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DE-102024133222-A1 - Pipe brake with a heat compensation piston

DE102024133222A1DE 102024133222 A1DE102024133222 A1DE 102024133222A1DE-102024133222-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe brake (1) with a brake cylinder (2) and with a heat compensation chamber (7), wherein a hydraulic medium (8) and a heat compensation piston (9) are slidably arranged in the heat compensation chamber (7), wherein a piston rod (10) is connected to the heat compensation piston (9), wherein the fill level of the hydraulic medium (8) can be measured based on the position of the piston rod (10), and wherein the heat compensation piston (9) and/or the piston rod (10) is/are preloaded against the pressure of the hydraulic medium (8) by a spring means (16). The control of the fill level is improved by the fact that at least one sensor (12) is provided, wherein the position of the piston rod (10) can be measured by means of the at least one sensor (12).

Inventors

  • Rüdiger Borchert
  • Klaus Hense
  • Robert Frank
  • Weitere(r) Erfinder auf Antrag nicht genannt.

Assignees

  • RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241113

Claims (15)

  1. Pipe brake (1) with a brake cylinder (2) and with a heat compensation chamber (7), wherein a hydraulic medium (8) and a heat compensation piston (9) are slidably arranged in the heat compensation chamber (7), wherein a piston rod (10) is connected to the heat compensation piston (9), wherein the fill level of the hydraulic medium (8) can be measured based on the position of the piston rod (10), wherein the heat compensation piston (9) and/or the piston rod (10) is/are preloaded against the pressure of the hydraulic medium (8) by means of a spring (16), characterized in that at least one sensor (12) is provided, wherein the position of the piston rod (10) can be measured by means of the at least one sensor (12).
  2. Pipe brake after Claim 1 , characterized in that the piston rod (10) has a first region (13) with a first diameter, a second region (14) with a second diameter and a third region (15) with a third diameter, wherein the first region (13) is axially adjacent to the second region (14) and the second region (14) is axially adjacent to the third region (15), wherein the second diameter is different from the first and third diameters.
  3. Pipe brake after Claim 2 , characterized in that the axial length and the position of the second area (14) are selected such that there is no overfilling and no underfilling when the sensor (12) detects the second area.
  4. Pipe brake after Claim 1 , characterized in that the diameter of the piston rod (10) varies continuously over the length in a certain area, in particular increasing linearly.
  5. Pipe brake according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several sensors (12) are arranged near the piston rod (10) to determine the position of the piston rod (10).
  6. Pipe brake according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multiple sensors (12) are arranged at different axial positions and preferably one of the sensors (12) serves to detect an overfill and another sensor (12) serves to detect an underfill.
  7. Pipe brake according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston rod (10) has a scale, wherein the position of the scale can be measured by means of the at least one sensor (12).
  8. Pipe brake according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (12) is designed as a magnetic position sensor, in particular as a Hall sensor or a magnetoresistive sensor, wherein a magnet is attached to the piston rod (10) or the piston rod (10) is magnetically formed.
  9. Pipe brake according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one sensor (12) is designed as an inductive displacement sensor with a coil, wherein a metallic core, which is connected to the piston rod (10) or is part of the piston rod (10), changes the inductance in the coil when the piston rod (10) is moved.
  10. Pipe brake according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston rod (10) protrudes from an outer wall (11) of the pipe brake (1).
  11. Method for determining the fill level in a heat compensation chamber (7) of a pipe brake (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a hydraulic medium (8) is arranged in the heat compensation chamber (7) and a heat compensation piston (9) is displaced by the hydraulic medium (8) when the fill level changes, wherein a piston rod (10) connected to the heat compensation piston (9) is provided and the fill level of the hydraulic medium (8) is measured based on the position of the piston rod (10), characterized in that the position of the piston rod (10) is measured by means of at least one sensor (12).
  12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a signal from the at least one sensor (12) is fed to a data processing system.
  13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is determined from the sensor data.
  14. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that an adjustment of the weapon control is carried out depending on the determined temperature, wherein a firing release, an adjustment of the cadence, guide values and/or a fuze programming is carried out or adjusted depending on the determined temperature.
  15. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a prediction method for determining the future position of the piston rod (10) during further firing is carried out by means of the data processing system.

