Spin-stabilized artillery projectile having gas pressure equalizing means

• US 6,237,497 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Inventors: Klutsch, Margret, Aumund-Kopp, Ralf, Altenau, Ernst-Wilhelm, Fischer, Siegmar, Sikorski, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Semunegus, Lulit
• Application Number:
  US09/286,838
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 102/524, 102/517, 102/516, 102/514
• US Class Current: 102/524
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/02 Driving bands; Rotating bands F42B14/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A spin-stabilized projectile adapted to be fired from a weapon barrel, includes a projectile body having a length dimension, a rear length portion, an ogive-shaped front length portion and an intermediate length portion situated between the rear and front length portions; a metal guide band circumferentially mounted on the projectile body; and an undercut provided circumferentially in the intermediate length portion to define an annular chamber with an inner surface of the weapon barrel during travel of the projectile in the weapon barrel upon firing for effecting a pressure equalization of propellant gases flowing past the metal guide band to center the projectile within the weapon barrel.

Claims

1. A spin-stabilized projectile adapted to be fired from a weapon barrel, comprising

(a) a projectile body having a length dimension, a rear length portion, an ogive-shaped front length portion and an intermediate cylindrical length portion situated between said rear and front length portions;

(b) a soft-iron guide band circumferentially mounted on said projectile body and having a front circumferential edge oriented toward said front length portion;

said intermediate length portion having a length extending from said front circumferential edge of said soft-iron guide band to said front length portion;

said soft-iron guide band having a rear circumferential edge opposite said front circumferential edge thereof;

(c) a heat-resistant elastomer sealing ring circumferentially mounted on said projectile body and facing said rear circumferential edge of said soft-iron guide band; and

(d) an undercut provided circumferentially in said intermediate length portion for defining an annular chamber with an inner surface of the weapon barrel during travel of the projectile in the weapon barrel upon firing to effect a pressure equalization of propellant gases flowing past said soft-iron guide band for centering the projectile within the weapon barrel;

a length of said undercut measured parallel to the length dimension of the projectile being between 70% and 80% of the length of said intermediate length portion;

a distance of said undercut from said front edge of said metal guide band being approximately 33% of the difference between the length of said intermediate length portion and the length of said undercut;

a depth of said undercut being between 0.3% and 0.6% of one half of the maximum projectile diameter.

2. The spin-stabilized projectile as defined in claim 1, wherein a length of said undercut measured parallel to the length dimension of the projectile is 75% of the length of said intermediate length portion.

3. The spin-stabilized projectile as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing ring is of nylon.

4. The spin-stabilized projectile as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing ring directly adjoins said metal guide band.