EP0736745B1 - Method and device for carrying out the method of filling projectiles with submunitions - Google Patents

Description

With projectiles that can contain subprojectiles, such as from an OC publication 2052 d 94 of the company Oerlikon Contraves, Zurich, known, an attacking target by multiple Hits will be destroyed if the expected area after the subprojectiles have been ejected of the target is occupied by a cloud formed by the subprojectiles. The ejection of the Subprojectiles are carried out by an explosive charge housed in the storey Ignition the part of the projectile carrying the subprojectile separated and at predetermined breaking points is torn open. High demands are placed on such storeys, e.g. it is important that the subprojectiles are held firmly and securely on the floor. On in this way the rotation is transferred to the subprojectiles so that the projectile is one describes stable trajectory. With the complete transfer of the rotation should also a swirl stabilization of the subprojectiles can be achieved after their ejection.

In order to continue to achieve a better chance of being hit, the subprojectiles should, if possible be evenly distributed on circular surfaces, the even distribution in primarily due to the geometrical arrangement of the subprojectiles inside the floor is determined.

A projectile or a bomb with subprojectiles in an even distribution is based on the clues about the method by which the subprojectiles are filled into the projectile and about any devices used to carry out such a method. known. The sub-projectile longitudinal axes are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile, and the projectile contains three layers, which are called clusters, and which are arranged one behind the other. US-A-3,093,072 describes the course of the longitudinal and rotational speeds of the subprojectiles after they have left the projectile and the hit image that can be generated depending on these speeds.

FR-A-2 606 135 also describes a projectile with sub-projectiles. The subprojectile axes are parallel to the projectile axis, and the subprojectiles are arranged in several layers one behind the other. The subprojectiles are arranged so that their coats touch. Each subprojectile has three guide vanes at its rear end, the radial dimensions of which essentially correspond to the radius of the subprojectile shells. The mutual arrangement of the sun projectiles is such that - in a section perpendicular to the projectile axis, the guide vanes of six subprojectiles meet in the center of a circle in which there is no projectile jacket. If the subprojectiles had no vanes and if a subprojectile were also present in this circle, the subprojectiles would be arranged in the closest possible packing. Clearances between the subprojetiles are filled with a powder-like mass to increase the rigidity of the projectile. There is no description of the method and, if necessary, the device with which the subprojectiles are filled into the projectile.

In order to continue to achieve a better chance of being hit, the subprojectiles should, if possible be evenly distributed on circular surfaces, the even distribution in primarily due to the geometrical arrangement of the subprojectiles inside the floor is determined.

Each projectile of the type described above contains a relatively large number of sub-projectiles, carefully in order to achieve consistent properties geometric arrangement must be filled. With the conventional filling process this can only be done with a great deal of time.

Neither US-A-3,093,072 nor FR-A-2 606 135 give any clues about the method by which the subprojectiles are filled into the projectile and about any devices used to carry out such a method.

A method and a device for filling elongated objects, namely sausages, into cans are known from EP-A-0 180 002 . It is provided here that the sausages are arranged in the can so that their length extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the can. The sausages are combined into layers of six sausages before being pushed into the can. Within each shift, the six sausages occupy the position that they take after being pushed into the can. Each filled can contains only a single layer, and the arrangement of the sausages in layers in the manner described can only be carried out with elongated objects such as sausages and only for exactly six sausages, whereas a storey generally contains a significantly larger number of storeys, their Length can also be so short that it can probably not be combined in layers in the same way as the sausages.

The invention has for its object a method and an apparatus of the aforementioned Propose a type that does not have the disadvantages mentioned above.

This object is achieved by the invention specified in claims 1 and 7. Here, the subprojectiles are combined into layers that are so thick before filling how the length of the subprojectiles are and that in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the projectile body run. The subprojectiles occupy a position in the layer that is geometrical Arrangement in a cavity of the projectile body corresponds. The scope of the Layers are formed in the combination in such a way that the subprojectiles after the Inserting a layer into the cavity in compliance with the previously formed geometric arrangement are held against rotation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the circumference of the layer has the shape of a regular one Hexagons, the subprojectiles consisting of cylinders with their axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile body.

According to a further development of the invention, several layers are generated and simultaneously inserted one behind the other into the cavity of the projectile body.

The advantages achieved with the invention can be seen in the fact that the filling time is significantly reduced and costs can be saved. In addition, errors that e.g. by rearrangement of sub-projectiles could be largely avoided, so the committee can be reduced to a minimum.

