DE102005030263B3 - Safety system for programmable munitions comprises self-destruct device that is activated if detonator test is failed and is overridden if detonator test is passed - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety system for programmable munitions comprises a self-destruct device that is activated if a detonator test is failed and is overridden if the detonator test is passed. An independent claim is also included for a munition with a safety system as above.

Description

The The invention relates to a security system for a malleable ammunition, preferably for a non-lethal ammunition with non-lethal agents.

Not find lethal ammunition u. a. Application for protection against threat of ships in the port area, for example by speedboats sniper in buildings or the like, as well as by violent crowds. In these Scenarios is difficult to detect the danger or use conventional weapons to unwanted damage.

Known are non-lethal projectiles that are targeted by means of high-power pulses a destroying the Effect electronics of a target. But you can also by disturbing or dazzle the function of the target.

A other genus of non-lethal ammunition contains non-lethal agents, such as paint, chemical irritants, fog or even Facilities with lightning and bang effects. It also stands out by firing with the help of a conventional weapon system can be, but has no lethal function in the target. Important when using such non-lethal ammunition is that a Non-lethality about the entire flight duration is ensured.

Devices are known for avoiding dangerous duds that occur when the actual destination is not reached or the flight phase is considered to be completed, ie, at the end of the mission. In these situations, the detonator is generally at least deactivated, for example by securing the fuse, or destroying the ammunition itself. Diverse ignition and safety devices with the safety criterion of the so-called self-decomposition are from the DE 43 35 022 C2 . DE 82 36 369 U1 or the DE 100 40 800 A1 known. An electronic self-destructor designates the DE 100 20 037 C1 , a pyrotechnic self-destructor can DE 199 19 001 A1 be removed. especially the DE 100 20 037 C1 has a device that causes a time-controlled self-decomposition of a projectile. For operation, several capacitors charged during firing by a piezoelectric element are used in the flight phase, thereby ensuring that voltage changes do not affect the time function.

The DE 698 17 496 T2 describes a safety device in which the charge of a projectile is triggered only at a certain distance from the shooter so that it does not get splinters.

The DE 35 43 938 C1 shows a method in which the self-decomposition of the ammunition is activated in the final phase of the projectile flight.

The self-evident task is to show a security system which ensures protection, especially after Verschuß, since the non-lethality dependent on distance and an agent that is not lethal in its field of application is, in other areas quite lethal in its function can.

The The object is solved by the features of claim 1. advantageous Further developments are enumerated in the subclaims.

Of the Invention is based on the idea that with Verschuß an existing and / or additional self-decomposition mechanism is activated in the projectile, which remains active until a check of the detonator function is completed positively. In this case, this mechanism becomes disabled and the triggering function takes place at the programmed time. The idea is therefore to the self-decomposition function, if required, while maintaining this function at the end of the mission, to the beginning of the mission too lay. This will also cause a complete nonlethality of the ammunition over the entire flight phase / course guaranteed.

The ammunition or the projectile preferably has a heatable detonator. There are various time programs and detonators for ammunition known. The tempings are done either manually before the shot outside the cargo space or electrically in the cargo space via a Anzündelektronik. The latter temping is for example in the DE 101 52 862 A1 described. A method and a device for transmitting information to programmable projectiles are the EP 0 992 762 B1 removable. In the EP 0 918 209 B1 a bullet with programmable time fuse is disclosed, which is also known as AHEAD ammunition. A method and apparatus for programming firefighters from projectiles are also used in the EP 0 769 673 B1 handled. For calculating a decomposition time, a predetermined muzzle velocity of the projectile and a predetermined distance to a target object are used.

For safety reasons, the ignition chain is constructed so that a preferably separate self-separation mechanism remains active at least until the projectile for the regular ignition required ignition voltage has been reached and the function of the igniter is detected after a self-test. In the firing chain, the function is implanted to initiate a self-decomposition of the projectile before it enters the area of non-lethal effect in the absence of detonator function. The self-decomposition is overridden if the detonator function is proven. The self-test is thus a safety criterion.

The Advantages of the proposed solution lie in avoiding collateral damage especially during one first phase of flight and the redefinition of safety and self-destruction criteria.

Based an embodiment with drawing, the invention will be explained in more detail.

The sole figure shows the principle of the safety system for non-lethal ammunition 1 that by a weapon system 2 shot, in the flight phase B an activated self-decomposition 3 and which at an instant A an ignition timing signal S is transmitted, for example, by an arms fire control computer 4 , The time A may be the passage of ammunition 1 by a muzzle brake indicated in the figure 5 at the weapon system 2 or a later date, such as in the DE 38 35 656 A1 described. Preferably, until the ignition point C, the self-decomposition remains 3 activated, in which phase a check of the function of a detonator 6 in the ammunition 1 is completed. If this query determines a positive result, at the latest at the ignition point C, the self-decomposition 3 disabled. At the time of ignition in the ignition C then the exit of the non-lethal agent (not shown) take place, the ammunition 1 the unspecified active agent at point D (time D) releases and thereby disassembled itself, so that not splinters or residues of ammunition 1 appear lethal in the target itself.

Will be within the firing chain in the ammunition 1 detects a missing igniter function is ensured by means of other known measures that no disassembly of the ammunition 1 takes place and thus the active agent is not released. It can be left open whether this is done via another signal, whereby the flight as such is terminated abruptly, so that the ammunition 1 does not come close to the intended target, or another possibility is considered.

The ammunition is preferred 1 an AHEAD ammunition, which the ignition timing C via an induction loop in the muzzle brake 5 of the weapon system 2 or after leaving the weapon system 2 is transmitted via a remote transmission.

The embodiment but is not limited to non-lethal ammunition. Also a limitation the use in so-called AHEAD or ABM ammunition is not given. Rather, all, usually malleable bullets included.

Claims (5)

Security system for a malleable ammunition ( 1 ), wherein in the ignition chain a function is incorporated, by the absence of detonator function of a detonator ( 6 ) a self-decomposition of ammunition ( 1 ), whereby the self-decomposition ( 3 ) is overridden when the detonator function is proven. Safety system according to claim 1, characterized in that the ammunition ( 1 ) in an initial phase of flight an activated self-decomposition ( 3 ) owns. Safety system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ammunition ( 1 ) at a time (B) an ignition timing signal is transmitted. Safety system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the check before entering the range of a non-lethal effect of ammunition ( 1 ) he follows. Ammunition ( 1 ) with a security system according to one of claims 1 to 4.