Patent Publication Number: US-6659012-B1

Title: Ejection device for ejecting a plurality of submunitions and associated discharging unit

Description:
The following disclosure is based on German Application No. 19910074.8, filed on Mar. 8, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated into this application by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for ejecting a plurality of submunitions, and to a discharging unit employing such a device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The implementation of protection measures frequently makes it necessary to eject a multiplicity of submunitions. In general, such submunitions serve for purposely generating an artificial fog over a particular period of time as an important measure to camouflage military targets or deceive objects attacking these targets. For example, EP 0 588 015 A1 teaches a masking method for protecting a tank equipped with a heat imaging apparatus against an enemy tank equally equipped with a heat imaging apparatus. According to the method, a unilaterally transparent, infrared fog is generated, so that the tank to be protected is separated from the attacking tank by a masking wall, which is transparent only from the side of the tank to be protected. 
     Also well-known are circuit arrangements for ejecting decoy sub-members in a freely selectable time sequence from a cartridge barrel by triggering ejection charges each connected to electrical ignition circuits by means of an electrical igniter and each connected to a sub-munition. Thus, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,052, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses such a circuit arrangement with automatic, successive relaying of ignition pulses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an ejection device and associated discharge unit capable of ejecting a multiplicity of submunitions independently of caliber. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device and unit which have a simplified electrical contact design and which can be manufactured at reduced expense in terms of installation work. 
     These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by a device for ejecting a multiplicity of submunitions which comprises an adapter including a control unit and adapted for releasable fastening in an ejection barrel of a discharger, and a submunitions cluster including the submunitions and adapted for releasable connection, both mechanical and electrical, with the adapter. Advantageously, in the assembled condition, in which the submunitions cluster is connected to the adapter, submunitions may be ejected from the submunitions cluster by way of the control unit of the adapter in one or more of a variety of ejection modes. Preferably, such modes include ejection sequentially one by one, where the period between ejection of two consecutive -submunitions is preferably adjustable, or simultaneous ejection, at least of a portion of said submunitions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention including an adapter and a submunitions cluster placed thereon. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the submunitions cluster of FIG. 1 when viewed from the end facing away from the adapter. 
     FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view of the adapter of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of the submunitions cluster of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As described above, the objects of the present invention are achieved by a device for ejecting a multiplicity of submunitions. This device includes an adapter having a control unit and is configured to releasably fasten in an ejection barrel of a discharger, and a submunitions cluster configured to hold the submunitions. The submunitions cluster, in turn, is configured to releasably connect, both mechanically and electrically, with the adapter. In the assembled condition in which the submunitions cluster is connected to the adapter, submunitions can be ejected from the submunitions cluster under control of the control unit of the adapter preferably sequentially one by one and/or at least in part simultaneously. The period between ejection of two consecutive submunitions is preferably adjustable. 
     The control unit preferably includes a battery, contact rings, at least one circuit board for electronic circuitry and contact pins, which are preferably resilient. The control unit, further, is preferably configured to be inserted in an adapter housing in a tightly sealing manner and to releasably fasten thereto. 
     Moreover, in accordance with a refinement of the invention, the submunitions cluster mechanically connects with the adapter by means of a clamping connection, snap connection or the like. An electrical circuit between the submunitions cluster and the adapter closes automatically as soon as the submunitions cluster and the adapter are mechanically connected. 
     Preferably, the submunitions cluster is connected electrically with the adapter by contacting the contact pins of the control unit of the adapter with complementary contact locations of the submunitions cluster. The contact locations are electrically connected with at least one means for expelling submunitions from the submunitions cluster. 
     The ejection device in accordance with the invention preferably has a submunitions cluster including at least one ejection barrel. In each ejection barrel, two or more submunitions are serially arranged in the expelling direction, four submunitions per ejection barrel being preferred. 
     The invention furthermore proposes that one propellant charge including igniting means such as a primer or the like is associated with each submunition. Each propellant charge is preferably connected with the control unit of the adapter in the assembled condition of the submunitions cluster and the adapter. 
     The propellant charges for the submunitions of each ejection barrel are preferably arranged outside their respective ejection barrels. The means for igniting the propellant charges also are arranged outside their respective ejection barrels. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, the propellant charges together with the igniting means for the submunitions of each ejection barrel of the submunitions cluster are arranged in common propellant charge rails associated respectively with each of the ejection barrels. The igniting means is preferably placed in electrical contact with the control unit of the adapter via the propellant charge rail. Preferably, the electrical contact includes an intermediary arrangement of at least one circuit board establishing an electronic circuit with the contact locations. 
