Europisches Patentamt

(19)

European Patent Office

*EP000928948B1*

Office europen des brevets

(11)

EP 0 928 948 B1

EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(12)

(45) Date of publication and mention

of the grant of the patent:
02.05.2003 Bulletin 2003/18

(51) Int Cl.7:

F42B 12/18

(21) Application number: 98850001.3

(22) Date of filing: 06.01.1998
(54) Shell with multi-charges
Geschoss mit Mehrladungen
Projectile charge multiple
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT CH DE DK FI FR GB LI NL

(43) Date of publication of application:

(74) Representative: Falk, Bengt

Saab Bofors Support AB
Patents and Trademarks
691 80 Karlskoga (SE)

14.07.1999 Bulletin 1999/28

(56) References cited:

(73) Proprietor: SAAB AB
581 88 Linkping (SE)

(72) Inventor: Helander, Jyrki

WO-A-91/14917
DE-A- 4 240 084
DE-C- 3 740 412
FR-A- 2 683 034

DE-A- 2 829 001

DE-C- 3 605 636
DE-C- 4 114 145

EP 0 928 948 B1

632 33 Eskilstuna (SE)

Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give
notice to the European Patent Ofce of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be led in
a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been led until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art.
99(1) European Patent Convention).
Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

EP 0 928 948 B1

Description
[0001] This invention concerns a device, such as a
shell or the like, containing at least a first charge unit
and a second charge unit arranged in series one after
the other and connected to each other by means of a
joint. These charge units contain one RSV charge each
and are designed to be detonated one after the other
with a time separation between the detonations. The
joint comprises a damping section that mechanically
fastens together the two charge units and has a damping ability in the longitudinal direction of the device.
[0002] The number of RSV charges contained in a
shell can be two or more. Versions with two RSV charges are called tandem RSV charges, while versions with
three RSV charges are called triple RSV charges. A collective name for versions with more than one RSV
charge is multi RSV charges.
[0003] A shell in accordance with the first paragraph
is already known by, for example, DE patent specification 37 40 412. In this document a tandem RSV design
is described proposing a solution to the undesirable effect that a detonating charge can have upon undetonated charges. According to the solution one or more
damping elements are arranged in series between the
charges. However, the joint between the charges must
have a certain degree of rigidity to stand the forces during, for example, the launching stage of the device, for
example, when the device accelerates in a barrel. A deformation in the last mentioned stage is a catastrophe
for the operation of the device.
[0004] One problem concerning the design of RSV
charges that are to detonate at different times is, as already mentioned, the effect that a detonation charge
has upon the undetonated charges. Normally the structure that lies between the charges is designed to be so
strong that it can support the mass in front of it during
the launching stage. Designs with such a strong structure have, however, the disadvantage that they act as
excellent shock wave transmitters. A shock wave generated by the detonation of a first charge is therefore
transmitted almost undamped to subsequent charges.
This in turn cause interference to the RSV beams received by a subsequent charge or even cause its ignition
system to be damaged.
[0005] The aim of this invention is to make a device
such as a shell or the like that does not exhibit the problem described above with interference caused by a
shock wave generated by a previous detonation and
which is not adversely deformed before the ignition of
the charge or charges.
[0006] The aim of the invention is achieved by means
of a device in accordance with the first paragraph of the
introduction to the description, characterised in that a
rigid support device is provided in connection to the outer surface of the damping section, the support device
being dimensioned so that when the damping section is
in an unstressed state there is a clearance in a direction

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parallel to the longitudinal axis between the support device and at least one of the two charge units. The invention thus achieves a simple way of attenuating the shock
waves that cause interference by means of the interaction between a damping section and a support device
that falls away after the launching stage.
[0007] According to an advantageous version the device is characterised in that a spring device is designed
to operate between the damping section and the support
device. In this way it is ensured that the support device
separates from the damping section in a simple and reliable way after the launching stage. The spring device
can consist of plate springs.
[0008] According to another advantageous version
the support device consists of a number of separate
support elements positioned around the damping section. The support elements can thereby be designed as
longitudinal casing sections. The support elements give
the structure the requisite strength during the launching
stage, are simple to manufacture and can be easily separated after the launching stage.
[0009] According to a version that is reliable and easy
to assemble, the damping section is connected to the
charge units by threaded connectors.
[0010] In order to create a good interaction between
the support device and the charge units, according to a
further version the rear part of a front charge unit and
the front part of a rear charge unit which are connected
by means of a damping section are provided with contact surfaces for interaction with the support device.
[0011] This invention will be described in greater detail by means of one version as an example with reference to the attached drawings, where Figure 1 shows a
shell according to the invention with tandem RSV charges, and Figure 2 shows in greater detail the joint between the charge units in which the RSV charges are
contained.
[0012] The shell [1] in Figure 1 contains a first charge
unit [2] containing an RSV charge [3] with liner [4]. In
the rear part of the charge unit there is an SA unit (Safety
Ammunition Unit) that among other things provides
safety and arming functions. The shell also contains a
second charge unit [6] containing an RSV charge [7]
with liner [8] and an SA unit [9]. At the very rear of the
shell there is a rocket motor [10] for launching the shell
and a collapsible fin assembly [11]. The charge units are
connected by a joint [12].
[0013] The joint [12] is shown in greater detail in Figure 2. A sprung damping section [13], preferably made
of a plastic material, joins together the rear part [14] of
the first, front charge unit [2] and the front part [15] of
the second, rear charge unit [6]. The damping section
[13] is connected to the charge units via threaded connectors [16], [17] and [18]. In the version shown, a casing [19] with internal and external threads provides the
connection to the second charge unit [6]. The rear part
[14] of the first charge unit is provided with a contact
surface [20]. In a corresponding way the casing [19] is

