EP2031343B1 - Cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The cartridge (1) comprises a front-side head (5) and a projectile (2) with a carrier (6). The projectile has a surface adjusted for uniform release of kinetic energy contained in a fire arm. The head is made of an elastic material which includes plastic, particularly hard plastic, a rubber, particularly a foam rubber and a compressible material, particularly a foam-shaped material. A propellant is provided, which is made of gun powder or nitrocellulose.

Description

The invention relates to a cartridge for a handgun comprising a projectile comprising a front head and a carrier, a housing and a drive element comprising a propellant charge.

A variety of sublethal and non-lethal projectiles are known as carriers of kinetic energy designed for relatively short-range clashes, which typically range from 7 to 15 meters. In order to achieve a high hit probability with a target object, a high ballistic precision is not required at these ranges. Rather, it is quite possible to achieve a sufficient probability of hit even with an aerodynamically unstable projectile. However, the hit probability drops significantly when this range is exceeded. This circumstance is based on inconsistent aerodynamic forces caused by unstable projectile shapes.

Another category of non-lethal projectiles consists of a single or several circular cylindrical bodies, commonly referred to as rubber bullets, which are typically made of a hard rubber, foam, plastic or wood. It is possible to achieve aerodynamic stability with such a projectile, but only if it is impressed with the correct angular momentum. However, the majority of these projectiles are shot out of a barrel with a smooth inner wall so that they show a staggering unstable motion during flight. In addition, these have Projectiles have a flat front side, which also has a negative effect on the stability of the trajectory.

From the US Pat. No. 6,041,712 is a non-lethal cartridge with a spinal stabilized projectile known. The spin is achieved during the acceleration of the projectile in the weapon barrel, by a circumferential outer ring of the projectile and the features of the weapon barrel. Due to its shape, this projectile should also be effective at higher ranges. Another measure is that it has a compressible front that is compressed to absorb energy when it collides with an object.

From the US 2005/0066849 A1 is a non-lethal projectile with a fragile, inelastic outer layer of the head is known, which allows through a cavity, the filling of the head with various materials, such as explosives, marking aids, eye irritants, irritants, inflammatory aids, fragrances, inert powders, etc.

From the US 5,200,573 is a projectile with an improved aerodynamic surface due to a matrix of pits on the surface known. The improved aerodynamic surfaces mentioned include outboard wings, as well as ailerons and rudders.

From the GB 2 252 612 A Furthermore, a baton is known with which a projectile can be fired. For improved aerodynamic flight, fins are mounted within the hollow body of the projectile.

The projectile consists of a hollow cylindrical, open back carrier, on whose front side wall of the compressible head is placed. The carrier is formed at its rear end so that a substantially likewise hollow cylindrical housing can be placed on the end. The hollow cylindrical housing is open at its front, connectable to the carrier end and also closed at its rear end after receiving a propellant charge in an opening in its rear end wall, so that the connection between the carrier and the housing creates a closed chamber into which the combustion gases of the propellant charge penetrate to drive the projectile out of the barrel of the handgun.

It is the object of the invention to provide a cartridge whose projectile with low risk of injury or a predetermined injury potential over a wide range of coverage has a high efficiency.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a cartridge of the type mentioned in that the projectile has adapted to a uniform delivery of recorded in the firearm kinetic energy surface.

The cartridges used according to the invention have projectiles with high accuracy and at the same time low dispersion, ie deviation in the target point predetermined distance of the projectiles. These are able to cover considerably larger distances than conventional projectiles due to their streamlined shape, while at the same time preserving the accuracy of the aim, even over long distances.

Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

It is advantageously provided that the head is formed from an elastic material. As a result, the risk of injury, in particular skin injuries, bone or organ damage, is reduced in the case of a human target over a wide distance range in the event of a collision with an object, reducing the force of the collision. The resilient head also modifies the momentum imparted to the object by acting over conventional projectiles over an extended period of time, reducing the momentum of the pulse at the same time.

According to a development of the invention, it also proves to be useful if the head is formed from a plastic, in particular a hard plastic, a rubber, in particular a sponge rubber, and / or a compressible material, in particular a foam-like material, combinations thereof and the like. As a result, the uniform, distributed over a period of energy delivery is made possible to the object on which the bullet impinges.

