Bae Systems Bofors Ab

Bofors Defence Ab

Ola Stark

Lennart Gustavsson

Lars-Peter Svanberg

Mats Lofgren

Lars Peter Svanberg

Johan Dahlberg

Stig Vitén

The invention relates to a method of, in the electrical ignition of a propellent charge () provided with an electrically conductive surface coating () and comprising one or more propellant components (), ensuring that ignition and progressive combustion of the propellent charge take place. The method is characterized in that said electrically conductive surface coating, when ignition of the propellent charge is desired, is connected to an electrical high-voltage source (), in that said high-voltage source is made to generate at least one high electrical pulse to said connected electrically conductive surface coating, and in that said at least one high electrical pulse produces an instantaneous flashover ignition of the electrically conductive surface coating of the propellent charge and of all its propellant components, simultaneously. The invention also relates to a propellent charge and to an ammunition shot comprising the propellent charge.

Method for electrical flashover ignition and combustion of propellent charge, as well as propellent charge and ammunition shot in accordance therewith

A method is provided for an electric activation of a plasma jet igniter for firing Electro-Thermal-Chemical (ETC) guns, machine guns and other equivalent ETC barreled weapons, without complete consumption of any of the components necessary for its activation upon activating the igniter. Each activation of the igniter by means of one or several voltage pulses, which from an electric pulse generator () are conducted between an anode () and a cathode (), is preceded by heating of the anode () to such high temperature that at least parts of the dielectric material () arranged in proximity to the anode () have begun to vaporize. The method may be implemented using an adapted plasma let igniter which has an anode that can be heated to a high temperature so that the igniter can be used for firing whole series of rounds or a full magazine of successively fired rounds in rapid order.

Plasma jet igniter used for an electro-theremal-chemical (ETC) gun, machine gun or other barreled weapon or equivalent type

An electrical energy-insulating, preferably ceramic, insert () which is fitted in a barrel () is adapted in order to prevent electrical energy transmission () from an electric igniter () to a barrel body on firing of an ammunition unit () which can be initiated with the electric igniter (). The insert is arranged in a position for firing of the ammunition unit. By means of the invention, a simple solution is obtained to the problem of electrical energy transmission by virtue of the fact that other measures do not have to be taken, for example the cases of the ammunition units do not have to be adapted by complicated and cost-increasing measures.

Arrangement for electrical energy transmission in a gun

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing and use of the ammunition round in other more conventional weapon systems than the said electrothermal and/or electrothermochemical weapon systems.

Caseless, complete round and also a method of manufacturing such a caseless, complete round

The invention relates to a cartridge case () and ammunition round () primarily for electrothermal and/or electrothermochemical weapon systems, which round comprises the said cartridge case. According to the invention, the casing () of the cartridge case comprises or consists of one or more insulated or insulating shells, layers or surfaces () for, at least electrically, insulating the casing of the cartridge case from the barrel () of the weapon system and also preferably from at least the bottom () and/or firing device () of the ammunition round as well, but preferably also from the rest of the ammunition round, when the round is used, and also preferably from at least the bottom and/or firing device of the ammunition round as well, but preferably also from the rest of the ammunition round, when the round is stored and handled. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an, at least electrically, insulated or insulating cartridge case and an ammunition round primarily for electrothermal and/or electrothermochemical weapon systems, which round comprises such a cartridge case, and also use of such insulated or insulating cartridge cases and ammunition rounds in different weapon systems, but preferably in electrothermal and electrothermochemical weapon systems.

Insulated cartridge case and ammunition, method for manufacturing such cases and ammunition, and use of such cases and ammunition in various different weapon systems

Growing community of inventors

Karlskoga, Sweden

Ola Stark