WO2009095544A1

WO2009095544A1 - Arrangement for supporting shell into breech-loading weapon barrel

Info

Publication number: WO2009095544A1
Application number: PCT/FI2009/050082
Authority: WO
Inventors: Samppa Astikainen; Pekka Niemi; Mika Kuusela; Kalevi Yli-Paavola
Original assignee: Patria Land & Armament Oy
Priority date: 2008-01-31
Filing date: 2009-01-30
Publication date: 2009-08-06
Also published as: FI20085079L; FI20085079A0

Abstract

An arrangement for supporting a shell (1) into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon, the arrangement comprising a support piece (4) provided with a rim flange (15) and fastened in connection with the tail of the shell (1) with a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1). In addition, a method of fastening a support piece (4) to a shell (1).

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR SUPPORTING SHELL INTO BREECH-LOADING WEAPON

BARREL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon, the arrangement comprising a support piece that is provided with a rim flange and is to be fastened in connection with the tail of the shell.

[0002] The invention further relates to a method of fastening a support piece to a shell, the method comprising fastening the support piece provided with a rim flange in connection with the tail of the shell.

[0003] Mortars are nowadays mounted on movable bases, allowing them to be moved from one place to another and, correspondingly, allowing them to be rapidly moved from the emplacement. A problem in such solutions is the ability of said base, i.e. vehicle, to defend itself against possible attacks, and the use of the vehicle for destroying close-range targets on the ground. A moving base provided with a heavy mortar is normally unable to carry heavy defensive facilities in addition to the mortar, instead, it is at most provided with a heavy machine gun or corresponding lighter armature. In such a situation, it is necessary to be able to use the mortar also for firing in the horizontal plane or even below it, for which normal mortar shells and mortars are not suited. In the case of a normal mortar having a smooth barrel, the barrel of the mortar being oriented in the horizontal direction or below it, a shell in the barrel is able to move in the barrel in such a manner that it either falls from the barrel or moves forward in the barrel to such an extent the firing pin of the mortar no longer hits the shell, and the shell does not go off. A solution to this problem is described in US publication 5 503 080, disclosing a control and fastening piece to be fastened to the tail of a conventional shell by means of a friction-based clip bond. However, such a friction-based bond is not as such very dependable and, in addition, the tolerances of both the manufacture of the shell and the manufacture of the control and fastening pieces cause variations in the fastening force and the stability.

[0004] WO application Fl 98/00064 presents a solution, wherein a support piece provided with a rim flange is fastened to the tail of a conventional shell by means of a mechanical locking. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a new type of arrangement for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon.

[0006] The arrangement of the invention is characterized in that the support piece is fastened in connection with the tail of the shell with a massive material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge of the shell.

[0007] The method of the invention is characterized by fastening the support piece in connection with the tail of the shell with a massive material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge of the shell.

[0008] The arrangement for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon comprises a support piece that is provided with a rim flange and is to be fastened in connection with the tail of the shell and fastened in connection with the tail of the shell with a massive material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge of the shell.

[0009] The fastening of the support piece in connection with the tail of the shell with a massive material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge of the shell, thus breaking the fastening between the shell and the support piece, enables the simple and relatively inexpensive implementation of the fastening between the support piece and the shell, thanks to which fastening the shell can be supported in position into the weapon barrel, the barrel being oriented also horizontally or even below the horizontal plane. The features of the massive material are preferably selected such that it burns, melts or disintegrates entirely without leaving any residues in the shell, the weapon barrel or the charge chamber.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the arrangement comprises a fastening piece arranged to fasten the support piece in connection with the tail of the shell, and that said fastening piece or part thereof is produced from a massive material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge of the shell.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the fastening piece com- prises a shoulder to be arranged between the tail tube of the shell and the fastening element of the primer of the basic charge of the shell for fastening said fastening piece, and through it, the support piece in connection with the tail of the shell, and that at least said shoulder of the fastening piece is produced from a massive material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge of the shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] In the following, some embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of a shell and a support piece arranged in connection with the tail thereof,

Figure 2 schematically shows a side view in partial cross-section of an arrangement for supporting a shell,

Figure 3 schematically shows a side view in partial cross-section of another arrangement for supporting a shell, and

Figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of a third arrangement for supporting a shell.

