US-12618651-B2 - Short-range projectile

US12618651B2US 12618651 B2US12618651 B2US 12618651B2US-12618651-B2

Abstract

A projectile for short firing ranges includes as a cylinder with a nose having a substantially flat surface arranged with a threaded socket allowing for the arrangement of, for example, a fuze a rear section designed with a substantially flat surface, as well as a projectile body arranged with energetic material enclosed by a casing.

Inventors

Anders Hagberg
Christer Thuman

Assignees

BAE SYSTEMS BOFORS AB

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20210504
Priority Date: 20200522

Claims (9)

1 . A projectile for short firing ranges, comprising: a cylindrical projectile body, the projectile body having a forward end and a rear end, the forward end and the rear end being identical in cross-section; a nose at the forward end of the projectile body, the nose having a flat section centered along a longitudinal axis of the nose that includes a threaded socket arranged with a fuze; a rear section at the rear end of the projectile body; the projectile body including an energetic material surrounded by a casing; the nose further having a convexity or concavity, wherein a height of the convexity or the concavity measured along the longitudinal axis of the nose is less than 15% of a maximum diameter of the projectile, and wherein the nose is at least partially exposed behind the fuze and the nose is configured to create an increase in air resistance.
2 . The projectile for short firing ranges according to claim 1 , wherein the height of the convexity or concavity is less than 20 mm.
3 . The projectile for short firing ranges according to claim 1 , wherein the projectile includes a belt or a sealing ring.
4 . A projectile for short firing ranges, comprising: a cylindrical projectile body, the projectile body having a forward end and a rear end, the forward end and the rear end being identical in cross-section; a nose at the forward end of the projectile body, the nose having a convex surface and a flat surface, said flat surface arranged with a threaded socket arranged with a fuze; a rear section at the rear end of the projectile body; the projectile body including an energetic material surrounded by a casing; the convex surface of the nose having a convexity centered along a longitudinal axis of the nose and surrounding the flat surface, a height of the convexity measured along the longitudinal axis of the nose being less than 15% of a maximum diameter of the projectile, and wherein the nose is at least partially exposed behind the fuse and the nose is configured to create an increase in air resistance.
5 . A projectile for short firing ranges, comprising: a cylindrical projectile body, the projectile body having a forward end and a rear end, the forward end and the rear end being identical in cross-section; a nose at the forward end, the nose having a threaded socket arranged with a fuze wherein the nose has a flat section and a convex section, wherein a height of the convexity being less than 15% of a maximum diameter of the projectile; a concave rear section at the rear end, the projectile body including an energetic material surrounded by a casing, the concave rear surface having a concavity centered along a longitudinal axis of the concave rear surface, a height of the concavity measured along the longitudinal axis of the concave rear surface being less than 15% of a maximum diameter of the projectile, wherein the concave rear section is sized to match the convexity of the nose section, and wherein the nose is at least partially exposed behind the fuse and the nose is configured to create an increase in air resistance.
6 . The projectile for short firing ranges according to claim 1 , wherein the fuze is arranged to burst upon being struck and/or after a certain amount of time.
7 . The projectile as set forth in claim 1 , wheren the projectile body is made from a pipe.
8 . The projectile as set forth in claim 4 , wheren the projectile body is made from a pipe.
9 . The projectile as set forth in claim 5 , wheren the projectile body is made from a pipe.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present invention relates to a projectile for short firing ranges, where the projectile is designed as a cylinder with a nose having a substantially flat surface arranged with a threaded socket allowing for the arrangement of, for example, a fuze a rear section designed with a substantially flat surface, as well as a projectile body arranged with energetic material enclosed by a casing. Barrel weapons, such as cannons, make use of projectiles that are fired by means of a propellant, frequently gunpowder, during the formation of gas pressure that propels a projectile out through the barrel. A certain amount of propellant is used up in order to enable for the projectile to be propelled out through the barrel in a safe manner. In most cases, it is desirable to fire the projectiles with a long firing range, which results in the systems being designed in order to allow for long firing ranges. Depending on the circumstances or requirements, short firing ranges may also be desired. Currently, short firing ranges are achieved in part by firing current ammunition with as low propellant as possible, and, in part, by ensuring that the elevation of the firing is as high as possible, which means that the firing range of the projectiles is short, but that they travel with a relatively high trajectory. Patent document GB 2 105 444 describes a training projectile for battle vehicles which has been adapted to short or, alternatively, long firing ranges, and is designed with a removable tap/rod which can be removed when short firing ranges are desired. For instance, the tap can be threaded to the projectiles. The patent document does not show the projectile including an operational part, and only a training projectile is described. Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,386 shows a short-range projectile for weapons of fine caliber which includes a reverse rocket engine which, upon initiation, creates an opposing force which affects the projectile and stops its trajectory at a certain predetermined point. The patent document does not show any operational part including energetic materials, and it furthermore shows a technically complex and costly solution to the problem of reducing the firing range. It is desirable to solve the problems identified above. According to an aspect of the present invention a projectile for short firing ranges is designed as a cylinder with a nose having a substantially flat surface arranged with a threaded socket allowing for the arrangement of, for example, a fuze a rear section designed with a substantially flat surface, as well as a projectile body arranged with energetic material enclosed by a casing. According to additional aspects for a projectile with a short firing range, the following applies; that a measurement, from the outer radius of the projectile to a point in the center of the projectile on the nose of the projectile, the cone height, is less than 20 mm.that a measure, from the outer radius of the projectile to a point in the center of the projectile on the nose of the projectile, the cone height, is less than 15% of the diameter of the projectile.that the projectile is arranged with a belt or a sealing ring.that the projectile is arranged with a convex nose section.that the projectile is arranged with a concave rear section.that the projectile is arranged with a concave nose section. That the projectile is arranged with a fuze arranged in the threaded socket. that a fuze is arranged to burst upon being struck.that a fuze is arranged to burst upon reaching a certain altitude.that a fuze is arranged to burst at a certain time.that the projectile is arranged with a braking device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described below by reference to the figures that are included there: FIG. 1 shows a projectile viewed from the side according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows a projectile viewed from the side according to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 shows a projectile viewed from the side according to a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 shows a projectile viewed from the side according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged part of the nose of the projectile according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 shows an enlarged part of the nose of the projectile according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 shows a projectile arranged with a fuze viewed from the side according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 shows a projectile arranged with a fuze through a cross section viewed from the side according to one embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION An ejection device, also termed a cannon, a howitzer or a piece, in the sense of an artillery piece, has to goal of making use a propellant for the purpose of firing, or ejecting, a projectile. Preferably, a propellant, such as gunpowder, is initiated in one part of the cannon, oftentimes a cham