EP2700898B1 - Acceleration device for the acceleration of a projectile - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an acceleration device for accelerating a projectile with an acceleration tube and a sabot.

For the investigation of structural components, for example in the field of aerospace, projectiles are accelerated in an acceleration tube and fired at high speed onto a component or target object to be tested. For this purpose, the projectiles are usually taken in the acceleration tube in a so-called sabot or sabot and accelerated by gas pressure. Such an acceleration device is for example in DE 10 2008 038 258 B3 described.

In conventional accelerator devices, the gas pressure in a reservoir is adjusted as a function of the desired target speed of the projectile and applied to the projectile or sabot reproducibly via a valve.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved acceleration device with which higher and / or better reproducible target speeds for the projectiles to be fired can be achieved.

This object is achieved by an acceleration device having the features of claim 1. Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The acceleration device for accelerating a projectile according to the invention comprises an acceleration tube having a longitudinal axis defining an acceleration direction and a sabot having a projectile receiver at its forward end in the direction of acceleration for receiving a projectile. The acceleration tube is in its in the acceleration direction front end portion provided with a sabot stopper for holding the sabot and coupled at its rear end in the acceleration direction with a pressure generating device. According to the invention, the pressure generating device has at least two valves for introducing a gas into a drive chamber formed in the acceleration tube in the acceleration direction behind the sabot. In addition, the pressure generating device according to the invention has a control device which is designed to operate the at least two valves substantially synchronously with one another.

The pressure generating device of the accelerator device has at least two valves, i. two, three, four or more valves for introducing a gas into a drive chamber formed in the acceleration tube in the acceleration direction behind the sabot on. These valves are essentially synchronously actuated. The use of at least two valves allows a more uniform flow of the gas into the drive chamber from different locations and thus a more uniform and faster pressure build-up. By using at least two valves for the pressure generating device can thus be introduced into the drive chamber, a higher gas pressure and / or a gas pressure in a shorter time. As a result, higher target speeds and / or target speeds can be achieved with higher reproducibility for the projectile. Preferably, with the accelerator device thus configured, projectile speeds in the range of about 20 m / s to about 250 m / s and more can be achieved, in the case of, for example, non-metallic propulsion levels even of 500 m / s and more. Likewise, larger and heavier projectiles can be accelerated, preferably with cross-sectional areas of up to 500 mm x 500 mm and more and / or with masses of up to about 10 kg and more.

The "projectile receptacle" is a component of the sabot or a separate component which is fixedly or detachably connected to the sabot. The projectile mount is configured to at least partially receive a desired projectile and to hold it in position during acceleration in the accelerator tube. Preferably, the projectile in the projectile shooting becomes easy clamped or fixed, optionally along the entire circumference transverse to the direction of acceleration or only in sections, to accurately position the projectile during acceleration and to achieve a clean detachment of the projectile from the sabot when hitting the Treibspiegelstopper. The projectile receptacle preferably has a recess in which the projectile can be arranged. The depth of the recess in the direction of acceleration may be less than, equal to or greater than the length of the projectile in the direction of acceleration.

Under a "sabot", often referred to as sabot, in this context, any type of device is to be understood, which is used between projectile and propellant and is suitable to seal the accelerating tube against the propellant gases and to separate the projectile from the propellant gases. The geometry of the outer surface of the sabot is accordingly adapted to the geometry of the inner circumferential surface of the acceleration tube. On the other hand, the aforementioned lateral surfaces are designed so that the sabot in the acceleration tube in the direction of acceleration can be moved by the gas pressure of the propellant gases. The outer surface of the sabot may extend over its entire length, but it is preferably provided only in sections in the direction of acceleration on the sabot, so that the sliding contact surfaces between the sabot and the acceleration tube are as small as possible. The inner lateral surface of the acceleration tube and / or the outer lateral surface of the sabot are preferably machined and / or coated such that the frictional resistance between the two lateral surfaces is as small as possible. The sabot is formed in one piece or in several parts. In one embodiment of the invention, the sabot is composed of several layers that are stacked in the direction of acceleration and firmly joined together, preferably glued, vulcanized, welded or the like. The sabot is a solid body or hollow designed. The sabot has a projectile mount to guide a projectile at least partially received therein in the desired orientation or attitude. The projectile recording is adapted for this purpose to the shape, dimension and attitude of the projectile to be fired or preferably variably adjustable.

