PROGRAMMING DEVICE

Abstract

A programming device for programming of munition bodies, including a retaining device to which a programming head for transmitting programming data to the munition bodies is fastened, the programming head begin designed as an interchangeable programming head module. The invention further relates to a projectile rammer having a programming device and to a method for programming a munition body.

Claims

1. A programming device for the programming of, in particular large-caliber, munition bodies (101), having a holding device (3) to which a programming head (2) for the transmission of programming data to the munition body (101) is fastened, characterized in that the programming head (2) is configured as an exchangeable programming head module.

2. The programming device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the programming head (2) is detachably connected to the holding device (3).

3. The programming device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the programming head (2) is designed as a contactless programming head, in particular as an induction programming head (2.2), or as a contact programming head (2.1).

4. The programming device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the contact programming head (2.1) has a programming contact surface (2.11) for making contact with a munition body contact surface (101.1), wherein the programming contact surface (2.11) has a stair-shaped design.

5. The programming device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the programming head (2) is movable back and forth between a park position (P) and a programming position (R).

6. The programming device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the programming device is configured in such a manner that the programming head (2) is movable radially to the munition body longitudinal axis (A) of a munition body (101) being programmed.

7. The programming device as claimed in one of claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the programming head (2) is capable of being swiveled back and forth about a swivel axis (S) between the park position (P) and the programming position (R).

8. The programming device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the programming head (2) is movable linearly in respect of the swivel axis (S) for adjustment to the munition body (101).

9. The programming device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (3) is designed as a telescopic device.

10. The programming device as claimed in one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the programming head (2) is secured in the park position (P) to prevent unintentional movements.

11. The programming device as claimed in one of claims 5 to 10, characterized by a limit switch (6) for detecting the park position (P) of the programming head (2).

12. A projectile rammer with a programming device (1) according to one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1.

13. The projectile rammer as claimed in claim 12, characterized by a tray (102) for receiving a munition body (101) wherein the programming device (1) is arranged to the side of the tray (102).

14. The projectile rammer as claimed in one of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the programming head (2) for programming a munition body (101) located in the tray (102) is movable from a park position (P) arranged on the other side of the tray (102) into a programming position (R) arranged in the region of the tray (102).

15. A method for programming a munition body (101) with a programming device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Certain embodiments of invention are to be explained in greater detail below with the help of the drawings of a schematic exemplary embodiment. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG. 1a shows a programming device with a contact programming head in a telescoped position;

[0042] FIG. 1b shows a programming device with a contact programming head in a different telescoped position;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a set of different programming heads comprising an induction programming head and a contact programming head;

[0044] FIG. 3a shows the programming device in accordance with FIG. 1a, with an induction programming head;

[0045] FIG. 3b shows the programming device in accordance with FIG. 1b, with an induction programming head;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a projectile rammer with a programming device in a park position; and

[0047] FIG. 5 shows the projectile rammer according to FIG. 4 in a programming position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] A programming device 1 is shown in a perspective side view in the representations in FIGS. 1a and 1b. Munition bodies 101 can be programmed via the programming device 1, so that they explode at a predetermined time, for example, or follow a predetermined trajectory. Programmable munition bodies 101 of this kind are usually large-caliber munition bodies 101 which can be fired from artillery guns or also from large ships' cannons, for example.

[0049] Before the operations involved in programming a munition body 101 are described in greater detail below with the help of FIGS. 4 and 5, the basic structure of the programming device 1 is first to be explained in greater detail with the help of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0050] The programming device 1 has a drive device 4 with a motor and a holding device 3 swivellably connected to the drive device 4, said holding device being able to be swiveled about the swivel axis S via the drive device 4. A programming head 2 is arranged at the end of the holding device 3, said programming head being configured as a contact programming head 2.1 in the case of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1a and 1b, so that the contact programming head 2.1 can also be moved back and forth about the swivel axis S accordingly.

[0051] Moreover, however, the programming head 2 is also linearly movable in relation to the swivel axis S, as can be identified with the help of the double arrow in FIG. 1b. In order to allow a corresponding linear movement, the holding device 3 is configured as an extendable telescopic device. In the representation in FIG. 1a, the holding device 3 is inserted accordingly and extended in the depiction in FIG. 1b. Through this longitudinal adjustment of the programming head 2, said programming head can be adjusted both to the position of the munition body 101 being programmed and to the munition body contact surface 101.1, and also to the size of the munition body 101.

[0052] In the depictions in FIGS. 3a and 3b, a programming device 1 is shown which basically coincides with the programming device in FIGS. 1a and 1b. The only difference is that the programming head 2 is not configured as a contact programming head 2.1, but as an induction programming head 2.2.

