Europisches Patentamt

(19)

European Patent Office

*EP000883790B1*

Office europen des brevets

(11)

EP 0 883 790 B1

EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(12)

(45) Date of publication and mention

of the grant of the patent:
28.11.2001 Bulletin 2001/48

(21) Application number: 97914723.8

(22) Date of filing: 20.03.1997

(51) Int Cl.7:

F42B 12/16

(86) International application number:

PCT/SE97/00460

(87) International publication number:

WO 97/35157 (25.09.1997 Gazette 1997/41)

(54) AMMUNITION UNIT IN THE FORM OF A SHELL OR THE LIKE

MUNITION DIE DIE FORM EINER GRANATE ODER EINE DERGLEICHE FORM HAT
MUNITION SE PRESENTANT SOUS LA FORME DUN OBUS OU UNE FORME ANALOGUE
(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE DK ES FI FR GB LI NL

(30) Priority: 22.03.1996 SE 9601114

(43) Date of publication of application:
16.12.1998 Bulletin 1998/51

SJ, Lennart
S-632 39 Eskilstuna (SE)
BENENDO, Miroslaw
S-632 39 Eskilstuna (SE)
ANDERSSON, Pr
S-619 34 Trosa (SE)
LINDVALL, Richard
S-633 43 Eskilstuna (SE)

(73) Proprietor: SAAB AB

581 88 Linkping (SE)

(72) Inventors:

EP 0 883 790 B1

KARLSTEDT, Gustav
S-633 52 Eskilstuna (SE)
HELANDER, Jyrki
S-632 33 Eskilstuna (SE)

(74) Representative: Falk, Bengt

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

(56) References cited:

EP-A- 0 238 715
US-A- 4 854 240

DE-C- 3 605 580

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 0 883 790 B1

Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an ammunition unit in the form of a shell or the like, comprising at
least one front warhead and one rear warhead, such as,
for example, shaped-charge warheads, arranged in
succession one after the other and connected to each
other via a supporting structure. Each one of the warheads included is assigned an ignition device with ignition and safety functions, and the ignition device of the
front warhead is arranged in the supporting structure behind the front warhead in the direction of action of a warhead lying to the rear.
[0002] An ammunition unit of the abovementioned
type is already known from EP-A-0 238 715, for example. The latter involves a small front warhead with
shaped charge, the so-called pre-penetrator, and a larger rear warhead with shaped charge, the so-called main
charge.
[0003] In ammunition units of this known type, there
are a number of factors which can radically impair the
efficiency of the ammunition unit. One such factor is the
impact which the first activated warhead generates and
which propagates through to the remaining and not yet
activated warheads. The impact can damage warheads
situated to the rear or disrupt them such that they do not
interact with the first warhead in the manner intended.
The impact problem is aggravated especially when the
front warhead is made larger. Another factor impairing
efficiency is the disruptive influence which the ignition
device of the front warhead has on a shaped-charge jet
coming from the rear.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to lessen
or to completely prevent the impairment in the efficiency
of the ammunition unit caused by the factors mentioned.
The object of the invention is achieved by means of an
ammunition unit characterized in that a structure-dividing charge is arranged in the supporting structure in order to divide the supporting structure into a front part
and a rear part after initiation. In this context, division of
the structure is intended to mean everything from narrow cuts to more extensive removal of material in the
area where the supporting structure is divided. By dividing the structure, the impact from the front warhead is
prevented from reaching warheads situated to the rear.
At the same time, parts of the ignition device are also
exposed.
[0005] According to one advantageous embodiment,
the structure-dividing charge comprises an annular element with an external diameter essentially corresponding to the internal diameter of the supporting structure,
and a number of radial channels which connect the inner
surface of the annular element to a central point common to the channels. This embodiment of the structuredividing charge has been shown to produce an effective
division of the structure without any disruptive effect on
the rest of the ammunition unit. According to a specific
embodiment based on this annular design, the annular