The "sabot stopper" is a stop in the front end region of the acceleration tube, which retains the accelerated sabot and the projectile recording in the acceleration tube during the acceleration process of the projectile and the projectile due to its inertia further fly out of the front end of the acceleration tube. The sabot stopper is provided in full or only in sections on or along the inner circumferential surface of the acceleration tube. The sabot stopper is preferably designed for nondestructive or destructive stopping of the sabot. The sabot stopper is preferably fixedly connected to the acceleration tube, preferably screwed or welded thereto. The sabot stopper is preferably in the direction of acceleration of the projectile substantially at the level of the open front end side of the acceleration tube, upstream of the front end side of the acceleration tube and thus inside the acceleration tube or the front end side of the acceleration tube and thus arranged outside of the acceleration tube. The passage opening of the sabot stopper is preferably designed in accordance with the projectile to be fired.

The term "pressure generating device" in this context, any type of device to be understood, which is suitable to build up in the acceleration direction behind the sabot in the acceleration tube pressure that accelerates the sabot with the projectile in the acceleration tube in the direction of acceleration. This is preferably a gas pressure which is introduced from corresponding compressed gas containers via corresponding compressed gas lines, in which the said valves are arranged, into the acceleration tube. The gas pressure is preferably introduced into the rear end side of the acceleration tube in this, but it can also or alternatively be introduced on the lateral surface of the acceleration tube.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the acceleration tube has a fastening flange at its rear end in the direction of acceleration and the pressure generating device has a valve connection plate which is mounted on the mounting flange of the accelerator tube. The attachment flange preferably extends inwards and / or outwards transversely to the direction of acceleration. The valve port plate is a plate which is substantially gas-tight connectable to the mounting flange to close the rear end of the mounting tube. In the valve connection plate, at least two openings are preferably provided, to each of which a compressed gas line is connected. The compressed gas lines are each connected to a separate compressed gas tank or a common compressed gas tank and in the compressed gas lines, a valve is arranged in each case.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the acceleration tube is releasably connected to the pressure generating device. This makes it possible to exchange the acceleration tube in a simple manner and preferably form as a removable tube. The acceleration device can thus be adapted in a simple manner to the respective projectile to be fired, without having to provide a separate acceleration device for each projectile geometry. With an exchange of the acceleration tube, the sabot is preferably also replaced and replaced by a sabot adapted to the projectile to be fired.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the projectile recording of the sabot is designed to receive a projectile with a polygonal cross-sectional area transversely to the direction of acceleration. This measure allows effective and reproducible firing of non-rotationally symmetric projectiles.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the acceleration tube has a polygonal inner lateral surface and the sabot has a polygonal outer lateral surface such that the sabot can slide along the inner circumferential surface of the acceleration tube. The geometries of the sabot and the accelerating tube can be adapted (also) to a (not round) cross-sectional shape of a projectile to be fired. It is therefore possible to accelerate a non-rotationally symmetrical projectile a sabot and an acceleration tube each to be used with the smallest possible cross-sectional area. As a result, lower gas pressures are required to accelerate the projectile or higher projectile velocities can be achieved with the same gas pressure or more massive projectiles can be fired. By adapting the geometries of the acceleration tube and the sabot to a non-rotationally symmetrical projectile, it is also possible to ensure more accurate and better reproducible speeds and attitude for such a projectile.

Due to the polygonal inner / outer lateral surfaces of the acceleration tube and sabot, additional measures (for example guide grooves, etc.) for preventing rotation of the sabot can also be dispensed with.

The terms "polygonal cross-sectional area" and "polygonal inner / outer lateral surface" in this context include regular and irregular polygons (polygons), equilateral polygons and polygons with different lengths edges, polygonal equations and polygons with different internal angles, polygons with pointed and with rounded corners, polygons with rectilinear and with convex or concave curved edges. The most preferred polygons in this context include squares and rectangles.

While the inner circumferential surface of the acceleration tube according to the invention is polygonal, the outer surface of the acceleration tube is basically arbitrary. Preferably, however, the outer circumferential surface of the acceleration tube is polygonal and corresponds to the inner circumferential surface, so that the acceleration tube has a substantially uniform wall thickness over its entire circumference. Furthermore, the acceleration tube preferably has a substantially uniform wall thickness over its entire length. In addition, the acceleration tube preferably has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape over its entire length.

