Method and arrangement for modifying a separable projectile

Abstract

A method for modifying a separable projectile between a test embodiment or an effect embodiment includes detaching the front projectile body from the rear projectile body, arranging a payload container in the front projectile body where the payload container comprises measuring equipment or an effect part, and fitting the front projectile body to the rear projectile body by way of a belt. A separable projectile which can be modified between a test embodiment and an effect embodiment is also provided.

Claims

1. A separable projectile comprising a front projectile body and a rear projectile body attached to the front projectile body and in which a separation charge is disposed, the separation charge being arranged behind a payload container, wherein the payload container comprises measuring equipment or an effect part, wherein the payload container is separable along its length in two or more parts after separation from the projectile for releasing the effect part.

2. The separable projectile according to claim 1, wherein the separation charge comprises a propellant charge comprising a smokeless nitrocellulose propellant.

3. The separable projectile according to claim 1, wherein the projectile comprises a pyrotechnic primer charge for initiating the separation charge.

4. The separable projectile according to claim 3, wherein the projectile comprises a proximity fuse for activating the pyrotechnic primer charge.

5. The separable projectile according to claim 1, wherein the payload container comprises measuring equipment for measuring at least one of acceleration stresses, velocity, altitude, and temperature of the projectile during an acceleration and a trajectory phase of the projectile.

6. The separable projectile according to claim 1, wherein the payload container consists of an integral unit, entirely or partially closed.

7. The separable projectile according to claim 1, wherein the payload container comprises the effect part comprising at least one effect projectile and at least one explosive charge for aimed effect against a target in the forward direction of the projectile.

8. The separable projectile according to claim 1, wherein the payload container comprises a delay charge for delayed initiation of the effect part of the payload container.

9. A method for modifying the separable projectile according to claim 1 from a test embodiment to an effect embodiment by: detaching the front projectile body from the rear projectile body, removing the payload container comprising the measuring equipment from the front projectile body, after removing the payload container comprising the measuring equipment from the front projectile body, arranging another payload container in the front projectile body comprising the effect part, fitting the front projectile body to the rear projectile body by way of a belt.

10. A separable projectile comprising a front projectile body and a rear projectile body attached to the front projectile body and in which a separation charge is disposed, the separation charge being arranged behind a payload container, wherein the payload container comprises measuring equipment or an effect part, wherein the projectile comprises a parachute connected to the payload container for recovery of the payload container after separation from the projectile, and wherein a cavity in the payload container is partially disposed in the front projectile body and partially disposed in the rear projectile body and a portion of the cavity of the payload container for containing the measuring equipment or the effect part is entirely disposed in the front projectile body.

11. The separable projectile according to claim 10, wherein the parachute is arranged and packed in a separable parachute container arranged in or adjacent to a rear part of the payload container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and effects of the invention will emerge from a study and consideration of the following, detailed description of the invention, referring to the figures of the drawing 1, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a longitudinal section of a separable projectile in an effect embodiment, comprising a payload container comprising an effect charge, and a separation charge for separating the container with a payload from the projectile.

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a longitudinal section of a separable projectile in a test embodiment, comprising a payload container comprising a measuring equipment, and a separation charge for separating the container with a payload from the projectile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The invention, according to an aspect thereof, relates to a method for modifying a separable projectile from a test embodiment to an effect embodiment or vice versa.

(5) The basic construction of the projectile is such that the projectile can easily be modified from the test embodiment to the effect embodiment by changing the payload container. In a test embodiment the payload container is characterized in that that it comprises sensitive measuring equipment for measuring characteristics of the projectile during the launch and trajectory phase of the projectile. The payload container is also connected to a parachute for recovery of the payload container after separation from the projectile. In the effect embodiment the payload container is characterized in that it comprises an effect part comprising one or more effect projectiles and effect charges for effect against a target after separation of the payload container.

(6) The content of the payload container differs, therefore, depending on the embodiment of the projectile. In order to fit the payload space of the projectile regardless of the embodied form of the projectile, the payload containers are of similarly shaped design, preferably cylindrical, and of the same size.

