Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING SHELL INTO BREECH-LOADING
WEAPON BARREL, AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a support member according to the
preamble of claim 1, and particularly to a support member for supporting a
mortar shell into a breech-loading weapon barrel, the support member com-
prising a support element with an edge flange and a firing mechanism for
firing
the actual primer of the mortar shell and further comprising connecting means
for attaching the support element to a tail of the mortar shell. The invention
further relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 10 for
attaching
a support member to a mortar shell, the method comprising arranging in the
tail of the mortar shell a support member which comprises a support element;
and attaching the support member to the tail of the mortar shell.
[0002] A mortar can be arranged on a movable base, such as an
armored vehicle, allowing the mortar to be moved conveniently from one place
to another and, on the other hand, allowing it to be rapidly moved from the em-
placement into safety. When the intention is to use a mortar for firing
vertically
or downward, the problem is that the mortar shell does not stay in place in
the
smoothbore barrel of the mortar, but may slide forward in the barrel, so that
it
can no longer be fired. US patent 5,503,080 discloses a support member at-
tachable by means of friction to guiding wings in the mortar shell tail. The
solu-
tion taught by the publication has the problem of requiring extremely accurate
dimensions of both the tail of the projectile and the support member itself in
order for it to function in at least satisfactorily reliable manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An object of the invention is thus to provide a support mem-
ber, and a method for attaching a support member to a mortar shell. The object
of the invention is achieved with a support member according to the character-
izing part of claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means for
attaching
the support element to the tail of the mortar shell comprise at least one
flexible
part arranged to be attached to the tail of the mortar shell by means of
spring
force. The object of the invention is further achieved with a method according
to claim 10, characterized by attaching the support member to the mortar shell
tail and/or to one or more guiding fins forming a part of the mortar shell
tail
and/or to a counterpart provided in the mortar shell tail by means of one or
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more flexible part in such a way that when receiving the mortar shell tail,
the
flexible part directs spring force at the outer periphery of the mortar shell
tail
and/or at one or more guiding fins forming a part of the mortar shell tail
and/or
at the counterpart provided at the mortar shell tail.
[0004] Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the
dependent claims.
[0005] The invention is based on a mortar shell being attached to a
support member with connecting means which direct spring force at the mortar
shell tail. In other words, the connecting means comprise a flexible part by
means of which the mortar shell tail is attached to the support member. The
flexible part may, in accordance with the invention, receive the mortar shell
tail
in such a way that it directs spring force at the outer periphery of the
mortar
shell tail or at one or more guiding fins forming a part of the mortar shell
tail or,
at both the outer periphery of the mortar shell tail and one or more guiding
fins.
Alternatively, the mortar shell tail may be provided with a counterpart to
which
the flexible part is attached by means of spring force.
[0006] In the invention, attachment of the support member to the
mortar shell tail is based on spring force, whereby the attachment is more
reli-
able than breech based on friction. Further, possible dimensional variance
caused by the manufacture of the mortar shell does not affect the magnitude of
the attachment forces and the staying in place of the support member as criti-
cally as in a friction breech solution. In the solution according to the
invention,
it is relatively easy to control the attachment forces. Further, it is an
advantage
of the invention that the support member can be attached to the mortar shell
tail easily and quickly even in difficult conditions.
[0007] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the sup-
port member is provided with a spring ring arranged to receive the mortar
shell
tail. When receiving the mortar shell tail, the spring ring yields,
simultaneously
directing spring force at the mortar shell tail. The spring ring may be
provided
in such a way that spring force is directed at the outer periphery of the
mortar
shell tail. Alternatively, the spring ring may comprise one or more slots for
re-
ceiving a guiding fin forming a part of the mortar shell tail in such a way
that
the guiding fin to be received into the slot makes the spring ring yield,
whereby
the slot directs spring force at the guiding fin to attach the mortar shell to
the
support member.
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[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, the support
member is provided with a laminated ring which is arranged to receive the mor-
tar shell tail. The laminated ring has been provided in such a way that it
directs
spring force at the outer periphery of the mortar shell tail. In other words,
the
mortar shell tail is arranged to be received into a space generated by the
lami-
nated ring such that the laminated ring yields at least partly when the mortar
shell tail is received, and directs spring force at the mortar shell tail.
Alterna-
tively, the laminated ring is arranged to receive one or more guiding fins
form-
ing a part of the mortar shell tail such that the laminated ring yields at
least
partly when receiving one or more guiding fins, and directs spring force at
the
guiding fin received.