EP 0 928 948 B1

provided with a front contact surface [21]. Between the

contact surfaces [20] and [21] there is a rigid support
device [22]. The support device can consist of several
separate support elements constructed as longitudinal
casing sections.
[0014] In the unstressed state depicted there is a
clearance [23] for the support device between the two
contact surfaces [20], [21]. Between the damping section [13] and the support device [22] there is a space
[25] that contains a spring device [24].
[0015] During the activation stages of the shell [1] the
joint [12] works as follows. When the shell is subjected
to the launch acceleration, the damping section [13] is
compressed longitudinally. The clearance [23] disappears and the rigid support device [22] comes into direct
contact with the contact surfaces [20], [21]. This means
that a rigid construction is achieved that is able to support the mass in front of it. Later when the launch acceleration ceases, which normally occurs only after the
shell has left the barrel, the damping section [13] springs
out again. This means that the clearance [23] reappears
and the support device is no longer held fast between
the contact surfaces [20], [21].
[0016] The support device [22] can now be separated
from the shell [1] by the action of the spring device [24].
Thereby the connection between the charge units [2],
[6] has been made as weak as possible for the requirements that are made of the connection for holding the
shell together during the transportation of the shell at
the airfield. Normally no great strength is required for
this holding-together function. The weakened connection between the charge units following the launch
means that only a very small part of the shock wave from
a detonation is transmitted to a charge that is to detonate
at a later time. Dynamic and static tests have been carried out that confirm the above.
[0017] This invention is in no way limited to the version
described in the example, but can contain a number of
modifications within the framework of the invention as
defined by the patent claims. For example, it could be
possible to have versions with more than two RSV
charges. In addition the design of the support device and
the spring device can be modified. Instead of threaded
connections the charge units can, for example, be glued
or moulded together.

Device, such as a shell (1) or the like including at

least a first charge unit (2) and a second charge unit
(6) arranged in series one after the other along a
longitudinal axis of the device and connected to
each other by means of a joint (12), which charge
units (2,6) include one RSV charge (3 resp. 7) each
and are designed to be detonated one after the other with a time separation between the detonations,
the joint (12) comprising a damping section (13) that

mechanically fastens together the two charge units

(2,6) and has a damping ability in the longitudinal
direction of the device, characterised in that a rigid
support device (22) is provided in connection to the
outer surface of the damping section (13), the support device (22) being dimensioned so that when
the damping section (13) is in an unstressed state
there is a clearance (23) in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal axis between the support device (22)
and at least one of the two charge units (2 resp.6).

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2.

Device according to Patent Claim 1, characterised

in that a spring device (24) is designed to operate
between the damping section (13) and the support
device (22).

3.

Device according to Patent Claim 2, characterised

in that the spring device (24) consists of plate
springs.

4.

Device according to any of the above Patent

Claims, characterised in that the support device
(22) consists of a number of separate support elements positioned around the damping section (13).

5.

Device according to Patent Claim 4, characterised

in that the support elements are designed as longitudinal casing sections.

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6.

Device according to any of the above Patent

Claims, characterised in that the damping section
(13) is connected to the charge units (2,6) by
threaded connectors.

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7.

Device according to any of the above Patent

Claims, characterised in that the rear part of a
front charge unit (2) and the front part of a rear
charge unit (6), which are connected by a damping
section, are provided with contact surfaces (20,21)
for interaction with the support device (22).

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Patentansprche
45

Claims
1.

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1.