[0053] In order to program the munition body 101, the contact programming head 2.1 must be brought into contact therewith, whereas the munition body 101 can be programmed in a contactless manner via the induction programming head 2.2. For contactless programming, the induction programming head 2.2 is moved over the tip of the munition body 101, so that said tip projects into the ring-shaped induction programming head 2.2. The induction programming head 2.2 has a coil with which programming data can then be transferred to the munition body 101. Following successful programming, the induction programming head 2.2 can then be swiveled back about the swivel axis X, as this is explained in even greater detail below for the contact programming head 2.1 with the help of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0054] Furthermore, the programming heads 2 can easily be removed from the holding device 3 or connected thereto. This allows a very simple exchange of an induction programming head 2.2 for a contact programming head 2.1, or vice versa. It is frequently the case in practice that munition bodies 101 of different types are to be fired depending on the target being engaged, for example. Many munition bodies 101 can only be programmed contactlessly, whereas other munition bodies 101 are unsuitable for contactless programming, for example on account of the data rate required for programming, and require programming with a contact programming head 2.1. To this extent, the programming head 2 is, or the programming heads 2 are, configured as programming head modules which can be optionally connected to the holding device 2, depending on the munition body 101 being programmed.

[0055] In the depiction in FIG. 2, the two different programming heads 2, namely one contact programming head 2.1 and one induction programming head 2.2, are shown once again released from the holding device 2. The two programming heads 2 can be selectively arranged on the holding device 3, depending on what kind of munition body 101 is to be programmed, and stored in a magazine, for example. Depending on the requirement of the munition body being programmed, one of the different programming heads 2 can then be selected and connected to the holding device 3.

[0056] With the help of FIGS. 4 and 5, the individual operations involved in programming a munition body 101 with a programming device 1 which has a contact programming head 2.1 are described in greater detail. When programming a munition body 101 with an induction programming head 2.2, the corresponding operations are basically identical.

[0057] A projectile rammer 100, which is arranged behind a gun barrel which is not shown, is illustrated in the depiction in FIG. 4, and therefore represents the last station before the gun barrel in the munition flow of a munition body 101 from the munition magazine to the gun barrel. This projectile rammer is connected, at least in the azimuth direction, to the gun barrel or to the rotatable turret. The projectile rammer 100 has a tray 102 on which the munition body 101 being programmed rests. When the munition body 101 has been programmed by the programming device 1, in a following step it is inserted into the gun barrel in the direction of the munition body longitudinal axis A and then fired.

[0058] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the programming device 1 is initially still located in the park position P, as the programming head 2 does not yet rest against the munition body 101. The programming head 2 or the holding device 3 is secured via a latching device 5 in the park position P, so that said programming head 2 cannot be accidentally moved, something that is to be feared due to vibrations and movements, particularly during rapid all-terrain driving.

[0059] The programming of the munition body 101 can begin when the munition body 101 is in the position shown in FIG. 4 and is not moved. The drive device 4 is activated for this purpose and it swivels the holding device 3 along with the programming head 2 in a clockwise direction about the swivel axis S, as a result of which the holding force of the latching device 5 also has to be overcome.

[0060] When the programming head 2 has reached the programming position R depicted in FIG. 5, the stair-shaped contact area 2.11 of the contact programming head 2.1 rests on the correspondingly configured munition body contact surface 101.1 of the munition body 101. In this programming position R, the respective contact surfaces are therefore in contact and programming data can be transferred from the programming head 2 via the munition body contact surface 101.1 to a process or the munition body 101 which is not depicted.

[0061] As has already been described in relation to FIGS. 1a and 1b, it is also possible for the holding device 3 to be extended or retracted, so that an adjustment to the precise position of the munition body contact surface 101.1 can thereby be achieved.

[0062] When the programming operation is complete, the programming head 2 is swiveled along with the holding device 3 back in a counterclockwise direction into the park position P depicted in FIG. 4. The programming head 2 then strikes against a limit switch 6 during this. Only when the programming head 2 rests against the limit switch 6 can the munition body 101 be moved on and inserted into the gun barrel. Without this additional securing, damage could be inflicted on the programming device 1, when the munition body 101 has already been moved, when the programming head 2 has not yet reached the park position.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0063] 1 Programming device [0064] 2 Programming head [0065] 2.1 Contact programming head [0066] 2.11 Programming contact surface [0067] 2.2 Induction programming head [0068] 3 Holding device [0069] 4 Drive device [0070] 5 Locking device [0071] 6 Limit switch [0072] 100 Projectile rammer [0073] 101 Munition body [0074] 101.1 Munition body contact surface [0075] 102 Tray [0076] A Munition body longitudinal axis [0077] P Park position [0078] R Programming position [0079] S Swivel axis

[0080] Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the various embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the claims of the present application.