Preferably, the head of the projectile is rounded on its front in the direction of flight of the projectile side, in particular hemispherical. As a result, on the one hand, an aerodynamically optimized shape is created, which allows a uniform flight, on the other hand, this is a particularly suitable for hitting the target object form.

In a particularly advantageous manner, it is provided that the head of the projectile has depressions on its surface, at least on its front side in the direction of flight. These are especially designed as pits, dents or dimples. By the wells, among other things, in addition to the spin stabilization, a further stabilization of the projectile causes a large silence of the projectile generates and thus allows much greater ranges than are possible with projectiles according to the prior art. The arrangement of the pits ensures that the head of the projectile is precisely directed forward during the flight and thus also when striking. Only by this measure can be achieved with certainty that the momentum of the projectile defined above the head and as possible exclusively by this is delivered to the target object. By this measure, it is thus effectively prevented that the carrier of the projectile, which usually consists of a less elastic material than the head, emits the pulse to the target object, whereby at least increased injuries could be caused.

Preferably, the carrier of the projectile is also formed from a plastic. As a result, the overall projectile can be manufactured with a relatively low weight, which favors a large projectile range and further reduces the risk of injury from the projectile.

Of particular advantage is the use of a projectile whose carrier has fins, fins or other stabilizing elements at its rear end. The fins, like the entire shape of the outer contour of the projectile, help to stabilize the projectile. Among other things, the rotation around itself and the surface structure of the projectile avoids an energy-consuming and significantly increases the air friction tumbling motion of the projectile.

In a particularly advantageous manner, it is provided here that the fins extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the projectile and do not protrude beyond the outer circumference of the carrier of the projectile. Also by this measure, the wind resistance of the projectile is reduced.

For example, the fins protrude backwards in a sawtooth shape. It can be provided with advantage that the fins each have a first flank with a large pitch and a second flank with a small pitch.

Forms of the fins in which the first flanks each extend at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier of the projectile prove to be suitable. The second flanks may have a convex shape.

The cartridge can be powered by various forms of propellant charges. For example, the propellant can be configured in the form of a blank cartridge, preferably with a blowing agent from the group of black powder, nitrocellulose, combinations thereof and the like. Black powder can be ignited, for example, by an ignition charge which can be ignited by blow. The low mass and the fact that the projectile is non-lethal limit the working pressure for igniting the propellant charge to a level at which smokeless propellants common today are not completely set on fire, leading to large deviations in speed the mouth of the barrel of the firearm leads. Also, partially unburned powder may remain in the barrel. Here black powder has the advantage of good and complete combustion, but the disadvantage that it leaves heavily corrosive residues in the barrel of the firearm, which require careful cleaning and attack the metal of the firearm. For these reasons, the cartridge according to the invention can also be driven by other propellant charges, in particular by nitrocellulose or by mixtures containing nitrocellulose.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the cartridge is selected so that the combustion gases of the propellant build up a maximum pressure of 250 bar through a nozzle located between the propellant and the projectile. These combustion gases then form a high energy current which drives the projectile substantially in the barrel of the handgun.

The cartridge is preferably designed such that the housing has a recess on the rear side for receiving the propellant charge, for example in the form of a blank cartridge.

Preferably, the cartridge is assembled so that the projectile is not part of a closed pressure chamber; it is not driven by the pressure force, but by the impulse transmitted by an open explosion jet. However, since the explosive gases ejected from the propellant remain in the barrel of the handgun until the bullet has left the mouth of the barrel, they increase the total amount of gases in the closed volume of the barrel and thus the pressure in the barrel.

For example, if the projectile is fired in a B & T GL-08 firing gun (with a 240mm bullet), the high energy gas stream will produce 80% of the bullet's kinetic energy and the gas pressure building up in the barrel will add up to the remaining 20%. Since with the increasing amount of gas also the available volume increases by the forward movement of the projectile, the gas pressure in the barrel remains at the relatively low level of 5 bar with a maximum of about 10 bar at the beginning of the process.

A positive side effect of this special internal ballistic process is that the cartridge shows very little noise, which proves to be a significant advantage in many tactical missions in terms of user safety, environmental awareness and discretion when using the weapon, etc.