     Herein it is preferred that the propellant charge rail assigned to an ejection barrel of the submunitions cluster extend externally of and in parallel with the longitudinal center axis of that ejection barrel and be releasably connected with that ejection barrel. Preferably, propellant charge gases enter into the ejection barrel of the submunitions cluster via lateral bores in the ejection barrel for ejecting associated ones of the submunitions. 
     In accordance with the invention, each lateral bore in the ejection barrel of the submunitions cluster preferably communicates with a gas compartment underneath a submunition located inside that ejection barrel. 
     It is moreover preferred that a sensor is arranged in each ejection barrel of the submunitions cluster, preferably in the proximity of the one submunition to be ejected last from this ejection barrel. The sensor is electrically connected with the control unit of the adapter. 
     The invention furthermore proposes that two or more ejection barrels are arranged in parallel with each other in a submunitions cluster. The ejection barrels are mutually connected by way of a common electrical connection panel. This connection is preferably the above-mentioned at least one circuit board establishing the electrical circuit with the contact locations. 
     A particular embodiment of the invention is characterized in having four ejection barrels per submunitions cluster, with preferably two ejection barrels each being arranged in laterally aligned arrangement. 
     Preferably, the ejection device is configured to eject the submunitions barrel by barrel. 
     The invention is also directed to a discharging unit including at least one discharger, which is characterized by an ejection device in accordance with the invention, as described above. 
     The submunitions are preferably arranged outside of the ejection barrel of the discharger when the adapter is fastened in the discharger and the submunitions cluster is fastened to the adapter. 
     The adapter of the discharging unit is preferably configured to be clamped in the ejection barrel of the discharger, such as by means of a threaded connection. This allows the adapter to be removed from the ejection barrel of the discharger, which may be desired for performing maintenance or if the discharger is needed for ejecting conventional ammunition. 
     A part of the invention as a whole thus includes the surprising insight that, by intermediate arrangement of an adapter between a discharger and a submunitions cluster, a number of considerable advantages can be achieved. First, the volume, i.e. capacity, available for submunitions to be ejected can be increased considerably. Second, it becomes possible to overcome dependency on a specific caliber of submunition. Third, the contact head within the discharger unit is shielded from external sources of dirt, grime and other contamination. Fourth, the wiring of the device can be simplified and the device can be made easier to service and handle. This altogether results in considerable cost savings. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to do away with the conventionally tolerated need for using different dischargers for ejection of particular numbers and/or a particular types of submunitions. Further cost savings are achieved through an associated reduction in maintenance requirements and costs. Moreover, the range of application of a discharging unit in accordance with the invention is expanded owing to its modular structure, which is particularly advantageous in tactical and strategic respects. 
     Further features and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description giving a detailed explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to schematic drawings. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 1, one representative, preferred embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention includes an adapter  10  and a submunitions cluster  20  which are constructed to releasably connect to each other, both electrically and mechanically. 
     The adapter  10 , shown more specifically in FIG. 4, has the following construction: 
     A control unit is fastened inside an adapter housing  11  by means of fastening screws  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c , as is also indicated in FIG.  3 . The control unit, in turn, includes resilient contact pins  12  located on a contact pin carrier  13  contacted to an electronic control on circuit boards  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  which, in turn, are electrically connected with a battery  16 . 
     The control unit is moreover adapted to be externally controlled by way of its contact rings  15   a ,  15   b  via a discharger  1 . To this end, the adapter  10  is preferably inserted into the ejection barrel  2  of the discharger  1  from below in such a way that the control unit, with the exception of the contact pins  12  on the contact pin carrier  13 , is positioned inside the ejection barrel  2  of the discharger  1 , i.e., in the region between points A and B of FIG.  4 . The adapter  10  clamps or otherwise fastens in the ejection barrel of the discharger  1 , for instance, by means of an adapter screw  18 . 
     The submunitions cluster  20  in accordance with the invention is preferably constructed as follows, with reference in particular to FIG.  5 : 
     A submunitions cluster housing  21  presents a fastening groove  22  for mechanical connection to the adapter housing  11 , with the assembled condition of adapter  10  and submunitions cluster  20  being represented in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
     Inside the submunition housing  21 , four ejection barrels  23 ,  23 ′,  23 ″,  23 ′″ are arranged in two rows in parallel with each other, see FIG. 2, only one of which is visible in section in FIG.  5 . 
     Inside each ejection barrel  23 , four submunitions  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d , each having a respective gas compartment  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d  arranged underneath are serially inserted in the direction of ejection. Underneath the lowermost gas compartment  25   d , the ejection barrel  23  is closed by a bottom lid  26 . The bottom lid  26  is connected to a circuit board  27  having an electrical circuit and contact locations  28  that electrically contact with the contact pins  12  on the contact pin carrier  13  of the adapter  10  mounted thereon. 
