EP3274646B1 - Weapon ejection device comprising a push chain - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for ejecting weapons, in particular mines, from a weapon barrel.

A weapon in the sense of the invention is in particular a torpedo, a missile, a decoy or a mine. Such weapons are regularly carried by warships, such as corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers or submarines. These weapons are regularly ejected through a gun barrel, although other types of emissions are common.

There are a variety of different weapon tubes, especially on the technology used to eject a weapon. A weapon is often ejected by compressed air. As a result, a weapon, for example a torpedo, can be ejected comparatively quickly and easily. Also hereby a high acceleration is possible, which is needed to accelerate a comparatively heavy torpedo on the short distance of the gun barrel to its ejection speed. The disadvantage is that this method is relatively loud. When firing a torpedo this can be accepted in the normal combat situation, since the ejected torpedo already reveals the position of the launch by the comparatively high speed of the screw.

Furthermore, there are weapon tubes that have no system for actively ejecting a weapon. The weapon runs out of such weapons, that is, the weapon leaves the barrel of its own accord and with its own strength. For example, a torpedo can run out of a gun barrel.

However, there are also situations in which a silent ejection is advantageous or a weapon is to be ejected from a gun barrel for which the existing ejection system is not usable. For example, no mines can be deployed from a gun barrel, which is designed exclusively for self-running torpedoes, since mines typically have no own drive.

From the EP 2 568 250 A2 a device for storing and deploying a weapon is known, which is deductible on the seabed.

From the WO 2008/084993 A2 Payload setting known

From the DE 314 864 C is a horizontal underwater discharge pipe for mines known.

The object of the invention is to provide a weapons ejection device, which can be introduced into an existing weapon barrel for ejecting at least one weapon and removed therefrom.

The problem is solved by the weapon ejection device with the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the following description and the drawings.

The weapons ejection device according to the invention can be inserted into a weapon barrel. The weapon ejection device has at least a first push chain and at least one first push chain memory. The at least one first push chain can be extended along the longitudinal direction of the weapon barrel from the at least one first push chain memory of the weapon ejection device.

Thrust chains are known in the art, such as DE 20 2011 013 357 A1 and the documents cited therein. Advantage of the push chain is that this stiffened due to their construction with positively interlocking links in a straight direction, but by the joints a way to move in one direction of rotation is possible. A push chain is thus a rigid chain, which stiffens under shear load, but is flexible and thus deflectable in one direction tensile load. Thus, by using a push chain, there is an advantage over a bar or bar which behind the weapon, a space requirement in the full length of the path, which the weapon is to be moved needs. Also, this system is advantageous over a telescope system, since a telescope system for such a length and weight would also be very large and very prone to error. Timing belts and link chains have also proved to be unusable, since the necessary stabilization is hardly feasible and leads to extremely high power losses due to friction.

Advantage of the weapon ejection device according to the invention is the compact design, which makes it possible to design the weapon ejection device so that it can be fully inserted as a separate component in a gun barrel. The use of push chains makes it possible, on the one hand, to store the push chain in the rolled-up state compactly within the weapon ejection device in the push chain store. For this purpose, the rollability of the push chain in one direction is used. At the same time the push chain can be extended from the Waffenausstoßvorrichtung. Here, the push chain stiffened so that it extends from the front end of the barrel from the gun barrel out in the direction of the outer skin lying in front. A weapon can be launched.

The weapon ejection device is preferably freely movable in the barrel along the longitudinal direction of the barrel. The weapon ejection device preferably has no fixed connections to the weapon barrel, in particular the weapon ejection device is not welded, screwed or otherwise permanently connected to the weapon barrel. However, it may be provided that, for example, an anchoring connected to the push chain is detachably connected to parts of the weapon barrel.

When this application speaks of "behind" or "forward", these directions refer to the direction of ejection of the weapon. "Front" is thus in each case the direction in which the weapon leaves the gun barrel in the application. Basically, this is the direction that leads away from the ship. "Rear" is accordingly, for example, in a submarine with a gun barrel the ship's interior. About the orientation of the gun barrel relative to the direction of travel of the ship say these names nothing.