[0013] In the figures, some embodiments of the invention are shown in a simplified manner for the sake of clarity. In the figures, like parts are denoted with like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of a shell 1 of a mortar, known per se, having a tail tube 2. The end of the tail tube 2 is provided with fins 3 for controlling the flight of the shell. In connection with the tail tube 2, a support piece 4, shown in more detail in Figure 2, for example, is arranged, via which the shell 1 can be supported into the barrel of the mortar in such a manner that the shell 1 cannot move in the mortar barrel, even if the barrel were directed horizontally or even obliquely downwards below the horizontal plane. The general structure and operational principle of shell mortars and shells are known per se to a person skilled in the art, and they do not therefore have to be dealt with in any more detail in this context.

[0015] Figure 2 schematically shows a side view in partial cross- section of an arrangement for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech- loading weapon. For the sake of clarity, Figure 2 does not show said weapon or the barrel thereof. Inside the tail tube 2 of the shell 1 is a basic charge 5, by means of which the shell 1 is fired out of the barrel of the weapon, i.e. the shell mortar. For firing the basic charge 5, inside the tail tube 2 is a primer 6 mounted fixedly to the tail tube 2 by means of a separate fastening element 7. The fastening element 7 usually comprises threads, not shown in the figure, by means of which the fastening element 7 of the primer 6 is fastened to the tail tube 2. Normally, when shells are fired with a shell mortar, the firing pin of the shell mortar hits the primer 6, which makes the basic charge 5 fire, throwing the shell out of the barrel of the mortar.

[0016] Figure 2 further shows a support piece 4 to be fastened in connection with the tail 2 of the shell 1 , the support piece 4 supporting the shell 1 into the barrel of the shell mortar such that the shell 1 cannot move in the barrel of the mortar, even if the barrel were directed horizontally or even obliquely downwards below the horizontal plane. The support piece 4 resembles a short case base and has a cylindrical control rim 8 extending around the fins 3 of the shell 1 such that when the shell 1 is in the weapon barrel, the shell 1 settles substantially straight and centrally in the direction of the barrel.

[0017] The support piece 4 further comprises a sleeve part 9 substantially centrally relative to the support piece 4 or a fulcrum 9 placed around the centre of the support piece 4 and dimensioned in such a manner that when the support piece 4 is fastened to the tail of the shell 1 , the end of the fulcrum 9 preferably extends up to the fastening element 7 of the primer 6.

[0018] The support piece 4 further comprises a rim flange 10 that settles at the level of the rear surface of the weapon barrel, keeping the shell 1 in the right position in the barrel irrespective of the position of the barrel, while the control rim 8 of the support piece 4 seals the weapon barrel. The support piece 4 further comprises a firing member 11 , which in the embodiment shown in the figure comprises an intermediate firing pin 11 a and an electric primer 11 b. The intermediate firing pin 11 a is normally kept in position by a separate closing plate or a corresponding locking member 12 preventing the intermediate firing pin 11a from moving, but after the electric primer 11 b goes off, yields to an extent letting the intermediate firing pin 11 a hit the primer 6 of the shell 1 and thus fire the basic charge 5 of the shell 1. Instead of an electric primer, a conventional primer may naturally be used, which the firing pin of the weapon hits upon firing, thus firing the primer 6 of the basic charge 5 of the shell 1 via the intermediate firing pin. [0019] The support piece 4 is fastened in connection with the tail of the shell 1 by means of a fastening piece 13 or a fastening sleeve 13. The fulcrum 9 of the support piece 4 has a thread 14 and the fastening piece 13 has a thread 15 corresponding to the thread 14 of the fulcrum 9, the fulcrum 9 of the support piece 4 and the fastening piece 13 being fastened to one another by means of the threads 14 and 15. The fastening piece 13 further comprises a shoulder 16 at the end facing the tail tube 2, the shoulder extending between the fastening element 7 of the primer 6 of the basic charge 5 and the tail tube 2, said fastening piece 13 fastening the support piece 4 in connection with the tail of the shell 1.

