EP0248978B1 - Cartridge case - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Propulsive charge casing (4) particularly for large calibre ammunition, with a combustible covering (8) having a fleece with a nitro-cellulose base, characterised by the fact that in the area of bent portions (9, 11) of the combustible covering (8) which are of angular cross section and/or surround a boring, a reinforcement (13) of metal or plastic is embedded in the covering (8) or is affixed to the covering (8), the reinforcement (13) having a fabric-like construction which does not adversely affect the residue-free combustion of the covering (8), or being provided with apertures (16).

Description

The invention relates to a partially combustible propellant charge case according to the preamble of claim 1.

From DE-B 1 446 889 it is known to produce propellant charge sleeves based on nitrocellulose, a combustible fleece being produced on a suction tool, which fleece is additionally impregnated after it has dried.

From DE-B 1 453 842 it is known to use a tubular shell made of a fleece based on nitrocellulose for a partially combustible propellant charge sleeve, which is clamped between an outer and bottom connection cup, the inner connection cup having corresponding holes, one Ensure residue-free combustion of the fleece. The outer connection cup is inserted into a floor. However, this arrangement requires a relatively complex structure of the propellant charge sleeve in the bottom area.

Furthermore, it is known from DE-B 341 861 to reinforce the bottom of wound gun cartridge casings by means of a stiffening ring, while DE-A 1 578 153 uses a metal insert to reinforce the casing base and an opening for the primer capsule in the axial direction in the case of a propellant charge casing for hunting cartridges and radial direction disclosed.

Furthermore, from US-A 3 832 951 ammunition with a projectile on the front and a fully flammable propellant case at the rear is known. For their connection or mutual attachment, the projectile has a threaded pin on the rear and the propellant charge sleeve has a corresponding recess on the front. To load the ammunition, the projectile with the threaded pin must first be inserted into the recess of the propellant charge case;

from the inside - the bottom of the propellant charge sleeve and the propellant charge powder are still missing - the combustible propellant charge case is fixed to the floor of the storey by pushing a spring washer or spring washer over the threaded pin and fixing it with a screw nut. The propellant charge shell is clamped against the floor of the floor by the fastening means - the spring-metal washer. Only then can the propellant powder be poured in and the bottom of the propellant charge sleeve glued in. A disadvantage of this ammunition is that the projectile with rear threaded pin and - after firing and burning the propellant shell - loose spring washer and screw nut sitting thereon has poor flight characteristics and there is a risk that when handling such. B. loading, unloading, transport of ammunition loosens the clamp connection between the projectile and propellant case or tears the combustible material of the propellant case.

US-A 2 837 456 further discloses a manufacturing method for a large-caliber, lightweight propellant charge sleeve which consists of a separate metallic sleeve base and a front cylindrical sleeve part made of synthetic resin-bonded fiber fabric. This propellant charge shell is not combustible. In the connection area between the sleeve base flange and the cylindrical sleeve part, material separations or sleeve part widening can occur due to the extremely high internal gas pressures when the ammunition is fired. This can lead to the propellant charge sleeve becoming stuck in the tube and associated discharge problems. In order to eliminate this danger, a multi-layer thin metal band wound around the edge of the sleeve bottom flange can be provided as the reinforcing element of the propellant charge sleeve. Strength problems when handling this ammunition before firing obviously do not occur; the known reinforcing means in the connection area of the non-combustible propellant charge sleeve parts should therefore only avoid negative effects of the high gas pressure and enable the discharged propellant charge sleeve to be better discharged. These problems do not occur with combustible or partially combustible propellant charge cases.

Propellant charge cases with a cover made of a fleece based on nitrocellulose have the advantage of a small specific weight and the residue-free combustion in weapon tubes under pressure and temperature. Furthermore, there is no "empties" in the fighting rooms, and the CO concentration is very low compared to metal sleeves.

However, it is disadvantageous that the inherent strength of this material cannot be increased further without disadvantageously changing the advantages mentioned. This affects the use in particular of ammunition of larger caliber, such as tank ammunition, which is exposed to considerable mechanical stresses from loading and unloading of non-fired ammunition as well as shock and vibration, since the fleece can be damaged or destroyed at weak points. The consequences are difficulties in loading or unloading or even trickling out the propellant powder. All of this poses a threat to the soldier.

The object of the invention is to provide a propellant charge shell, in particular for large-caliber ammunition, with a combustible shell made of a fleece based on nitrocellulose of increased strength, in which the mechanical stresses to be expected, such as. B. handling, loading into the weapon and in particular unloading ammunition, do not cause damage to the combustible shell, but the residue-free combustion of the fleece is maintained without a substantial reduction in the internal loading volume or weight increase of the propellant charge case.

This object is achieved with the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

With the addition of a stiffener made of metal or plastic on the combustible casing or directly as an insert in the casing, there is an increase the mechanical strength of the ammunition created, so that the risk of damage from handling before firing the ammunition are significantly reduced.