The polygonal inner lateral surface of the acceleration tube is preferably substantially rectangular or square. These rectangular and square cross-sectional shapes are particularly easy to manufacture. The same of course applies to the polygonal outer surface of the sabot.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one metal plate is arranged between the projectile receptacle and the sabot. The projectile received in the projectile receptacle can thus be supported in particular against this metal plate during the acceleration process. In this way it can be prevented that the projectile presses during the acceleration process in the acceleration tube in the sabot and possibly even deformed. In addition, this is at least one metal plate to prevent fragmentation of the sabot when hitting the Treibspiegelstopper. The at least one metal plate is preferably dimensionally stable. Preferably, a plate made of a light metal, preferably aluminum, or a light metal alloy is used for the at least one metal plate. A metal plate made of light metal increases the weight of the sabot only slightly, so that the mass to be accelerated by this measure is not excessively increased.

In other embodiments, where the sabot is to be more accelerated to achieve higher speeds of the projectile, can also be dispensed with such a metal plate. There is then the possibility of stopping the sabot by the appropriately designed sabot stopper in a destructive manner in the front end region of the acceleration tube and thereby to produce smaller and lower-mass fragments of the sabot.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sabot and / or the projectile receptacle are essentially formed from a plastic material, in particular a hard foam material. By this measure, the total mass to be accelerated in the acceleration tube can be kept relatively low. The plastic material is preferably a polymer, preferably polystyrene. In other embodiments, for example, where lower projectile speeds are required, the sabot and / or the projectile receiver may be essentially metallic Material, in particular a light metal or a light metal alloy to be made.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Beschleunigungsvorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2A und B

einen Treibspiegel gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung für die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Beschleunigungsvorrichtung in schematischer Längsschnittansicht und in schematischer Draufsicht;

Fig. 3A und B

einen Treibspiegel gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung für die in Fig. 1 dargestellte Beschleunigungsvorrichtung in schematischer Längsschnittansicht und in schematischer Draufsicht; und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Beschleunigungsvorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung.

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an acceleration device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and B

a sabot according to a first embodiment of the invention for in Fig. 1 shown acceleration device in a schematic longitudinal sectional view and in a schematic plan view;

FIGS. 3A and B

a sabot according to a second embodiment of the invention for in Fig. 1 shown acceleration device in a schematic longitudinal sectional view and in a schematic plan view; and

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of another acceleration device according to the present invention.

In Fig. 1 An acceleration device for accelerating projectiles is shown in a highly simplified manner. This accelerator device can be used, for example, to study structural components in the field of aerospace, without being restricted to this application.

The acceleration device 10 has, in particular, an acceleration tube 12 whose longitudinal axis defines an acceleration direction 14. In this acceleration tube 12, a projectile 16 can be accelerated in the direction of acceleration 14 by means of a sabot 18.

The acceleration tube 12 has a rear end 20 and a front outlet 22 open in the acceleration direction 14.

The cross-sectional shapes of the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12 and the outer lateral surface 26 of the sabot 18 may each be designed round (for shooting rotationally symmetric projectiles 16) or each polygonal, preferably substantially rectangular designed (for firing non-rotationally symmetrical projectiles 16). The geometries of the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12 and the outer circumferential surface 26 of the sabot 18 are selected so that the sabot 18 along the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12 can slide.

In the region of the rear end 20 may be provided on the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12, an inwardly projecting stop 28 (full or in sections). The stop 28 is screwed or welded to the accelerating tube 12, for example. The sabot 18 can move against the direction of acceleration 14 (to the left in FIG Fig. 1 ) are pushed into this stop 28 in the acceleration tube 12.

In the area of the outlet 22, on the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12, a further inwardly projecting stop (full or in sections) is provided as the sabot stopper 30. This sabot stopper 30 is screwed or welded to the acceleration tube 12, for example.

The sabot 18 has at its / in the direction of acceleration 14 front end / front side (right in Fig. 1 ) on a projectile 32 recording. This projectile receptacle 32 has a recess in which the projectile 16 to be fired can be accommodated (at least partially) and accurately positioned.