Advantageously, it is thus provided that the drive of the projectile is essentially caused by a high-energy driving beam of the propellant charge. In this case, the high-energy driving jet is preferably caused by the arrangement of a nozzle between the propellant charge and the projectile. Sonach results in an advantageous manner that the drive of the projectile is effected in a ratio of about 80% by the Hochenergietreibstrahl and about 20% by a gas pressure.

Furthermore, it is provided that the projectile is stabilized by an internal rotation about the longitudinal axis and / or by the surface structure.

The design and the shape of the surface structure results in the formation of a thin turbulent intermediate layer between the surface structure of the projectile and the laminar air flow surrounding the projectile during its flight.

Overall, it is provided according to the invention that the projectile energy density in the sense of a non-lethal ammunition is selected so that the projectile is not able to penetrate into the surface of a target.

Preferably, the projectile having an energy density of the projectile between 0.001 J / mm ² and 1 J / mm ² , preferably between 0.01 J / mm ² and 0.1 J / mm ² and more preferably between 0.065 J / mm ² and 0.095 J / mm ² , from the barrel of Firearm shot, so that the target distance is preferably between 0 and 60 m.

Overall, a projectile encompassed by the cartridge according to the invention is characterized in that it creates around its head a turbulent boundary layer which is much closer to and closer to the body of the projectile than a boundary layer on a projectile after State of the art is able to do. As a further measure, the fins are formed at the rear end of the projectile for guiding the air flow in the rear region of the projectile and therefore reduce the slowing effect of the so-called. Air flow around the projectile around.

The invention will be explained in more detail in an embodiment with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine Schnittansicht einer nicht-letalen Patrone mit einem Projektil, einem das Projektil vor dem Abschuss tragenden Gehäuse und einem von dem Gehäuse aufgenommenen Antriebssystem gemäß der Erfindung entlang einer Schnittlinie I - I aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Patrone gemäß Fig. 1, wobei das Projektil, das Gehäuse und das Antriebssystem getrennt voneinander dargestellt sind,

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht durch den Lauf einer Handfeuerwaffe mit einer Patrone nach der Explosion einer von dem Antriebssystem umfassten Treibladung,

Fig. 4

einen Vergleich der Aerodynamik eines Geschosses nach dem Stand der Technik (oben dargestellt) und einem Geschoss gemäß der Erfindung (unten dargestellt),

Fig. 5

eine Tabelle mit den Werten der Höhe während des Flugs des Projektils gegenüber der durch die Null-Lage von Kimme und Korn gegebenen Höhe des Laufs,

Fig. 6

eine ballistische Kurve entsprechend den Werten aus Fig. 5 und

Fig. 7

eine Tabelle mit den Werten von Entfernungen, den jeweils zugehörigen Geschwindigkeiten, den zugehörigen Energien, Energiedichten und den zugehörigen Durchmessern von Kreisen mit Trefferwahrscheinlichkeiten von 99 %.

Showing:

Fig. 1

a sectional view of a non-lethal cartridge with a projectile, a projectile before launching the housing and a received by the housing drive system according to the invention along a section line I - I from Fig. 2 .

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the cartridge according to Fig. 1 wherein the projectile, the housing and the drive system are shown separately from each other,

Fig. 3

a sectional view through the barrel of a handgun with a cartridge after the explosion of a propellant charge comprised by the drive system,

Fig. 4

a comparison of the aerodynamics of a projectile according to the prior art (shown above) and a projectile according to the invention (shown below),

Fig. 5

a table with the values of the height during the flight of the projectile in relation to the height of the barrel given by the zero position of sight and grain,

Fig. 6

a ballistic curve according to the values Fig. 5 and

Fig. 7

a table with the values of distances, their respective speeds, the corresponding energies, energy densities and the corresponding diameters of circles with hit probabilities of 99%.

A cartridge 1 suitable for a handgun, ie a firearm such as a pistol or a rifle (US Pat. Fig. 1, 2 ) comprises a projectile or projectile 2, a housing 3 and a drive system 4, which essentially comprises a propellant charge, all of which are inserted into one another prior to the activation of the cartridge 1 by a mechanical action on the drive system 4.

