Limited range, arrow stabilized subcaliber projectile for a tubular weapon

• US 4,765,248 A
• Filed: 04/23/1987
• Issued: 08/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Inventors: Theis, Ulrich, Kruse, Heinz-Josef, Becker, Wilfried, Pahnke, Klaus D., Wallow, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Parr, Ted L.
• Application Number:
  US07/041,376
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 102/498, 102/529, 244/3.23, 244/3.24
• US Class Current: 102/529
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/48 Range-reducing, destabilising or braking arrangements, e.g. impact-braking arrangements; Fall-retarding means, e.g. balloons, rockets for braking or fall-retardingF42B10/34 takes precedence

Abstract

A subcaliber projectile intended for arrow stabilization has its guide assembly set so that the projectile spins around its longitudinal axis and is constructed so that it is unbalanced with respect to its longitudinal axis such that the spinning reaches a critical number of revolutions at a given time during the trajectory of the projectile and the resulting resonance causes destruction of the projectile.

Claims

1. In a limited range, arrow stabilized subcaliber projectile for a tubular weapon, including a cylindrical main body portion having a stabilizing tail section which is secured to said main body portion and has a larger outer diameter than the diameter of said main body portion;

the improvement wherein;

said stabilizing tail section includes means for causing said projectile to rotate about its longitudinal axis during flight; and

said main body portion further includes means, extending parallel to said longitudinal axis along the peripheral surface of said main body portion, for producing an unbalance of said projectile with respect to its said longitudinal axis so that at a given moment in time, and thus after projectile has covered a corresponding distance on its trajectory, the rotation rate corresponds to a critical number of revolutions which produces resonance in said projectile to cause the breaking apart and the self-destruction of said projectile.

2. The subcaliber projectile defined in claim 1 wherein said means for producing an unbalance comprise an elongated recess formed in the peripheral surface of said main body portion and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said projectile.

3. The subcaliber projectile defined in claim 2 wherein said stabilizing tail section includes a plurality of fins symmetrically disposed about the circumference of said projectile;

and said means for causing said projectile to rotate includes at least one inclined partial side surface on each of said fins.

4. The sub-caliber projectile defined in claim 1 wherein said means for producing an unbalance comprises an elongated projection formed on the peripheral surface of said main body portion and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said projectile.

5. The subcaliber projectile defined in claim 4 wherein said stabilizing tail section includes a plurality of fins symmetrically disposed about the circumference of said projectile;

and said means for causing said projectile to rotate includes at least one inclined partial side surface on each of said fins.

6. The sub-caliber projectile defined in claim 1 wherein said stabilizing tail section includes a plurality of fins symmetrically disposed about the circumference of said projectile;

and said means for causing said projectile to rotate includes at least one inclined partial side surface on each of said fins.