At the same time, this ensures that the stiffeners for the weak points of the propellant charge sleeve, which are connected to the fleece, do not remain in the gun barrel. The stiffeners can be incorporated into the manufacturing tool during the manufacture of the nonwoven and can thus be incorporated or embedded directly into the combustible casing.

Further advantageous refinements of the invention can be found in the subclaims and the description below.

• Fig. 1 zeigt ausschnittweise ein Geschoß mit Treibladungshülse im Schnitt.
• Fig. 2 zeigt vergrößert den Bodenbereich der Treibladungshülse von Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 bis 9 zeigen weitere Ausführungsformen von Treibladungshülsen entsprechend der Darstellung von Fig. 2.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the attached figures.

• Fig. 1 shows a section of a projectile with propellant charge sleeve in section.
• FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the bottom area of the propellant charge sleeve from FIG. 1.
• 3 to 9 show further embodiments of propellant charge sleeves corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 2.

In Fig. 1 a floor 1 with sabot 2 is shown, which is connected via a seal 3 to a propellant charge sleeve 4. The propellant charge sleeve 4 has a metallic reusable base 5 with a bore 6 for receiving a primer 7. The propellant charge sleeve 4 also has a cover 8 made of a fleece based on nitrocellulose. The casing 8 has, next to the seal 3, a curved section 9 which is extended to a bore 10 through which the projectile 1 extends. The area 9 can also have an angular section, for example when a projectile 1 without a cage is received by the propellant charge sleeve 4. Furthermore, the sleeve 8 in the bottom area has a curved section 11 in adaptation to the curvature of the bottom 5, which extends on the bottom side to the center pin 12 of the floor containing the bore 6 extends.

Sections 9, 11 and the sections around the bore 10 and the central pin 12 are weak points of the casing 8 which are endangered by mechanical stresses. Accordingly, stiffeners 13 made of metal or plastic are provided in these areas.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the stiffener 13 consists of a perforated insert made of sheet metal or plastic. Since the base 5 protects the casing 8 in the area 11, the stiffening 13 can optionally also be provided only around the bore 14 surrounding the central pin 12, as shown in FIG. 3. If necessary, a stiffening 13 in the form of a reinforcing ring at this point, as shown in FIG. 9, is also sufficient. The stiffening 13 of the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 has an inner ring 15 delimiting the bore 14.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the stiffening 13 is not designed as an insert, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, but rather as a support, which is glued onto the casing 8 from the outside or, as shown in the left half of FIG. 4 is attached by curling. Here, too, the stiffening 13 can be inserted into the suction tool for producing the casing 8. Since in the embodiment of FIG. 4 the stiffening 13 is only on the outside of the casing 8, no openings in the stiffening 13 are required here, since the residue-free combustion of the casing 8 is ensured.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the cross-sectionally L-shaped stiffening 13 is incorporated into the wall of the casing 8, so that the casing 8 has essentially the same wall thickness everywhere. The recess required for this is made by mechanical processing. Since, as a result of this mechanical processing, that area of the casing 8 which has the greatest strength and density area is removed, while the felted central area of the casing 8 remains, a subsequent impregnation of the remaining part of the casing 8 is expedient for solidification thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the stiffening 13 is clamped around the casing 8 in the region of the bore 14, the stiffening 13 having holes 16 at least on the inside in order to ensure residue-free combustion of the casing 8. Here, the stiffening 13, as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, is arranged flush with the outer sides of the casing 8 and the casing 8 is expediently re-impregnated in this area.

As shown in FIG. 7, rivet or screw connections 17 can also be used to fasten the U-shaped stiffener 13 in section.

The stiffening 13 can also consist of fabric made of metal or plastic, as indicated in FIG. 8.

Claims (6)

1. Propulsive charge casing (4) particularly for large calibre ammunition, with a combustible covering (8) having a fleece with a nitro-cellulose base, characterised by the fact that in the area of bent portions (9, 11) of the combustible covering (8) which are of angular cross section and/or surround a boring, a reinforcement (13) of metal or plastic is embedded in the covering (8) or is affixed to the covering (8), the reinforcement (13) having a fabric-like construction which does not adversely affect the residue-free combustion of the covering (8), or being provided with apertures (16).

2. Propulsive charge casing in accordance with Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the reinforcement (13) has an internal ring (15) delimiting a boring (10, 14) in the covering (8).

3. Propulsion charge casing in accordance with Claim or 2, characterised by the fact that the reinforcement (13) is attached to the covering (8) by an adhesivee and/or is rolled in.

4. Propulsion charge casing in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the reinforcement (13) is of U-shaped cross section and is clamped around the covering (8).

5. Propulsion charge casing in according with Claim 4, characterised by the fact that the reinforcement (13) is affixed to the covering (8) by rivet or screw connections (17).

6. Propulsion charge casing in accordance with one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised by the fact that the reinforcement (13) is arranged flush with the surfaces of the covering (8) and that the covering (8) is reimpregnated in the zone of the reinforcement (13).

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