Brake panel for a detonator or a projectile

Abstract

The invention relates to a brake panel (3, 3) for a projectile (1), in which those surfaces (A) of the brake panel (3, 3) which are facing in the direction of travel of the projectile are wholly or partially angled in such a way that the normal from the said surfaces (A) is not parallel with the center line (C) of the projectile (1) in order to reduce or counteract the Magnus torque generated during and after the extension of the brake panel (3, 3). The invention further relates to a detonator (2) for a projectile (1) and a projectile (1) comprising such a brake panel.

Claims

1. A brake panel as part of a projectile, which projectile is for firing from a launcher, wherein those surfaces of the brake panel which are facing in the direction of travel of the projectile are angled in such a way that the normal from the said surfaces (A) is not parallel with the centre line (C) of the projectile, and that the rear side of the brake panel, situated opposite to the direction of travel of the projectile, is flatly configured with a normal from the surface having the same angulation as the centre line of the projectile.

2. The brake panel according to claim 1, wherein an angulation of the normal from that surface (A) of the brake panel which is facing in the direction of travel is in the order of magnitude of 1 degree relative to the centre line (C) of the projectile.

3. The brake panel according to claim 2, wherein an angulation of those surfaces (A) of the brake panel which are facing in the direction of travel of the projectile is variably adjustable relative to the centre line (C) of the projectile.

4. The brake panel according to claim 1, wherein an angulation of those surfaces (A) of the brake panel which are facing in the direction of travel of the projectile is variably adjustable relative to the centre line (C) of the projectile.

5. A projectile comprising a detonator having one or more extensible brake panels, which projectile is for firing from a launcher, wherein those surfaces (A) of the brake panel which are facing in the direction of travel of the projectile are angled in such a way that the normal from the said surfaces (A) is not parallel with the centre line (C) of the projectile, and that the rear side of the brake panel, situated opposite to the direction of travel of the projectile, is flatly configured with a normal from the surface having the same angulation as the centre line (C) of the projectile.

6. The projectile comprising a detonator having one or more extensible brake panels according to claim 5 wherein the angulation of the normal from that surface of the brake panel which is facing in the direction of travel is in the order of magnitude of 1 degree relative to the centre line (C) of the projectile.

7. The projectile comprising a detonator having one or more extensible brake panels according to claim 5 wherein the angulation of those surfaces of the brake panel which are facing in the direction of travel of the projectile is variably adjustable relative to the centre line (C) of the projectile.

8. A projectile for firing from a launcher, which projectile comprises one or more extensible brake panels, those surfaces (A) of the brake panels which are facing in the direction of travel of the projectile are angled in such a way that the normal from the said surfaces (A) is not parallel with the centre line (C) of the projectile, and that the rear side of the brake panel, situated opposite to the direction of travel of the projectile, is flatly configured with a normal from the surface having the same angulation as the centre line (C) of the projectile.

9. The projectile according to claim 8, wherein the number of brake panels is two or four or six or eight.

10. The projectile according to claim 9, wherein the brake panel is variably adjustable between the fully extended state and the wholly retracted state.

11. The projectile according to claim 8, wherein the number of brake panels is one or three or five or seven.

12. The projectile according to claim 11, wherein the brake panel is variably adjustable between the fully extended state and the wholly retracted state.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

(1) The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the appended figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a projectile provided with a detonator comprising extended brake panels according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detonator in a first embodiment with chamfered brake panels in the retracted state according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detonator in a first embodiment with chamfered brake panels in the retracted state according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows in another view of FIG. 3 a detonator in a first embodiment with chamfered brake panels in the extended state according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 shows part of a detonator with visible mechanism for the extension of brake panels according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a detonator in a second embodiment with inclined brake panels in the retracted state according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a detonator in a second embodiment with inclined brake panels in the extended state according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) In FIG. 1 is shown a projectile 1, intended for artillery, having a detonator 2, in which the detonator can be mounted as a separate unit on the projectile or configured as a part of the projectile 1. In the shown embodiment, the projectile 1 is braked by brake panels 3 extended from the projectile 1. The projectile 1 is rotationally symmetrical about a centre line C shown in the figure.

