Sabot of the push-pull type having mutually separate parts for the push and pull function

Abstract

To reduce the mass of a sabot having a pull and a push function, it is proposed that the sabot comprise mutually separate sabot parts, wherein at least one sabot part is configured such that it performs the pull function and at least one sabot part is configured such that it performs the push function. The sabot parts are nested. This can be implemented in the form of cylindrical nesting or in the form of tangential nesting. In the case of the cylindrical nesting, the outer sabot part encloses the inner sabot part along an interface. In the case of the tangential nesting, the sabot parts are divided into sabot subsegments. The latter are nested in alternating fashion in the tangential direction such that a pull-sabot subsegment and a push-sabot subsegment are nested in alternating fashion in the circumferential direction. To provide sufficient sealing, the sabot subsegments overlap one another.

Claims

1. A sabot comprising: mutually separate sabot parts including at least a first sabot part having a surface upon which propellant gases act and at least a second sabot part having a surface upon which the propellant gases act, each of the first and second sabot parts being positively connected to a projectile to accelerate the projectile when acted upon by the propellant gases, wherein the first sabot part and the second sabot part are positioned on the projectile such that the propellant gases first act on the surface of the first sabot part, such that the first sabot part performs a pull function by causing tension to accelerate the projectile and the second sabot part performs a push function by causing pressure to accelerate the projectile.

2. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein the sabot parts are nested.

3. The sabot according to claim 2, wherein the sabot parts are nested by a cylindrical interface.

4. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein the first sabot part having the pull function forms an inner sabot and the second sabot part having the push function forms an outer sabot.

5. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein the sabot parts have mutually separated surfaces on which propellant gases can act.

6. The sabot according to claim 5, wherein the surfaces merge with each other to form a common surface of the sabot.

7. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein each of the sabot parts include sabot subsegments.

8. The sabot according to claim 7, wherein a push-sabot subsegment and a pull-sabot subsegment are nested in alternating fashion in the tangential direction.

9. The sabot according to claim 7, wherein, three of the sabot subsegments have a pull function and three of the sabot subsegments have a push function.

10. The sabot according to claim 7, wherein each of the sabot subsegments has a respective surface on which propellant gases act.

11. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein there is no positive connection between the sabot parts.

12. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein with respect to a radial direction of the sabot, there is a radial gap between the first sabot part and the second sabot part, such that there is no positive connection between the first sabot part and the second sabot part.

13. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein a majority of the first sabot part is positioned on the projectile closer to a rear end of the projectile and a majority of the second sabot part is positioned on the projectile closer to a forward end of the projectile.

14. The sabot according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the surface of the first sabot part is curved and the surface of the second sabot part is linear.

15. A projectile comprising: a sabot, the sabot comprising: mutually separate sabot parts including at least a first sabot part having a surface upon which propellant gases act and at least a second sabot part having a surface upon which the propellant gases act, each of the first and second sabot parts being positively connected to the projectile to accelerate the projectile when acted upon by the propellant gases, wherein the first sabot part and the second sabot part are positioned on the projectile such that the propellant gases first act on the surface of the first sabot part, such that the first sabot part performs a pull function by causing tension to accelerate the projectile and the second sabot part performs a push function by causing pressure to accelerate the projectile.

16. Ammunition comprising the projectile according to claim 15.

17. The projectile according to claim 15, wherein with respect to a radial direction of the sabot, there is a radial gap between the first sabot part and the second sabot part, such that there is no positive connection between the first sabot part and the second sabot part.

18. The projectile according to claim 15, wherein a majority of the first sabot part is positioned on the projectile closer to a rear end of the projectile and a majority of the second sabot part is positioned on the projectile closer to a forward end of the projectile.

19. The projectile according to claim 15, wherein a portion of the surface of the first sabot part is curved and the surface of the second sabot part is linear.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a half-sectional representation of projectile, sabot parts and weapon tube in an exemplary embodiment,

(3) FIG. 2 is a representation of the sabot and the projectile in the weapon tube in cross-section according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a representation of a projectile, a sabot and weapon tube in an exemplary embodiment,

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional representation from FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows the invention axially symmetrically and sketch-like. An axis of rotation is marked with 1. A subcaliber projectile 2 has a much smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the weapon tube 3 (FIG. 2). The remaining space 26 between the projectile 2 and the weapon tube 3 is filled by a sabot 20.

