EP3546881B1 - Projectile with base igniter and marking charge - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a projectile, particularly in the medium caliber range, with a marking charge and a base primer.

Projectiles are known from the prior art, which are released from particular flying platforms. Here it is desirable that the point of impact can also be recognized from above (in the air). For this purpose, the point of impact is usually marked. This mark allows, if necessary, correction of subsequent shots. Since conventional ammunition generates a very large and very intense fireball when it hits the target, it is sometimes not possible to distinguish the point of impact of individual shots from each other.

HE grenades generally contain secondary explosives that are initiated by a separate fuse. This property makes the bullets expensive and increases the risk of duds and improper implementation with the associated consequences. In addition, high-explosive grenades are undesirable on training grounds.

Projectiles with pyrophoric or pyrotechnical charges, which are released, atomized and initiated purely by the target impact, cannot reliably mark the target or the impact in some cases, since the effect is covered, e.g. covered by sand or extinguished by it.

Color markings, such as from the EP 1 183 494 B1 known, are only visible to a limited extent.

From the DE 30 33 0641 C2 a grenade launcher training projectile is known. In order to achieve good marking in mud, puddles of water, swamp and snow, it is suggested eject the marker backwards out of the bullet. The marking is embedded in the center of the bullet as a signal charge. When the grenade is fired from the barrel, an impact fuze is released. On impact, this ignites the signal charge, which escapes backwards and in turn enables sufficient marking above the ground.

The DE 197 58 459 A1 shows a warhead with means for target marking. The tracer charge is a pyrotechnic charge that produces infrared radiation. The tracer projectile is ejected rearwardly from the warhead by initiating a first pyrotechnic charge. The disadvantage is that the marking is triggered by an ignition chain.

The GB 2 223 294 A discloses a training projectile having an impact fuze incorporated into the base of the projectile. This detonator comprises at least a magazine with a variable amount of explosive, a delay device and a pyrotechnic composition. When the projectile reaches the target, a firing pin strikes and sets off a fuse. This detonates the explosives in the magazine. The resulting energy is used to ignite the pyrotechnic composition.

The DE 10 2011 107 960 83 discloses an ammunition, particularly for training purposes, containing a charge which is preferably explosive in air. The projectile casing of the projectile body contains a centrally located cylindrical block with a charge space containing the charge. The outer periphery of the cylindrical block is surrounded annularly by a container with a marking substance. After the charge has been ignited, the pressure is applied to the marking container via pressure relief holes and this is dismantled together with the projectile casing. The marking substance is thereby discharged from the body of the bullet.

The US 3,810,426A discloses a practice projectile for training purposes. Starting from the task of using explosive or other forms of chemical charges which are ignited on impact of a projectile to provide a cloud of smoke or a flash of fire. As a disadvantage it is said that such projectiles have an inherent risk of injury etc. during manufacture, storage, handling or firing. It is therefore proposed to integrate flashlights as signaling means, which are fed by a battery after an impact.

The object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages known from the prior art.

The object is solved by the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous designs are listed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of demonstrating a projectile with a base primer and a marking charge, as a result of which an ignition chain with explosives can be dispensed with. According to the invention, the projectile comprises a pyrotechnic marking charge, which is initiated by an ignition chain in the base igniter. Due to the resulting gases and the pressure, the base lighter is pushed backwards out of the projectile. The unfolding tracer charge (the reaction) also exits the bullet to the rear, creating an optimal tracer dot that can also be seen from the air.

The marking charge reliably marks the target on soft as well as on hard, wet and sandy soils or targets and also with flat impact angles. This enables the pilot or gunner to correct the aiming point based on the landing flash.

The marking charge preferably comprises a charge in the IR range as well as in the visible range, so that the target marking effect can be seen both in the IR range and in the range visible to the eye. Other possibilities are not excluded.

The pyrotechnic tracer charge is located in the body of the projectile. If the projectile hits the target, a ballistic cap of the projectile is mechanically destroyed by the target impact. The rest of the projectile is now decelerated by the target material. Due to the delay, the ignition chain initiates the pyrotechnic marking charge in the body of the projectile. The resulting pressure between the body of the projectile and the base igniter causes the base igniter to be ejected. The pyrotechnic reaction works against the direction of the shot and reliably marks the point of impact (target) in the form of a flash, regardless of the nature of the ground.

