METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASCERTAINING A TEMPERATURE, AND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR JOINING PROPELLANT CHARGE MODULES

Abstract

A method and device for ascertaining the temperature of a propellant charge (22) and a method and device for joining together propellant charge modules (2) to form a propellant charge (22). The method and device for ascertaining the temperature of a propellant charge (22) includes at least temporarily arranging a sensor head (4) which is movable with respect to the propellant charge (22) in a cavity (7) of the propellant charge (22); and ascertaining the temperature of the propellant charge (22) at least while the sensor head (4) is arranged in the cavity (7) of the propellant charge (22). The propellant charge modules (2) are positioned between stops (9) and are joined together by movement of at least one of the stops toward the other.

Claims

1. A temperature ascertaining device for a propellant charge (22), comprising: a sensor head (4) which is variable in a relative position in relation to the propellant charge (22) and, for ascertaining the temperature, is at least temporarily arranged in a cavity (7) of the propellant charge (22).

2. The temperature ascertaining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature ascertained by the sensor head is a temperature of an inner surface (14) of the propellant charge (22) adjoining the cavity (7).

3. The temperature ascertaining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature ascertaining device (1) measures the temperature of the propellant charge (22) within one second or less to an accuracy of within 1 C. or more accurately.

4. The temperature ascertaining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor head (4) comprises a sensor for contactless ascertainment of the temperature.

5. The temperature ascertaining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor head (4) comprises optical components (19), which serve at least for guiding and/or coupling out and/or coupling in measuring radiation (18) on the basis of which the ascertainment of the temperature is performed.

6. The temperature ascertaining device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the optical components (19) are arranged such that, when there is coupling out of the measuring radiation (18) from the sensor head (4), the measuring radiation impinges on the inner surface (14) of the propellant charge (22) substantially at right angles.

7. The temperature ascertaining device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communication interface, with which the temperatures ascertained are transmitted, in particular to a fire control device.

8. A joining device for carrying out a joining movement for joining together propellant charge modules (2) to form a propellant charge (22), the joining device comprising a temperature ascertaining device (1) as claimed in claim 1.

9. The joining device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one joining stop (9) for joining together the propellant charge modules (2) to form a propellant charge (22).

10. The joining device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one joining stop (9) is movable in a joining direction (13).

11. The joining device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one joining stop (9) comprises a clearance (10), which is dimensioned such that at least a front part (12) of the sensor head (4) can pass through the joining stop (09) in a joining direction (13).

12. The joining device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one joining stop (9) is spring-loaded in the joining direction (13).

13. The joining device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensor head (4) is immovable in the joining direction (13).

14. A method for ascertaining a temperature of a propellant charge (22), the method comprising: at least temporarily arranging a sensor head (4) which is variable in a relative position in relation to the propellant charge (22) in a cavity (7) of the propellant charge (22); and ascertaining the temperature of the propellant charge (22) at least while the sensor head (4) is arranged in the cavity (7) of the propellant charge (22).

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the temperature ascertained is a temperature of an inner surface (14) of the propellant charge (22) adjoining the cavity (7).

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the temperature of the propellant charge (22), in particular the inner surface (14), is ascertained within one second or less to an accuracy of within 1 C. or more accurately.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the temperature, in particular of the inner surface (14), of the propellant charge (22) is measured without contacting the propellant charge.

18. The method as claimed 14, wherein the ascertainment of the temperature is performed by measuring radiation (18) which is at least guided and/or coupled out and/or coupled in by means of optical components (19) of the sensor head (4).

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein, when there is coupling out of the measuring radiation (18) from the sensor head (4), the measuring radiation (18) impinges on the inner surface (14) of the propellant charge (22) substantially at right angles.

20. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the temperatures ascertained are transmitted by means of a communication interface, in particular to a fire control device.

21. A method for joining together propellant charge modules to form a propellant charge (22), the method comprising the method for ascertaining the temperature of a propellant charge (22) as claimed in claim 14.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the joining movement for joining together the propellant charge modules (2) to form the propellant charge (22) is performed by at least one joining stop (9), preferably by two joining stops (9).

