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EP 1 297 293 B1

EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(12)

(45) Date of publication and mention

(51) Int Cl.:

F42B 10/14 (2006.01)

of the grant of the patent:

18.11.2009 Bulletin 2009/47

F42B 10/40 (2006.01)

(86) International application number:

PCT/SE2001/001332

(21) Application number: 01941374.9

(87) International publication number:

(22) Date of filing: 13.06.2001

WO 2002/006760 (24.01.2002 Gazette 2002/04)

(54) FIN-STABILIZED SHELL

FLGELSTABILISIERTES GESCHOSS
MUNITION A DERIVE STABILISEE
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IT SE

(30) Priority: 03.07.2000 SE 0002487

(43) Date of publication of application:
02.04.2003 Bulletin 2003/14

(73) Proprietor: BAE Systems Bofors AB

HELLMAN, Ulf
S-89430 Sjlevad, rnskldsvik (SE)
HOLMQVIST, Ulf
S-691 48 Karlskoga (SE)

(74) Representative: Falk, Bengt et al

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

691 80 Karlskoga (SE)

(56) References cited:

(72) Inventors:

EP 1 297 293 B1

JOHNSSON, Stig
S-691 53 Karlskoga (SE)

EP-A2- 0 076 990

GB-A- 2 265 443

DE-A1- 3 344 402

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).
Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

EP 1 297 293 B1

Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a novel type of
fin-stabilized artillery shell of the general type which is
provided with a drive band as its direct contact with the
inside of the barrel from which it is fired and which is
therefore fired only at a low speed of rotation about its
longitudinal axis and which, in order to stabilize it in its
continued trajectory towards the target, is provided with
stabilizing fins which are arranged at its rear end, are
retracted initially and until the shell has completely left
the barrel, and can then be deployed when the shell has
fully left the barrel.
[0002] Fin-stabilized shells are mechanically more
complicated than conventional rotation-stabilized shells,
but they can be given longer ranges of fire since the fins
included in them can be designed to give the shell an
increased lifting force. It is also much easier to correct
the flight path of a fin-stabilized nonrotating or slowly rotating shell than it is for corresponding rotation-stabilized
shells rotating at high speed. These two properties have
meant that development work on new long-range shells
guided in their final phase has increasingly concentrated
on making them fin-stabilized.
[0003] However, one problem which has had to be
dealt with in connection with shells of this type is that the
flight of the fin-stabilized shell in its trajectory towards the
target is all the more stable, the further the fins are situated behind its centre of gravity in the direction of flight
of the shell. In addition, the fins in the retracted position
block a not inconsiderable space in the rear part of the
shell, a space which it would often be desirable to use
for some other purpose. The need to have the fins lying
as far back as possible behind the centre of gravity of
the shell additionally often conflicts with the maximum
dimensions which are stipulated for artillery shells of different calibres and which must be complied with since
they cannot otherwise be loaded into conventional artillery weaponry, which as a rule is an absolute requirement. See for reference document DE-33 44 402 A
[0004] The present invention now relates to a novel
type of fin-stabilized artillery shell of the abovementioned
general type, that is to say one which is provided with a
drive band and is thus intended to be fired at low rotation
about its longitudinal axis, and which is additionally provided with stabilizing fins which are retracted in its rear
end until it has completely left the muzzle of the barrel
and which are designed in such a way that they are automatically deployed as soon as the shell is free of the
barrel and the muzzle brake. According to the basic concept of the invention, the whole fin system is now designed in such a way that the fins are not only deployed
when the shell has left the barrel: before they are deployed, they are additionally displaced to a new position
which is situated behind the original rear plane of the
shell during launch and where they are deployed. According to the basic concept of the invention, we thus
obtain an extension of the distance to the centre of gravity