Description

The invention relates to a pipe brake with the features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates to a pipe brake with a brake cylinder and with a heat compensation chamber, wherein a hydraulic medium and a heat compensation piston are slidably arranged in the heat compensation chamber, wherein a piston rod is connected to the heat compensation piston, wherein the fill level of the hydraulic medium can be measured based on the position of the piston rod, and wherein the heat compensation piston and/or the piston rod are/is pre-tensioned against the pressure of the hydraulic medium by a spring. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for determining the fill level of such a pipe brake, with the features of the preamble of claim 11, wherein a hydraulic medium is arranged in a heat compensation chamber and a heat compensation piston is displaced by the hydraulic medium when the fill level changes, wherein a piston rod connected to the piston is present and the fill level of the hydraulic medium is measured on the basis of the position of the piston rod. A recoil brake in a weapon system, such as an artillery piece or tank gun, is a central component of a recoil system and serves to dampen the recoil energy caused by firing. This recoil damping reduces the stress on the system. The brake cylinder is the core component of the recoil brake and usually consists of a robust, high-strength steel cylinder that withstands the high pressure and stress of recoil. The brake cylinder is filled with a hydraulic fluid, usually hydraulic oil, which absorbs the energy of the recoil. Inside the recoil cylinder, a brake piston is located in a brake chamber and connected to the barrel via a piston rod. When the weapon is fired, the recoil either pushes the brake piston into the cylinder or pulls it through the cylinder against the resistance of the hydraulic fluid. This fluid is forced through small openings and channels, creating resistance that dampens the recoil. This resistance ensures a controlled deceleration of the barrel's recoil. It is known to equip the recoil brake with a heat compensation chamber, which is specifically designed to absorb and dissipate the heat generated by the recoil. The firing motion heats the hydraulic fluid, causing it to expand. This thermal expansion chamber is either directly connected to the hydraulic system, is part of the brake cylinder, or provides additional space into which the hydraulic fluid can expand when heated, allowing the fluid level to be measured. The thermal expansion chamber can, for example, be fluidically connected to the brake cylinder via a restrictor, thus keeping the high pressures away from the chamber. Inside the thermal expansion chamber is a sliding thermal compensation piston that compensates for the volume changes of the hydraulic fluid. This piston reacts to the expansion of the hydraulic fluid when the temperature rises and moves accordingly within the heat compensation chamber. This stabilizes the pressure in the hydraulic system and prevents system overload. A piston rod is connected to the heat compensation piston and protrudes from the outer wall, i.e., the pipe brake. This piston rod moves according to the position of the heat compensation piston. The piston rod acts as a kind of "indicator" for the hydraulic fluid level, as its position directly correlates with the volume of hydraulic fluid in the system. A simple reading of the piston rod's position allows for a quick assessment of the current hydraulic fluid level. Since the piston rod of the thermal expansion piston protrudes from the outer wall, the hydraulic fluid level can be easily read by observing its position. The further the piston rod protrudes, the greater the volume of hydraulic fluid in the thermal expansion chamber. The piston rod allows for quick and precise monitoring of the hydraulic fluid level, ensuring easy maintenance and timely refilling. From the DE 37 28 533 A1 A tubular brake of this type is known, comprising a brake cylinder in which a control bushing is inserted flush with its inner wall. The brake cylinder is closed at the front by a screwed-in end nut, which has a through-bore that is closed by an oil filling valve. The control bushing is supported at the front by the end nut and has at least one axial control groove extending substantially along its length. Within the control bushing, A piston is guided in a sliding manner, its hollow piston rod connected to the breech of the weapon. Between the piston rod and the control bushing or brake cylinder is a brake chamber, which is connected via the control groove to a compensating chamber located between the end nut and the piston. During firing, the piston rod is retracted by the breech, creating hydraulic pressure in the brake chamber. Most of the hydraulic fluid in the brake chamber flows through the control groove of the control bushing into the compensating chamber in front of the piston. This continuously dec