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the at least one joining stop (9) is moved in a joining direction (13).

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein in the course of the joining movement for joining together the propellant charge modules (2) to form the propellant charge (22), the at least one joining stop includes at least one spring-loaded joining stop (9) moved in the joining direction (13).

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein for ascertaining the temperature, at least a front part (12) of the sensor head (4) passes through a clearance (10) in the at least one joining stop in the joining direction (13).

26. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the propellant charge modules (2) carry out a movement in the joining direction (13) with respect to the sensor head (4), and wherein the sensor head is immovable.

Description

[0054] In addition or alternatively, it may be provided particularly advantageously that the propellant charge modules carry out a movement in the joining direction with respect to the in particular immovable sensor head. Further advantages and details of the devices and methods according to the invention are explained below with the aid of the accompanying, schematic drawings, which represent exemplary embodiments and in which:

[0055] FIG. 1a shows a schematic representation of a joining device according to the invention in a first method state;

[0056] FIG. 1b shows a schematic representation of the joining device from FIG. 1a in a second method state;

[0057] FIG. 1c shows a schematic representation of the joining device from FIG. 1a in a third method state;

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a sensor head according to a first embodiment;

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a sensor head according to a second embodiment;

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a sensor head according to a third embodiment.

[0061] FIG. 1a shows a joining device 01 for joining together a number of propellant charge modules 02 to form a propellant charge, comprising a temperature ascertaining device 03 with a sensor head 04. The propellant charge 22 comprises for example propellant charge modules 02 with a solid paperboard tube 05, which receives the propellant 06 and moreover forms a cavity 07 arranged in the interior of the propellant charge module 02. In addition, the propellant charge modules 02 have coupling elements 08 formed on the outer side and on the inner side, only the coupling elements 08 that are formed on the outer surface being shown in the representation of FIG. 1. However, these serve together with a complementary design of the inner coupling elements for the purpose that, when joining together the propellant charge module 02 to form a propellant charge 22, an interlocking or frictional connection is established between the propellant charge modules 02. However, for this purpose it is required that the propellant charge modules 02 are moved with respect to one another in such a way that the coupling elements 08 can engage in one another.

[0062] The joining device 01 additionally comprises two joining stops 09, which are both designed as movable. The joining stops 09 are formed as a movable joining punch 09.1 and as a spring-loaded joining stop 09.2. The spring-loaded joining stop 09.2 has in this case a clearance 10. The clearance 10 in the joining stop 09.2 is in this case formed in such a way that a front part of the sensor head 04 can pass through the clearance and consequently through the joining stop 09. The movable design of the joining stops 09.1 and 09.2, in particular of the spring-loaded joining stop 09, achieves the effect that the sensor head 04, arranged immovably itself in the joining device 01, can move with respect to the propellant charge modules 02 or the propellant charge 22, that is to say can change its relative position in relation to the propellant charge 22 and consequently can be transferred from a rest position into a measuring position with respect to the propellant charge (22).

[0063] In the representation of FIG. 1a, the sensor head 04 is in the rest position with respect to the propellant charge modules 02 of the propellant charge 22. In the position of the joining device 01 that is shown, the propellant charge modules 02 of the propellant charge 22 have not yet been joined together to form a unitary propellant charge 22. In addition, in the situation of the method that is represented in FIG. 1a, no temperature ascertainment by means of the temperature ascertaining device 03 has taken place yet.

[0064] Following the situation of the method that is represented in FIG. 1a, at least one of the joining stops 09, specifically the joining punch 09.1, is moved toward the propellant charge modules 02, in order to carry out the joining together of the propellant charge modules 02 and the ascertainment of the temperature of the propellant charge 22.