With the proposed development of the invention, several reservoirs for the simultaneous Using multiple sub-projectile layers can add refill time be reduced. Due to the special design of the device according to the invention, Combine the subprojectiles into layers in the form of a regular hexagon and placing it in this form on the floor will be an optimal one after it has been ejected uniform distribution of the subprojectiles lying on circular areas and thus a better one Hit probability achieved.

Fig. 1 einen Längsschnitt der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung gemäss der I-I in der Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht der Vorrichtung in Pfeilrichtung A der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3a 3b 3c Geometrische Anordnungen von Subprojektilen in quer zur Längsachse eines Geschosskörpers verlaufenden Ebenen,

Fig. 4a 4b 4c Weitere Ausführungen geometrischer Anordnungen von Subprojektilen in quer zur Längsachse des Geschosskörpers verlaufenden Ebenen,

Fig. 5a 5b 5c Querschnittsformen eines Schiebers der Vorrichtung für Anwendung bei Anordnungen gemäss Fig. 3a bis 3c,

Fig. 6a 6b 6c Querschnittsformen des Schiebers der Vorrichtung für Anwendung bei Anordnungen gemäss Fig. 4a bis 4c,

Fig. 7 einen Längsschnitt durch Reservoire einer zweiten Ausführung der Vorrichtung gemäss der Linie VII-VII in der Fig. 8,

Fig. 8 eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht des ersten Reservoirs in Pfeilrichtung B der Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 einen Querschnitt durch zwei Reservoire der zweiten Ausführung gemäss der Linie IX-IX in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 einen Querschnitt eines Schiebers der zweiten Ausführung der Vorrichtung,

Fig. 11a 11b die Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 und 2 während eines ersten Verfahrensschrittes,

Fig. 12a 12b die Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 und 2 während eines zweiten Verfahrensschrittes,

Fig. 13a 13b die Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 und 2 während eines dritten Verfahrensschrittes, und

Fig. 14 die Vorrichtung gemäss Fig. 1 und 2 während eines vierten Verfahrensschrittes.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of several exemplary embodiments in connection with the drawing. Show it:

1 shows a longitudinal section of the device according to the invention according to the II in FIG. 2,

2 is a partially sectioned view of the device in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 1,

3a 3b 3c geometric arrangements of sub-projectiles in planes running transversely to the longitudinal axis of a projectile body,

4a 4b 4c further designs of geometrical arrangements of sub-projectiles in planes running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the projectile body,

5a 5b 5c cross-sectional shapes of a slide of the device for use in arrangements according to FIGS. 3a to 3c,

6a 6b 6c cross-sectional shapes of the slide of the device for use in arrangements according to FIGS. 4a to 4c,

7 shows a longitudinal section through reservoirs of a second embodiment of the device according to line VII-VII in FIG. 8,

8 is a partially sectioned view of the first reservoir in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 7,

9 shows a cross section through two reservoirs of the second embodiment along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8,

10 shows a cross section of a slide of the second embodiment of the device,

11a 11b the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 during a first method step,

12a, 12b the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 during a second method step,

13a, 13b the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 during a third method step, and

14 shows the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 during a fourth method step.

1 and 2 , 1 denotes a vertically arranged mounting cross-section which is U-shaped in cross section and which is screwed to a cover 2 . The assembly centering 1 and the cover 2 form a reservoir 3, which in cross section has the shape of a slit-like rectangle, the width of which corresponds to the length of cylindrical sub-projectiles ( 20, Fig. 3, 4 ) and the length of which depends on the diameter and the number of Subprojectiles and their geometric arrangement results ( Fig. 3, 4 ). At the upper end of the assembly centering 1 , a cover plate 4 is fastened, which has a slot 5 which is approximately congruent with the cross section of the reservoir 3 . In a flange 6 screwed to the mounting centering 1 in the lower region of the reservoir 3 , a slide 7 is guided horizontally and is connected to a handle 8 for the purpose of actuation. In cross section, the width of the slide 7 corresponds to the length of the rectangular cross section of the reservoir 3. On its upper side, the slide 7 has a v-shaped notch extending in its longitudinal direction, the inclined surfaces ( 7.1, FIG. 5 ) of which in one preferred embodiment Include angles of 120 ° and correspond to the sides of a regular hexagon.