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of the shell and therefore a more stable flight for the shell.
[0005] All the developments of the invention which are
defined in the attached claims are based on the fact that
the fins, arranged about axles provided for this purpose,
are to be mounted and initially retracted in a body part
which is axially displaceable in the longitudinal direction
of the shell relative to the rest of the shell body and which,
until the shell has left the launch barrel, and with the fins
retracted in the body part, occupies a space provided for
this purpose in the rear part of the shell, and which, when
the shell has left the barrel, is axially displaced to a second outer position in which it is locked relative to the rest
of the shell and in which at least that part of the body
comprising the fins and their bearing axles is located, in
the direction of flight of the shell, behind the latters original rear plane in a position which allows the fins to be
deployed.
[0006] The fin-stabilizing unit included in the shell according to the invention can thus be said to be characterized primarily by the fact that the attachment points of
the fins are formed by an axially displaceable body part
which, from a first retracted position completely in front
of the normal rear plane of the shell, can be pushed out
to a second deployed position where the fins and their
attachment points are situated behind the same rear
plane and where the fins are free to unfold.
[0007] The body part in question can then have the
basic shape of a tube along whose outer periphery the
fins are secured and in the original position incurved towards the inside in an outwardly open annular track in
the same and in the original position retracted into a tubular slit in the rear part of the shell. In the deployed
position, this type of body part thus gives the shell a hollow base, which can be very advantageous, especially if
the space in the actual shell body inside of the abovementioned slit contains a base-bleed unit.
[0008] If the body part instead has the shape of a cylinder which in the original position is inserted in a cylindrical cavity in the rear part of the shell and the fins are
arranged along its outer periphery, then the base-bleed
unit can be arranged inside the cylinder.
[0009] In these two variants of the invention, the fins
are expediently of the type which are mounted deployably
around axles arranged in the longitudinal direction of the
shell, or corresponding components with a hinge function, and in the retracted position are incurved transversely and wrapped around the body in which the axles
are secured, i.e. in this context the respective body part
in each variant, and it is the inside of that part of the shell
body in which the body part is arranged in the retracted
position which, as long as the body part is located in its
retracted position, also holds the fins incurved against
the periphery of the respective body part, and the fins in
the deployed and extended position, at least nearest their
bearing axles, extend essentially radially out from the
body part.
[0010] The fins in question here are therefore of the
general type usually referred to as folding fins or wrap-

EP 1 297 293 B1

around fins since, in the retracted position, they are folded

in towards and wrapped around that part of the shell adjoining the retracted position of the fins, while in the deployed and extended position they extend essentially radially out from the shell body, at least nearest their bearing axles. In most of the older types of folding fins and
wrap-around fins, especially those included in the missiles in the older reaction weapons and rocket weapons,
these fins retain a large part of their curved shape even
after deployment, but nowadays there are various light
metals, steel and titanium materials available with such
good inherent resilience and such good shape-memory
that it is possible to produce fins which, despite being
stored for many years in a curved retracted position,
change directly to their original plane shape after deployment and thus come to extend completely radially outwards from the missile on which they are secured.
[0011] Since the previously mentioned annular gap or
the space between the cylindrical body part, containing
the base-bleed unit, and the inside of the shell opens out
in the rear plane of the shell, the space between these
and the inside of the shell is acted upon, during launching
of the shell, by the whole of the gas pressure from the
propellant powder charge used unless the space is extremely well sealed. A way of eliminating the risk of the
gas pressure opening the seal between the mutually
movable parts and deforming the fins is for all the space
inside the gap not occupied by the holder part, the axles
or the fins, to be filled with a noncombustible, nonsolidifying gel or the like with low decompressibility and low
inherent strength. For example, certain silicones can be
used for this purpose. As soon as the holder part has
been pushed out and the fins have deployed, this gel
material is thrown off from the shell and for this reason
does not cause any further problems.
[0012] Other fins which can be used in connection with
a variant of the invention are of the type which can be
deployed about axles arranged transverse to the direction of flight of the shell and which, in the retracted position, are folded forwards and downwards in longitudinal
radial tracks in the body part and which, upon deployment, execute a rotation, of at least 90, outwards and
rearwards about said axles. This type of fin has the advantage that the fins can be made long and, because
they are angled rearwards in the deployed position, they
can be given a further stabilizing effect. They are also
easy to deploy since the relative wind catches the fins at
an early stage of deployment and acts on them in the
direction of deployment, and at the same time they are
not affected by any substantial transverse forces which
during the actual deployment phase could affect them in
a negative direction.
[0013] According to a further variant of the invention,
the respective body part can be divided up into at least
two sections which rotate freely relative to each other, of
which one body section ensures the connection with the
rest of the shell when the body part is in the deployed
position, while the second body section, at the rear in the

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direction of flight of the shell, supports the fins. This variant affords a shell with a free-spinning tail and fin portion,
which can be very advantageous since it gives the shell
much better manoeuvrability (it is quite simply easier to
manoeuvre and thus requires less rudder angle, for example on controllable fins, for a defined manoeuvre) without thereby losing its directional stability.
[0014] As has already been mentioned, the invention
has been defined in its entirety in the attached claims,
and the following is only a fairly detailed description made
with reference to the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a
shell of a first type in the launch position,

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Figure 2 is the same partial cross-sectional view

showing the same shell after fin deployment,

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Figure 3 shows the shell from Figure 2 on a smaller

scale and in an oblique projection,
Figure 4 shows, on an extra large scale, the crosssectional rear portion of the shell from Figure 2,

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Figure 5 shows, on a different scale, an oblique projection of the body part included in Figures 1-4,
Figure 6 shows, on a large scale and in a crosssectional view, a variant of the invention in the original position,
Figure 7 shows the complete shell according to Figure 6 with the fins in the deployed position,

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Figure 8 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a

shell according to yet another variant of the invention,
Figure 9 shows the same shell as in Figure 8, but
with its fins in the deployed position, and
Figure 10 shows the rear part of the shell from Figure
9 on a larger scale.