[0020] In the solution of Figure 2, the fastening piece 13 may be manufacture entirely or partly, e.g. as regards the shoulder 16, from a material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates or at least some parts of which burn, melt or disintegrate by the action of the firing pressure and/or the heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge 5 upon firing of the shell 1 in such a manner that the fastening between the support piece 4 and the shell 1 disappears upon firing of the shell 1. As regards the fastening force and fastening durability required between the support piece 4 and the shell 1 , the properties of the material are selected such that when the support piece 4 is fastened to the shell 1 , the shell 1 is unable to be detached from the support piece 4 during normal handling, storage, transfer, transport or charging to a weapon of the shell 1 , but as regards the part affecting said fastening, said material burns, melts or disintegrates as a result of the firing pressure and/or the heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge 5. Consequently, the material may comprise one or more pyrotechnic materials, for example. Since in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the fastening piece 13 is either entirely or partly made from a material that burns, melts or disintegrates in connection with the firing of the shell 1 , then, at least in the embodiment according to Figure 2, the material has to endure also machining, processing and intensive tightening.

[0021] Consequently, the material of the entire fastening piece 13 or the shoulder 16 thereof, for example, may be compressed smokeless gunpowder either as a homogeneous mass or as a reinforced composite material. The reinforced material may be a fibre suitable for the purpose, which may be a cellulose, cotton or wood fibre, for example, or alternatively steel, aluminium or magnesium wool either exclusively or together in combination with the former or other fibres, the purpose being that this pyrotechnic massive material with its reinforcement fibres burns off upon firing of the shell 1 without leaving foreign objects or matter in the shell, weapon barrel or weapon charge chamber. Instead of gunpowder, other pyrotechnic massive materials may be used that can be processed suitable for the purpose, i.e. to fasten the support piece 4 and the shell 1 to one another. The fibre reinforcement serves to provide the structure with sufficient strength for enduring mechanical stresses, to which the shell is subjected during storage, charging, transport and loading to a weapon. The reinforcement fibre does not have to be pyrotechnically burning, per se, as long as it disappears in connection with the charging. To improve storage durability, the structure may further be coated for instance with a thin metal foil, preferably aluminium, but other material, suitable for the purpose, may be used, such as lacquer or the like coating, for example.

[0022] Figure 3 schematically shows a side view in partial cross- section of another arrangement for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon. For the sake of clarity, Figure 3 does not show said weapon or the barrel thereof. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is mainly similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, but differs from the embodiment of Figure 2 as regards the structure of the fastening piece 13 or the fastening sleeve 13. The fastening piece 13 shown in Figure 3 has no special shoulder 16 extending between the fastening element 7 of the primer 6 of the basic charge 5 and the tail tube 2, but a support surface 17 at that end of the fastening piece 13 which settles around the fastening element 7 of the primer 6, the support surface 17 serving to support the support piece 4 to the shell 1. The end facing towards the support piece 4 of the fastening piece 13 has at least one pin 18, but preferably as many pins 18 as the shell 1 has fins 3. Said pins may be machined to the fastening element 13 or fastened thereto in other manners, e.g. by welding. This being so, the support piece 4 may be fastened in connection with the tail of the shell 1 by arranging said burning, melting or otherwise disintegrating massive material in the form of a fastening loop 19 and by winding said fastening material loop 19 to pass around one or more pins 18 and a front edge 20 of one or more fins 3, thus fastening the support piece 4 in connection with the tail of the shell 1. When desired, the mechanical fastening between the fastening loop 19 and the front edge 20 of the fin 3 may be secured by arranging an adhesive layer, for example, between the fastening loop 19 and the front edge 20 of the fin 3. [0023] In addition to the previously described, the pyrotechnical massive material may also be a mass of type Pre-Preg. Pre-Preg refers to such a carbon fibre fabric pre-impregnated with a binder, for instance heat- setting resin, at least one surface of which is covered with a protective film for facilitating handling. When a mass of type Pre-Preg is used, the reinforcement material fabric, roving or cord-like fabric is impregnated with such a pyrotechnical material that can be shaped fresh, so to say, in the same manner as a wetted fabric, at suitable points over the tail structure of the shell 1 , and which, when hardening, adheres to or is separately glued to the desired points, forming a fastening point/points for the support piece 4. The use of such pyrotechnical massive material is well suitable particularly for implementing the embodiment according to Figure 3, for example.