(7) The payload containers differ, however, with regard to their construction. In an effect embodiment the payload container preferably comprises a longitudinally dividable cylinder, comprising two cylinder halves fixed to one another so that the payload container, after separation from the projectile, divides into two halves for release of the effect part in the forward direction of the projectile. In a test embodiment the payload container consists of or comprises an integral unit which does not divide after separation, entirely or partially closed, for safe preservation of the measuring equipment during the course of testing. In a special embodiment, not shown, the cylindrical payload container comprises a rear cylindrical cavity for the connection of a parachute or a container holding a parachute.

(8) In said test embodiment the payload container is connected to a parachute for recovery of the payload container after separation from the projectile.

(9) The parachute, preferably packed in a separate, detachable parachute container, is arranged in or adjacent to the rear end of the payload container, preferably in the cylindrical cavity. The parachute container is preferably designed as a separable cylindrical module detachably fitted adjacent to or in the rear cylindrical part of the payload container, for example by snap fasteners.

(10) FIG. 1 shows the separable projectile 1 in an effect embodiment for effect in the forward direction of the projectile 1. The projectile 1 comprises a front projectile body 2 and a rear projectile body 3 joined by a belt 4, the belt 4 joining the rear projectile body to the front projectile body by means of a threaded connection, shrink connection and/or press-fit connection, for example.

(11) The rear projectile body 3 comprises a separation charge 5 and a pyrotechnic primer device 6 for initiating the separation charge 5. The primer device 6 is arranged in front of the separation charge 5 behind a drive plate 7 adjacent to the rear end of a payload container 8 and the front projectile body 2. The separation charge 5 preferably consists of or comprises a propellant charge of conventional type, for example a propellant charge comprising a smokeless nitrocellulose propellant, or in an alternative embodiment a composite propellant.

(12) The payload container 8 which is arranged in the front projectile body 2 and comprises at least one effect part 9 comprising one or more effect projectiles 41 and effect (explosive) charges 42 together with one or more delay charges 43 for delayed initiation of said minimum of one effect part 9. A proximity fuse 40 comprising an activation unit for activating the primer device 6, is arranged in the nose part 10 of the front projectile body 2, in front of the payload container 8. The nose part 10 is fitted to the front projectile body 2 by a second drive plate 11 and by shear pins 30, which are designed to rupture under the effect of the pressure on the separation of the payload container 8 from the projectile 1. In an alternative embodiment a continuous detonator wire 12, preferably a nonel, is arranged between the pyrotechnic primer device 6 and the second drive plate 11 for separating the nose part 10 from the projectile 1.

(13) FIG. 2 shows the separable projectile 20 in a test embodiment for testing the projectile 20. In the test embodiment the payload container 21 comprises e measuring equipment 50 for registering acceleration stresses on the payload container during the launch phase and the velocity, altitude and temperature during the trajectory phase. In the test embodiment the projectile 20 differs in that it has no firing connection between the primer device 6 and the payload container 21, since there is no effect part 9 and no delay charges. Otherwise the projectile 20 in the test embodiment is identical to the projectile 1 in the effect embodiment.

(14) The payload container 21 in the test embodiment is designed as a strong, integral unit, entirely or partially closed, intended to remain intact and not to disintegrate or break up after separation from the projectile. The payload container 21 with measuring equipment 50 may also be connected/coupled to a parachute 22 by parachute lines 23 connected to the payload container 21 via a ball bearing-guided pivot 24 on the rear end of the payload container 21. The parachute 22 is packed and arranged in a separable parachute container 25 of its own arranged behind or inside the payload container 21, preferably in a cylindrical space in the rear part of the payload container 21.

(15) After separation of the payload container 21 and of the parachute container 25 from the projectile 20, the parachute container 25 is broken up into smaller parts at the same time that the parachute 22 is released and deploys, so that the payload container 21 with measuring equipment 50 slowly falls to the ground without the measuring equipment being damaged.

(16) In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the effect part 9 of the projectile 1 in the effect embodiment of the projectile 1 is arranged in a payload container of the same type as that used for the measuring equipment in the test embodiment of the projectile 20, that is to a payload container that does not break up after separation from the projectile and which comprises a separable parachute container 25 with parachute 22. The payload container differs, however, in that its front end is open for releasing the effect part 9 when the payload container approaches a target.

(17) The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown but may be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the patent claims.