As in Fig. 1 indicated, one or more metal plates 33, preferably aluminum plates are arranged between the sabot 18 and the projectile receptacle 32. Alternatively or additionally, the metal plates may also be arranged on the rear end of the sabot 18 in the acceleration direction. These metal plates are to protect the sabot 18 against disassembly by the abruptly applied pressure during pressure build-up by the pressure generating device 34 to be described later and when striking the sabot stopper 30.

The open rear end 20 of the acceleration tube 12 is coupled to a pressure generating device 34. For this purpose, a mounting flange 36 is provided at the rear end 20 of the acceleration tube 12, which can extend transversely to the direction of acceleration 14 selectively inward and / or outward.

With the interposition of a seal 38 (optional), a valve connection plate 40, for example by means of screw connection 42, is mounted on this attachment flange 36 of the acceleration tube 12. By the screw 42, the pressure generating device 34 is releasably connected to the acceleration tube 12. The accelerator tube may therefore be provided as an exchangeable tube, so that accelerating tubes 12 having different cross-sectional shapes and sizes can be used with one and the same pressure generating device 34.

In the valve connection plate 40, two openings 44 are provided, in each of which a compressed gas line 46 opens. The compressed gas lines 46 are each connected to a compressed gas tank 48. In the compressed gas lines 46, a valve 50 is arranged in each case, preferably in each case a pneumatic coaxial valve.

The valves 50 in the compressed gas lines 46 are driven by a control device 52. In this case, the valves 50 and the control device 52 are designed such that the two valves 50 can be opened synchronously.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 two openings 44, two compressed gas lines 46, two compressed gas tank 48 and two valves 50 are provided. However, the pressure generating device 34 may also have three, four or more openings 44, compressed gas lines 46, compressed gas container 48 and valves 50. The valves 50 can be controlled synchronously in each case. In addition, it is possible to connect to the two or more compressed gas lines 46 a common compressed gas tank 48.

Is the sabot 18 in its in Fig. 1 shown initial position on the stop 28, so in the acceleration tube 12 between the sabot 18 and the valve port plate 40, a substantially gas-tight closed drive chamber 54 is formed. In this drive chamber 54, a corresponding gas pressure can be established by opening the valves 50 by means of the pressurized gas or gas mixture provided in the compressed gas containers 48.

The operation of this accelerator 10 is as follows.

First, the projectile receptacle 32 is attached to the sabot 18 or provided a unit of sabot 18 with integrated projectile recording 32. Subsequently, a projectile 16 to be fired is inserted into the projectile receptacle 32 with a slight clamping action.

Then the equipped with the projectile 16 sabot 18 is in his in Fig. 1 shown starting position on the stop 28 introduced into the acceleration tube 12. For this purpose, the sabot stopper 30 is released from the acceleration tube 12 and then attached again. The pressure generating device 34 may, before or after the introduction of the sabot 18 in the acceleration tube 12 to the rear end 20 of the Acceleration tube 12 are connected. The valves 50 are closed.

To start the acceleration process, the control device 52 opens the valves 50 in the compressed gas lines 46 synchronously, so that in the drive chamber 54 behind the sabot 18, a gas pressure builds up, which is determined by the preset pressure in the gas cylinders 48.

If the sabot 18 is now moved by the built-up in the drive chamber 54 gas pressure starting from the in Fig. 1 shown accelerated in the acceleration direction 12 in the acceleration tube 12, so it slides including the projectile recorded in the projectile 32 projectile 16 along the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12 in the direction of outlet 22nd

Finally, because of its inertia, the projectile 16 disengages from the projectile receptacle 32 of the sabot 18 and continues to fly in the direction of acceleration 14 out of the outlet 22 of the accelerator tube 12 out to a target object 56 to be examined.

When braking the sabot 18 at the Treibspiegelstopper 30 prevents the metal plate 33 fragmenting the sabot 18 and a departure from corresponding sections in the direction of acceleration 14. The sabot 30 is designed so that the projectile receptacle 32 is retained and only the projectile 16 from the acceleration tube 12 flies out without it being disturbed by the sabot 18 or its projectile recording 32 in its attitude.