[0024] The above list of the shapes or properties of a pyrotechnical massive material or another at least partly burning, melting or disintegrating material is not exhaustive. Accordingly, for fastening purposes, another flexible structure or material can be used, which may be shaped into the desired shape. Thus, for instance a structure may be used wherein burning material is placed inside a flexible hose or tubular object made from a melting material in the shape of a structure resembling a priming wire.

[0025] Figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of an arrangement for supporting a shell into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon. For the sake of clarity, Figure 4 does not show said weapon or the barrel thereof. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the cylindrical control rim 8 of the support piece 4 is arranged around the fins 3 of the shell 1. Pyrotechnic or burning massive material 22 or melting massive material 22 or disintegrating massive material 22 is arranged in one or more spaces 21 remaining between the fins 3, the material being in an originally mouldable form, but when hardening, adheres to the surfaces of the inside of an end 23 of the support piece 4 and to the surfaces of the inside of the control rim 8 and to the fins 3 of the shell 1 , thus fastening the support piece 4 in connection with the tail of the shell 1 , but which, by the action of the pressure and/or the heat generated in connection with the firing of the basic charge 5 of the shell 1 , at least partly burns, melts or otherwise disintegrates, breaking the fastening between the shell 1 and the support piece 4. To reinforce the fastening of the massive material 22, holes 24 or recesses, for example, may be provided in the fins 3, to which the mas- sive material 22 may adhere and thus provide also a mechanical fastening between the mass 22 and the fins 3.

[0026] By fastening the support piece 4 in connection with the tail of the shell 1 with a massive material that at least partly burns, melts or otherwise disintegrates by the action of the charging pressure and/or the heat generated by the firing of the basic charge of the shell 1 , thus breaking the fastening between the shell 1 and the support piece 4, the fastening between the support piece 4 and the shell 1 can be implemented in a simple and relatively inexpensive manner, thanks to which the shell 1 , in turn, can be supported in position into the barrel of the weapon. Preferably, the properties of the massive material or mass are selected such that it burns, melts or disintegrates entirely without leaving any residue in the shell, the weapon barrel or the charge chamber.

[0027] In some cases, the features presented in the present application may be used as such, irrespective of other features. On the other hand, if need be, the features presented in the present application may be combined for generating various combinations.

[0028] The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. The details of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the figures show only one feasible structure of the support piece 4, but it is to be noted that the structure of the support piece may vary in a plurality of ways in a manner allowing the support piece to be fastened in connection with the tail of a shell with a massive material that at least partly burns, melts of otherwise disintegrates by the action of the charging pressure and/or the heat generated upon firing of the basic charge of the shell.

Claims

1. An arrangement for supporting a shell (1) into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon, the arrangement comprising a support piece (4) that is provided with a rim flange (10) and is to be fastened in connection with the tail of the shell (1), characterized in that that the support piece (4) is fastened in connection with the tail of the shell (1) with a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim ^ characterized in that the arrangement further comprises a fastening piece (13) arranged to fasten the support piece (4) in connection with the tail of the shell (1), and that said fastening piece (13) or part thereof is produced from a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the support piece (4) is provided with a fulcrum (9) having a thread (14) and that the fastening piece (13) has a thread (15) corresponding to the thread in the fulcrum (9) of the support piece (4), and that the support piece (4) and the fastening piece (13) are fastened to one another by means of said threads (14, 15).