In one embodiment, the weapon ejection device may be used such that the push chain is extended by the weapon ejection device against the weapon, thereby moving it out of the weapon barrel. In an alternative embodiment, the weapon ejection device may be used such that the push chain is extended from the weapon ejection device against the bottom cap, which closes off the weapon barrel to the interior of the ship. As a result, the whole weapons ejection device is moved through the barrel, the weapon ejection device then ejects a weapon from the gun barrel.

Here and below, the expression of a weapon does not only mean the ejection of a single weapon. A gun barrel usually has a length of about 6 m to 10 m, so that the barrel can accommodate a torpedo or a missile, which often has a length of 5 m to 8 m. But there are also smaller, shorter weapons, such as mines. These then preferably have the same outer diameter, for example 533 mm (21 inches), but only a length of about 1.5 m to 3.5 m. Thus, in addition to the Waffenausstoßvorrichtung, for example, two, three or four mines are loaded into a barrel. In this case, the weapon ejector ejects the rearmost mine, which pushes the lying in front of her mines and thus transported from the barrel.

If the push chain is extended against the bottom cover, the push chain preferably has an anchorage at the end. The anchoring can be carried out in particular V-shaped or bent. The anchoring ensures, on the one hand, that the push chain can be supported on the bottom cover or the weapon barrel and thus can move the weapon ejection device away from the bottom cover during extension. On the other hand, the anchorage is used to ensure that the push chain remains anchored to the bottom cover when it is retracted, thus pulling the gun ejector back towards the bottom cover.

If the push chain is extended against the weapon, the push chain at the end preferably has a coupling, with which a connection between push chain and weapon produced can be. In one possible embodiment, the coupling is designed so that the weapon can engage in the clutch from above. The advantage of this design is the use of ground mines that they detach themselves from the clutch during ejection, as the base mine sinks due to their higher specific gravity down. This initially tilts the front and the back can thereby lift something and thus release from the clutch. In another possible embodiment, the coupling is designed so that the coupling has an opening mechanism. The opening mechanism can be triggered, for example, when the push chain is fully extended. Also, the opening mechanism can be triggered when the weapon exerts a force on the clutch, for example when a floating mine this exerts a force on the clutch by the buoyancy.

According to the invention, the weapon ejection device has a first module and a second module. The first module has the first shift chain memory and the second module has a second shift chain memory. The first push chain can be extended from the first push chain memory and a second push chain from the second push chain memory.

The modular design has two very big advantages. First, the two modules are individually smaller than a Waffenausstoßvorrichtung, which is made in one piece. This makes it easier to handle two modules, especially in the cramped interior of a submarine, than a one-piece device. On the other hand, the weight can be divided by the construction in two modules, so that transport of the modules is simplified by persons. Another important advantage is that by using two push chains, both push chains only have to be extended halfway each way. According to the invention, a simultaneous extension of both push chains occurs. With the same ejection time, it follows that, when using two push chains, they only have to be extended at half the speed. This speed reduction reduces the noise emission and thus the acoustic signature.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first module is connectable to the second module. The first push chain and the second push chain can be in opposite Directions are extended along the longitudinal direction of the barrel. Advantage of this arrangement is that both modules can be arranged as it were back to back. As a result, the weapon ejector is moved away from the bottom lid by the one push chain while the other push chain ejects the weapon. This arrangement allows both modules to interact better.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first module has a motor and a first gear and the second module has a second gear. The motor drives the first gear and the first gear drives the second gear. This is an example of how the two modules can interact. Through this interaction, only one module needs a motor. This can reduce the overall weight and overall size of the weapon ejection device. The use of the two gears is advantageous, especially if they have the same size. In this way, in addition to the transmission of the drive at the same time the direction of rotation can be reversed, since the two modules must eject the push chain in each case in the opposite directions.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first gear drives the first push chain and the second gear drives the second push chain. By this embodiment, the number of movable elements and thus the noise emission can be minimized.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first push chain and the second push chain can be extended in the same directions along the longitudinal direction of the weapon barrel. Preferably, the one module is arranged on the bottom cover and the one push chain drives the second module. The second module ejects the weapon with the other push chain. The advantage of this embodiment is that only one module has to be moved during the firing of the weapon. So the moving total mass can be reduced.

