US3446146A

US3446146A - Artillery cartridge

Info

Publication number: US3446146A
Application number: US604700A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans Stadler; Heinz Gawlick; Gunther Marondel
Original assignee: Dynamit Nobel AG
Current assignee: Dynamit Nobel AG
Priority date: 1965-12-28
Filing date: 1966-12-27
Publication date: 1969-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-27
Also published as: NL6617578A; GB1156367A; DE1453837B2; DK122689B; SE312744B; NO119130B; BE691838A; FR1506813A; DE1453837A1

Description

May 27, 1969 H. STADLER ET AL ARTILLERY CARTRIDGE Filed Dec. 2'7, 1966 5 R 0 MR E E D M S S N A ,H 2

HEINZ GAWLICK BY GUNTHER MARONDEL ORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,446,146 Patented May 27, 1969 3,446,146 ARTILLERY CARTRIDGE Hans Stadler, Nuremburg, Heinz Gawlick, Furth, and

Giinther Marondel, Erlangen, Germany, assignors to Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft, Troisdorf, Germany Filed Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 604,700 Claims priority, application (ggrmany, Dec. 28, 1965, 9

Int. Cl. F42b /36 US. Cl. 102-45 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention The present invention relates to an artillery cartridge, and more particularly to an artillery cartridge provided with a charge consisting of flash-damping and/or barrelprotecting substances.

It is known and also customary in connection with artillery cartridges to admix to the propelling powder charge substances which dampen or inhibit the gun or muzzle flash and/ or the breach flash. Potassium salts such as potassium sulphate, potassium oxalate, potassium nitrate, etc. are suitable in particular for this purpose.

Recently substances are also admixed to the propelling powder charges which produce a barrel-protecting effect. Substances of this type are, for example aluminum fluoride, aluminum fluoro-hydrate, chromium fluoride, vanadium pentoxide, zirconium oxychloride, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, borax, potassium titanium fluoride, sodium molybdenum oxide, sodium tungstate, chromium nitrate, molybdenum oxide, etc. -In order to achieve a good effect, these substances or ingredients have to be finely pulverized or atomized during burning of the propellant powder charge whereby it is particularly important that the pulverization or atomization starts already in the forward end of the cartridge case as the loads of the barrel are greatest in the section following the forward end of the cartridge case.

An essential disadvantage of the admixture of substances of the aforementioned type to the propelling powder charge resides in the fact that this is possible only within a limited measure because the ignition and burning properties of the propellant charge are unfavorably influenced by an excessively high admixture of such substances. Consequently, one is forced to strike a careful balance between the desirable effect of these substances and the adverse influence thereof deteriorating the burning characteristics of the propelling powder charge, whence one only has little latitude as regards the admixture of such substances to the propelling powder charge.

Summary of the invention It is an aim of the present invention to eliminate this disadvantage, i.e., to achieve an optimum result by an increased effect with a minimum of such flash-damping and/or such barrel-protecting substances.

This is achieved with an artillery cartridge having a propelling powder charge accommodated within the cartridge case, a mixture damping the muzzle flash and/or breach flash and consisting of potassium sulphate, potassium oxalate, potassium nitrate and the like and/or an admixture of a barrel-protecting substance such as aluminum fluoride and the like as well as a primer composition accommodated within the cartridge bottom and provided with a primer booster charge connected behind the primer composition, it according to the proposal of the present invention the flash-damping and/or barrel-protecting substance is arranged, either in loose or compacted form, possibly compressed into the form of a tablet, as top charge on the booster charge in the cartridge bottom. With such an arrangement, the auxiliary substance or substances are fired or shot into the propelling powder charge by the firing detonation and are thereby uniformly and finely distributed whereas with an admixture of the substance or substances directly to the propelling charge, it is at least doubtful whether also the portion of the flashdamping and/or barrel-protecting substance located in the neighborhood of the cartridge case wall participates in the reaction taking place during the burning of the propelling charge.

An improved effect can additionally be realized if in an appropriate further development of the present invention, the cartridge bottom is enlarged in a nozzle-shaped manner in the direction toward the propelling charge within the area of the flash-damping and/ or barrel-protecting substance because in this case a uniform pulverization 0r atomization is assured over the entire propelling charge cross section.

