EP0872699B1 - Weapon system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a weapon system with a weapon, a straightening system and one that can be fired with the weapon Ammunition unit.

In main battle tanks, the main weapon is usually one Fire control computer and an associated straightening system controlled. It is known for example from DE 41 37 819 A1, the ammunition-specific data for ammunition identification, such as ammunition type, lot number, date of manufacture etc., directly to be stored on a data storage device arranged on the ammunition. This data is saved after the respective cartridge has been inserted into the loading space of the weapon by means of a reading device automatically read and transferred to the fire control computer. The fire control computer then generates taking into account this and the target and system-specific data (e.g. "System error") directional signals for controlling the straightening system.

A disadvantage of this known weapon system is that only those types of ammunition can be fired that the Fire control computer recognizes, i.e. which previously recorded in terms of type are. Because the type registration before delivery of the the first batch of ammunition is made (otherwise it would be the corresponding battle tanks do not deliver ammunition can be used), the fire control computer is programmed with a unitary data set based on development patterns has been created. The mean behavior of the actually Combat ammunition delivered corresponds to in usually not the permanently programmed unit shooting table, so that there are lots of ammunition at a great distance from the shooting table of the fire control computer there. Even small deviations lot to lot of the same type of ammunition often lead to a slightly modified shooting board. The resulting deterioration the hit performance must either be accepted or the program of the respective fire control computer must be to be adjusted accordingly to the respective lot.

Another disadvantage of the known weapon system with identifiable, i.e. ammunition previously recorded, that developmental ammunition improvements to increase combat value cannot be used immediately because beforehand the elaborate way of "type registration" with a corresponding computer card for the entire battle tank fleet must be followed. For this reason, the well-known Weapon systems with ammunition production in progress "Resources of good ammunition lots" to increase combat value usable because it always reaches the "old type-based registration" must become. In addition, today's main battle tank only a very limited number of slots for new ones has type-based recordings.

DE-OS 2 059 665 describes a device for determining the powder temperature of one in the cargo space of a weapon located, electrically ignitable cartridge known. The corresponding Temperature data are sent to the fire control computer passed on and serve to correct the directional and / or determined by the fire control computer Ignition signals.

EP-A-0 650 026 describes a weapon system with a device for determination Target-relevant signals known that a passive sensor and connected to it Calculator includes.

From US-A-4 711 152 is a device for the wireless transmission of data from the outside of a gun barrel to a projectile located in the gun barrel known. The data is transferred from the outside to the inside the weapon barrel with the help of at least two ultrasonic transducers.

The present invention has for its object to provide a weapon system by means of this both with different types of ammunition and with different ones Lots of the same type of ammunition, taking into account individual pipe and device properties, a high first hit probability (ETW) of those to be fired Ammunition can be individually made from any main battle tank in a simple manner without that the type of ammunition must first be recorded in the fire control system.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1. More beneficial Embodiments of the invention disclose the subclaims.

Essentially, the invention is based on the idea that the conventional means Fire control computer controlled weapon system through the system interaction of an ammunition and to replace device-controlled weapon systems. This is achieved in that a first microcontroller with a data memory on or in the respective ammunition unit is provided for storing the ammunition-specific data. In the loaded The state of the weapon is then pre-processed for ammunition-specific data in the microcontroller the ammunition unit instead. These are pre-processed and / or pre-compressed Data is sent to a second microcontroller located outside the ammunition unit read. This second microcontroller then carries out the data exchange between a directional controller (third microcontroller) and that for the target and system-specific data provided by data entry devices.

The information given by the second microcontroller to the directional controller is a correction value for height and side, which are to be understood as the current individual system error leaves. The aiming controller then uses the aiming optics of the gunner to take care of the Straightening system for tracking the pipe parallel to the straightening optics. This makes good coincidence conditions ensured.

This system consisting of three microcontrollers, in which the first microcontroller, each according to the embodiment, also other tasks of the "external" second microcontroller can take on the function of conventional weapon systems required fire control system.

