Anti-Air Shell Double Unlock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-air shells face difficulties in controlling the separation of their components, leading to unreliable sub-projectile scattering due to a single means of separation between the nose cone, casing, and rear end cap.
Innovation Solution
A medium calibre gyro-stabilized anti-air shell design featuring a nose cone, case tube, and rear end cap with separate thread attachments and translation means activated by an air burst charge, allowing sequential separation of the nose cone from the casing and the casing from the rear end cap, ensuring reliable sub-projectile scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single means is used to separate the nose cone from the casing and the casing from the rear end cap, then the structure is simpler, but the control over the separation process becomes difficult and the sub-projectile scattering becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The separation mechanism is divided into two distinct stages: first, the nose cone separates from the casing via upstream thread shearing; second, the casing separates from the rear end cap via downstream thread shearing. This segmentation of the separation process into multiple independent stages enables reliable control over sub-projectile scattering while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Strength
If the casing strength is increased to maintain structural integrity, then the casing can better protect sub-projectiles, but the separation process becomes more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The upstream thread and downstream thread are designed with different shear strengths and are positioned to fail in a specific sequence. The upstream thread is designed to shear first, separating the nose cone, while the downstream thread remains intact to maintain casing strength. This preliminary design of the separation sequence allows the casing to maintain high strength while enabling controlled separation when needed.
3Reliability
If a sequential double unlock mechanism is used to separate components step by step, then the sub-projectile scattering becomes more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The translation means act as an intermediary mechanism that converts the explosive force from the air burst charge into controlled linear motion. This intermediary mechanism sequentially shears the upstream and downstream threads, providing reliable separation control without requiring a complex multi-component unlocking system. The translation means simplify the overall device complexity while maintaining the sequential separation function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sequential separation mechanism enhances the strength of the casing and improves the reliability of sub-projectile scattering, maintaining a consistent spin rate and solid angle dispersion, resulting in effective and controlled sub-projectile distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a rear end cap that encloses an air burst charge; translation means positioned between the rear end cap and the case tube so as to ensure a shearing of the upstream and downstream threads; the translation means are arranged in the casing and are activated by an ignition of the air burst charge
Data Source
AI summary
A medium calibre gyro-stabilized anti-air shell intended to produce a spray of sub-projectiles, wherein it includes an ogive shaped nose cone extended by a case tube and a central pin delimiting with the case tube a housing enclosing sub-projectiles, a casing covering the case tube attached, by an upstream thread at its front end, to a flange on the nose cone and attached by a downstream thread at its rear end onto a rear end cap enclosing an air burst charge, translation means being positioned between the rear end cap and the case tube so as to ensure the shearing of the upstream and downstream threads.