The underside of the slide 7 is roof-shaped, the inclined surfaces ( 7.2 , FIG. 5 ) enclosing an angle of 120 ° and, like the inclined surfaces of the v-shaped notch, corresponding to the sides of a regular hexagon. The mounting centering 1 has a breakthrough 9 which runs coaxially with the slide 7 and is connected on the input side to the reservoir 3 , the outline of which in a first part of the mounting centering 1 corresponds approximately to the outline of the slide 7 described above. At the exit of the breakthrough 9 , an attachment 10 is provided for guiding the sub-projectiles to be filled into a projectile body part ( 41, FIG. 14 ). The projectile body part is centered during filling in an extending coaxially with the shoulder 10 secured to the centering fitting retaining ring 1. 11

Recesses 12 are provided on the sides of the mounting centering 1 and are connected to the opening 9 via openings 13 . The recesses 12 have sliding surfaces 14 which are inclined downward from the horizontal by an angle of, for example, 30 ° and which begin approximately at upper corner points 15 of the vertical sides of the regular hexagon formed by the opening 9 .

The assembly centering 1 is screwed to a collecting container 16 and a base plate 17 . The collecting container 16 has two inclined feed surfaces 18 arranged on both sides of the assembly centering 1 in the area of the openings 13 for excess sub-projectiles.

According to FIGS. 3a to 3c , cylindrical sub-projectiles 20 with a diameter d are combined to form layers ( 40, FIG. 14 ) in the form of regular hexagons which are assigned to projectile bodies with different diameters. The layers are arranged in planes running transversely to the longitudinal axis ( 43, FIG. 14 ) of a projectile body part ( 41, FIG. 14 ), the axes of the subprojectiles 20 being aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis. U denotes the circumference of the regular hexagons, the diameter D of which results from a whole multiple of the subprojectile diameter d. The distance b between two parallel sides of the regular hexagons results, as already mentioned above, from the diameter d and the number of sub-projectiles 20 and their geometric arrangement.

As shown in FIGS. 4a to 4c , the cylindrical sub-projectiles 20 with the diameter d are combined to form layers in the form of irregular hexagons, which are assigned to projectile bodies with different diameters. Here, both the distance b and the diameter D must be determined from the number and the diameter d of the subprojectiles 20 and their geometric arrangement.

According to FIGS. 5a to 5c and 6a to 6c , the excess sub-projectiles that are ejected during filling are designated 20.1 .

7 to 10 refer to 30 further U-shaped mounting centers, which are screwed to the mounting center 1 , with the same number of reservoirs 3 being formed in accordance with the number of mounting centers 1, 30 . Openings 31 are provided in the further assembly centerings 30 , which have the same shape in cross section in a first part of the assembly centerings 30 as the opening 9 of the assembly centering 1 (FIG. 1) and which run concentrically to this. Recesses 32 are provided on the sides of the further assembly centering 30 and are connected to the opening 31 via openings 33 . The recesses 32 have sliding surfaces 34 which are inclined downward from the horizontal by an angle of, for example, 30 ° and which begin approximately at the upper corner points of the vertical sides of a regular hexagon formed by the opening 31 . Ejector lugs 35 are arranged in the opening 31 , which protrude into grooves 37 of a further slide 36 which can be displaced through the openings 9, 31 . Except for the grooves 37 , the cross section of the further slide 36 corresponds to the cross section of the slide 7 of FIG. 1 , but has a length that extends at least over all assembly centers 1, 30 . 1 and 2, the device described above is connected to a collecting container and a base plate, as well as to a retaining ring 11 for the projectile body part 41, a flange for guiding the slide 36 and with a cover 2 provided.

The device described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 operates as follows:

In a first step ( FIGS. 11a, 11b ), the sub-projectiles 20 are fed to the reservoir 3 by means of a vibratory spiral conveyor, not shown, in which they fall vertically downwards onto a first boundary formed by the top of the slide 7 . Here, the desired geometric arrangement is formed in accordance with the shape of the slide 7 and the cross-sectional length of the reservoir 3 , and the circumference of a layer 40 consisting of subprojectiles 20 , which in a preferred embodiment may be a regular hexagon, is partially shaped. In a second step ( FIGS. 12a, 12b ), the slide 7 is withdrawn so that the subprojectiles 20 fall to a second, lower limit by a certain amount, which corresponds to the diameter D of the circumference of the selected regular rectangle. Since the second boundary is formed by the shape of the lower part of the opening 9 or reservoir 3 , the geometric arrangement and the partially shaped circumference of the layer 40 are retained. In a third step ( FIGS. 13a, 13b ), the subprojectiles 20 located between the first and second delimitation are pushed in the filling direction with the slide 7 from the reservoir 3 into the opening 9 , the final shaping of the circumference of the layer 40 taking place by the surplus subprojectiles 20.1 ( FIG. 5 ) are discharged through the openings 13 and roll down on the sliding surfaces 14 . They fall onto the feed surfaces 18, from where they reach the collecting container 16 . From there they can be removed and fed back to the vibratory bowl feeder for further processing. Simultaneously with the third step, a following, preformed layer 40 sub-projectiles is held on the top of the slide 7 . In a fourth step (Fig. 14) are introduced, the final formed layers into a cavity 42 of the projectile body portion 41, the preceding layers are shifted 40 from the respectively following the last layer 40 upon repeated reciprocating movement of the slide 7, until the cavity is filled. According to the exemplary embodiment, using the arrangement according to FIG. 3c, eight layers 40 , each consisting of nineteen sub-projectiles 20 , can be placed in the projectile body part 41 .

The second embodiment of the device described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10 works in the same way as described above both in the assembly centering 1 and in the further assembly centers 30 during the first and second step, but the retraction movement of the further slide 36 extends over all assembly centers 1 , 30 extends. In the third step, the final shaping of the circumference of the layer in the assembly centering 1 also takes place as described above.

In the further assembly centers 30 , when the slide 36 is lifted, the lowermost of the excess sub-projectiles 20.1 hit the ejector lugs 35, so that all of the excess sub-projectiles 20.1 are discharged through the openings 33 and can roll down on the sliding surfaces 34 . The fourth step is the same as described above, but the number of lifting movements is reduced according to the number of reservoirs 3 . An optimal result can be achieved if the number of reservoirs 3 is equal to the number of layers required, since then only a single stroke of the slide is required to fill up a projectile body.

Reference list

1

Assembly centering

2nd

cover

3rd

reservoir

4th

Cover plate

5

slot

6

flange

7

'Slider

7.1

I sloping surfaces

7.2

Bevels

8th

Handle

9

breakthrough

10th

approach

11

Retaining ring

12th

Recesses

13

openings

14

Sliding surfaces

15

Upper corner points

16

Collecting container

17th

Base plate

18th

Feed areas

20th

Subprojectiles

20.1

Subprojectiles

30th

Further assembly centers

31

Breakthroughs

32

Recesses

33

openings

34

Sliding surfaces

35

Ejector noses

36

Another slider

37

Grooves

40

layer

41

Projectile body part

42

cavity

43

Longitudinal axis

d

diameter
(Subprojectile)

U

Radius

D

diameter
(Radius)

b

Distance (length of the rectangular cross section of the reservoir)

Claims (17)