(10) In FIG. 2, a detonator 2 is shown prior to extension of obliquely bevelled brake panels 3. The activation and extension of the brake panel can be effected by a mechanical, electromechanical, chemical or pyrotechnic device. Should the brake panels 3 be obliquely bevelled, the top side of the brake panel, that is to say the surface A facing in the direction of travel, is chamfered or otherwise machined in order to obtain a surface inclined in the direction of travel, that is to say a surface the angulation of whose normal deviates from the centre line C of the projectile. The inclination is commonly in the order of magnitude of 1-5 degrees, but greater angulation can also be found. It is preferably that the inclination is between 0.1 degree to 10 degree of the normal from surfaces A compared to the centre line C of the projectile.

(11) In FIG. 3 is shown a detonator 2 with extended obliquely bevelled brake panels 3. Should the brake panels be obliquely bevelled, the whole or parts of the top side A of the brake panel, that is to say the side which is directed in the direction of travel, is/are chamfered or otherwise machined in order to obtain a surface inclined in the direction of travel, the angulation of whose normal deviates from the centre line C of the projectile.

(12) In FIG. 4 is shown a detonator 2 with extended obliquely bevelled brake panels 3 in a view obliquely from the rear in order to illustrate the embodiment with flat bottom side B. The flatness of the bottom side lends the brake panel 3 improved strength, in addition to which advantages accrue from a simplified production of the brake panel 3 and from a simplified mechanism for controlling the brake panel 3.

(13) In FIG. 5 is shown a preferred mechanical device 10 for extension of the brake panels 3, 3. The extension mechanism 10 in this embodiment allows only extension of the brake panels 3, 3. Extension starts through the removal of a mechanically controlled locking pin from a hole 11 in the brake panel 3, 3. Should a locking pin be placed in the hole 11, the brake panels 3, 3 are held in the retracted state. It is only one locking pin which holds all the brake panels in the retracted state. The extension of the brake panels 3, 3 is coordinated by a mechanical arm 12, which ensures simultaneous extension of all the brake panels 3, 3. The mechanical arm 12 also ensures locking of the brake panel(s) 3, 3 which is/are not locked by the locking pin in the hole 11. Regardless of which brake panel 3, 3 commences extension, the movement of the brake panels 3, 3, by the mechanical arm 12, will actuate the extension of the other brake panels 3, 3.

(14) In FIG. 6 is shown an alternative embodiment of a detonator 2 prior to extension of inclined brake panels 3. The detonator 2 is provided with slots 4 for enabling the extension of the brake panels 3. The activation and extension of the brake panels can be effected by a mechanical, electromechanical, chemical or pyrotechnic device.

(15) In FIG. 7 is shown the alternative embodiment of a detonator 2 with extended inclined brake panels 3. In FIG. 7 it is clear that the brake panel 3 is configured with a uniform material thickness over the surface area of the brake panel 3.

(16) The brake panels 3, 3 are extended from the detonator 2 or from the projectile 1 in the trajectory of the projectile 1 in order to regulate the range of fire of the projectile. Examples of control of the brake panels 3, 3 can be based on the target of the projectile 1 and/or the position of the projectile 1. The target of the projectile 1 can be programmed or otherwise stored in the projectile 1 prior to launch, but can also be communicated to the projectile 1, with communication equipment such as a radio transmitter, in the trajectory of the projectile between the launcher and the target. The position of the projectile 1 is determined on the basis of a control system mounted in the projectile, which control system obtains the current position from satellite navigation and/or inertial navigation or some other navigation system. The control system continuously evaluates the current position relative to the target position, as well as calculated velocity, in order to control and/or optimize the trajectory of the projectile.

(17) The target of the projectile 1 can also be determined with a target seeker contained in the projectile 1, which identifies a target and guides the projectile 1 towards the target. Apart from the braking capacity which is described here, which results in control in the longitudinal direction, control of the projectile 1 can also comprise control in the lateral direction with customized control elements. In the case of a state expediently determined on the basis of the control system, the mechanical locking pin in the hole 11, which locking pin holds the brake panels in the retracted state, is initiated, whereby the brake panels 3, 3 are released. The brake panels 3, 3 are extended by the rotation force of the projectile or by a spring, or some other elastically deformed and pretensioned manoeuvring device, mounted in the extension mechanism 10.

(18) Following extension of the brake panels 3, 3, the projectile 1 will be braked, with the result that the projectile is controlled in the longitudinal direction. Extension of the brake panels will also actuate rotation of the projectile should the projectile be rotationally stabilized and thus rotatory.