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[0015] Where the same components appear in different figures, they have been given the same reference
numbers regardless of whether they are shown on different scales.
[0016] The shell 1 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and
partially in Figure 4 is provided with a plastic drive band
2 and a base-bleed unit which is incorporated in the rear
part of the shell and is provided with a charge 4 of slowburning powder and a gas outlet 6 arranged centrally in
the rear plane 5 of the shell. Around the base-bleed unit
3, near the outer periphery of the shell, there is a tubular
or annular gap 7 extending in the longitudinal direction
of the shell. In this gap, a tubular body part 8 (see Figure
5) can be axially displaced from its first position shown

EP 1 297 293 B1

in Figure 1, where it is fully retracted inside the gap, to

its second position in Figures 2, 3 and 4, where it is deployed and its main part lies outside, i.e. to the rear of,
the original rear plane 5 of the shell. The body part 8 is
designed such that it is effectively locked in its outer position as soon as it has reached this position. A pyrotechnic charge arranged in the space 9 has been used to
push the body part 8 out to its outer position. This has
been initiated immediately after the shell has left the barrel from which it has been launched and powder gases
formed have forced the body part out to its locked outer
position. The powder gases have been distributed via
the channels 10. As can be seen from Figure 5, the holder
part 8 is provided with a relatively wide track 11 arranged
annularly about its outer periphery and the same number
of axles 12-17, arranged in the longitudinal direction of
the shell and extending over the track, as the shell has
fins. One of the fins 18-24 (23 and 24 not shown in the
figure) is secured about each of these axles and the fins
are bent into the track 11 in their retracted position. This
track thus has a sufficient depth to ensure that the retracted fins will have enough space there when the body
part is inserted into the gap 7. As soon as the body part
8 has reached its outer position, the fins spread out under
their own flexibility to their intended deployed positions.
[0017] Among the advantages of this construction that
may be mentioned, it not only extends the distance between the stabilizing fins and the centre of gravity of the
shell, it also gives the shell a hollow base, which gives
the base-bleed unit an improved action.
[0018] Figures 6 and 7 now show a second variant of
the invention where the main part of the shell can still be
labelled 1 and its drive band can still be labelled 2. By
contrast, the rear part of the shell here is not designed
with a gap, but instead with a cylinder-shaped hollow or
space 25 in which a complete unit 26 is arranged. The
unit 26 comprises both the base-bleed unit and the necessary number of deployable fins and some further components and functions which will be described below. The
base-bleed unit arranged in the unit 26 can also be labelled 3 here, and the same applies to its powder charge
4 and its gas outlet 6. By contrast, the base-bleed unit 3
here is contained in a cylindrical body 27 whose outer
periphery has a peripheral outer track 28 which corresponds to the track 11 in the body part according to Figure
5 and which has the same function as the latter, namely
for attachment of the fins and for providing space for
these when they are curved in against the body in question and the latter is situated in its position fully inserted
in the hollow 25. The figures show only fins 29 and 30,
but they can be of any chosen number. For pushing the
complete arrangement 26 out to its outer position, use is
made of a pyrotechnic charge 31 suitable for this purpose
and initiated on command. When this is initiated, the powder gases formed will displace the unit 26 to its outer
position, and the pyrotechnic charge also has a second
function in that when it reaches its burnout it initiates the
powder charge 4 of the base-bleed unit.

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[0019] As can best be seen from Figure 6, the space

25 is sealed off from the outside by an inwardly directed
conical edge 32, and the unit 26 at the same time has an
inner edge 33 which can be upset and is directed counter
to said conical edge and which, when displaced towards
the edge 32 at sufficient speed, will be deformed and
give rise to effective locking between the unit 26 in its
deployed position and the main part of the shell 1.
[0020] However, the shell shown in Figures 6 and 7 is
also designed with a further refinement. The unit 26 is in
fact divided up into a first section, which can again be
labelled 27 since it is this section in which the base-bleed
unit is arranged and in which the fins are secured, and a
second section 34 which is the section by which the unit
26 in the deployed position is locked relative to the rest
of the shell, and these two sections are joined to each
other via a ball bearing 35.
[0021] This arrangement thus means that the fins in
the deployed position will spin freely relative to the rest
of the shell.
[0022] Figures 8-10 show a further variant of the invention which in this case is equipped with no base-bleed
unit but with fins of a completely different type which have
the advantage that they can be made longer and that in
the deployed position they can be folded rearwards in
the direction of flight of the shell, which fact further increases their stabilizing capacity. However, the basic
idea remains that of displacing the fin-supporting body
part rearwards and out from the rear plane of the shell
upon launch in order in this way to increase the stabilizing
length of the shell.
[0023] The shell body here is once again labelled 1
and its drive band is once again labelled 2. In the rear
part of the shell body 1 there is a cylindrical hollow which
can have the same shape as the hollow 25 of the shell
in Figures 6 and 7. The hollow has therefore been given
the same reference label in these figures too, i.e. 25. In
said hollow 25, a body part 36 can be displaced between
a first position and a second position. In its first position,
the whole body part 36 lies inside the hollow 25 and in
its second position most of the body part 36 lies behind
the original rear plane of the shell, while still being connected to the shell. The body part 36 further comprises
a front section 37 which, when it reaches its rearmost
position in connection with the pushing-out of the body
part from the hollow 25, is locked relative to the rest of
the shell body, for example by means of an abutment
joint. In addition, the body part 36 comprises a rear section 38 which is connected to its front section 37 by means
of rotating ball bearing 39. The rear part 38 of the body,
which in the deployed position thus comes to lie behind
the original rear plane of the shell, is further provided with
a number of radial tracks extending in the direction of
flight of the shell, of which the tracks 40 and 41 can be
seen in the figures, and in each of these tracks there is
a deployable fin 42-47 (the fins 42 and 43 are not shown
in the figures). Each of these fins can be deployed about
its axle arranged in the rear section of the body part 38

EP 1 297 293 B1

transverse to the direction of flight of the shell. (Fig. 10

shows the axles 48 and 49 for example). When the fins
are deployed, they move outwards and rearwards about
their respective axles, the outer ends of the fins following
an arc-shaped trajectory to a preferably slightly rearward
position shown in Figures 9 and 10.
[0024] The body part 36 also includes a space 51 in
which it is possible initially to arrange a pyrotechnic
charge which generates gas when initiated and, upon
initiation of this charge, the body part is driven from its
inner position to its outer position. There is also a gas
outlet 52 for excess powder gas.
[0025] According to a variant of the method for displacing the body part from its inner position to its outer position, an empty chamber is arranged at a suitable location
between the main part of the shell and the displaceable
body part. This empty chamber can thus be arranged at
the same location as the chamber 51 and it will be designed in such a way that, during the shell launch phase,
it communicates with the inside of the barrel via an opening of defined size. This opening can be the same as the
opening 52 and it will be adapted such that the full barrel
pressure prevails inside the chamber 51 when the shell
leaves the barrel. When the shell leaves the barrel, the
pressure outside the shell drops more or less instantaneously from the barrel pressure to normal atmospheric
pressure. This very rapid reduction in pressure outside
the shell, combined with a high initial pressure inside the
chamber 51 in question, can then be used to force the
body part 36 out from its first position to its second position. As the counterpressure on the outside disappears,
the overpressure inside the chamber 51 is easily able to
force the body part 36 out to its outer position. In order
to function satisfactorily, this method requires a correct
adaptation of the dimensions of the chamber 51 and of
the connection 52 functioning as outlet and inlet.
[0026] As can be seen from Figure 9, the shell according to this figure is also provided with deployable canard
fins 53, 54 which are additionally movable so that their
angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shell can be
modified within certain values, which in turn makes it relatively simple to make the shell controllable within fairly
wide limits. The canard fins can additionally give the shell
extra lifting force, and when a shell is equipped with canard fins it is advantageous if the distance between these
and the normal stabilizing fins is as great as possible. As
has already been mentioned, it is together with control
functions, for example those obtained with canard fins,
that the freely rotating fin portion of the shell gains its full
effect since the shell is thereby more easily manoeuvred.

pletely left the barrel from which the shell has been
fired, and which stabilizing fins (18-24, 29-30, 42-47)
are then deployed when the shell has left the barrel,
which stabilizing fins (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) are
mounted in and initially retracted in a body part (8,
26, 36) which body part (8,26,36) is axially displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the shell relative
to the rest of the shell body in a space (7, 25) provided
for this purpose in the rear part of the shell from a
first position with the fins (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) retracted in the body part inside the space (7, 25) in
the shell body (1) to a second outer position in which
the body part (8, 26, 36) is locked relative to the shell
and in which second outer position at least that part
of the body (8, 27, 38) comprising the fins (18-24,
29-30, 42-47) and their bearings (12-17, 48-49) is
located, in the direction of flight of the shell, behind
the original rear plane (5) of the shell and in which
second outer a position the fins are deployable while
the body part (8, 26, 36) is still connected to the shell,
characterized in that the fin-stabilized artillery shell
further comprises an expansion chamber (9, 31, 51)
which is arranged between the rest of the shell and
the axially movable body part (8, 26, 36) supporting
the fins (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) allowing a gas expansion to take place in the expansion chamber (9, 31,
51) for the displacement of the axially movable body
part to the second outer position.

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2.

Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to Claim 1,

characterized in that the axially displaceable body
part (8, 26, 36), in which the stabilizing fins (18-24,
29-30, 42-47) are mounted, comprises a powder or
pyrotechnic charge (9, 31, 59) for generating the gas
expansion displacing the axially displaceable body
part (8, 26, 36) to the second outer position.

3.

Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to any of Claim

1 or 2, characterized in that the fins (12-17) are
secured along the outer periphery of a tubular body
part (8) which in turn is arranged to be axially displaceable, rearwards in the direction of flight of the
shell, in an annular gap (7) which is arranged in the
rear part of the shell body (1), near its outer periphery, and which in the longitudinal direction of the shell
(1) extends sufficiently far forwards to accommodate
the whole of the tubular body part (8) in the retracted
position and which in the radial direction offers sufficient gap space to accommodate said body part
(8), the fins (18-24) and the attachment points
(12-17) in the body part where the fins are secured
in a deployable manner.

4.

Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to Claim 1 or

2, characterized in that the fins (29-30) are secured
along the outer periphery of a cylinder-shaped body
part (26) which in turn is arranged to be axially displaceable, rearwards in the direction of flight of the

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Claims
1.

Fin-stabilized artillery shell which is provided with

stabilizing fins (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) which are arranged at the rear end of the shell and retracted in
the shell body (1) initially and until the shell has com-

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EP 1 297 293 B1

shell, in a cylinder-shaped space (25) which is arranged in the rear part of the shell body and which
in the longitudinal direction of the shell extends sufficiently far forwards to accommodate the whole of
the cylinder-shaped body part (25) in the retracted
position, the fins and their attachment points where
they are secured in a deployable manner, said cylinder-shaped body part (26) comprising in its central
part a base-bleed unit (3) comprising a powder
chamber (4) containing a slow-burning powder, an
igniter which initiates the powder, and a gas outlet
(6) arranged in the rear plane (5) of the cylindershaped body part.
5.

6.

7.

Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to Claim 3 or

4, characterized in that the fins (18-24) are of the
type which are mounted deployable around axles
(12-17) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the
shell (1) and in the retracted position are incurved
transversely and wrapped around the body (8, 26)
in which the axles are secured, i.e. the outer periphery of the respective body part, and it is the inside
of that part of the shell body (1) in which the body
part is arranged in the retracted position which, as
long as the body part is located in its retracted position, also holds the fins incurved against the periphery of the respective body part, and the fins in the
deployed and extended position, at least nearest
their bearing axles (12-17), extend essentially radially out from the body part (8, 26).
Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to Claim 1 or
2, characterized in that said fins (42-47) are of the
type which in the retracted position are folded forwards and inwards about axes of rotation (48, 49)
extending transverse to the width direction of the fins,
in grooves (40, 41) formed for this purpose in the
body part and extending in the longitudinal direction
of the shell, and from this position on deployment
they execute a rotational movement of at least 90
about said axis outwards and rearwards in the direction of flight of the shell.
Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to any of
Claims 1-6, characterized in that the body part (26,
36) included therein is divided in the longitudinal direction of the shell into a first section (34, 37) and a
second section (27, 38), these two sections being
connected to each other by means of a freely rotatable coupling (35, 39) whose axis of rotation coincides with the longitudinal axis of the shell, and the
first section (34, 37) of the body part constitutes the
connection with the rest of the shell and in the outer
position of the body part is locked relative to the latter,
while the fins (29-39, 42-47) are secured in the second section (27, 38) which, in its extended position,
lies behind the original rear plane (5) of the shell,
and these two body sections can rotate freely relative

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to each other at least when the body part is in its

deployed position.
8.

Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to Claim 7,

characterized in that the rotatable coupling between the first and second freely rotatable sections
of the body part comprises a ball bearing or roller
bearing (35, 39).

9.

Fin-stabilized artillery shell according to any of

Claims 1-8; characterized in that it also comprises,
in its front part, so-called canard fins (53, 54) which
are preferably controllable so that they deploy more
or less simultaneously with the deployment of the
rear fins.

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1.

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss, das mit Stabilisierungsflgeln (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) versehen