[0065] In the situation of the method as represented in FIG. 1b, the non-spring-loaded joining punch 09.1 has already been moved in the joining direction 13 in such a way that the propellant charge modules 02 of the propellant charge 22 have come to lie in abutment with both joining stops 09, the complementary coupling elements 08 have been brought into engagement with one another and moreover the spring-loaded joining stop 09.2 has likewise been moved in the joining direction 13 with respect to the temperature ascertaining device 3, in particular also with respect to the sensor head 04.

[0066] As can be seen in FIG. 1b, as a result of the movement of the spring-loaded joining stop 09 in the joining direction 13, the front part 12 of the sensor head 04 is arranged in the cavity 07 of the propellant charge modules 02 joined together to form the propellant charge 22. According to the invention, in this relative position of the sensor head 04 with respect to the propellant charge 22, the preferably contactless ascertainment of the temperature of the inner surface 14 of the propellant charge 22 adjoining the cavity 07 of the propellant charge 22 takes place. This also means that, in the representation of FIG. 1b, the sensor head 04 has been transferred into the measuring position or is located in the measuring position with respect to the propellant charge 22.

[0067] It is also clear from a comparison of FIGS. 1a and 1b that the arrangement of the sensor head 04 in the cavity 7 of the propellant charge 22 can be accomplished even without a movement of the sensor head 04 with respect to the joining device 01. This is so because it may already be sufficient for arranging the sensor head 04 in the cavity 07 that the propellant charge 22 or the propellant charge modules 02 is/are moved with respect to the sensor head 04.

[0068] Alternatively, however, a design of the joining device 01 and of the temperature ascertaining device 03 in which the sensor head 04 is also moved in the joining device 01 and in the temperature ascertaining device 03 may also be provided. For this purpose, the sensor head 04 may for example comprise a drive or be drivable by a drive. Alternatively, the sensor head 04 may also be assigned to the joining punch 09.1. Then, the movement of the sensor head can be combined with the movement of the joining punch 09.1.

[0069] Generally, the joining movement of the propellant charge module or modules and the forces thereby occurring can also be utilized to accomplish a movement of the sensor head 04. For example, frictional forces on the outer surface of the propellant charge modules can be utilized to move the sensor head, in particular to tilt it into a measuring position.

[0070] In the situation of the method represented in FIG. 1c concerning the joining device 01 and the temperature ascertaining device 03, both the joining together of the propellant charge modules 02 to form the propellant charge 22 and the ascertainment of the temperature of the propellant charge 22 have been completed. A renewed movement of the non-spring-loaded joining punch 09.1 in the joining direction 13, but in the opposite direction from the representation in FIG. 1b, has the effect that the spring-loaded joining stop 09.2 is relieved and the springs 11 are at least partially relaxed.

[0071] As a result, the arrangement of the sensor head 04, in particular the front part 12 of the sensor head 04, with respect to the spring-loaded joining stop 09.2 and the clearance 10 arranged therein changes in such a way that the sensor head 04 is no longer arranged in the cavity 07 of the propellant charge 22 and the front part 12 of the sensor head 04 also no longer passes through the clearance 10 in the joining stop 09.2. This means that the temperature ascertaining device 03 has been transferred back into the rest position of the sensor head 4, without however the movement of the sensor head 04 itself with respect to the joining device 01 or the temperature ascertaining device 03 having taken place.

[0072] It can be seen from a comparison of FIG. 1a to 1c that, by the devices 01 and 03 according to the invention and on the basis of the methods described, an ascertainment of the temperature of the propellant charge 22 and joining together of the propellant charge modules 02 to form the propellant charge 22, or at least the carrying out of a joining movement, can particularly advantageously be performed at the same time or at least at overlapping times. Furthermore, the joining device 01 and the temperature ascertaining device 03 make it possible that the temperature of the propellant charge 22 can be measured particularly accurately, specifically in the cavity 07, in particular at the inner surface 14 of the propellant charge 22 adjoining the cavity.