It is also conceivable that the two modules are arranged such that in opposite movement of the thrust chains a module on the bottom cover and one to the weapon are arranged and the two push chains move against each other between the modules. Likewise is at synchronous thrust chains conceivable that both modules extend the thrust chain toward the bottom cover.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first module and the second module each have a maximum length of 1.2 m in the longitudinal direction and a mass of up to 50 kg. Particularly preferably, the first module and the second module each have a maximum length of 1 m in the longitudinal direction and a mass of up to 45 kg. As a result, the individual modules are movable by only two people and can be handled very well in the limited interior of a submarine. In addition, other optional components may be removable from these modules to reduce the weight of the modules. For example, a motor may be separable from the modules.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the weapon ejection device comprises a motor, wherein the motor is driven hydraulically or electrically. Particularly preferably, the motor is hydraulically driven. The hydraulic drive has many advantages. When the weapon is ejected, the inside of the weapon barrel is flooded. This allows a hydraulic motor to be integrated in a very compact and space-saving manner. Watercraft, such as submarines, are already standard on many hydraulically driven systems, so providing the necessary energy does not require additional infrastructure. For example, the motor may be electrically driven, but care must be taken to ensure adequate and reliable insulation against the surrounding salt water.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the weapon ejection device comprises a drum for receiving a supply line. This embodiment is particularly preferred if the weapon ejection device is constructed from two modules, which are arranged as it were back to back. In this case, the motor must be energized, with the distance to a port within the gun barrel changed by the extension of the thrust chains. For this purpose, a supply line which supplies the weapon ejection device, for example a hydraulic line or an electrical line, is picked up or released by the drum.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the weapon ejection device has a horizontal stabilization, the horizontal stabilization being designed such that it is in contact with both the weapon barrel and the lateral guide rails above lateral guide rails arranged in a weapon barrel. Gun barrels regularly have four guide rails with which a weapon to be ejected from the gun barrel is stabilized and guided. Here, the upper guide rail regularly has a groove for receiving a retaining lug, with which a retaining lug having weapon in the barrel against displacement along the longitudinal direction of the barrel can be secured. In order to secure the weapon against other movements and to keep safe even when shock load weapons usually have two side and a lower guide rail on.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the weapon ejection device has a device for detecting the position of the ejection device. The device for detecting the position of the ejection device can, for example, have one or more sensors in the tube for position determination. Alternatively, the device for detecting the position of the ejection device may comprise a pedometer, for example on a toothed wheel.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the weapon ejection device can extend the one or two push chains at a travel speed of less than 0.5 m / s at a constant speed.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a system of an inventive weapon ejection device and two to four basic mines. This system can be handled like a heavyweight torpedo. Advantage of such a system is that after the discharge of ground mines by means of a gun ejection device, this quickly removed from the gun barrel and a new system from a weapons ejection device according to the invention and two to four ground mines can be loaded via the fast charger. As a result, a large number of ground mines can be relocated comparatively quickly.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a submarine with a weapon barrel and a weapon ejection device according to the invention arranged in the weapon barrel.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the submarine on a gun barrel, an outer skin and arranged between the barrel and the outer skin prerun. By means of a weapons ejection device according to the invention basic mines from the gun barrel are ejected. The gun barrel has an upper guide rail, a lower guide rail and two lateral guide rails and the flow an upper guide rail of the flow, a lower guide rail of the flow and two lateral guide rails of the flow. The upper guide rail of the flow in the region of the outer skin has an upward pivoting. Advantage of this submarine is that a decoupling of the base mine from the basic mine ejecting push chain is easily possible. If the base mine is ejected and partly already reaches the free water in front of the submarine, the base mine is lowered by gravity at the front, the rear end can lift and thus release from the push chain.

Figur 1:

Schematischer Querschnitt durch zwei Waffenrohre mit zwei Waffenausstoßvorrichtungen

Figur 2:

Schematischer Querschnitt durch eine Waffenausstoßvorrichtung

Figur 3:

Ansicht vom Bodendeckel in das Waffenrohr mit der Waffenausstoßvorrichtung

The weapon ejection device according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1:

Schematic cross-section through two weapon tubes with two weapon ejection devices

FIG. 2:

Schematic cross section through a gun ejection device

FIG. 3:

View from the ground cover into the weapon barrel with the weapon ejector

In FIG. 1 two superposed weapon tubes 30 are shown in a schematic cross section. For simplicity, for example, muzzle flaps and outer skin flaps are not shown. In both weapon tubes 30 is in each case a Waffenausstoßvorrichtung 10. Im upper gun barrel 30 is the Waffenausstoßvorrichtung 10 in the storage position. In addition to the Waffenausstoßvorrichtung 10 are three basic mines 40 in the barrel. In the lower gun barrel 30, the weapon ejector 10 has just ejected the lead mines 40, the rearmost lead mine 40 is just leaving the gun barrel 30 and sinks to the seabed. The Waffenausstoßvorrichtung 10 consists of a front module 20 and a rear module 22. From the front module 20, the front push chain 50 can be extended with a front push rod 51 and from the rear module 22, the rear push chain 52 with a rear push rod 53. To the Push chains 50, 52 extend, the weapon ejector 10 has a motor 60, which via a supply line 66 (see FIG. 2 ) is operated. The supply line 66 can be received by the drum 62. As shown, the front module 20 includes the motor 60 and the rear module 22 the drum 62 with the supply line 66. This allows an optimal weight distribution of the modules can be achieved, so that the two modules 20, 22 by two people easily from the gun barrel 30th can be removed.

Between the gun barrel 30 and the outer skin 70 of the flow is arranged. The gun barrel is an upper guide rail 92, two lateral guide rails 90 and a lower guide rail 94. These guide rails are also in the flow as the upper guide rail of the flow 112, lateral guide rail of the flow 110 and as the lower guide rail of the flow 114 continues. The upper guide rail of the lead 112 has on the outer skin 70 side facing an upward pivoting. As can be clearly seen at the base mine 40 in the lower gun barrel 30, this upward pivoting causes the lead mine 40 to disengage from the clutch 54, as the base mine 40, due to its high specific gravity, descends after exiting the craft tilts and thereby raises something at the rear end. As a result, the base mine 40 is released from the coupling 54 of the front push rod 51.

At the bottom cover 32 end facing the rear push chain 52 has a rear push rod 53 and the rear push rod 53 an anchor 56. The anchoring 56 serves to support the rear push chain 52 for one, when the rear push chain 52 is extended, thus pushing the weapon ejector 10 through the gun barrel 30. To the the anchor 56 holds the end of the rear push chain 52 in position when retracted. As a result, the weapon ejector 10 is pulled back towards the bottom cover 32 when retracting the rear push chain 52.

To stabilize the weapon ejector 10, the front module 20 and the rear module 22 each have a horizontal stabilizer 100 which is above the side guide rails 90 in contact with the wall of the inner gun tube 35, as in FIG FIG. 3 can be seen more clearly.

In FIG. 2 the weapon ejector 10 is shown enlarged. It can also be seen well that the weapon barrel 30 shown here is constructed from an inner barrel 34 and an outer barrel 36. Such a construction is particularly advantageous for ejecting torpedoes from such a weapon barrel 30, since only a very small gap results between the torpedo and the wall of the inner weapon barrel 35, which corresponds to the thickness of the guide rails 90, 92, 94. Since this virtually no other components can be introduced into the inner barrel 34, it is necessary to use a Waffenausstoßvorrichtung invention 10, here in the example shown particularly preferred embodiment, when other weapons, such as mines to be ejected.

It can be clearly seen that the front push chain 50 can be mounted spirally in the front module 20 in a front push chain memory 24. This is because shear chains can only be deflected in one direction, since they are rigid in the other direction. Accordingly, the rear push chain 52 can be stored in the rear module 22 in a rear push chain memory 26 spirally.

The motor 60, which is preferably hydraulically driven, drives the transmission 64. The transmission 64 is connected to the drive gear of the push chains 120 via a chain or a toothed belt. The drive gear of the push chains 120 is divided into two and has a front gear 122 and a rear gear 124. By these gears 122, 124, on the one hand, the synchronous ejection of the thrust chains 50, 52 can be ensured. On the other hand is ensured by this simple construction, the reversal of the drive direction hiss the front module 20 and the rear module 22.

Next is in FIG. 2 to clearly see how the supply line 66 can be received by the drum 62 or discharged from it. The supply line 66 leads, for reasons of simplicity not shown connections in the barrel 30. Further, the anchorage 56 is clearly visible. This engages on the inner barrel 34 in the outer barrel 36 and thus allows the necessary fixation. Also, the coupling 54 and the connection of the coupling 54 with the base mine 40 is clearly visible. The base mine 40 is located from above in the coupling 54.