In a specific embodiment, the projectile receptacle 32 is designed for receiving non-rotationally symmetrical projectiles 16. For this purpose, it has a recess with a polygonal cross-sectional shape transversely to the direction of acceleration 14. The inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12 also has a polygonal cross-sectional shape. This is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the projectile 16 and selected as small as possible. The outer circumferential surface 26 of the sabot 18 has a polygonal cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube 12.

Depending on the specific geometry of the projectile to be fired 16 different embodiments are conceivable in this regard, of which on the basis of FIGS. 2 and 3 two embodiments will be explained below by way of example.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B should be fired as the projectile 16 is an approximately square tire part with an area of up to about 500 mm × 500 mm with the accelerator 10. The tire part is intended to be fired so that it impinges flat on the target object 56.

As in Fig. 2A In the acceleration direction 14, the sabot 18 has a rear edge part 58 and a front edge part 60, between which a body 62 with a smaller cross-sectional area extends. Due to the intermediate body 26 with a smaller cross-sectional area, the outer lateral surface 26 of the sabot 18 is formed relatively small overall and thus forms only a smaller frictional resistance to the inner circumferential surface 24 of the Acceleration tube 12.

The sabot 18 (58-62) is made in this embodiment of a rigid foam, for example polystyrene, and thus of relatively low weight. In this case, the sabot 18 is preferably composed in the direction of acceleration 14 of several layers, which are firmly connected to each other.

The rear and front edge portions 58, 60 of the sabot 18 are preferably wrapped with a fabric tape to achieve a favorable frictional resistance to the inner circumferential surface 24 of the acceleration tube. Alternatively, the edge portions 58, 60 may also be provided with a friction-reducing coating.

In this exemplary embodiment, the projectile 16 is completely accommodated in the projectile receptacle 32. Alternatively, the projectile 16 may protrude somewhat out of the projectile receptacle 32 in the direction of acceleration 14. The cutout in the projectile receptacle 32 is preferably somewhat smaller in cross-section transversely to the acceleration direction 14 than the projectile 16, so that the projectile 16 can be positioned precisely in the projectile receptacle 32 and easily clamped. In this way, an accurate and reproducible attitude of the projectile 32 can be ensured.

The projectile receptacle 32 is preferably also made of a rigid foam, for example polystyrene. The cross-sectional shapes of the metal plate 33 and the projectile receptacle 32 respectively correspond substantially to the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate body 62 of the sabot 18.

As in Fig. 2B 12, the cross-sectional area of the sabot 18 transverse to the direction of acceleration 14 is relatively small due to the choice of a polygonal basic shape corresponding to the polygonal cross-sectional area of the projectile 16 despite the rectangular tire portion 16. In particular, it is much smaller than in the case of a round sabot for firing in a round acceleration tube.

Due to the relatively small cross-sectional area of the sabot 18 and the above-described pressure generating device 34 having a plurality of synchronously actuated valves 50, higher target speeds for the projectile 16 (up to 250 m / s or even 500 m / s and more) can be achieved and can be larger and / or larger. or heavier projectiles (up to 10 kg and more) are fired.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B the tire part 16 is to be shot edgewise and hit with a front edge flat on the target object 56.

In order to keep the tire part 16 in this position during the acceleration process accurately in this orientation, the projectile receptacle 32 is formed longer in the acceleration direction 14. To the entire sabot complex 18, 32 does not increase too much, the front edge portion 60, which forms part of the outer surface 26 of the sabot 18, now part of the projectile 32. In addition, the aluminum plate 33 is arranged in the direction of acceleration 14 behind the front edge portion 60. Finally, the intermediate body 62 of the sabot 18 in the acceleration direction can be made slightly shorter than in the above embodiment of Fig. 2A ,

How clearly in Fig. 3A recognizable, the projectile 32 is formed in the acceleration direction 14 significantly longer than in the above embodiment of Fig. 2A , In order to prevent that when striking the sabot 18, more precisely the projectile holder 32 against the Treibspiegelstopper 30, the projectile 32 is deformed so that it clamps the projectile 32 and thus affects its attitude, the projectile recording 32 is designed so that they at least partially can deform so that it releases the projectile 16 at the stop against the Treibspiegelstopper 30. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the projectile receptacle 32 is designed so that subregions of it when striking against the Treibspiegelstopper 30 to the outside and thus away from the projectile 16 unfold. Alternatively, such portions of the projectile 32 can also break away completely.