The projectile 2 in turn comprises a head 5 and a support 6. The head 5 consists of an elastic and / or at least partially compressible material, for example a rubber, in particular a hard rubber, a plastic, a foam, a spongy material and the like or a Mixture of such materials. The head 5 also has, at its front end in the direction of flight, an at least substantially hemispherical shape, which merges rearwardly into a cylindrical shape adjoining the carrier 6. Further, the head 5 is provided with pits 7, depressions, or dimples, which in one embodiment are immediately adjacent to one another, but which are also spaced apart from each other, as in FIG Fig. 1 represented, can be arranged. The pits 7 are concave recesses in the spherical surface of the head 5 and form, for example, ball sections. The pits 7 contribute significantly to the fact that the projectile 2 has a long range with stable flight and a uniform delivery of its kinetic energy during flight and a high positional stability.

Likewise, the shape of the carrier 6 also contributes to these properties. The carrier 6 has an adapted to achieve a spin or angular momentum outer wall shape. This has, for example, a circumferential bead 8. At its rear end, the carrier 6 has a longitudinally extending flange 9. This thickening 10 has essentially the task of enabling a latching connection between the carrier 6 and the housing 3, which in turn has a pointing in the direction of the support 6 cylindrical projection 11 , The projection 11 has a cooperating with the thickening 10 and corresponding recess 12, so that before the explosion of the propellant such a stable connection between the housing 3 and the projectile 2 is that it can be separated solely by the explosion.

From its, with respect to the direction of flight of the projectile 2, the rear end side of the drive system 4 is introduced into the housing 3 such that an explosion of the drive system covered by the propellant drive apart the housing 3 and the projectile 2 and the propellant contained in the chemical energy the projectile 2 is transmitted at least substantially substantially completely or to a predetermined extent.

The projectile 2 is provided to support the stability of its trajectory at its rear end with projections, fins 13 or fins extending at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the projectile 2. The fins 13 jump out in a wedge or jagged manner. But they can also be effected by notched material removal at the rear end of the carrier 6. The fins 13 therefore essentially each have a longitudinal edge 14, an inclined flank 15 and a substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier 6, d. H. in the tangential direction, extending intermediate piece 16 between the two flanks 14, 15.

At the moment after the triggering of the drive system 4, the housing 3 remains with an outer shell 22 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) of the drive system 4 in the barrel 17 of the handgun, while the projectile 2 leaves the barrel 17 at its mouth. The drive takes place, as well as in FIG. 3 represented essentially by a high-energy gas jet 19, which is generated during the combustion or explosion of the propellant. Among other things, a nozzle 20, which is arranged between the propellant charge and the projectile and in particular also causes the focusing and alignment of the propulsion jet with respect to the projectile underside 21, serves to generate the high-energy propulsion jet.

It is understood that the inner surface of the barrel 17 may be formed in a conventional manner so that the formation of a spin of the projectile 2 is promoted. The projectile 2 thus preferably also has a spin stabilization and thereby also ensures a high probability of hit. As with all other non-lethal or sublethal cartridges, the macro-shape of the projectile 2 is on The ballistics are optimized close to the target and adjusted to the fact that their external ballistics are adapted and focused on their microstructure.

For this purpose, around the projectile 2 through the head 5 a turbulent boundary layer 18 (FIG. Fig. 4 below), which is much closer to the body of the projectile 2 and better follows this than a laminar boundary layer 18 '(FIG. Fig. 4 above) on a projectile 2 'according to the state of the art. In Fig. 4 the arrows A indicate the air directed against the flight of the projectiles 2, 2 '.

As a further measure, the fins 13 are formed at the rear end of the projectile 2 for guiding the air flow in the rear region of the projectile 2 and therefore reduce the slowing effect of the air flow 18. The upper floor 2 'according to the prior art has the same macro-shape as the projectile 2 according to the invention in contrast to this a flat rear end, while the projectile 2 is characterized by its equipped with pits 7 head 5 and its tail fins 13 and thereby exposed to a reduced air resistance. At the same time the flight stability is increased, so that it is ensured that the head 5 of the projectile 2 as possible strikes the target object straight first and not inclined and thereby unfolds a much less effective than in the prior art possible injury.

The basic principle of in Fig. 4 The aerodynamics shown are that the more energy a flying projectile has to use to displace the surrounding air from its trajectory, the more it loses momentum and energy. Since the projectile 2 'has not only to displace its own volume, but also a considerable volume of the surrounding air, which carries the projectile 2' with it, loses the projectile 2 'according to the prior art, its energy much faster than the projectile according to the invention, which carries a significantly reduced vortex air flow with it. This results in fewer particles and thus also has much less sensitivity to crossflow or wind in one direction or direction component perpendicular to the trajectory of the projectile 2, so is much less sensitive to forces that could distract it from its desired path.