The weapon system according to the invention has a number of advantages:

The complex, cost-intensive type-specific recording of new ammunition in the fire control computer cards all main battle tanks of a main battle tank fleet are eliminated. It will be simple Way achieved a significant increase in combat value of the main battle tank fleet.

Furthermore, the individual lot properties can be checked during a quality check of an ammunition lot thereby be directly taken into account that the in the data memory of the microcontroller of the respective ammunition unit (or the program of the microcontroller) can be changed accordingly.

In addition, the ammunition batches do not have to be manufactured be set more precisely so that the "resources good Lots "as well as developmental improvements immediately Combat value increase can be used as a bond to a fire control card is not required.

Finally, effective ammunition management is possible because the at the predetermined time intervals carried out ammunition surveillance changes the ammunition-less by changing the information content of the data memory arranged on the respective ammunition unit can be taken into account. So that's the ammunition lot optimally usable in combat.

In order to achieve a high ETW, it has proven to be advantageous proven if the microcontroller with one in the ammunition unit arranged temperature sensor for determining the Temperature of the propellant powder as well as with a moisture sensor to determine the moisture of the propellant powder connected is.

Furthermore, it has proven to be expedient, including the respective one Air pressure when determining the directional and ignition signals to take into account and the microcontroller with an appropriate Connect air pressure sensor.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous as a data input device to provide a tube card evaluation device, via which on a removable card storage (Tube map) stored weapon-specific data in read the weapon system and onto the second microcontroller (outside the ammunition unit). This data is then used to generate the relevant information used for the directional controller.

Another data input device preferably serves as a control unit, e.g. for the Commanders of a corresponding main battle tank, with which this, among other things that in a control module the program stored for the ammunition for a tactical shooting (Number of shots and spatial distribution) can query and, if available, command.

It has also proven to be advantageous to use an evaluation device from the Tracer of the previous shot to determine the side storage of the projectile and to take the relevant influencing factors into account in the subsequent shot.

If the drive of the cartridge is equipped with controllable combustion components a control unit for ignition and charge erosion is provided so that when the shot is released the corresponding firing pulse that the microprocessor previously with the current one Data fed control unit triggers.

Fig. eine schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Waffensystems;

Fig.2 einen Patronenboden mit integriertem Mikrocontroller und

Fig.3 ein Blockschaltbild eines Ausführungsbeispieles eines erfindungsgemäßen Waffensystems.

Further details and advantages of the invention result from the following exemplary embodiments explained with reference to figures. Show it:

Fig. A schematic representation of the weapon system according to the invention;

Fig.2 a cartridge base with an integrated microcontroller and

3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a weapon system according to the invention.

In Figure 1, 1 denotes the barrel weapon of a main battle tank, with a straightening system 2 indicated only schematically is mechanically coupled. In the cargo space 3 of the weapon 1 there is a cartridge 4, in the bottom 5 inside a first microcontroller 6 is integrated (cf. also Figure 2). The first microcontroller 6 is via lines 7 (Data and control bus), an electronic test logic 22, a second microcontroller (external to the cartridge 4) 6 'and a directional controller 6' 'with both Straightening system 2 as well as connected to other units, of which only two data input devices 8 in FIG. 1 and 13 (e.g. an operating unit 8 for the gunner and a control unit 13 for the commander) are shown.

The first microcontroller 6 must be arranged in the cartridge 4 in this way be that after the shot no data in unauthorized Hands, i.e. it must pass completely through the Heat or destroyed by the pressure created by the shot become. It has therefore proven to be advantageous Microcontroller 6 on the inside of the bottom plate 10 of the Cartridge bottom 5 to arrange and lines with appropriate To connect external contacts 11 (Fig.2). The external contact 11 can also be designed as a ring contact. about these contacts is the first microcontroller 6 galvanically via lines 7 with the second microcontroller 6 'and the directional controller 6 '' connected.

The arrangement of the first microcontroller 6 on the inside the bottom plate 10 also has the advantage that the first Microcontroller 6 against contamination and mechanical damage etc. is protected.

