Weapon Barrel Charge Space Lengthening for Caliber Increase
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing the caliber of a main battle tank's weapon system while maintaining existing turret interface dimensions and performance is challenging due to issues with installation space, turret load, ammunition handling, and ammunition bunker dimensions.
Innovation Solution
Lengthening the charge space of the weapon barrel to increase the charge volume without altering the external dimensions, allowing for a larger caliber diameter while maintaining the same charge chamber diameter, and using higher-strength materials to manage recoil and gas pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the caliber of the weapon system is increased, then the performance and firepower are improved, but the installation space and external dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the larger caliber barrel inside the existing charge chamber space of the smaller caliber weapon system. The larger caliber barrel is positioned concentrically within the charge chamber, allowing the weapon system to accommodate increased caliber without increasing external dimensions. This nested arrangement enables the larger projectile and propellant charge to fit within the same external envelope as the original smaller caliber system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from increasing caliber diameter (2D expansion) to increasing charge space volume through lengthening (3D expansion). By extending the charge space length along the barrel axis rather than increasing the radial diameter, the system achieves larger propellant capacity and projectile length while maintaining the same external width and height dimensions of the charge chamber.
2Power
If the caliber of the weapon system is increased, then the performance is improved, but the turret load and system load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the charge space, specifically extending the length while maintaining the same charge chamber diameter. This parameter change allows the larger caliber projectile and increased propellant mass to be accommodated within the same radial space, thereby maintaining similar structural load characteristics on the turret while achieving enhanced firepower through increased mass and length of the ammunition components.
3Power
If the caliber of the weapon system is increased, then the performance is improved, but the ammunition handling and ammunition bunker dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the ammunition length issue by extending the charge space along the barrel axis rather than increasing the radial dimensions. The longer projectile and propellant charge are accommodated by increasing the length of the charge chamber from the breech end, allowing the ammunition to be stored and handled in a configuration that fits within the existing ammunition bunker volume without requiring increased width or height dimensions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
According to the invention, the installation space dimensions of a weapon system (100) in the tower are complied with, and a loading space diameter (16) of a caliber-larger weapon barrel (1) is approximately maintained in relation to the smaller caliber (1'). According to the invention, the required larger loading space volume for the caliber increase is predominantly achieved by an extension (20) of the loading space (17) of the caliber-larger weapon barrel (1) relative to a loading space (17') of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel (1') itself. Since the loading space diameter (16) of a larger caliber remains virtually unchanged, the outer dimensions (18) of the caliber-larger weapon barrel (1) also remain virtually unchanged compared to the outer dimensions (18') of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel (1') in the region of the loading part (15, 15 ').