ist, die am rckwrtigen Ende des Geschosses angeordnet sind und anfnglich in den Geschosskrper (1) zurckgezogen sind, bis das Geschoss das
Geschtzrohr, aus welchem das Geschoss abgefeuert worden ist, vollstndig verlassen hat, und die Stabilisierungsflgel (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) dann ausgefahren werden, wenn das Geschoss das Geschtzrohr verlassen hat, wobei die Stabilisierungsflgel
(18-24, 29-30, 42-47) in einem Krperteil (8, 26, 36)
montiert und anfnglich eingezogen sind, wobei dieser Krperteil (8, 26, 36) in der Lngsrichtung des
Geschosses relativ zum Rest des Geschosskrpers
in einem Raum (7, 25), der fr diesen Zweck in dem
rckwrtigen Teil des Geschosses vorgesehen ist,
von einer ersten Position mit in den Krperteil innerhalb des Raumes (7, 25) im Geschosskrper (1) eingezogenen Flgeln (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) in eine
zweite uere Position axial verschiebbar ist, in welcher der Krperteil (8, 26, 36) relativ zu dem Geschoss verriegelt ist, und in welcher zweiten ueren
Position wenigstens jener Teil des Krpers (8, 27,
38), der die Flgel (18-24, 29-30, 42-47) und deren
Lager (12-17, 48-49) enthlt, in der Flugrichtung des
Geschosses, hinter der ursprnglichen rckwrtigen
Ebene (5) des Geschosses liegt, und in welcher
zweiten ueren Position die Flgel ausfahrbar sind,
whrend der Krperteil (8, 26, 36) noch mit dem Geschoss verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass das flgelstabilisierte Artilleriegeschoss ferner
eine Expansionskammer (9, 31, 51) aufweist, die
zwischen dem Rest des Geschosses und dem axial
bewegbaren Krperteil (8, 26, 36), welcher die Flgel
(18-24, 29-30, 42-47) trgt, angeordnet ist, die zulsst, dass in der Expansionskammer (9, 31, 51) eine
Gasexpansion fr die Verschiebung des axial verschiebbaren Krperteils in die zweite uere Position stattfinden kann.

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2.

EP 1 297 293 B1

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der

axial verschiebbare Krperteil (8, 26, 36), in welchem die Stabilisierungsflgel (18-24, 29-30, 42-47)
montiert sind, eine Pulver- oder pyrotechnische Ladung (9, 31, 59) zum Erzeugen der Gasexpansion
aufweist, welche den axial verschiebbaren Krperteil (8, 26, 36) in die zweite uere Position verschiebt.

entsprechenden Krperteils, gewickelt sind und es

die Innenseite jenes Teils des Geschosskrpers (1)
ist, in welchem der Krperteil in der eingezogenen
Position angeordnet ist, der, solange der Krperteil
in seiner eingezogenen Position liegt, auch die Flgel gegen den Umfang des entsprechenden Krperteils eingebogen hlt, und die Flgel in der ausgefahrenen und ausgedehnten Position, wenigstens
am nchsten zu ihren Lagerachsen (12-17), sich im
Wesentlichen radial aus dem Krperteil (8, 26) ausdehnen.

10

3.

4.

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach einem

der Patentansprche 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Flgel (12-17) entlang des Auenumfangs eines rohrfrmigen Krperteils (8) befestigt sind, der seinerseits so angeordnet ist, dass
er nach rckwrts in der Flugrichtung des Geschosses in einem ringfrmigen Spalt (7) axial verschiebbar ist, der in dem rckwrtigen Teil des Geschosskrpers (1) in der Nhe dessen Auenumfangs angeordnet ist, und der sich in der Lngsrichtung des
Geschosses (1) ausreichend weit nach vorwrts erstreckt, um den ganzen rohrfrmigen Krperteil (8)
in der eingezogenen Position aufzunehmen, und der
in der radialen Richtung einen ausreichenden Spaltraum bereitstellt, um den Krperteil (8), die Flgel
(18-24) und die Befestigungspunkte (12-17) in dem
Krperteil, wo die Flgel in einer ausfahrbaren Weise
befestigt sind, aufzunehmen.
Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach Patentanspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Flgel (29-30) entlang des Auenumfangs eines
zylinderfrmigen Krperteils (26) befestigt sind, der
seinerseits in der Flugrichtung des Geschosses
nach rckwrts in einem zylinderfrmigen Raum
(25) axial verschiebbar angeordnet ist, der in dem
rckwrtigen Teil des Geschosskrpers angeordnet
ist, und der in der Lngsrichtung des Geschosses
sich ausreichend weit nach vorwrts erstreckt, um
den gesamten zylinderfrmigen Krperteil (25) in der
eingezogenen Position, die Flgel und deren Befestigungspunkte, wo diese in ausfahrbarer Weise gesichert sind, aufzunehmen, wobei der zylinderfrmige Krperteil (26) in seinem mittleren Teil eine Basisausstrmeinheit (3) aufweist, die eine Pulverkammer (4), welche ein langsam verbrennendes Pulver,
einen Znder, der das Pulver zndet, und einen Gasauslass (6) enthlt, der in der rckwrtigen Ebene
des zylinderfrmigen Krperteils angeordnet ist.

6.

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach Patentanspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

die Flgel (42-47) von der Bauart sind, welche in der
eingezogenen Position um die Rotationsachsen (48,
49), welche sich quer zu der Breitenrichtung der Flgel erstrekken, in Nuten (40, 41), welche fr diesen
Zweck in dem Krperteil ausgebildet sind und die
sich in Lngsrichtung des Geschosses erstrecken,
nach vorwrts und einwrts gefaltet sind, und aus
dieser Position beim Ausfahren eine Rotationsbewegung von wenigstens 90 um die Achse nach auswrts und rckwrts in der Flugrichtung des Geschosses ausfhren.