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element is connected to the common centre point by

means of two channels directed radially towards each
other. The embodiment has been shown to give a symmetrical activation with little effect on warheads situated
to the rear.
[0006] According to another advantageous embodiment, the structure-dividing charge comprises a discshaped element whose external diameter essentially
corresponds to the internal diameter of the supporting
structure. A structure-dividing charge of this design is,
among other things, simple to produce.
[0007] For improving the efficiency of the ammunition
unit still further, according to yet another advantageous
embodiment a clearing charge can be arranged in order
to clear the ignition device belonging to a forward warhead out of the way. The design is characterized in that
a clearing charge is linked to the structure-dividing
charge in order to clear the ignition member out of the
way of a warhead situated to the rear. In one expedient
design, the clearing charge is made up of a curved plate
designed to be arranged between the ignition device
and the supporting structure and to cover only parts of
the circumference of the ignition device.
[0008] The clearing charge is preferably arranged to
be ignited by crossover ignition from the structure-dividing charge. In this case, the structure-dividing charge
and the clearing charge can advantageously be designed as one component.
[0009] In a simple and operationally reliable design,
the initiation of the front warhead, the structure-dividing
charge and the clearing charge is effected by means of
the ignition device acting at one initiation point common
to the warhead and the two charges.
[0010] The invention will be described in greater detail
below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
[0011] Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an example
of an ammunition unit according to the invention in the
form of a tandem shell.
[0012] Figures 2a to 2c show diagrammatically a section through the middle part of the tandem shell according to Figure 1, at three different times during the shell's
detonation phase.
[0013] Figures 3a and 3b show, in a front view and
cross-sectional side view, respectively, a first example
of a structure-dividing charge which can be incorporated
in the tandem shell according to Figure 1.
[0014] Figures 4a and 4b show, in a front view and
cross-sectional side view, respectively, a second example of a structure-dividing charge which can be incorporated in a tandem shell according to Figure 1.
[0015] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an example of a clearing charge which can be incorporated
in the tandem shell according to Figure 1.
[0016] The ammunition unit, shown diagrammatically
in Figure 1, is in the form of a shell 1 and comprises a
front explosive charge 2, which is incorporated in a front
warhead 18, and a rear explosive charge 3, which is incorporated in a rear warhead 19. In the case shown

EP 0 883 790 B1

here, the rear explosive charge 3 consists of a shaped

charge with liner 4, while the front charge consists of
another type of charge known in the context of tandem
shells. However, there is nothing to prevent both charges being of the shaped-charge type. The front and rear
charges 2, 3 are held together by means of a supporting
structure 5 in the middle part of the shell.
[0017] Figure 2 shows the middle part 5 of the shell
in greater detail. The supporting structure 5 comprises
a tubular part 6 which accommodates, inter alia, the ignition device 7 of the front explosive charge, with ignition
members and safety members. In this context, it is worth
noting that a corresponding ignition device, not shown,
is arranged behind the rear explosive charge 3.
[0018] Arranged between the ignition device and the
front explosive charge there is a structure-dividing
charge 8. A first example of a structure-dividing charge
is shown in Figures 3a and 3b. The structure-dividing
charge 8 in this case comprises a ring 9 and two radially
opposed channels 10, 11 which connect the centre of
the ring to the ring. The external diameter of the ring is
dimensioned so as to correspond essentially to the internal diameter of the tubular structure 5.
[0019] According to a second example of a structuredividing charge, shown in Figures 4a and 4b, the structure-dividing charge 8 comprises a ring 9 and a disc 21.
The ring 9 and the disc 21 can be designed as one unit.
As in the design described with reference to Figures 3a
and 3b, the external diameter of the ring is dimensioned
to correspond essentially to the internal diameter of the
tubular structure 5.
[0020] Arranged in the space between the ignition device 7 and the tubular structure 5 there is a clearing
charge 12. In the design shown here, the clearing
charge has the shape of a curved plate, see in particular
Figure 5, which plate covers parts of the circumference
of the ignition device. The clearing charge 12 is separated from the structure-dividing charge 8 by means of
an air gap 13 which is dimensioned so that crossover
ignition of the clearing charge can be effected from the
structure-dividing charge. Alternatively, the clearing
charge 12 and the structure-dividing charge 8 can be
arranged in direct connection to each other or can even
be designed as one single-piece component. A suitable
material for the clearing charge and the structure-dividing charge is a compressible explosive, for example of
the plastic-based type.
[0021] A number of alternative positions are possible
for the clearing charge 12. For example, according to
one embodiment, the clearing charge 12 can be arranged in the ignition device 7 and, according to another
embodiment, on the outside of the structure 5.
[0022] The ignition members in the ignition device 7
act at one initiation point 17, common to the front explosive charge 2, the structure-dividing charge 8 and the
clearing charge 12, at the centre of the ring 9, which is
included in the structure-dividing charge 8.
[0023] Upon initiation from the ignition device 7, the

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sequence of events which is shown in Figures 2b and