[0009] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the support
member is provided with a flexible connecting part which is arranged to
receive
a counterpart provided in the mortar shell tail. The flexible connecting part
may
be, for example, a flexible sleeve-like connecting part arranged to yield in
the
direction transverse to its axis when receiving the counterpart, and to direct
spring force at the counterpart to attach the mortar shell to the support mem-
ber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] The invention will now be described in greater detail in con-
nection with preferred embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings,
of which:
Figure 1 shows schematically a mortar shell supported into a
weapon barrel by means of a support member according to an embodiment of
the invention;
Figure 2 shows schematically an embodiment according to the pre-
sent invention for attaching a support member to a mortar shell by means of a
spring ring;
Figure 3 shows schematically a second embodiment according to
the present invention for attaching a support member to a mortar shell by
means of a spring ring;
Figure 4 shows schematically a cross-sectional view of an embodi-
ment according to the present invention for attaching a support member to a
mortar shell by means of a laminated ring;
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Figure 5 shows schematically the laminated ring according to Figure
4; and
Figure 6 shows schematically an embodiment according to the pre-
sent invention for attaching a support member to a mortar shell by means of a
flexible part and a counterpart provided in the mortar shell; and
Figure 7 shows the embodiment according to Figure 6 when the
support member has been attached to the mortar shell by means of a flexible
part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Figure 1 shows schematically a mortar shell 1 supported into
a barrel 2 of a weapon by means of a support member 6 according to an em-
bodiment of the invention.
[0012] The mortar shell 1 is arranged into the barrel 2 of a breech-
loading weapon. The weapon may be a mortar in which the inner surface of
the barrel 2 is substantially smooth. The rear part of the mortar shell 1 com-
prises a tail tube 3 and a tail 4. The tail 4 comprises one or typically more
guid-
ing fins 5 for affecting the trajectory of the mortar shell 1. The details of
the
construction of the mortar shell 1 may deviate from the structure shown in the
figure. For the sake of clarity, the breech of the weapon and other details
are
not shown.
[0013] A support member 6 according to the invention is attached to
the tail 4 for keeping the mortar shell 1 in place in the barrel 2 until it is
fired.
An outer casing 12 in a support element 8 forming a part of the support mem-
ber 6 is dimensioned such that at least part of the tail 4 of the mortar shell
1
can become placed inside it. An edge flange 7 in the support member 6 pre-
vents the mortar shell 1 from moving forward in the barrel 2 when the barrel 2
is directed horizontally, or even if the barrel 2 pointed downward. The
support
member 6 is dimensioned to tolerate not only the load caused by the mass of
the mortar shell 1 but also any forces caused by vibration and acceleration.
The support element 8 further comprises connecting means 10 by means of
which the mortar shell 1 is attached to the support member 6.
[0014] The connecting means 10 may be attached to the support
element 8 for instance with a threaded joint or another mechanical joint which
is preferably openable and closable optionally. Alternatively, the connecting
means 10 may be attached to the support element 8 in a fixed manner.
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[0015] Figure 2 shows schematically an embodiment according to
the invention, where the connecting means 10 provided in the support element
8 comprise a spring ring 13. The spring ring 13 is formed in such a way that
it
is capable of receiving the mortar shell tail 4. In accordance with Figure 2,
the
spring ring 13 is formed in such a way that it is capable of receiving
particularly
that end of the tail tube 3 of the tail 4 that is far from the mortar shell 1.
The
spring ring 13 thus forms an opening in which the end of the tail tube 3 can
be
placed. The opening of the spring ring 13 has been provided such that when
the tail tube 3 becomes placed in the opening, the spring ring 13 yields and
becomes stressed, directing spring force at the outer periphery or outer sur-
face 14 of the tail tube 3, i.e. the mortar shell tail, which spring force
makes the
mortar shell 1 attach to the support member 6. In other words, the spring ring
13 serves as a flexible element directing spring force at the tail 4 of the
mortar
shell 1 to attach the mortar shell 1 to the support member 6.