In order that the booster charge and the additional charge cannot intermingle in an undesired manner during transportation, etc., a disk of a readily destructible material such as paper, plastic material or the like is provided as separating cover.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an artillery cartridge of the type described above which eliminates by simple means the shortcomings and drawbacks encountered with the prior art constructions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an artillery cartridge in which relatively great latitude is afforded to the admixture of additional flash-inhibiting and/or barrel-protecting substances.

Another object of the present invention resides in an artillery cartridge in which in a uniform atomization or pulverization of the additional flash-inhibiting and/ or barrel-protecting substances is assured over the entire cross section of the propelling charge.

Still another object of the present invention resides in an artillery cartridge in which an undesired intermixing of booster charge and additional charge consisting of flashinhibiting and/ or barrel-protecting substances is effectively prevented without impairment of the proper operation of the cartridge.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view through the rear end of a cartridge provided with a primer composition, a booster charge, and an auxiliary top charge accommodated Within the threaded percussion primer;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view through the rear end of a modified embodiment of a cartirdge case with a primer casing inserted into the cartridge bottom and containing the primer, the booster charge, and the auxiliary charge; and

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, through the rear end of still another embodiment of an artillery cartridge in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, the primer or percussion cap 4, the booster charge 5, and the additional top charge 7, separated from the booster charge 5 by means of a cover disk 6 and consisting of conventional flash-damping and/or barrel-protecting substances are inserted into the bottom 2 of the cartridge case 1, filled with propelling powder charge 3, by means of the threaded percussion primer element 8 which is constructed with a nozzle-shaped enlargement 9 within the area of the additional charge 7. With the use of flash-inhibiting and barrel-protecting substances, the latter could also be arranged seriatim following one another and possibly separated from one another by a foil or the like.

During firing the cartridge inserted into a breach recess (not shown) by means of the primer pin 10 indicated in dash line, at first the primer composition 12 is ignited, which consists of highly sensitive substances such as lead styphanate, lead azide, tetrazene, etc. and is securely pressed into the primer capsule 11. The ignition flame resulting therefrom penetrates by way of the ignition channels 14 of the anvil 13, arranged in the capsule or detonator and supported against the threaded percussion primer element 8, into the booster charge 5 which consists in the illustrated embodiment, for example, only of oxygen carriers and of reducing agents but of no explosive ignition substances, and thereby ignites the booster charge. The relatively powerful ignition jet resulting therefrom fires or shoots the auxiliary charge 7 following the booster charge 5 and consisting of flash-damping and/or barrelprotecting substance or substances together with the cover disk 6 into the propelling charge 3 whereby the charge 7 receives a good and uniform as well as fine distribution extending also over the entire propelling powder cross section by reason of the nozzle-shaped enlargement 9 of the threaded percussion primer element 8 so that during burning of the propelling charge 3, ignited by the ignition jet, the complete reaction or transformation thereof is assured. One is thereby readily in a position to adart oneself in the best possible manner as regards the booster charge 5 and also the auxiliary charge 7 to the existing prerequisites determined by the type and quantity of the propelling charge 3. With the use of a booster charge of the aforementioned composition, the quantity thereof may amount, for example, up to 500 times the primer composition quantity.

According to FIGURE 2, the cartridge 15 containing the primer composition, the booster charge, and the auxiliary charge consisting of flash-inhibiting and/or barrelprotecting substance or substances is inserted into the recess or aperture 16 of the cartridge bottom 2 in a manner not shown but in principle in the same series arrangement as in FIGURE 1. The recess 16 is in communication by way of the ignition channels 17 with the space for the propelling charge. The ignition channels 17 are thereby uniformly spaced over the circumference on a conical path.

In contradistinction to FIGURE 2, the recess or aperture 16 in FIGURE 3 is extended through the cartridge bottom 2 by way of a conical enlargement 18.

The desired uniform distribution of the auxiliary charge extending over the entire propelling charge cross section is thereby assured both by the ignition channels 17, preferably arranged in larger number and uniform spacing on a conical path as also by the conical enlargement 18. As to the rest, the considerations mentioned in connection with FIGURE 1 apply in an analogous manner also to the embodiments of FIGURES 2 and 3.