     Each ejection barrel  23  comprises lateral bores  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d in the vicinity of the gas compartments  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d  to provide a connection with a propellant charge rail  29 . The propellant charge rail  29  for each ejection barrel  23  extends in parallel with the ejection barrel  23  and connects to the ejection barrel  23  via respective threaded bolts  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c ,  33   d . One propellant charge  31   a ,  31   b ,  31   c ,  31   d , together with primer  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d  for each submunition  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d  in the ejection barrel  23 , is arranged in the propellant charge rail  29 . The primers  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d , in turn, are electrically connected with the control unit located inside the adapter  10  by way of the circuit board  27  and the contact locations  28  of the submunitions cluster  20  in the assembled condition of adapter  10  and submunitions cluster  20 , as is indicated in FIG.  3 . 
     The submunitions cluster  20  finally moreover includes a temperature sensor  34  in the vicinity of the one submunition  24   d  to be ejected last from the ejection barrel  23 . This temperature sensor  34  is also electrically connected with the control unit in the adapter  10  by way of the circuit board  27  and specifically with the contact locations  28  when the submunitions cluster  20  is fitted to the adapter  10  in the manner shown in FIG.  3 . 
     A discharger in accordance with the invention including the above described device is, for example, preferably constructed as follows for ejecting a multiplicity of submunitions: 
     The control unit  12 ,  13 ,  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  15   a ,  15   b ,  16  is introduced, from below in the representations of FIGS. 3 and 4, into the adapter housing  11  and is immobilised there by means of the three fastening screws  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c . Sealing inside the adapter housing  10  against environmental influences is ensured by O-rings not shown here. The adapter housing  11  is inserted into the ejection barrel  2  of the discharger  1 , and the positional arrangement of the adapter  10  is immobilised inside the discharger  1  by tightening the adapter screw  18 . The adapter  10  thus mounted need be removed from the discharger  1  only for regular maintenance purposes or if conventional ammunition is to be discharged from the discharger. 
     The four ejection barrels  23 ,  23 ′,  23 ″,  23 ′″ with their respective propellant charge rails  29  mounted thereon and submunitions  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d  loaded therein are inserted into the submunitions cluster housing  21 . Herein the four ejection barrels  23 ,  23 ′,  23 ″,  23 ′″ are connected with each other by means of the bottom lid  26  of the submunitions cluster  20  which supports the circuit board  27 . 
     The submunitions cluster  20  is fitted on the adapter  10  located inside the discharger  1  from above in the representation of FIGS. 1 and 3, whereby the clamping groove  22  provides for a firm mechanical connection and the contact locations  28  of the submunitions cluster  20  enter into contact with the contact pins  12  of the adapter  10 . The arrangement of the contacts  12 ,  28  in relation to the clamping groove  22  is designed to prevent erroneous contacting. 
     As a result of the larger space for the submunitions  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d  due to the intermediate arrangement of the adapter  10 , it becomes possible to selectively discharge a total of sixteen submunitions  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d  from four ejection barrels  23 ,  23 ′,  23 ″,  23 ′″ by means of a single discharger  1 . This is highly effective, e.g., in building up a desired screening wall at a selected distance over a selected period. 
     If it is, for example, intended, in a first step, to eject only submunitions  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d  of ejection barrel  23 , a corresponding signal is supplied to the contact rings  15   a ,  15   b of the adapter  10  and transmitted to the corresponding primers  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d  via the electronic control of the adapter and the circuit board  27  of the submunitions cluster  20 . By triggering a primer, for example primer  32   a , the corresponding propellant charge  31   a  is ignited, so that propellant charge gas enters into the associated gas compartment  25   a  by way of the corresponding bore  30   a . This, in turn, leads pressure to build up until the submunition  24   a  located above this gas compartment  25   a  in the discharging direction is finally ejected from the ejection barrel  23 . This analogously applies to ejection of the three remaining submunitions  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d . The charge condition of the ejection barrel  23  may be examined during ejection by means of the temperature sensor  34 . 
     It is, of course, also possible to control the four ejection barrels  23 ,  23 ′,  23 ″,  23 ′″ consecutively with a specific delay, in groups, or simultaneously, in order to eject their respective submunitions  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d . This provides the highly advantageous option of building up a smoke screen required for masking or protection within a period as brief as only a few seconds. The above description of the preferred embodiments has been given by way of example. From the disclosure given, those skilled in the art will not only understand the present invention and its attendant advantages, but will also find apparent various changes and modifications to the structures disclosed. It is sought, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.