AU2010301557B2

AU2010301557B2 - Magazine-integrated ammunition

Info

Publication number: AU2010301557B2
Application number: AU2010301557A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andre Klasen
Original assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
Priority date: 2009-09-30
Filing date: 2010-09-15
Publication date: 2015-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-15
Also published as: SG10201407069YA; CA2770392A1; IL218768A; KR20120090959A; IL218768A0; SG179178A1; EP2483627B1; US20120247310A1; WO2011038835A1; KR101729351B1; CA2770392C; ZA201201684B; DE102009043483A1; AU2010301557A1; EP2483627A1

Abstract

It is proposed to connect the ammunition and the magazine (2) to each other not only in terms of design, but also in terms of function. The magazine (2) and ammunition are for all intents and purposes combined to form sub-modules (1), wherein a plurality of sub-modules (1.1-1.4) would then be comparable to the quantity of conventional ammunition in the launcher tube. Said sub-modules (1.1-1.4) are then preferably assembled and locked (as a module), which is comparable to a previously loaded magazine. The individual sub-module (1) contains, inter alia, rifling, by means of which, during firing, the ammunition/submunition is caused to rotate and is thereby stabilised.

Description

1 DESCRIPTION Magazine-integrated ammunition 5 The invention relates to a magazine or magazine-integrated munitions, in particular for a launcher. One or more munitions are provided in the corresponding weapon and launcher system individually, in a belt or even in a 10 magazine. Mechanical loads are withstood by the munitions itself. The magazine or the belt represents a munitions holder, storage facility or delivery facility for the weapon in the real sense. 15 The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the 20 common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as 25 "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. A cartridge belt is depicted in AT 345 697 B and AT 346 736 B. Further cartridge belts are known from DE 1 222 824 C, DE 33 36 30 192 Al or DE 44 17 782 C2. DE 202 05 689 Ul discloses a cartridge belt with plastic elements. DE 103 46 001 B2 discloses a launcher of the known type for protecting against end phase guided missiles. The launcher 2 comprises juxtaposed disposed launcher chutes, whose covering is opened for ejection of the munitions from the launcher. DE 196 17 701 Al, a further application of the applicant is 5 concerned, with a method for providing a decoy target. The active substances are ejected from a launcher and positioned by a shell that is rotated. Such launcher systems are also subject to the wish to increase 10 the range. If the propulsion system for the munitions and their cartridges are changed for this purpose, higher loads then act on the interface between the launcher and the munitions, so that these loads exceed the permissible level. This fact could be countered, for example, by stiffening the cartridge tube for 15 the munitions, but a change of the magazining of the munitions in the launcher system would also have to be carried out, which in turn is undesirable. It is therefore desirable to provide an arrangement, with which 20 an increase in range can be achieved in a simple manner and taking costs into account. According to the present invention there is provided a magazine configured for, munitions for a launcher for 25 protection against end phase-guided munitions, the munitions being accepted by submodules that form the magazine, the magazine being configured to be inserted into the launcher, wherein the submodules comprise undercuts and protrusions for interconnection, 30 wherein a first submodule of the magazine does not comprise a protrusion, wherein the magazine comprises a locking handle disposed at an end of the submodules, the locking handle comprising a 2a handle protrusion configured to be received in one of the undercuts; and wherein the submodules comprise rifling. 5 In association with an increase in range for weapons systems and launcher systems, the relocation of functions from the munitions into the area of the magazine is worthy of consideration, since these cannot be undertaken by the munitions alone. Even from the viewpoint of a cost reduction, 10 the colocation of individual functions of the system components should be reconsidered. The invention is based on the idea that the munitions and the magazine can not only be structurally linked but also 15 functionally linked. The munitions and the magazine are merged into submodules, so to speak, wherein a plurality of submodules (e.g. 4) is comparable with the number of conventional munitions (in the launcher or launcher chute) . These submodules are then preferably connected together and locked (as a 20 module), which is also comparable with a conventional magazine loaded with munitions. The individual sub-modules include, among other features, rifling, by means of which during firing the munitions/sub munitions are set in rotation and thereby stabilized (transfer of a function from the munitions). 25 According to a particular form of the invention, the munitions magazine is configured to be inserted into a munitions launcher. 30 In another form of the present invention, the submodules are connected in series.

