Plasma injection device for an electrothermal gun

US5988070A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rheinmetall W & M GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Herbert Krumm · Kaarst, DE
• Thomas Weise · Berlin, DE
• Frank Venier · Weinsberg, DE
• Gunter Stoffler · Reichenbach/Oberlausitz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 29, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 23, 1999
• Expiry date: Sep 29, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B5/08
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A plasma injection device in combination with a projectile includes a reusable multi-part propellant case which has a cartridge base and an electrically insulating case body directly attached to the cartridge base. The case body has an interior, a front end and an opposite rearward end. The rearward end of the case body is directly attached to the cartridge base. The case body has an outer surface for engaging an inner surface of a weapon tube whereby the case body constitutes an obturator. An electrode is held in the cartridge base in direct contact therewith. The electrode extends into the electrically insulating material and is exposed to the interior of the case body. The device further includes a plasma-receiving container having a front end and a rearward end; the rearward end is attached to the front end of the case body. The case body and the plasma-receiving container are substantially consecutively disposed end-to-end. The front end of the plasma-receiving container is in engagement with the projectile, whereby the container is flanked by the case body and the projectile. The propellant case, the plasma-receiving container and the projectile form a structural unit.