1. Method for filling a cavity of a projectile with cylindrical submunitions, the submunitions being so arranged in the cavity that their length extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the projectile,
   characterised in that
   prior to the filling of the cavity the submunitions (20) are combined into layers (40) which are as thick as the submunitions (20) are long, and which are located in planes at a right angle to the longitudinal axis (43) of the projectile, the submunitions (20) in each layer (40) assuming a position that corresponds to their geometric arrangement in the cavity (42) of a projectile element (41), and the circumference of the layers (40) being shaped in such a manner that after the layers (40) have been inserted into the cavity (42) the submunitions (20) are held in said cavity (42) in a manner that retains the geometrical arrangement previously formed.
2. Method according to claim 1,
   characterised in that in a first step the submunitions (20) are passed to a reservoir (3) in which they drop vertically downwards onto a first limit stop, thereby partly moulding the particular geometric arrangement and the circumference of a layer (40),
   in a second step the submunitions (20) drop by a given amount onto a second, lower-lying limit stop, and the geometric arrangement and the partly moulded circumference of the layer (40) are retained,
   in a third step the submunitions (20) located between the first and second limit stop are pushed out of the reservoir (3), with final moulding of the circumference of the layer (40) taking place,
   at the same time the submunitions (20) of a following layer in the reservoir (3) are held on the first limit stop, and
   in a fourth step the finally shaped layers (40) are introduced into the cavity (42) of the projectile element (41), with the preceding layers (40) being displaced by the respective following layer (40), until the cavity (42) has been filled.
3. Method according to claim 2, the submunitions (20) consisting of bodies presenting cylindrical generated surfaces and whose axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis (43) of the projectile element (41),
   characterised in that
   the circumference of the layer (40) containing the submunitions (20) is moulded into a regular hexagon.
4. Method according to claim 2, the submunitions (20) consisting of bodies presenting cylindrical generated surfaces and whose axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis (43) of the projectile element (41),
   characterised in that
   the circumference of the layer (20) containing the submunitions (20) is moulded into an irregular hexagon.
5. Method according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the given amount corresponds to the diameter of the circle circumscribing the hexagon.
6. Method according to claim 2,
   characterised in that
   a plurality of layers (40) are produced simultaneously and one behind the other are simultaneously inserted into the cavity (42) of the projectile (41).
7. Device for carrying out the method according to claim 2,
   in which a vertically arranged U-shaped centring fitting (1) is joined to a cover (2), thereby forming a reservoir (3) which in cross-section has the shape of a slot-like rectangle,
   secured to the centring fitting (1) in the lower region of the reservoir (3) is a flange (6) in which there is horizontally guided a slide (7) whose width matches the length of the slot-like rectangle,
   on its upper face the slide (7) features a V-shaped notched area which extends in the longitudinal direction thereof,
   on its lower face the slide (7) features a roof-shaped construction which extends in the longitudinal direction thereof,
   in the centring fitting (1) is a passage (9) running coaxially with the slide (7) and which in a first portion coincides approximately with the basic outline of the slide (7) and in a second portion coincides approximately with the basic outline of the layer (40),
   provided at the exit of the passage (9) is a shoulder (10) for guiding the submunitions (20) with which the projectile element (41) is to be filled, and
   extending coaxially with the shoulder (10) a holding ring (11) is secured to the centring fitting (1).
8. Device according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the upper face of the slide (7) forms a first limit stop for the submunitions (20) situated in the reservoir (3), and the lower part of the passage (9), or rather of the reservoir (3), forms a second limit stop for the submunitions (20).
9. Device according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the upper face of the slide (7) and the lower part of the passage (9) are moulded in such a way that the arrangement of the submunitions (20) in the layer (40) is the same on the slide (7) and in the passage (9).
10. Device according to claim 7,
    characterised in that
    the oblique surfaces (7.1) of the V-shaped notched area and the oblique surfaces (7.2) of the roof-shaped construction in each case enclose an angle of 120 degrees and correspond to the sides of a regular hexagon.
11. Device according to claim 7,
    characterised in that
    the oblique surfaces (7.1) of the V-shaped notched area and the oblique surfaces (7.2) of the roof-shaped construction in each case enclose an angle of 120 degrees and correspond to the sides of an irregular hexagon.
12. Device according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the distance between the tip of the V-shaped notched area and the tip of the roof-shaped construction of the slide (7) is approximately the same as the diameter (D) of the circle (U) circumscribing the hexagon.
13. Device according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    provided at the sides of the centring fitting (1) are recesses (12) which communicate with the passage (9) via openings (13), and that the recesses (12) incorporate sliding surfaces (14) which are downwardly inclined by a given angle from the horizontal and which commence approximately at the top corner points (15) of the vertical sides of the hexagon formed by the passage (9).
14. Device according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the width of the slot-like rectangle of the reservoir (3) is the same as the length of cylindrical submunitions (20) and the length of the slot-like rectangle is the same as the distance (b) between two parallel sides of the hexagon.
15. Device according to claim 7,
    characterised in that
    between one centring fitting (1) and the cover (2) there are provided one or more additional U-shaped centring fittings (30), there being formed the same number of reservoirs (3) as the number of centring fittings (1, 30), and that provided in the additional centring fittings (30) are passages (31) which in a first portion of the additional centring fittings (30) have the same shape in cross-section as the first part of the passage (9) of the centring fitting (1) and which extend concentrically to said first part.
16. Device according to claim 15,
    characterised in that
    provided on the sides of the additional centring fittings (30) are recesses (32) which communicate via openings (33) with the passage (31), and that the recesses (32) feature sliding surfaces (34) which are downwardly inclined by a given angle from the horizontal, and which commence approximately at top corner points of the vertical sides, formed by the passage (9), of a hexagon.
17. Device according to claim 16,
    characterised in that
    arranged in the second part of the passage (31) are knockout lugs (35) which project into slots (37) of an additional slide (36) which is adapted to be displaceable through the passages (31, 9).

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