[0016] The spring ring 13 may comprise slots arranged to receive
guiding fins 5 forming a part of the tail 4 of the mortar shell 1. The slots
allow
the end of the tail tube 3 to be placed against the bottom of the support ele-
ment 8. The spring ring 13 may be further shaped in such a way that the mor-
tar shell 1 can be easily pressed into an opening delimited by the spring ring
13 but that pulling it out requires considerably more force in order for the
joint
not to open before firing. In accordance with Figure 2, the spring ring 13
directs
spring force at the outer periphery 14 of the mortar shell tail 4 in areas
between
the guiding fins 5. Between the slots or other corresponding openings, there
extend claw-like spring members 18 or other corresponding tongue-like flexible
parts in the spring ring 13, which parts yield when receiving the tail 4 of
the
mortar shell. In other words, the opening of the spring ring 13 has been made
smaller than the diameter of the tail tube 3 of the mortar shell 1, whereby,
when the tail tube 3 is pushed into the spring ring 13, its spring members 18
yield in such a way that the opening of the spring ring 13 increases in size.
At
the same time, the spring members 18 become stressed and direct thus spring
force at the outer periphery 14 of the tail tube 3 of the tail 4 of the mortar
shell
1 placed in the opening 14, as shown in Figure 2. Further, in accordance with
Figure 2, these spring members 18 are shaped such that their ends have been
bent toward the bottom of the support element 8, whereby the tail 4 of the mor-
tar shell can be easily placed in the spring ring 13 but due to the effect of
the
spring force generated, removing the mortar shell 1 from the spring ring 13
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requires considerably more force.
[0017] In an alternative embodiment of the spring ring 13, shown in
Figure 3, the slots may be provided such that they yield when receiving the
guiding fins 5, whereby they become stressed and direct spring force at the
guiding fins 5. In other words, when receiving the guiding fins 5, the slots
open,
directing spring force at the guiding fin 5 surfaces which are in the
direction of
the longitudinal axis of the mortar shell 1. Also in this case, the spring mem-
bers 18 may be shaped such that the tail 4 of the mortar shell can be easily
placed in the spring ring 13 but that due to the spring force generated, remov-
ing the mortar shell 1 from the spring ring 13 requires considerably more
force.
Thus, the slots of the spring ring 13 receive the guiding fins 5 relatively
easily
but, at the same time, the spring ring 13 directs spring force at the guiding
fins
5, due to which removing the mortar shell 1 from the spring ring 13 requires
considerably more force.
[0018] In yet another embodiment, the spring ring 13 may be pro-
vided such that the preceding embodiments are combined, in which case plac-
ing the tail tube 3 in the opening of the spring ring 13 generates spring
force
directed at the outer surface 14 of the tail 4 and, at the same time, placing
the
guiding fins 5 in the slots 16 generates spring force directed at the guiding
fins
5. Referring to the above, it is to be noted that the spring ring 13 may be
any
type of ring capable of generating spring force directed at the tail 4 of the
mor-
tar shell 1 when receiving at least part of the tail 4 of the mortar shell 1.
[0019] Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention
in which the connecting means comprise one or more laminated rings 20. In
the embodiment of Figure 4, the connecting means of the support member 8
comprise an attachment sleeve 21 and a tension sleeve 23 joined to it. The
attachment sleeve 21 may be attached to the support member 8 for example
with threads or in a fixed manner, or in another mechanical manner. In Figure
4, two laminated rings 20 have been placed in the space inside the tension
sleeve 23. One or more support plates or base plates may be placed (not
shown) may be placed between the laminated rings or on the front and/or rear
side. The diameter of the hole of the tension sleeve 23 is such that the
tension
sleeve 23 is capable of receiving the tail tube 3 of the mortar shell 1 or a
head
part 25 of the tail tube. One embodiment of the laminated ring 20 is shown in
Figure 5. The diameter of an opening 24 of the laminated ring 20 inside the
tension sleeve 23 is smaller, at least slightly, than the outer diameter of
the tail
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tube 3 of the mortar shell 1 or the outer diameter of the head part 25. Thus,
when the mortar shell 1 is pushed into place in the support member 8, the
laminated ring 20 and particularly its lamellas 22 yield and direct spring
force at
the tail tube 3 of the mortar shell 1 or at the head part 25, the spring force
at-
taching the mortar shell 1 to the support member 8. The diameter of the open-
ings of the support plates and base plates substantially corresponds to the
outer diameter of the tail tube 3 of the mortar shell 1 or the outer diameter
of
the head part 25, whereby they do not direct any resistance or force at the
mortar shell.
[0020] As mentioned above, the connecting means 10 preferably
comprise one or more laminated rings 20, depending on the magnitude of the
desired spring force or on the force required for attaching the mortar shell.