Vorrichtung wie ein Gescho (1) od. dgl. mit zumindeste einer ersten Ladungseinheit (2) und einer
zweiten Ladungseinheit (6), die in Reihe nacheinander entlang einer Lngsachse der Vorrichtung
angeordnet sind und mittels einer Verbindung (12)
verbunden sind, wobei die Ladungseinheiten (2, 6)
jeweils zumindest eine RSV-Ladung (3 bzw. 7) enthalten und ausgelegt sind, um nacheinander zu detonieren mit einem Zeitabstand zwischen den Detonationen, wobei die Verbindung einen Dmpfungsabschnitt (13) aufweist, der mechanisch die
beiden Ladungseinheiten (2, 6) aneinander befestigt und eine Dmpfungsfhigkeit in der Lngsrichtung der Vorrichtung aufweist,

EP 0 928 948 B1

dadurch gekennzeichnet, da in Verbindung mit

der ueren Oberflche des Dmpfungsabschnitts
(13) eine starre Trgervorrichtung (22) vorgesehen
ist, wobei die Trgervorrichtung (22) so dimensioniert ist, da, wenn der Dmpfungsabschnitt (13) in
einem unbelasteten Zustand ist, eine Lcke (23) in
einer Richtung parallel zur Lngsachse zwischen
der Trgervorrichtung (22) und zumindest einer der
beiden Ladungseinheiten (2 bzw. 6) vorhanden ist.

entre les dtonations, l'assemblage (12) comprenant une section d'amortissement (13) qui fixe mcaniquement ensemble les deux units de charge
(2, 6) et possde une capacit d'amortissement
dans le sens longitudinal du dispositif, caractris
en ce qu'un dispositif de support rigide (22) est reli
la surface extrieure de la section d'amortissement (13), le dispositif de support (22) tant dimensionn de faon ce que, quand la section d'amortissement (13) est dans un tat dcharg, il existe
un espace (23) dans une direction parallle l'axe
longitudinal entre le dispositif de support (22) et au
moins une des deux units de charge (2 respectivement 6).

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2.

Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, da eine Federvorrichtung (24) ausgelegt ist, um zwischen dem Dmpfungsabschnitt (13) und der Trgervorrichtung (22)
zu arbeiten.

3.

Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, da die Federvorrichtung (24) aus Blattfedern besteht.

4.

Vorrichtung nach einem der obengenannten Patentansprche,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, da die Trgervorrichtung (22) aus einer Anzahl von getrennten Trgerelementen besteht, die um den Dmpfungsabschnitt (13) herum angeordnet sind.

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2.

Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractris en

ce qu'un dispositif ressort (24) est conu pour
fonctionner entre la section d'amortissement (13) et
le dispositif de support (22).

3.

Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractris en

ce que le dispositif ressort (24) est constitu de
ressorts lames.

4.

Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications prcdentes, caractris en ce que le dispositif de support (22) est constitu d'un nombre d'lments formant supports spars positionns autour
de la section d'amortissement (13).

5.

Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractris en

ce que les lments formant supports sont conus
en tant que sections longitudinales de botier.

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6.

Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications prcdentes, caractris en ce que la section d'amortissement (13) est relie aux units de
charges (2, 6) par des connecteurs filets.

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7.

Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications prcdentes, caractris en ce que la partie
arrire d'une unit de charge avant (2) et la partie
avant d'une unit de charge arrire (6), qui sont relies par une section d'amortissement, sont fournies avec des surfaces de contact (20, 21) pour une
interaction avec le dispositif de support (22).

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5.

6.

7.

Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, da die Trgerelemente als lngliche Gehuseabschnitte ausgelegt sind.
Vorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, da der Dmpfungsabschnitt (13) mit den Ladungseinheiten (2, 6) durch
Gewindeverbinder verbunden ist.
Vorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Patentansprche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, da der rckwrtige
Teil einer vorderen Ladungseinheit (2) und der vordere Teil einer rckwrtigen Ladungseinheit (6), die
durch einen Dmpfungsabschnitt verbunden sind,
mit Kontaktflchen (20, 21) zur Wechselwirkung mit
der Trgervorrichtung (22) versehen sind.

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Revendications
1.

Dispositif tel un caisson (1) ou quivalent comprenant au moins une premire unit de charge (2) et
une deuxime unit de charge (6) agences en srie l'une aprs l'autre le long d'un axe longitudinal
du dispositif et relies l'une l'autre au moyen d'un
assemblage (12), lesquelles units de charges (2,
6) comprennent une charge RSV (3 respectivement
7) chacune et sont conues pour tre dtones
l'une aprs l'autre avec une sparation de temps

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EP 0 928 948 B1