(19) Through angulation of the top side A of the brake panel, the Magnus torque which is traditionally created by the brake panels during extension, as well as once the brake panels are extended, is counteracted, reduced or eliminated. The angulation of the brake panel 3 3 can be constant, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, but also variable, for dynamic changing of the angulation (not shown in the figure). The angulation is such that the normal from the surfaces A is not parallel with the centre line C of the projectile. The angulation can be realized on the whole or part of the top side A of the brake panel. The rear side B of the brake panel can be flat or angled; should the rear side be flat, the realization of the retraction and extension of the brake panel can be simplified. The top side A of the brake panels 3, 3 can be angled in such a way that the configuration most closely resembles a propeller which increases the rotation of the projectile 1 when the projectile is propelled. The angulation of the top side A of the brake panels 3, 3 can also be realized in such a way that the rotation of the projectile is braked, for example by the angulation being configured as a propeller which brakes the rotation in the course of propulsion. Should the projectile 1 have an even number of brake panels 3, 3, for example two, four, six or eight brake panels 3, 3, the configuration can be such that the different angulations cancel out one another, so that the rotation neither increases nor decreases in dependence on the angulation of the top side A of the brake panels 3, 3. Regardless of the angulation of the top side A of the brake panels 3, 3, a certain braking force on the rotation of the projectile 1 will be produced upon the extension of the brake panels 3, 3.

(20) The brake panel 3, 3 is extended radially from the projectile. The extension mechanism, whereof a variant is shown in FIG. 5, can only extend the brake panel 3, 3. Other mechanisms (not shown here) can extend the brake panel wholly or partially and retract the brake panel wholly or partially.

(21) The brake function is preferably constituted by two brake panels 3, 3 placed oppositely on each side of the projectile 1 or the detonator 2. The brake function can also consist of a plurality of brake panels 3, 3, including of a plurality of brake panels 3, 3 of different size, which are extended at different positions or instants in the trajectory of the projectile 1. One embodiment can be a projectile 1 configured with a detonator 2 comprising four brake panels 3, 3. Two of the four brake panels 3, 3 are configured with a small surface area, so that a small braking effect is created, and two of the brake panels 3, 3 are configured with a large surface area, so that a large braking effect is created. The relationship between the surface areas of the small brake panel 3, 3 relative to the large brake panel 3, 3 is in the order of magnitude of 5 to 20 times greater than the surface area of the large brake panel 3, 3 relative to the small brake panel 3, 3. Early in the trajectory, the two small brake panels 3, 3 are extended and affect the velocity of the projectile during the greater part of the trajectory of the projectile, and late in the trajectory the large brake panels 3, 3 are extended in order to control the velocity of the projectile 1 as the projectile 1 approaches the target. The placement of the smaller brake panels 3, 3 can be above the larger brake panels 3, 3, for example, or else the brake panels 3, 3 can be configured evenly distributed around the projectile. Should a plurality of brake panels 3, 3 be used, one, more or all panels can be configured with angulation. Should two small panels and larger panels be used, the two large panels can be flat and the two smaller panels be configured with an angulation in the order of magnitude of 5-15 degrees.

(22) An alternative embodiment (not shown in the figure) of the extension mechanism 10 allows both the extension and retraction of the brake panels 3, 3 to be regulated on the basis of both velocity and level or length. Regulation of retraction and extension is effected by a control system, mounted in the projectile, for creating variable braking effect on the projectile 1 by the braking panels 3, 3 being wholly extended, partially extended, or alternately retracted and extended, from the projectile 1. Through control of the extension mechanism 10, the braking effect can be variably adapted in order to variably control the velocity of the projectile 1.

Alternative Embodiments

(23) The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have specifically been shown, but can be variously varied within the scope of the patent claims.

(24) It will be appreciated, for example, that the number, size, material and shape of the elements and parts which form part of the projectile provided with a brake mechanism are tailored to the projectile types, weapon system and/or other design characteristics which obtain at the time.

(25) It will be appreciated that the above-described projectile embodiments having a longitudinal brake can comprise many different dimensions and projectile types in dependence on the field of application and the barrel width. The above relates, however, to at least the currently most common shell types of between about 25 mm and 200 mm.