7.

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach einem

der Patentansprche 1-6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der in diesem enthaltene Krperteil (26,
36) in der Lngsrichtung des Geschosses in einen
ersten Abschnitt (34, 37) und einen zweiten Abschnitt (27, 38) unterteilt ist, wobei diese zwei Abschnitte miteinander mittels einer frei drehbaren
Kupplung (35, 39) verbunden sind, deren Drehachse
mit der Lngsachse des Geschosses bereinstimmt,
und der erste Abschnitt (34, 37) des Krperteils die
Verbindung mit dem Rest des Geschosses bildet
und in der ueren Position des Krperteils relativ
zu dem letztgenannten arretiert ist, whrend die Flgel (29-39, 42-47) in dem zweiten Abschnitt (27, 38)
befestigt sind, der in seiner ausgebreiteten Position
hinter der ursprnglichen rckwrtigen Ebene (5)
des Geschosses liegt, und dass diese zwei Krperabschnitte relativ zueinander wenigstens dann frei
drehen knnen, wenn der Krperteil in seiner ausgefahrenen Position ist.

8.

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach Patentanspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die

drehbare Kupplung zwischen den ersten und zweiten frei drehbaren Abschnitten des Krperteils ein
Kugellager oder ein Rollenlager (35, 39) aufweist.

9.

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach einem

der Patentansprche 1-8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieses an seinem vorderen Teil auch sogenannte Entenflgel (53, 54) aufweist, die vorzugsweise so steuerbar sind, dass sie mehr oder weniger

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

5.

Flgelstabilisiertes Artilleriegeschoss nach Patentanspruch 3 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

die Flgel (18-24) von der Bauart sind, die um die
Achsen (12-17), welche in der Lngsrichtung des
Geschosses (1) angeordnet sind, ausfahrbar montiert sind und in der eingezogenen Position quer eingebogen und um den Krper (8, 26), in welchem die
Achsen gesichert sind, d.h. den Auenumfang des

55

12

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EP 1 297 293 B1

gleichzeitig mit dem Ausfahren der rckwrtigen Flgel ausfahren.

Revendications
1.

Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes qui est prvu

avec des ailettes de stabilisation (18 - 24, 29 - 30,
42 - 47) qui sont agences au niveau de lextrmit
arrire de lobus et rtractes dans le corps de lobus
(1) initialement et jusqu ce que lobus ait compltement quitt le canon partir duquel lobus a t
tir, et lesquelles ailettes de stabilisation (18 - 24, 29
- 30, 42 - 47) sont alors dployes lorsque lobus a
quitt le canon, lesquelles ailettes de stabilisation
(18 - 24, 29 - 30, 42 - 47) sont montes dans une
partie de corps (8, 26, 36) et initialement rtractes
dans cette partie de corps (8, 26, 36), laquelle partie
de corps (8, 26, 36) est axialement dplaable dans
la direction longitudinale de lobus par rapport au reste du corps dobus dans un espace (7, 25) prvu
cet effet dans la partie arrire de lobus, dune premire position avec les ailettes (18 - 24, 29 - 30, 42
- 47) rtractes dans la partie de corps lintrieur
de lespace (7, 25) dans le corps dobus (1), une
seconde position externe dans laquelle la partie de
corps (8, 26, 36) est bloque sur lobus et dans laquelle seconde position externe au moins cette partie du corps (8, 27, 38) comprenant les ailettes (18
- 24, 29 - 30, 42 - 47) et leurs paliers (12 - 17, 48
-49) est positionne, dans la direction de vol de
lobus, derrire le plan arrire dorigine (5) de lobus
et dans laquelle seconde position externe, les ailettes peuvent se dployer alors que la partie de corps
(8, 26, 36) est encore raccorde lobus, caractris en ce que lobus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes
comprend en outre une chambre dexpansion (9, 31,
51) qui est agence entre le reste de lobus et la
partie de corps (8, 26, 36) axialement mobile supportant les ailettes (18 - 24, 29 - 30, 42 - 47) permettant loccurrence dune expansion de gaz dans la
chambre dexpansion (9, 31, 51) pour le dplacement de la partie de corps axialement mobile dans
la seconde position externe.

laire (8) qui est agence son tour pour tre axialement dplaable, vers larrire dans la direction de
vol de lobus, dans un espace annulaire (7) qui est
agenc dans la partie arrire du corps dobus (1),
proximit de sa priphrie externe, et qui dans la
direction longitudinale de lobus (1) stend suffisamment vers lavant pour loger la totalit de la partie de
corps tubulaire (8) dans la position rtracte et qui
dans la direction radiale offre lespace suffisant pour
loger ladite partie de corps (8), les ailettes (18 - 24)
et les points de fixation (12 - 17) dans la partie de
corps o les ailettes sont fixes dune manire dployable.

