectified by means of the rectifier 34 and then supplied to the energy storage device 36, which is, for example, designed as a capacitor. A supply voltage for the data transmission and / or control unit 26 can be generated from the electrical energy stored therein.

[0065] If only one transmission path is used (simultaneous transmission of energy and data, as shown in Figure 2), the data signal can be tapped by the splitting device 32 upstream of the energy harvesting device 28. The electrical signal (output signal of the second electroacoustic transducer 22) reaches the data transmission and / or control unit 26 via a further line branch 27, possibly through the splitting device 32. There, the electrical signal can be demodulated by means of the modulation device 44. This allows the data to be extracted and, if necessary, made available for application.

[0066] Data transmission is bidirectional and therefore also possible in the opposite direction, e.g., for transmitting data from the data transmission and / or control unit 26 to the rear end 16, i.e., to the first electroacoustic transducer 20 or to the electrical contact 212. For this purpose, the data transmission and / or control unit 26 is supplied with electrical energy at the front end 18 of the main body 12 via the conductor branch 25. The data transmission and / or control unit 26 then operates in a "rearward transmission direction" (as a transmitter, so to speak) and modulates sound waves or carrier waves, which are generated by the oscillator 46, onto the corresponding data using the modulation device 44.

[0067] The sound waves are then coupled into the main body 12 at the front end 18 via the electroacoustic transducer 22 and coupled out at the rear end 16 via the electroacoustic transducer 20 and made available to an application, e.g., a fire control computer of a weapon system (not shown). The data transmission and / or control unit 26 can be configured to be activated by a wake-up signal, which may optionally be coded, e.g., by a wake-up signal from the fire control computer of a weapon system fed in via the electrical contact 212.

[0068] Figure 3 shows one possible configuration of the cartridge ammunition 200, in which separate transmission paths are used for data and energy transmission.

[0069] The present cartridge ammunition 200 largely corresponds to the design described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, so that reference is made to the explanations therein to avoid repetition.

[0070] In contrast, the present penetrator 10 has two electroacoustic transducers at the rear end 16 and at the front end 18 and is free of a splitting device 32 (splitting device 32 is omitted).

[0071] Thus, at the front end 18 of the main body 12, adjacent to the second electroacoustic transducer 22, the penetrator 10 has a third electroacoustic transducer 52, which is electrically or electronically coupled to the energy harvesting device 28 via the line branch 25. The second electroacoustic transducer 22 is electrically or electronically coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit 26 via the line branch 27, to which the second oscillator 46 and the second data processing device 48 are located.

[0072] At the rear end 16 of the main body 12, adjacent to the first electroacoustic transducer 20, a fourth electroacoustic transducer 54 is mounted, which is electrically or electronically coupled to a third oscillator 56. The first electroacoustic transducer 20 is electrically or electronically coupled to the first modulation unit 38. The oscillator 40 and a first data processing unit 42 (data input and output unit) are coupled to the first modulation unit 38.

[0073] The functioning of the penetrator 10 largely corresponds to that of the penetrator 10 described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, so that reference can be made to the explanations given there to avoid repetition.

[0074] In contrast, separate electroacoustic transducers can be used for data and power transmission, resulting in separate transmission paths. Electrical power is transmitted from the oscillator 56 and the electroacoustic transducer 54 via the main body 12 and the electroacoustic transducer 52 to the power generation unit 28 (transmission path PI). Data is transmitted from the modulation unit 38 (and the components connected to it) and the electroacoustic transducer 20 via the main body 12 and the electroacoustic transducer 22 to the data transmission and / or control unit 26 (transmission path P2).

[0075] This allows the electroacoustic transducers to be better adapted to the respective application and reduces the electrical effort (elimination of splitting device).

[0076] Optionally, energy and data can be transmitted via sound waves with different frequencies. This allows the energy supply and data transmission to be optimized separately.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Penetrator (10) for a projectile (100), with a terminal ballistic main body (12), wherein the main body (12) extends along a central longitudinal axis (14) from a rear end (16) to a front end (18) with respect to a firing direction (S), characterized in that a first electroacoustic transducer (20) is attached to the rear end (16) of the main body (12) and a second electroacoustic transducer (22) is attached to the front end (18) of the main body (12), so that data and / or electrical energy can be transmitted between the rear end (16) of the main body (12) and the front end (18) of the main body (12) via structure-borne sound through the two electroacoustic transducers (20, 22) and the main body (12).

2. Penetrator (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a data transmission and / or control unit (26) is arranged at the front end (18) of the main body (12), which is electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer (22).

3. Penetrator (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an electrical energy harvesting device (28) is arranged at the front end (18) of the main body (12), which is electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer (22) or a further electroacoustic transducer (52) attached at the front end (18) of the main body (12).

4. Penetrator (10) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the energy harvesting device (28) is electrically coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit (26) in such a way that the data transmission and / or control unit (26) can be supplied with electrical energy by the energy harvesting device (28).

5. Penetrator (10) according to claim 2 and 3 or 4, characterized in that a splitting device (32) is connected downstream of the second electroacoustic transducer (22), which is electrically or electronically coupled to the data transmission and / or control unit (26) and the energy harvesting device (28).

6. Penetrator (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the energy harvesting device (28) comprises a rectifier (34) and / or an electrical energy storage device (36).

7. Penetrator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first modulation device (38) is electrically or electronically coupled to the first electroacoustic transducer (20) and / or that a second modulation device (44) is electrically or electronically coupled to the second electroacoustic transducer (22).

8. Penetrator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further electroacoustic transducer (54) is attached at the rear end (16) of the main body (12), which is electrically or electronically coupled to an oscillator (56).

9. Projectile (100) comprising a drive cage (102), a guide unit (104) and a penetrator (10) according to any of the preceding claims.

10. Cartridge ammunition (200) comprising a cartridge case (202) and a projectile (100) according to the preceding claim.

11. Cartridge ammunition (200) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cartridge case (202) has an electrical contact (212) on its case base (204) which is electrically or electronically coupled to one or more of the electroacoustic transducers (20, 54) which are attached to the rear end (16) of the main body (12).

12. Method for transferring data and / or energy between, in each case with respect to a firing direction (S), a rear end (16) of a main body (12) of a penetrator (10) and a front end (18) of the main body (12), comprising the steps: - Coupling of sound waves at one of the two ends (16, 18) of the main body (12), wherein the sound waves are transmitted via structure-borne sound from one of the two ends (16, 18) to the other of the two ends (18, 16), - Coupling sound waves at the other of the two ends (18, 16) of the main body (12), and- converting the coupled sound waves into an electrical signal to obtain data and / or electrical energy.

13. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least a part of the sound waves is modulated before or during coupling.

14. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the modulated sound waves are demodulated during or after decoupling.

15. Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that a part of the converted electrical signal is separated for data acquisition and / or that a further part is used for generating electrical energy.

16. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that sound waves with different frequencies are used for the transmission of data and for the transmission of electrical energy.

17. Method according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the transmission of data and electrical energy through the main body (12) takes place separately from each other via separate transmission paths (Pl, P2).

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