2c takes place.
[0024] In a first stage, the structure-dividing charge 8
detonates and divides the structure 5 into a front part 14
and a rear part 15 separated by an intermediate air
space 16. The intermediate air space 16 can be obtained by means of comparatively large or small parts
of the structure being blasted away in the vicinity of the
structure-dividing charge 8. The structure-dividing
charge can also effect a certain separation in the longitudinal direction between the front and rear parts of the
structure.
[0025] The front charge 2 detonates slightly later. By
virtue of the intermediate air space 16 which has been
formed, the impact from the front charge 2 is prevented
from reaching the charge 3 lying to the rear. When the
structure-dividing charge 8 detonates, crossover ignition to the clearing charge 12 takes place with a certain
delay. Upon detonation of the clearing charge, the rear
part of the tubular structure is broken open, as indicated
in Figure 2c, and the ignition device 7 is caused to leave
the area in front of the remaining explosive charge 3.
Free space is in this way made available to allow the
remaining explosive charge to develop its shapedcharge jet without disruption.
[0026] During the sequence of events described
above, the clearing charge 12 can be used to transmit
a detonation which in turn can ignite, for example, a
charge situated to the rear.

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Claims
1.

Ammunition unit (1) in the form of a shell or the like,

comprising at least one front warhead (18) and one
rear warhead (19), such as, for example, shapedcharge warheads, arranged in succession one after
the other and connected to each other via a supporting structure (5), in which each one of the warheads (18, 19) included is assigned an ignition device (7) with ignition and safety functions, and the
ignition device (7) of the front warhead (18) is arranged in the supporting structure (5) behind the
front warhead (18) in the direction of action of a warhead (19) lying to the rear, characterized in that a
structure-dividing charge (8) is arranged in the supporting structure (5) in order to divide the supporting
structure into a front part (14) and a rear part (15)
after initiation.

2.

Ammunition unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the structure-dividing charge (8) comprises a disc-shaped element (21) whose external
diameter essentially corresponds to the internal diameter of the supporting structure (5).

3.

Ammunition unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the structure-dividing charge (8) com-

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EP 0 883 790 B1

prises an annular element (9) with an external diameter essentially corresponding to the internal diameter of the supporting structure, and a number
of radial channels (10, 11) which connect the inner
surface of the annular element to a central point
common to the channels.
4.

5.

6.

Ammunition unit according to Claim 3, characterized in that the annular element (9) is connected
to the common centre point by means of two channels (10, 11) directed radially towards each other.
Ammunition unit according to any of the preceding
claims, characterized in that a clearing charge
(12) is linked to the structure-dividing charge (8) in
order to clear the ignition device (7) out of the way
of a warhead (19) lying to the rear.
Ammunition unit according to Claim 5, characterized in that the clearing charge (12) is made up of
a curved plate designed to be arranged between the
ignition device (7) and the supporting structure (5)
and to cover only parts of the circumference of the
ignition device.

kennzeichnet, da die Strukturtrennladung (8) ein

scheibenfrmiges Element (21) aufweist, dessen
Auendurchmesser im wesentlichen dem Innendurchmesser der Trgerstruktur (5) entspricht.
5

3.

Munitionseinheit nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da die Strukturtrennladung (8) ein

ringfrmiges Element (9) aufweist mit einem Auendurchmesser, der im wesentlichen dem Innendurchmesser der Trgerstruktur entspricht, und einer Anzahl von radialen Kanlen (10, 11), die die
innere Oberflche des ringfrmigen Elementes mit
einem zentralen Punkt, der den Kanlen gemeinsam ist, verbinden.

4.

Munitionseinheit nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da das ringfrmige Element (9) mit
dem gemeinsamen zentralen Punkt mittels zweier
Kanle (10, 11) verbunden ist, die radial zueinander
gerichtet sind.

5.

Munitionseinheit nach einem der vorangehenden

Ansprche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da eine
Rumladung (12) mit der Strukturtrennladung (8)
verbunden ist, um die Zndeinrichtung (7) aus dem
Weg eines dahinterliegenden Gefechtskopfes (19)
zu rumen.

6.

Munitionseinheit nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da die Rumladung (12) aus einer
gekrmmten Platte besteht, die dazu bestimmt ist,
zwischen der Zndeinrichtung (7) und der Trgerstruktur (5) angeordnet zu werden und nur Teile des
Umfangs der Zndeinrichtung abzudekken.

7.

Munitionseinheit nach einem der vorangehenden

Ansprche 5 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da
die Strukturtrennladung (8) und die Rumladung
(12) als eine einzige Komponente ausgebildet sind.