The ignition chain is preferably mechanical. During the deceleration, for example, an ignition pin can preferably move axially in the base igniter. This movement then initiates, for example, an ignition capsule. The firing pin can be moved in that a safety element releases the firing pin when the bullet is fired, preferably as a result of the spin of the projectile, thus enabling the necessary degrees of freedom for the firing pin.

A projectile is therefore proposed, in particular in the medium-caliber range, with a projectile body and a marking charge, the marking landing being a pyrotechnic marking charge. The projectile has a base igniter in which an ignition chain is arranged. After the pyrotechnical marking charge has been initiated by the ignition chain, the base primer is ejected from the rear of the projectile body, so that the marking charge is discharged at the rear of the projectile in the opposite direction to the firing direction. The intended pyrotechnic marking charge is characterized by a composition that is effective in the IR range and in the visible range, but is not limited to these.

With this marking, the reliability can be significantly increased compared to other projectiles with explosives and a fuse chain. Since the pyrotechnic marking charge is always initiated via the ignition chain, the size and intensity of the pyrotechnic target marking are independent of the impact speed and the target material and are therefore constant. The principle is also functional at least up to an angle of 77° (NATO).

The use of a mechanical or pyro-mechanical ignition chain allows a simple mechanical securing of the ignition chain in the ground lighter. In the case of ignition chains in detonators, this effort is significantly higher due to higher safety requirements. There are no primary and secondary explosives (substances capable of detonation), detonators, detonator components and detonating chains. The latter require a considerable amount of qualification, especially for flying platforms (helicopters, planes). Since the pyrotechnical marking charge is also ignited if it hits the target at low speed (eg 15 m/s), duds can be ruled out. The disposal of the ammunition is also easier. Handling safety is also increased. By using an ignition chain, the structure of the base igniter is less extensive than when using an ignition chain in a fuze, which makes the ammunition more economical.

The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with a drawing.

The only figure shows a projectile 10 with a pyrotechnic marking charge 2, which is arranged in the projectile body 3 of the projectile 10. The projectile 10 has a base igniter 4, which is also arranged in the projectile body 3 and this preferably closes off the base. The base lighter 4 includes an ignition chain 5. In this embodiment, the ignition chain 5 is constructed mechanically or pyromechanically. In a simple embodiment, the ignition chain 5 can be formed by an ignition pin and an ignition capsule. In principle, the ignition chain can also be constructed electrically, electronically or electromechanically. The ignition chain 5 can be secured by a securing element 7 inside the base lighter 4 . The projectile has a ballistic cap 8 at the front.

The marking charge 2 comprises a pyrotechnic composition which is effective in the IR range and/or in the visible range. How it works is as follows:
The securing element 7 preferably secures the first element of the ignition chain 5 in the base igniter 4 and secures it against improper implementation/triggering within the base igniter 4 during, for example, storage, transport, handling or feeding the ammunition into the weapon. The ignition chain 5 is released by the securing element 7 preferably after the projectile 10 has been fired. The spin of the bullet can be used for this purpose, but also the impact of the bullet 10 on the target.

If the projectile 10 hits a target (ground) that is not shown in more detail, the ballistic cap 8 is destroyed purely mechanically by the target impact. The target material (e.g. sand, wet sand, concrete) decelerates the projectile 10. During this deceleration, the ignition chain 5 released by the safety element 7 can convert or trigger. The implementation/triggering of the ignition chain 5 ignites the pyrotechnic marking charge 2 in the projectile body 3. The resulting pressure between the projectile body 3 and the base igniter 4 pushes the base igniter 4 at the rear 9 out of the projectile 10. The pyrotechnic reaction (the marking charge 2) also works against the direction of the shot and marks the target point or the target impact.

Claims (4)

1. A projectile (10), in particular in the medium-caliber range, having a projectile body (3), a pyrotechnic marking charge (2) and a base igniter (4) with ignition chain (5), characterized in that the projectile is configured in such a way that, after initiation of the pyrotechnic marking charge (2), the base igniter (4) is ejected from the rear (9) of the projectile body, so that the pyrotechnic marking charge (2) is discharged at the rear of the projectile counter to the direction of firing.
2. The projectile (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ignition chain (5) is of mechanical, pyro-mechanical, electrical, electronic or electro-mechanical construction.
3. The projectile (10) according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the pyrotechnic marking charge (2) comprises a composition that acts in the IR range as well as in the visually perceptible range.
4. The projectile (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ignition chain (5) can be secured at least by a securing element (7).

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