(7) The sabot 20 includes sabot parts 5, 6, at least two. The sabot parts 5, 6 are not one-piece but mutually separated. They are nested within each other. The partial sabot part 5 forms an inner sabot and the partial sabot part 6 an outer sabot. Here, the inner sabot 5 performs the pull function and the outer sabot 6 the push function of the (entire) sabot 20. Due to this design structure, the sabot parts 5, 6 can, for example, made of different materials.

(8) An interface 24 of the two sabot parts 5, 6 is preferably cylindrical. A radial gap 25 in the area of the interface 24 between the inner 5 and the outer sabot part 6 is preferably chosen to be small.

(9) The sabot parts 5, 6 have mutually independent (separate) surfaces 21, 22, on which the propellant gases act and from which the driving force to be transmitted to the projectile 2 results. The surfaces 21, 22 preferably merge into each other in such a way that a common, preferably smooth, surface 23 of the sabot 20 is formed. The surfaces 21, 22 of the sabot subsegments 5, 6 form a (centrally) cut off (single-shell) hyperboloid. However, alternative forms are also possible.

(10) There is no exchange of forces between the two sabot parts 5, 6, with the exception of low friction forces. As a result, the load capacity of both sabot parts 5, 6 can be fully exploited independent of each other.

(11) Between the two sabot parts 5, 6 and the projectile 2 there is in each case a positive connection 8, 9, but is possible in the form of a thread, as often applied in practice. On the other hand, there is no positive connection between the sabot parts 5 and 6, i.e., there is no form fit between the sabot parts 5, 6.

(12) By means of a propellant pressure 4 acting behind the projectile 2, the projectile 2 is accelerated in a known manner in the direction of fire, in the representation according to FIG. 1 to the right. The projecting surface is decisive for the axial forces acting on the projectile parts 2, 5, 6. In the selected cutting plane 7, these surfaces correspond to the cutting surfaces. The subcaliber projectile 2 (FIG. 2) is driven to a small extent by the gas pressure itself. In addition, the projectile 2 is driven out of the weapon tube 3 via the inner sabot 5 as well as the outer sabot 6, on which the propellant pressure 4 also acts.

(13) A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. The illustration shows a subcaliber projectile 10 having a sabot 30, as seen from behind in the direction of firing. This sabot 30 comprises at least one sabot part 14′ having a pull function and at least one sabot part 15′ having a push function.

(14) In a preferred embodiment, these sabot parts 14′, 15′ in turn are composed of several sabot subsegments 14, 15. The sabot subsegments 14, 15 are located in the space between the projectile 10 and the weapon tube 11. The sabot subsegments 14 perform the pull function and the sabot subsegments 15 perform the push function of the sabot 30.

(15) Preferably, a push-sabot segment and a pull-sabot segment 14, 15 are nested in alternating fashion in the tangential direction, so that a pull-sabot subsegment 14 always follows a push-sabot subsegment 15 in alternating fashion in the circumferential direction.

(16) The number and segment widths of the pull-sabot subsegments 14 and the push-sabot subsegments 15 are freely selectable. The selection of the respective segment angles determines the load distribution between the two function groups (sum of the pull-sabot subsegments 14 or sum of the push-sabot subsegments 15). As a result, the (entire) sabot 31 formed by the sabot subsegments 14, 15 can be individually adapted to the tasks or demands placed on it.

(17) In the preferred version, three sabot subsegments 14, 15 of 120° each are provided. In total, the sabot 30 thus comprises three pull-sabot subsegments 14 and three push-sabot subsegments 15.

(18) FIG. 4 is a sectional representation along a marked line 12 (FIG. 3). Shown are the weapon tube 11, the projectile 10 as well as a pull-sabot subsegment 14 and a push-sabot subsegment 15 according to the line 12.

(19) Between the two sabot subsegments 14, 15 and the projectile 10 there is a positive connection 18, for example via a thread. For a sufficient sealing of the sabot subsegments 14, 15 an overlap 17 of the sabot subsegments 14, 15 is necessary. This overlap 17 should be large enough for the sealing to be guaranteed.

(20) Each sabot subsegment 14, 15 has its own surface 31, 32, on which the propellant gases 16 act, resulting in the driving force to be transmitted to the projectile 10. The propellant pressure 16 acts on the left side of the respective sabot parts 14′, 15′, whereby the projectile 2 in this representation is accelerated to the right. The propellant pressure 16 acts on the surface 31 of the sabot subsegments 14 and on the surface 32 of the sabot subsegments 15.

(21) In the push-sabot subsegments 15, these surfaces 32 are straight and preferably smooth. The surfaces 31 of the pull-sabot subsegments 14 can be compared with a (centrally) cut off (single-shell) hyperboloid. However, alternative forms are also possible.

(22) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.