By means of the invention, a projectile 2, which is at least substantially more stable than lateral forces and other influences, is thus created which acts on the reacted by the propellant kinetic energy reacts. Because of its low energy density, it preferably can not penetrate a living target, such as a human's skin, and preferably emits all of its energy at the surface of the target. A small amount of energy is used to deform the head 5 of the projectile 2. The remainder predominantly deforms the outer wall or skin of the target. If this target is a human, the projectile 2 generates enough pain to discourage the aggressor and to divert him from his intention. The energy of the projectile 2 is preferably not sufficiently great, in particular, to destroy or fragment the head 5 when the projectile 2 is fired onto a wall of concrete.

A table ( Fig. 5 ) shows by way of example the course of the height H, measured in millimeters [mm], of the projectile 2 as a function of the distance D, measured in meters [m]. Fig. 6 shows the ballistic curve or trajectory that results with these values, again plotting the height H measured in centimeters [cm] as a function of the distance D measured in meters [m]. This results in a target point 0 at a distance of 30 m. The fact that the firing point of the barrel 17 of the barrel corresponds to a height of -55 mm, follows from the height difference between the sight and grain on the one hand and the barrel 17 on the other.

In another illustration ( Fig. 7 ) are for different values of distances, measured in meters [m], velocities v [m / s], the energies E, measured in joules [J], the energy densities ED, measured in [J / mm ² ], and the diameters d, measured in [mm], from circles with a hit probability of 99% for a projectile 2 according to the invention.

Claims (21)

1. A non-lethal cartridge (1) for a shoulder arm with a projectile (2) comprising a forward end nose (5) and a body (6), a case (3) and a propulsion element comprising a propellant charge (4), the projectile (2) having an compliant surface adapted such that the kinetic energy developed in the shoulder arm is uniformly released at the target object, characterized in that the compliant surface features indentations and that the projectile (2) comprises at its rear end ring-shaped spin-stabilizing elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the projectile (2).
2. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the nose (5) is made of a compliant material.
3. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the nose (5) is made of a plastics material, particularly a hard plastics material, rubber, particularly foam rubber and/or a compressible material, particularly a foamed material, combinations thereof.
4. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the nose (5) is rounded, particularly semi-spherically, at its forward end in the flight direction of the projectile (2).
5. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the surface of the nose (5) comprises indentations (7), at least at its forward end in the flight direction.
6. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that the indentations are pitted (7), dented or dimpled.
7. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the body (6) of the projectile (2) is likewise made of a plastics material.
8. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (6) of the projectile (2) comprises at its rear end fins (13) or other control elements.
9. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that the 13 extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the projectile (2) and not beyond the outer circumference of the body (6) of the projectile (2).
10. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the fins (13) protrude sawtoothed rearwards.
11. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 10, characterized in that each fin (13) comprises a steep first flank (14) and a less-steep second flank (15).
12. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that each first flank (14) extends at least roughly parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the body (6) of the projectile (2).
13. The cartridge (1) as set forth in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the second flank (15) is convex shaped.
14. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propellant charge takes the shape of a blank cartridge, preferably with a propellant of the group gunpowder, nitrocellulose, combinations thereof.
15. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the the rear end of the case (3) comprises a recess for receiving a propellant charge.
16. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propulsion of the projectile (2) substantially results from a high-energy propulsion jet of the propellant charge.
17. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high-energy propulsion jet (19) results from a nozzle (20) being disposed between the propellant charge and the projectile (2).
18. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propulsion of the projectile (2) results from the high-energy propulsion jet to approx. 80% and from a gas pressure to approx. 20%.
19. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projectile (2) is stabilized by it rotating about its longitudinal centerline and/or by its surface structure.
20. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the surface structure forms a thin turbulent interlayer between the surface structure of the projectile (2) and the laminar air flow surrounding the projectile (2) during its flight.
21. The cartridge (1) as set forth in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy density of the projectile (2) ranges from 0.001 to 1 J/mm2, preferably from 0.001 to 0.1 J/mm2, particularly preferably from 0.065 to 0.095 J/mm2 for a target distanced up to 60 m away.

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