It should be expressly pointed out at this point that the acceleration device 10 according to the invention can also be used to shoot rotationally symmetrical projectiles 16. In this case, the above-mentioned polygonal cross-sectional shapes are preferably formed respectively circular and circular.

Referring to Fig. 4 Now, a variant of the acceleration device 10 according to the invention will be explained in more detail.

As in Fig. 4 illustrated, the stopper 28 is mounted closer to the rear end 20 of the acceleration tube 12. In this way - with the same length of the acceleration tube 12 - a longer acceleration travel and thus a higher velocity of the projectile 16 can be achieved. In a Another variant of the invention, it is also conceivable that the stop 28 is mounted substantially at the level of the rear end 20 of the acceleration tube 12 or is formed by the valve connection plate 40.

From a comparison of Fig. 1 and 4 It can be seen that the drive chamber 54 in the embodiment of Fig. 4 is significantly smaller dimensions. In order to achieve the most uniform pressure build-up in the drive chamber 54, it is advantageous in this embodiment to connect the at least two valves 50 of the pressure generating device 34 via compressed gas lines 70 with a larger cross-section of the correspondingly larger openings 44 of the valve port plate 40. The compressed gas lines 70 are formed, for example, tubular. The caused during synchronous opening of the valves 50 pressure build-up can be homogenized in this way, despite the smaller drive chamber 54.

Another modification opposite Fig. 1 lies in the retention of the sabot 18 by the sabot stopper 72. At higher speeds, consistent with the embodiment of Fig. 4 can be achieved due to the longer acceleration path, a non-destructive stopping of the sabot 18 by the trained as a stop sabot 30 is increasingly difficult. In this embodiment, it is therefore proposed to modify the sabot stopper 72 so as to destroy the accelerated sabot 18 in the front end portion of the accelerating tube 12.

For this purpose, the sabot stopper 72 is configured, for example, with an angle 74 which projects from the (partially) circumferential stop in the direction of the accelerated sabot 18. The sabot 18 in this case is preferably non-metallic and configured without the metal plates described above. Due to the angled stop of the sabot stopper 72, the sabot 18 is destroyed when hitting them and broken down into small and possibly low-mass fragments. As in Fig. 4 indicated, a distance or gap 76 is provided between the open front outlet 22 of the acceleration tube 12 and this Treibspiegelstopper 72, so that at least a portion of the fragments of the sabot 18 can pass through this gap 76 from the acceleration tube 12 addition.

Claims (5)

1. An acceleration apparatus (10) for accelerating a projectile (16), comprising an acceleration tube (12) having a longitudinal axis defining a direction of acceleration (14), a pressure generating device (34), and a sabot (18) having a projectile receiver (32) for receiving a projectile (16) at its forward end in the direction of acceleration (14), wherein said acceleration tube (12) comprises a sabot stopper (30, 72) for stopping said sabot (18) at its front end portion in the direction of acceleration and is coupled to said pressure generating device (34) at its rear end in the direction of acceleration, and
   wherein a drive chamber (54) is formed in said acceleration tube (12) behind said sabot (18) in the direction of acceleration,
   characterized in that
   said pressure generating device (34) comprises at least two valves (50) for introducing a gas into said drive chamber (54), and
   said pressure generating device (34) comprises a control means (52) which is configured to actuate said at least two valves (50) synchronously with one another.
2. The acceleration apparatus according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   said acceleration tube (12) comprises a mounting flange (36) at its rear end (20) in the direction of acceleration (14); and
   said pressure generating device (34) comprises a valve connection plate (42) which is mounted on said mounting flange (36) of said acceleration tube (12).
3. The acceleration apparatus according to any one of preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   said acceleration tube (12) is detachably connected to said pressure generating device (34).
4. The acceleration apparatus according to any one of preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   said projectile receiver (32) of said sabot (18) is configured to receive a projectile (16) having a polygonal cross-sectional area transverse to the direction of acceleration (14).
5. The acceleration apparatus according to any one of preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   said acceleration tube (12) has a polygonal inner lateral surface (24); and
   said sabot (18) has a polygonal outer lateral surface (26) such that said sabot (18) can slide along said inner lateral surface (24) of said acceleration tube (12).

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