2b In yet another form of the present invention the handle protrusion has a same shape as the protrusion of the plurality of magazine segments. 5 According to the invention, the submunitions/projectiles are integrated directly into a WO 2011/038835 - 3 - PCT/EP2010/005662 magazine/magazine segment, which in turn can take up the load of the munitions and can undertake munitions relevant functions. The magazine segments or submodule segments can be connected together to form a magazine 5 as a result of their structural shape. Alternatively, there can also be tilt/latch connections, by means of which the submodules can be connected together. The magazine is compatible with existing launcher 10 systems and the magazine segments are compatible with each other, which also allows an exchange of the segments within the magazine group (modular design). The invention will be explained in detail using an 15 example embodiment with drawings. The drawings show: fig. 1 a plan view representation of a magazine 20 formed by the ammunition, fig. 2 a side view representation of the magazine shown in fig. 1, 25 fig. 3 a further variant of the submodule, fig. 4a, b an alternative connection with hooks and cups at the lower end of the munitions as shown in fig. 3, 30 fig. 5a, b a connection option in the upper area of the munitions as shown in fig. 3. In fig. 1, submodules or magazine segments labeled with 35 1 are shown in a plan view, wherein four submodules 1 (1.1 - 1.4) form a magazine 2. The magazine 2 is preferably closed by a handle or a lock 3.

WO 2011/038835 - 4 - PCT/EP2010/005662 Cartridges or munitions (active bodies) that are not shown in detail are integrated into the segments 1. The individual submodules/magazine segments 1.1 - 1.4 comprise inter alia rifling 8, by means of which they 5 are set rotating during firing of the munitions/submunitions/active body and are thereby stabilized. The first submodule 1.1 comprises, preferably on one 10 side, an undercut 5, which is structurally adapted to a protrusion 6 on the further submodules 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, so that both can be connected together. For this reason, the following submodules 1.2 - 1.n comprise, in addition to the protrusion 6, an undercut 5, whereas 15 the first submodule 1.1 comprises only an undercut 5. The magazine 2 is constructed by connecting the submodules 1.1 - 1.4 together. The handle 3 can be inserted into the undercut of the last submodule 1.4, 20 in particular for transportation, and it is preferably connected with a locking device. The embodiments described here comprise primarily a magazine 2 for a launcher with four munitions disposed 25 one above the other. This embodiment is preferable, since known magazines generally comprise only four ejector tubes disposed one above the other (cf. DE 103 46 001 B2), which on their part form a launcher chute. 30 It is understood, however, that for other launcher types and/or applications, a plurality of submodules 1 can be joined together. If the submodules 1 were also to comprise lateral undercuts, a connection to further submodules 1 using this interface would also be 35 possible.

WO 2011/038835 - 5 - PCT/EP2010/005662 A further variant of the design of the munitions package is shown in fig. 3. In this case the submodules 10 (10., 10.2 and so on) are latched together. 5 The alternatives for the connection of these submodules 10 to each other are shown in fig. 4a, b and 5a and b. The submodule 10 comprises at least one hook 11 on one side, preferably in the lower region, which can be 10 brought into engagement with the cup 12 of the next submodule 10. For this purpose, the hook/hooks 11 of one submodule 10 are suspended in the cups 12 of the preceding module 10. In order to ensure a secure connection of the modules 10 in the upper region, a 15 latch 13 can be incorporated. This can take the simple form of a snapper, for which the front module 10 comprises a notch and the next module comprises a protrusion that can engage the notch (not shown in detail) . A spring bolt 14 is used as a preferred 20 variant, which can engage behind or in a recess 15 of a part 16 extending away from the module 10.1. This allows easy release of the modules 10.1 and 10.2 from each other, (fig. 5a, b). In fig. 1, the spring bolt 14 is shown and the latch is open; in fig. 4b, the spring 25 bolt 14 is closed and thus the latch is in operation. Moreover, horizontal and vertical slats 17 are located on the submodules 10.1, 10.2. These engage in each other in the latched condition. By means of the slats 17, the external forces, e.g. caused by handling etc., 30 are captured and relieve the load on the hooking devices and the latching devices or the locking devices. The number of slats 17 can be chosen depending on the introduced force to be expected, depending on the material and depending on the configuration. 35

Claims

1. A magazine configured for, munitions for a launcher for 5 protection against end phase-guided munitions, the munitions being accepted by submodules that form the magazine, the magazine being configured to be inserted into the launcher, wherein the submodules comprise undercuts and protrusions for interconnection, 10 wherein a first submodule of the magazine does not comprise a protrusion, wherein the magazine comprises a locking handle disposed at an end of the submodules, the locking handle comprising a handle protrusion configured to be received in one of the 15 undercuts; and wherein the submodules comprise rifling.

2. The munitions magazine according to claim 1, wherein the submodules are connected in series. 20

3. The munitions magazine according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the handle protrusion has a same shape as the protrusion of the plurality of magazine segments. 25

4. A magazine substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings of an embodiment of the invention.