3 shows a block diagram with the two microcontrollers 6 and 6 ', the directional controller 6' 'and some with the Controllers, for example, connected units of the invention Weapon system. There are 2, 8 and 13 again the aiming system, the control units for the gunner and designated the control unit for the commander. Furthermore, a tube card evaluation device 12 and an evaluation device 9 for the tracer's traces Storeys provided.

To determine the temperature of the propellant powder as well to determine the moisture of the propellant powder corresponding sensors 14, 15 are arranged in the cartridge 4, with the first microcontroller 6 via electrical lines 16, 17 are connected. There is also a sensor 18 provided that measures the respective air pressure.

The first microcontroller 6 contains a processor and a clock generator also shown in dashed lines in Figure 3 Read / write memory 19, in which the at the respective Quality check of newly determined lot data is saved be, as well as a control module 20, in which at special Ammunition (e.g. with explosive and fragmentation cartridges) tactical Control programs are filed.

The following is based on an embodiment Operation of the weapon system according to the invention closer explains:

First the commander puts his pipe card in a pipe card reader, which via the tube card evaluation device 12 is connected to the second microcontroller 6 '. Only then can the weapon system be activated.

Then the cartridge 4 is loaded Closing the breech of the corresponding weapon 1 will the galvanic line 7 between the microcontrollers 6 and 6 'closed and it is by external energy supply of the Systems of the first microcontroller 6 activated. Thereupon will on the one hand, the control program from the control module 20 into a data memory 20 'of the second microcontroller 6 'copied. On the other hand, the quality control data from the Data storage 19 together with the current data for the Propellant temperature, the propellant charge moisture and the air pressure preprocessed in the first microcontroller 6 and that Result in a read / write memory 19 'of the second Microcontrollers 6 'transmitted.

When transferring the data from the microcontroller 6 to the Microcontroller 6 'must send the data to the microcontroller 6 'pass upstream test logic 22. There are the Data checked for plausibility (e.g. temperature range, middle meeting point etc.). If this plausibility check suggests incorrect data or if at all no data come from the microcontroller 6 because of a defect is present, an external interface 22 'is automatically activated. This is connected to a (not shown) Plug-in unit for an additional chip card that everyone Ammunition range is attached, and the default values (e.g. Equilibrium moisture for the TLP) for an emergency operation. For the temperature for this emergency operation, by means of of a sensor arranged on the chip card, the chip temperature (i.e. the temperature in the combat area) become.

The data is updated using the microcontroller 6 at regular intervals (e.g. 1-minute intervals), as long as the cartridge is loaded and the main battle tank is ready to fight.

The control unit 13 of the commander is used to exercise the "Tactical shooting" option (fire salvo) according to the one on the Control module 20 stored program and is in the Combat type "single shot" not activated.

The following procedure applies to the "Single Shot" battle type instead of: By measuring a target distance, e.g. by means of a known laser rangefinder and automatic Delivery of the distance data via the data input device 8 into the microcontroller 6 ', the microcontroller generates 6 'using the preprocessed quality check data in the Data memory 19 'and use of the data from the tube card evaluation device 12 (pipe statics, total number of shots Weapon and information about possible pipe influences shots fired beforehand) and the data from a light-track evaluation device 9 (if this is due to a previous The current correction values for straightening the pipe in terms of height and side.

The microcontroller 6 'writes these directional correction values in the data memory 19 ″ of a directional controller 6 ″ (third Microcontroller). The directional controller 6 '' has the task processing the data from a target optic 21 of the Gunner and the correction values from the data memory 19 '' to generate the directional signals for the straightening system 2 and thus ensuring the tracking of the pipe.

The pipe is straightened in a manner known per se Way with the aiming optics 21 of the gunner, so that when the firing is triggered, no additional data or Signals are exchanged and so the coincidence window and does not affect the coincidence frequencies (as is common today) become.

The directional controller 6 "can advantageously receive the data in the data memory 19 "by a signal on an additional optical display (not shown) acknowledge with the commander and possibly also with the gunner and so the Show "readiness for fire".