FIG. 3 shows the Waffenausstoßvorrichtung from the perspective of the bottom cover 32, the base mine 40 is visible in the background. Good to see is on the one hand, the anchor 56, which fixes the rear push chain 52 at the rear end of the gun barrel 30. The anchor 56 engages the outer barrel 36 and leans against the wall of the outer barrel 37. The shape is arcuate in this example, but can also be designed V-shaped. The upper guide rail 92 has a groove. This is usually used to hold a teat of a torpedo. The weapon ejector 10 preferably also engages in this groove of the upper guide rail 92 for stabilization. In addition, the weapon ejector 10 is stabilized by the horizontal stabilizer 100, which may have sliders 102 at the ends. These rest on the lateral guide rails 92 and nestle against the wall of the inner gun tube 35. As a result, a stabilization of the weapon ejection device 10 is possible without additional devices would have to be installed in the gun barrel 30.

To the rear module 22 with the (in FIG. 3 not visible) front module 20 is preferably a connecting element 130 is provided, which can be removed to separate the modules 20, 22.

Reference numerals:

10

Weapons ejector

20

front module

22

rear module

24

front push chain memory

26

rear push chain memory

30

barrel

32

bottom cover

34

inner barrel

35

Wall of the inner weapon barrel

36

outer barrel

37

Wall of the outer barrel

40

underground mine

50

front push chain

51

front push rod

52

rear push chain

53

rear push rod

54

clutch

56

anchoring

60

engine

62

drum

64

transmission

66

supply line

70

shell

80

leader

90

lateral guide rail

92

upper guide rail

94

lower guide rail

100

horizontal stabilization

102

skid

110

lateral guide rail of the flow

112

Upper guide rail of the flow

114

Lower guide rail of the flow

120

Drive gear of the push chains

122

front gear

124

rear gear

130

connecting element

Claims (10)

1. Weapon ejecting device (10), wherein the weapon ejecting device (10) is introducible in a weapon tube, wherein the weapon ejecting device (10) comprises at least one first push chain and at least one first push chain magazine, wherein the at least one first push chain can be extended along the longitudinal direction of the weapon tube from the at least one first push chain magazine of the weapon ejecting device (10), characterized in that the weapon ejecting device (10) comprises a first module and a second module, wherein the first module comprises the first push chain magazine and the second module comprises a second push chain magazine, wherein the first push chain can be extended from the first push chain magazine and a second push chain can be extended from the second push chain magazine, wherein the first push chain and the second push chain can be extended at the same time.
2. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first module can be connected to the second module and the first push chain and the second push chain can be extended in opposite directions along the longitudinal direction of the weapon tube (30).
3. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the first module comprises a motor (60) and a first gear wheel, wherein the second module comprises a second gear wheel, wherein the motor (60) drives the first gear wheel and the first gear wheel drives the second gear wheel.
4. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the first gear wheel drives the first push chain and the second gear wheel drives the second push chain.
5. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first push chain and the second push chain may be extended in the same directions along the longitudinal direction of the weapon tube (30).
6. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first module and the second module each have a maximum length of 1.2 m in the longitudinal direction and a weight of at most 50 kg.
7. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weapon ejecting device (10) comprises a motor (60) and the motor (60) is hydraulically or electrically driven.
8. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weapon ejecting device (10) comprises a drum (62) to hold a power supply line (66).
9. Weapon ejecting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weapon ejecting device (10) comprises a horizontal stabilization (100), wherein the horizontal stabilization (100) is designed so that it is in contact, above lateral guide rails (90) arranged in a weapon tube (30), with both the weapon tube (30) and the lateral guide rails (90).
10. Submarine with a weapon tube (30), an exterior skin (70), and a prelaunch section (80) arranged between the weapon tube (30) and the exterior skin (70), wherein bottom mines can be ejected from the weapon tube (30) by means of a weapon ejecting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the weapon tube (30) comprises a top guide rail (92), a bottom guide rail (94) and two lateral guide rails (90), wherein the prelaunch section (80) comprises a top guide rail of the prelaunch section (112), a bottom guide rail of the prelaunch section (114) and two lateral guide rails of the prelaunch section (110), characterized in that the top guide rail of the prelaunch section (112) has an upwardly directed swivel in the region of the exterior skin (70).

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