[0073] It may be provided in the course of the operation of loading the weapon that the propellant charge 22 is introduced into the barrel of the weapon directly after the completion of the method outlined in FIG. 1a to 1c. Consequently, the ascertainment of the temperature of the propellant charge 22 is performed directly before the weapon is fired. As can likewise be easily seen from FIG. 1a to 1c, the method described can be carried out quickly. In particular the ascertainment of the temperature represented in FIG. 1b while the sensor head 04 is at least partially arranged in the cavity 07 of the propellant charge 22 can be performed within an extremely short time, with preference within one second or more quickly, and in this case have an accuracy of 1 C. or more.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged schematic representation of a sensor head 04, the sensor head 04 comprising a front part 12, which, for carrying out the ascertainment of the temperature, is at least temporarily fitted in a cavity of a propellant charge. In order to have the mechanical stability needed for arranging the sensor head 4 in the propellant charge, the sensor head 04 comprises a housing 15, which tapers conically toward the front part 12 and has a hemispherical tip 16. Such a geometry of the sensor head 04 and/or of its housing 15 serves not only for the piercing of a pasteboard tube of a propellant charge but also for reducing the size of a corresponding clearance in a joining stop. In the representation of FIG. 2, the sensor head 4 additionally comprises a plurality of measuring openings 17, with which the ascertainment of the temperature in a cavity of the propellant charge can be carried out.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows an alternative design of a sensor head 04, which likewise comprises a housing 15, which tapers conically toward the front part 12 and has a hemispherical tip 16. In the example of FIG. 3, the sensor head has only a single measuring opening 17. The measuring opening serves for the coupling in and coupling out of a measuring radiation 18. The measuring radiation 18 may in principle be any kind of electromagnetic waves that are suitable for temperature ascertainment.

[0076] The sensor head 04 of FIG. 3 also comprises an optical component 19, which serves for the guiding, coupling in and coupling out of the measuring radiation 18. It is ensured by the arrangement of the optical component 19 in the sensor head 04 of FIG. 3 on the one hand that the radiation coupled out from the sensor 04 impinges on an inner surface of a cavity of a propellant charge substantially at right angles and accordingly in the opposite direction impinges again on the optical component 19 and is consequently coupled into the sensor head 04. Within the sensor head 04, the measuring radiation runs substantially parallel to a main axis of symmetry, in particular a longitudinal axis of the sensor head 04. As a result, the measuring radiation 18 can emanate from a radiation source that is not represented and be conducted to a sensor of the sensor head 4 that is likewise not represented.

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a sensor head 04 in a modified embodiment with respect to the representation of FIG. 3. The main difference between the representations of FIGS. 3 and 4 is the measuring opening 17 of the sensor head of FIG. 3, which the sensor head 04 of FIG. 4 does not have. The avoidance of the measuring opening 17 and the accompanying increase in the mechanical stability of the sensor head 04 of FIG. 4 are ensured by a correspondingly advantageous choice of the properties of the measuring radiation 18 on the one hand and a corresponding choice of material of the sensor head 04 in the coupling-in and coupling-out region 20. This is so because, depending on the choice of material of the housing 15, in particular in the coupling-in and coupling-out region 20, and a corresponding choice of the measuring radiation 18, the measuring radiation 18 can readily penetrate through or overcome the housing 15 in the coupling-in and coupling-out region 20.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0078] 01 Joining device [0079] 02 Propellant charge module [0080] 03 Temperature ascertaining device [0081] 04 Sensor head [0082] 05 Pasteboard tube [0083] 06 Propellant [0084] 07 Cavity [0085] 08 Coupling element [0086] 09 Joining stop [0087] 09.1 Joining punch [0088] 09.2 Spring-loaded joining stop [0089] 10 Clearance [0090] 11 Spring [0091] 12 Front part [0092] 13 Joining direction [0093] 14 Inner surface [0094] 15 Housing [0095] 16 Tip [0096] 17 Measuring opening [0097] 18 Measuring radiation [0098] 19 Optical component [0099] 20 Coupling-in and coupling-out region [0100] 22 Propellant charge