The
inner periphery of the laminated ring 20 is, in accordance with Figure 5,
divided
into adjacent lamellas 22 capable of yielding. The number of lamellas 22 and
thus the length in the direction of the periphery and in the direction of the
ra-
dius of the periphery may vary according to the need so that the desired
spring
force can be generated. The lamella rings 20 may be manufactured of a steel
plate by cutting or in another corresponding manner, or of another correspond-
ing material.
[0021] Figure 6 shows schematically an embodiment according to
the present invention, where the connecting means 10 of the support element
8 comprise a flexible part 30. Further, a counterpart 32 is provided at the
end
of the tail tube 3 of the tail 4 of the mortar shell 1. The flexible part 30
is ar-
ranged to receive the counterpart 32 in such a way that the flexible part 30
yields, directing spring force at the counterpart received for attaching the
mor-
tar shell 1 to the support member 6. In the case of Figure 6, the flexible
part is
a sleeve-like connecting part 30 caused to yield in a direction transverse to
its
longitudinal axis when receiving the counterpart 32. The counterpart 32 is pro-
vided at the tail 4 of the mortar shell and particularly at the end of the
tail tube
3 in accordance with Figure 6. In this embodiment, the connecting part 30 is
comprised of several flexible claw-like parts arranged on a circular arch to
pro-
vide a sleeve-like connecting part.
[0022] In the embodiment of Figure 7, the sleeve-like connecting
part 30 receives the counterpart 32 to the inside of it. The counterpart 32
com-
prises a cone opening away from the tail 4 of the mortar shell. This cone
facili-
tates placement of the mortar shell 1 correctly in the support member 6. Fur-
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ther, the cone of the counterpart 32 is pressed against the inner walls of the
sleeve-like connecting part 30 as the counterpart 32 becomes placed inside
the connecting part 30. Pressing and yielding, the connecting part 30 becomes
stressed and simultaneously directs spring force at the outer surface of the
counterpart 32 being placed inside it to attach the mortar shell to the
support
member 6. To achieve the above, the counterpart 32 is dimensioned such that
its outer diameter is at least partly greater than the inner diameter of the
con-
necting part 30, whereby the connecting part 30 is forced to yield when the
counterpart 32 becomes placed inside it. In a preferred embodiment, the con-
necting part 30 is pushed into the inside of the counterpart 32 so far that
the
upper surface of the connecting part 30 passes the cone of the connecting part
32. Thus, the sleeve-like connecting part 30 is tightly placed inside the coun-
terpart 32 and does not tend to get out. The conical shape of the counterpart
32 also allows the counterpart to snap into place inside the connecting part
30,
as shown in Figure 7, whereby the mortar shell is not easily detached from the
support member 8.
[0023] The counterpart 32 may be provided at the end of the tail
tube 3 of the tail 4 of the mortar shell, in which case it is an extension of
the tail
tube 3 or a part of the tail tube 3. In an alternative embodiment, the
counterpart
32 may simply be merely an end of the tail tube 3, left hollow, whereby it
forms
the counterpart 32.
[0024] The spring force directed at the counterpart 32 by the con-
necting part 30 can be further increased by means of one or more spring ele-
ments (not shown) installed in the connecting part. The spring elements may
be individual springs placed on the outer surface of the connecting part 30,
or
alternatively a spring may be placed around the outer periphery of the connect-
ing part 30. Alternatively, the counterpart 32 may be shaped and provided in
such a way that it becomes placed around the connecting part 30, whereby the
spring force of the flexible connecting part 30 is directed at the inner
surface of
the counterpart 32. The counterpart 32 may be the head part 25 of the tail 4
of
the mortar shell 1.
[0025] With reference to the above, it is to be noted that both the
spring ring receiving the mortar shell tail or a part of to the inside of it
and the
flexible connecting part receiving around it the counterpart provided at the
tail
may be shaped and modified in a plurality of ways. In other words, it is essen-
tial to the present invention that the mortar shell is attachable to the
support
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member by means of spring force. The spring force is generated by a flexible
part provided in the support element and arranged to yield when the mortar
shell is attached to the support member. Further, it is to be noted that in
some
cases the mortar shell can be attached to the support member 8 by means of
two or more embodiments described above.
[0026] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that as the
technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in a
plurality of ways. Thus, the invention and its embodiments are not restricted
to
the above examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.