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fastening piece (13) comprises a shoulder (16) to be arranged between the tail tube (2) of the shell (1) and the fastening element (7) of the primer (6) of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1) for fastening said fastening piece (13) and, through it, the support piece (4) in connection with the tail of the shell (1), and that at least said shoulder (16) of the fastening piece (13) is produced from a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim ^ characterized in that the arrangement further comprises a fastening piece (13) arranged to be fastened to a fulcrum (9) in the support piece (4) and that said fastening piece (13) and, through it, the support piece (4) are arranged to be fastened in con- nection with the tail of the shell (1) with a fastening between the fastening piece (13) and the tail of the shell (1), the fastening at least partly comprising a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the end of the fastening piece (13) oriented in the direction of the support piece (4) is provided with one or more pins (18), and that the fastening piece (13) and, through it, the support piece (4) are fastened in connection with the tail of the shell (1) with a fastening loop (19) encircling at least one pin and the front edge of at least one fin (3) of the shell (1 ), the loop at least partly comprising a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim ^ characterized in that the support piece (4) is fastened in connection with the tail of the shell (1) with a massive material (22) that is arranged in one or more spaces (21) defined by the fins (3) of the shell (1), the tail tube (2) of the shell (1), the inner surface of the end (23) of the support piece (4) and the inner surface of the control rim (8) of the support piece (4) and is originally in a mouldable form, but when hardening, produces a bond to the fins (3) of the shell (1), the tail tube (2) of the shell (1), the inner surface of the end (23) of the support piece (4) and the inner surface of the control rim (8) of the support piece (4), the material at least partly comprising material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1 ).

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the massive material (22) comprises a pyrotechnic material.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the pyrotechnic material is compressed smokeless gunpowder.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the massive material (22) comprises a reinforcement material, such as cellulose, cotton or wood fibres, steel, aluminium or magnesium wool or fabric, roving or a cord-like fabric.

11. A method of fastening a support piece (4) to a shell (1), the method comprising fastening the support piece (4) provided with a rim flange (10) in connection with the tail of the shell (1), characterized by fastening the support piece (4) in connection with the tail of the shell (1) with a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, characterized by fastening the support piece (4) in connection with the tail of the shell (1) with a fastening piece (13), which is at least partly or entirely produced form a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the support piece (4) is provided with a fulcrum (9) having a thread (14) and that the fastening piece (13) has a thread (15) corresponding to the thread in the fulcrum (9) of the support piece (4), and that the support piece (4) and the fastening piece (13) are fastened to one another by means of said threads (14, 15) by threading the support piece (4) and the fastening piece (13) relative to one another.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the fastening piece (13) comprises a shoulder (16), the shoulder (16) being produced from a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1), and that said shoulder (16) is arranged between the tail tube (2) of the shell (1) and the fastening element (7) of the primer (6) of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1) for fastening the support piece (4) in connection with the tail of the shell (1 ) by means of the fastening piece (13).

15. A method as claimed in claim 11, characterized by fastening the fastening piece (13) to the support piece (4), and fastening the support piece (4) in connection with the tail of the shell (1 ) by means of a fastening between the fastening piece (13) and the tail of the shell (1), the fastening at least partly comprising a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1 ).

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the end of the fastening piece (13) oriented in the direction of the support piece (4) is provided with one or more pins (18), and that the fastening piece (13) and, through it, the support piece (4) are fastened in connection with the tail of the shell (1) by winding at least one fastening loop (19) around at least one pin

(18) and the front edge of at least one fin (3) of the shell (1 ), the fastening loop

(19) at least partly comprising a massive material (22) that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1 ).

17. A method as claimed in claim 11, characterized by fastening the support piece (4) in connection with the tail of the shell (1) by arranging a massive material (22) in one or more spaces (21) defined by the fins (3) of the shell (1), the tail tube (2) of the shell (1), the inner surface of an end (23) of the support piece (4) and the inner surface of the control rim (8) of the support piece (4), the material being originally in a mouldable form, but when hardening, produces a bond to the fins (3) of the shell (1), the tail tube (2) of the shell (1), the inner surface of the end (23) of the support piece (4) and the inner surface of the control rim (8) of the support piece (4), the material at least partly comprising material that at least partly burns, melts or disintegrates by the action of pressure and/or heat generated as the result of the firing of the basic charge (5) of the shell (1).

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 17, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the massive material (22) comprises a pyrotechnic material.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the pyrotechnic material is compressed smokeless gunpowder.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 19, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the massive material (22) comprises a reinforcement material, such as cellulose, cotton or wood fibres, steel, aluminium or magnesium wool or fabric, roving or a cord-like fabric.