US4619202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple purpose ammunition
Assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie AG
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Filing: 1984-12-17
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Granted: 1986-10-28
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Expires: 2004-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and with preselected muzzle velocities. The ammunition unit includes at least two partial propellant charges, a first one of which is fixedly mounted to the bottom of the shell casing and the second one or ones of which are fixedly mounted to the bottom of the projectile of the ammunition unit. All partial propellant charges are coaxially arranged with respect to the shell casing. Mechanical and/or electrical ignition means are provided to first ignite the first propellant charge and then selectively sequentially ignite the second propellant charge or charges.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolf Romer
- 👤 Michael Schwenzer
- 👤 Reinhard Synofzik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:35
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42C; F42C19/00; F42C19/08; F42C19/0823; F42C19/083; F42B; F42B5/00; F42B5/02; F42B5/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An improved multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected exit muzzle velocity in which a plurality of partial propellant charges and the projectile are mounted in a shell casing and said partial propellant charges are jointly or separately ignited for obtaining different ranges, and wherein at least one first propellant charge is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the shell casing, the improvement comprising (a) at least one second propellant charge is fixedly connected to the bottom of said projectile and is disposed at least partially in front of said first propellant charge in said shell casing; and (b) means operatively connected to said first and second propellant charges for selectively first, and singly igniting said first propellant charge or jointly ignite said first propellant charge with at least one of said second propellant charges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An improved multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected exit muzzle velocity in which a plurality of partial propellant charges and the projectile are mounted in a shell casing and said partial propellant charges are jointly or separately ignited for obtaining different ranges, and wherein at least one first propellant charge is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the shell casing, the improvement comprising (a) at least one second propellant charge is fixedly connected to the bottom of said projectile and is disposed at least partially in front of said first propellant charge in said shell casing; and (b) means operatively connected to said first and second propellant charges for selectively first, and singly igniting said first propellant charge or jointly ignite said first propellant charge with at least one of said second propellant charges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first partial propellant charge which is fixedly centrally and axially mounted on said shell casing bottom, and said second partial propellant charges are also axially centrally mounted on the projectile bottom, said ignition means being either mechanically or electrically actuated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 2, wherein said partial propellant charge is mounted in a first housing which is coaxially fixedly secured to the bottom of the shell casing, and said ignition means which operate electrically include a predetermined number of electric elements mounted in said first housing, each one of said electronic elements being electrically operatively connected to one of said second partial propellant charges and being selectively actuated by said ignition means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 2, wherein said partial propellant charge is mounted in a first housing which is coaxially fixedly secured to the bottom of the shell casing, said ignition means which operate mechanically to ignite said first partial propellant charge is electrically operatively connected to one second partial propellant charge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 2, wherein said partial propellant charge is mounted in a first housing which is coaxially fixedly secured to the bottom of the shell casing, said ignition means which operate mechanically to ignite said first partial propellant charge includes a predetermined number of electronic elements each one of which is electrically operatively connected to one of said second partial propellant charges and selectively sequentially ignites them via a corresponding electronic element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electronic elements are diodes which are sequentially actuated in dependence of the voltage applied by said ignition means so as to sequentially ignite said second partial propellant charges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 5, wherein said electronic elements are diodes which are sequentially actuated in dependence of the voltage applied by said ignition means so as to sequentially ignite said second partial propellant charges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electronic elements are frequency filters, each one of said frequency filters being electronically operatively connected to one of said second partial propellant charges, so that when said ignition means applies a current of preselected frequency a preselected second partial propellant charge is ignited via the corresponding frequency filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electronic elements are frequency filters, each one of said frequency filters being electronically operatively connected to one of said second partial propellant charges, so that when said ignition means applies a current of predetermined oscillation a preselected second partial propellant charge is ignited via the corresponding frequency filter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 5, wherein said electronic elements are frequency filters, each one of said frequency filters being electronically operatively connected to one of said second partial propellant charges, so that when said ignition means applies a current of preselected frequency a preselected second partial propellant charge is ignited via the corresponding frequency filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 5, wherein said electronic elements are frequency filters, each one of said frequency filters being electronically operatively connected to one of said second partial propellant charges, so that when said ignition means applies a current of predetermined oscillation a preselected second partial propellant charge is ignited via the corresponding frequency filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
146 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 2, wherein (a) each of said first and second propellant charges is mounted in a corresponding first and second housing; (b) each of said first and second housings has at least two outlet openings which extend transversely to the ammunition axis, said outlet openings being closed by a sleeve which is coaxially mounted on each housing; and (c) each sleeve is firmly mounted on the corresponding housing and the region of each sleeve which confront the corresponding outlet opening is deformable in such a way that the outlet opening is opened by the internal pressure caused by the explosive gases upon ignition of the corresponding partial propellant charge, and the deformed region of the sleeve remains attached to the sleeve after the deformation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 12, wherein each sleeve has at least one breaking zone in the region which confronts a corresponding outlet opening, which breaking zone extends parallel to the axis of the corresponding housing and forms a bending edge upon breaking.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improvement in a multi-range ammunition unit for firing at a high angle and preselected muzzle exit velocity as set forth in claim 12, wherein each sleeve has at least one breaking zone in the region which confronts a corresponding outlet opening, which breaking zone extends circumferentially relative to the axis of the corresponding housing and forms a bending edge upon breaking.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-27 | 1990-04-28 | 1990-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-27 | 1994-04-28 | 1994-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-27 | 1998-04-28 | 1998-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |