Full-caliber projectile

• US 6,769,364 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Inventors: Imdahl, Michael, Kolodzey, Jürgen, Vagedes, Michael, Heitmann, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Behrend, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US10/303,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 102/524, 102/526, 102/527
• US Class Current: 102/527
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/02 Driving bands; Rotating bands F42B14/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A full-caliber projectile having a cylindrical guide region (5) and an ogival projectile tip (7). To improve the stabilization of the projectile (1) inside a gun barrel (2) in a simple manner, and therefore improve the intermediate ballistics and hit accuracy over those of comparable projectiles, a guide ring (8), which is segmented in the circumferential direction, and whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of a gun barrel (2) of the same caliber, is secured to the projectile tip (7) such that the radially spaced guide-ring segments (9) detach from the projectile (1) in the gun barrel (2) when a predetermined firing acceleration occurs in the gun barrel, and the segments (9) are pushed toward the projectile (1), axially relative to the cylindrical guide region (5), by dynamic pressure until they rest against the inside wall (18) of the gun barrel (2) and against the projectile (1).

Claims

1. A full-caliber projectile comprising:

a projectile body having a cylindrical guide region and an ogival projectile tip, connected to a front end of the guide region;

a cylindrical guide ring, which is divided at its circumference into at least two shell-like guide-ring segments, mounted on an outer surface of the projectile tip, with an outer diameter of the ring being smaller than an inner diameter of a gun barrel of the same caliber as the projectile; and

means securing the guide ring to the outer surface of the projectile tip such that the guide-ring segments detach from the projectile and move rapidly outwardly when a predetermined firing acceleration is attained in the corresponding gun barrel, so that the guide-ring segments are pushed rearwardly toward the cylindrical guide region of the projectile in an axial direction until the guide ring segments rest against the inside wall of the gun barrel and against the projectile.

2. The projectile according to claim 1, further comprising means connecting adjacent of said guide-ring segments to one another such that the segments can move radially outwardly after detaching from the projectile tip, but do not become axially misaligned due to the radial displacement.

3. The projectile according to claim 2, wherein the means for connecting adjacent ones of said guide rings to one another comprises at least one tongue-like extension that extends in the direction of the circumference formed on one of the adjacent guide-ring segments and extending, in a form-fit, into a recess that extends in the circumferential direction of the adjacent guide-ring segment.

4. The projectile according to claim 3, wherein, one end, seen in the direction of the circumference, of each guide-ring segment is provided with at least one of said tongue-like extensions, and the other end is provided with at least one of said recess that is adapted to the tongue-like extension of the adjacent guide-ring segment.

5. The projectile according to claim 3, wherein the length of each said tongue-like extension and corresponding recess is such that the extension cannot leave the recess while the guide ring is in the gun barrel.

6. The projectile according to claim 1 further comprising an air pocket formed in the front end surface of the guide ring that faces the projectile tip.

7. The projectile according to claim 1 wherein the guide ring comprises a deformable material.

8. The projectile according to claim 7, wherein the guide ring is formed of a deformable plastic.

9. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein the means for securing the guide ring to the projectile includes fastening elements disposed on the guide ring and extending radially inwardly and, in a non-positive lockup, into corresponding radial grooves formed in the circumferential surface of the projectile.

10. The projectile according to claim 9, wherein the fastening elements have break-away points that rupture when said predetermined acceleration is achieved.

11. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein the guide ring is at least one of glued to the projectile, welded to the projectile, and connected to the projectile with the aid of at least one holding band encircling the guide ring.

12. The projectile according to claim 11, wherein the guide ring is connected to the projectile by at least a holding band encircling the outer circumferential surface of the guide ring.

13. The projectile according to claim 11, wherein the guide ring is connected to the projectile by at least a holding band formed of an adhesive tape engaging one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the guide ring and the outer circumferential surface of the projectile.

14. The projectile according to claim 11, wherein the guide ring is connected to the projectile by at least a holding band with an L-shape having one arm engaged in a recess in the circumferential surface of the projectile and its other arm engaging and overlying one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the guide ring at the surface of the projectile.