While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptable of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art. For example, though a percussion-type primer is shown, it is, of course, also possible to provide an electric fuse in connection with all of the embodiments illustrated.

We claim:

1. An artillery cartridge having a cartridge case and provided with a cartridge bottom, a propelling charge accommodated Within said cartridge case, primer means within said cartridge bottom including a primer composition, a booster charge connected behind the primer composition, auxiliary barrel wear-inhibiting charge means arranged between the booster charge and the propelling charge within said cartridge bottom, said auxiliary barrel wear-inhibiting charge means being an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, tantalum, and molybdenum.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary charge means is in loose condition.

3. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary charge means is in compressed condition.

4. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary charge means is compressed into tablet form.

5. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge bottom is provided with a nozzle-shaped enlargement within the area of the auxiliary charge means enlarging in the direction toward the propelling charge.

6. A cartridge according to claim 5, further comprising cover disk means separating the auxiliary charge means from the booster charge.

7. A cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising ignition channel means flaring outwardly in the direction toward the space in the cartridge case accommodating the propelling charge.

8. A cartridge according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of uniformly distributed channel means are provided located on a substantially conical path.

9. A cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising cover disk means separating the auxiliary charge means from the booster charge.

10. A cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising cover disk means separating the auxiliary charge means from the booster charge.

11. A cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said cover disk means consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, synthetic plastic material and foil material.

12. An artillery cartridge according to claim 1, further including auxiliary flash-damping charge means arranged between the booster charge and the propelling charge within said cartridge bottom, said auxiliary flash-damping charge means being selected from the group consisting of potassium sulfate, potassium oxalate, and potassium nitrate.

13. An artillery cartridge having a cartridge case and provided with a cartridge bottom, a propelling charge accommodated within said cartridge case, primer means within said cartridge bottom including a primer composition, a booster charge connected behind the primer composition, auxiliary fiash-damping charge means arranged between the booster charge and the propelling charge within said cartridge bottom, said auxiliary flash-damping charge means being selected from the group consisting of potassium sulfate, potassium oxalate, and potassium nitrate.

14. A cartridge according to claim 13, further comprising ignition channel means flaring outwardly in the direction toward the space in the cartridge case accommodating the propellant charge.

15. A cartridge according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of uniformly distributed channel means are provided located on a substantially conical path.

16. An artillery cartridge having a cartridge case and provided with a cartridge bottom, a propelling charge accommodated within said cartridge case, primer means within said cartridge bottom including a primer composition, a booster charge connected behind the primer composition, auxiliary barrel wear-inhibiting charge means arranged between the booster charge and the propelling charge within said cartridge bottom, said auxiliary barrel wear-inhibiting charge means being selected from the group consisting of aluminum fluoride, aluminum fluoro-hydrate, chromium fluoride, zirconium oxychloride, and potassium titanium fluoride.

17. An artillery cartridge according to claim 16, further including auxiliary flash-damping charge means arranged between the booster charge and the propelling charge within said cartridge bottom, said auxiliary flashdamping charge means being selected from the group consisting of potassium sulfate, potassium oxalate, and potassium nitrate.

18. An artillery cartridge having a cartridge case and provided with a cartridge bottom, a propelling charge accommodated within said cartridge case, primer means within said cartridge bottom including a primer composition, a booster charge connected behind the primer composition, auxiliary barrel wear-inhibiting charge means arranged between the booster charge and the propelling charge within said cartridge bottom, said auxiliary barrel wear-inhibiting charge means being selected from the group consisting of vanadium pentoxide, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, borax, sodium molybdenum oxide, sodium tungstate, and molybdenum oxide.

19. An artillery cartridge according to claim 18, fur ther including auxiliary flash-damping charge means arranged between the booster charge and the propelling charge within said cartridge bottom, said auxiliary flashdamping charge means being selected from the group consisting of potassium sulfate, potassium oxalate, and potassium nitrate.

References .Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 431,601 7/1890 Lorenz l0245 573,897 12/1896 Mohr 10245 1,005,052 10/ 1911 Maxim 10238 2,685,252 8/1954 Catlin 10245 3,148,620 9/1964 Jacobson et al. 10238 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.