The invention is of course not based on the exemplary embodiments described above limited. The microcontroller of the ammunition unit can also use it be connected to other functional units and / or sensors and cooperate. So For example, the wind direction and the wind speed can also be measured and be used for obtaining the directional signals.

Furthermore, when upgrading existing main battle tanks with the new weapon system the existing fire control system remain in the tank and serve as "emergency firing".

The connection between the ammunition-side microcontroller and the external components does not necessarily have to have a galvanic arrangement on the weapon respectively. Rather, a contactless connection, e.g. using a transponder, conceivable.

Because in the ammunition unit because of the long storage times (often ≥ 10 years) usually no energy supply elements will be housed, the ammunition side Microcontroller 6 only when loading the cartridge through the Energy supply of the respective main battle tank activated.

In addition, the microcontroller assigned to the straightening system 2 6 '' not necessarily at the location of the mechanical parts the straightening system, but can also be located within a Central electronics can be arranged. That is also conceivable Take over the function of the microcontroller 6 '' by a central computer already available for other purposes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Gun, barrel weapon, gun barrel

2

straightening plant

3

cargo space

4

Ammunition unit, cartridge

5

Cartridge bottom, bottom

6

first microcontroller

6 '

second (external) microcontroller

6 "

third microcontroller, directional controller

7

management

8th

Data entry device, control unit, gunner

9

Evaluation device, tracer evaluation device

10

baseplate

11

outside Contact

12

Rohrkartenauswertevorrichtung

13

Data entry device, control unit, commander

14.15

sensors

16.17

electric lines

18

sensor

19-19 "

Read / write memory, data memory

20

fighting module

21

Target optics with firing unit

22

electronic test logic

22 '

external interface

Claims (9)

1. A weapon system with a weapon (1), a laying arrangement (2) and an ammunition unit (4) that is capable of being fired by the weapon, wherein

   a) the weapon system comprises at least one data-entry device (8, 13);

   b) the ammunition unit (4) contains at least one data memory (19) for storing ammunition-specific data;

   c) on or in the respective ammunition unit (4) there is arranged a first microcontroller (6) which is provided for the purpose of preprocessing the ammunition-specific data and which is connected to the data memory (19);

   d) a second microcontroller (6') is provided which is external in relation to the ammunition unit (4) and which is connected to the first microcontroller (6), to the data-entry device(s) (8, 13) and to the laying arrangement (2) in such a way

   e) that the second microcontroller (6') determines, from the ammunition-specific, target-specific and weapon-specific data transmitted to it, the laying signals required for controlling the laying arrangement (2) and transmits them to the laying arrangement (2).
2. Weapon system according to Claim 1, characterised in that a barrel-card-evaluating device (12) is provided, via which the weapon-specific data which are saved on an exchangeable card memory are capable of being read into the weapon system and are capable of being transmitted to the second microcontroller (6') for the purpose of ascertaining the laying signals.
3. Weapon system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that in the case of the data-entry device (8, 13) it is a question of an operating unit for the gunlayer and/or of a control unit for the commander of a battle tank, with which, inter alia, the readiness for firing, the number of shots fired by the weapon, the firing program as well as the enabling of firing are capable of being preset.
4. Weapon system according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first microcontroller (6) is connected to a temperature sensor (14) arranged in the ammunition unit (4) for determining the temperature of the propelling-charge powder.
5. Weapon system according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the first microcontroller (6) is connected to a moisture sensor (15) arranged in the ammunition unit (4) for determining the moisture of the propelling-charge powder.
6. Weapon system according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the first microcontroller (6) is connected to an air-pressure sensor (18).
7. Weapon system according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that in the case of the ammunition unit (4) it is a question of cartridge ammunition and in that the first microcontroller (6) is arranged on the inside of the base plate (10) of the cartridge base (5).
8. Weapon system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the supply of power to the first microcontroller (6) is effected by means of a source of current arranged outside the ammunition unit (4).
9. Weapon system according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the connection between the first microcontroller (6) and the assemblies (6', 8, 9, 12, 13) located outside the ammunition unit (4) is effected in non-contacting manner.

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