8.

Munitionseinheit nach einem der vorangehenden

Ansprche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da die
Strukturtrennladung (8), die Rumladung (12) und
der vorne liegende Gefechtskopf mit einem mit der
Zndeinrichtung (7) gemeinsamen Detonationspunkt versehen sind.

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7.

Ammunition unit according to either of preceding

claims 5 - 6, characterized in that the structuredividing charge (8) and the clearing charge (12) are
designed as one component.
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8.

Ammunition unit according to any of the preceding

claims, characterized in that the structure-dividing
charge (8), the clearing charge (12) and the warhead at the front are provided with one detonation
point common to the ignition device (7).

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Patentansprche
1.

2.

Munitionseinheit (1) in Form einer Granate oder

dgl., mit mindestens einem vorderen Gefechtskopf
(18) und einem hinteren Gefechtskopf (19), wie z.
B. Hohlladungs-Gefechtskpfe, die hintereinander
angeordnet und ber eine Trgerstruktur (5) miteinander verbunden sind, wobei jedem der vorhandenen Gefechtskpfe (18, 19) eine Zndeinrichtung
(7) mit Znd- und Sicherheitsfunktionen zugeordnet
ist, und wobei die Zndeinrichtung (7) des vorderen
Gefechtskopfs (18) in der Trgerstruktur (5) hinter
dem vorderen Gefechtskopf (18) in der Wirkrichtung eines dahinterliegenden Gefechtskopfes (19)
angeordnet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, da eine Strukturtrennladung (8) in der Trgerstruktur (5)
angeordnet ist, um die Trgerstruktur nach der Zndung in einen vorderen Teil (14) und einen hinteren
Teil (15) zu trennen.

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Revendications
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1.

55

Munitionseinheit nach Anspruch 1, dadurch ge-

Unit de munition (1) ayant la forme d'un obus ou

analogue, comportant au moins une ogive avant
(18) et une ogive arrire (19), telles que par exemple des ogives charge mise en forme, agences
en succession les unes aprs les autres et connectes les unes aux autres via une structure de support (5), dans laquelle chacune des ogives (18, 19)
incluses est dote d'un dispositif d'allumage (7)

EP 0 883 790 B1

ayant des fonctions d'allumage et de scurit, et le

dispositif d'allumage (7) de l'ogive avant (18) est
agenc dans la structure de support (5) derrire
l'ogive avant (18) dans le sens d'action d'une ogive
(19) se trouvant vers l'arrire, caractrise en ce
qu'une charge de sparation de structure (8) est
agence dans la structure de support (5) pour sparer la structure de support en une partie avant
(14) et une partie arrire (15) aprs allumage.

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Unit de munition selon la revendication 1, caractrise en ce que la charge de sparation de structure (8) comporte un lment en forme de disque
(21) dont le diamtre extrieur correspond sensiblement au diamtre intrieur de la structure de
support (5).
Unit de munition selon la revendication 1, caractrise en ce que la charge de sparation de structure (8) comporte un lment annulaire (9) ayant un
diamtre extrieur qui correspond sensiblement au
diamtre intrieur de la structure de support, et plusieurs canaux radiaux (10, 11) qui connectent la
surface intrieure de l'lment annulaire un point
central commun aux canaux.
Unit de munition selon la revendication 3, caractrise en ce que l'lment annulaire (9) est connect au point central commun par l'intermdiaire
de deux canaux (10, 11) dirigs radialement l'un
vers l'autre.
Unit de munition selon l'une quelconque des revendications prcdentes, caractrise en ce
qu'une charge d'vacuation (12) est relie la
charge de sparation de structure (8) pour vacuer
le dispositif d'allumage (7) hors de la voie de l'ogive
(19) se trouvant vers l'arrire.
Unit de munition selon la revendication 5, caractrise en ce que la charge d'vacuation (12) est
constitue d'une plaque incurve conue pour tre
agence entre le dispositif d'allumage (7) et la structure de support (5), et pour recouvrir seulement des
parties de la circonfrence du dispositif d'allumage.
Unit de munition selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 et 6 qui prcdent, caractrise en
ce que la charge de sparation de structure (8) et
la charge d'vacuation (12) sont conues sous la
forme d'un composant.
Unit de munition selon l'une quelconque des revendications prcdentes, caractrise en ce que
la charge de sparation de structure (8), la charge
d'vacuation (12) et l'ogive situe l'avant sont munies d'un point d'explosion commun au dispositif
d'allumage (7).

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EP 0 883 790 B1