10

15

4.

Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractris en ce que les ailettes
(29 - 30) sont fixes le long de la priphrie externe
dune partie de corps (26) en forme de cylindre qui
est son tour agence pour tre axialement dplaable, vers larrire dans la direction de vol de lobus,
dans un espace (25) en forme de cylindre qui est
agenc dans la partie arrire du corps dobus et qui,
dans la direction longitudinale de lobus, stend suffisamment vers lavant pour loger la totalit de la
partie de corps (26) en forme de cylindre dans la
position rtracte, les ailettes et leurs points de fixation o elles sont fixes dune manire dployable,
ladite partie de corps (26) en forme de cylindre comprenant dans sa partie centrale, une unit de rducteur de trane du culot (3) comprenant une chambre
de poudre (4) contenant une poudre combustion
lente, un allumeur qui allume la poudre et une sortie
de gaz (6) agence dans le plan arrire (5) de la
partie de corps en forme de cylindre.

5.

Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon la revendication 3 ou 4, caractris en ce que les ailettes
(18 - 24) sont du type qui sont montes de manire
dployable autour des essieux (12 - 17) agencs
dans la direction longitudinale de lobus (1) et dans
la position rtracte, sont incurves de manire
transversale et enroules autour du corps (8, 26)
dans lequel les essieux sont fixs, cest--dire la priphrie externe de la partie de corps respective, et
il sagit de lintrieur de cette partie du corps dobus
(1) dans laquelle la partie de corps est agence dans
la position rtracte, tant que la partie de corps est
positionne dans sa position rtracte, maintient
galement les ailettes incurves contre la priphrie
de la parte de corps respective, et les ailettes dans
la position dploye et tendue, au moins le plus
prs de leurs essieux de palier (12 - 17), stendent
essentiellement radialement partir de la partie de
corps (8, 26).

6.

Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractris en ce que lesdites ailettes (42 - 47) sont du type qui dans la position rtrac-

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25

30

35

40

45

2.

3.

Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon la revendication 1, caractris en ce que la partie de corps
(8, 26, 36) axialement dplaable, dans laquelle les
ailettes de stabilisation (18 - 24, 29 - 30, 42 - 47)
sont montes, comprend une poudre ou charge pyrotechnique (9, 31, 59) pour gnrer lexpansion de
gaz dplaant la partie de corps (8, 26, 36) axialement dplaable dans la seconde position externe.
Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon lune
quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2, caractris
en ce que les ailettes (12 - 17) sont fixes le long
de la priphrie externe dune partie de corps tubu-

14

50

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EP 1 297 293 B1

te, sont plies vers lavant et vers lintrieur autour

des axes de rotation (48, 49) stendant transversalement par rapport au sens de la largeur des ailettes,
dans des rainures (40, 41) formes cet effet dans
la partie de corps et stendant dans la direction longitudinale de lobus, et partir de cette position de
dploiement, elles ralisent un mouvement de rotation dau moins 90 autour dudit axe vers lextrieur
et vers larrire dans la direction de vol de lobus.

10

7.

Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon lune

quelconque des revendications 1 6, caractris
en ce que la partie de corps (26, 36) incluse lintrieur de celui-ci est divise dans la direction longitudinale de lobus en une premire section (34, 37)
et une seconde section (27, 38), ces deux sections
tant raccordes entre elles au moyen dun couplage
rotation libre (35, 39) dont laxe de rotation concide
avec laxe longitudinal de lobus, et la premire section (34, 37) de la partie de corps constitue le raccordement avec le reste de lobus et dans la position
externe de la partie de corps, est bloque par rapport
cette dernire, alors que les ailettes (29 - 39, 42 47) sont fixes dans la seconde section (27, 38) qui,
dans sa position tendue, se trouve derrire le plan
arrire dorigine (5) de lobus, et ces deux sections
de corps peuvent tourner librement lune par rapport
lautre au moins lorsque la partie de corps est dans
sa position dploye.

15

20

25

30

8.

9.

Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon la revendication 7, caractris en ce que le couplage rotatif
entre les premire et seconde sections rotation
libre de la partie de corps comprennent un roulement
bille ou roulement rouleaux (35, 39).
Obus dartillerie stabilis par ailettes selon lune
quelconque des revendications 1 8, caractris
en ce quil comprend galement, dans sa partie
avant, des dnommes ailettes canard (53, 54) qui
peuvent de prfrence tre commandes, de sorte
quelles se dploient plus ou moins simultanment
avec le dploiement des ailettes arrire.

35

40

45

50

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the readers convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

DE 3344402 A [0003]

17