Patents by Inventor Karl W. Bethmann
Karl W. Bethmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 5148750Abstract: A unitary ammunition unit comprising a propellant charge. An explosive sub-caliber projectile having a pull-drive type of sabot is mounted on the propellant charge. The sub-caliber projectile is at least partially formed of a heavy-metal-sinter alloy of high density.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1989Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Wilfried Becker, Karl W. Bethmann, Bernhard Bisping, Ulrich Theis
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Patent number: 4850279Abstract: A subcaliber projectile has a small-diameter projectile body extending along and centered on an axis, having a radially outwardly directed outer surface, and adapted to move in a predetermined axial back-to-front direction, and a sabot formed of a plurality of similar segments annularly surrounding at least a portion of the body, the segments forming an inner surface generally on the outer surface of the body and having an extreme front end and an extreme rear end. This projectile is formed on one of these surfaces at the extreme rear end of the sabot with a radially projecting ridge of generally semicircular shape having a center of curvature. The other of the surfaces is formed at the extreme rear end of each segment of the sabot with a radially open recess complementary to and receiving the ridge.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1987Date of Patent: July 25, 1989Assignee: Firma Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Reinhart Fuchs, Hans W. Luther, Peter Wallow, Juergen Boecker, Walter Simon, Rudolf Romer, Klaus Gersbach, Bernahrd Bisping, Karl W. Bethmann
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Patent number: 4850280Abstract: A propelling cage sabot is provided with longitudinal slits and its front region is provided with centering holding elements which are oriented inwardly toward the projectile while its rear region has a centering face associated with the projectile. A rear opening in the propelling cage sabot is provided with an internal thread to accommodate a screw-in element which at its front serves as a seat for a tail surface of the projectile. Compressible band-shaped elements disposed around the circumferential region of the propelling cage sabot may be provided. Conical surfaces of the propelling cage sabot facilitate insertion of the arrangement at a cadence customary in automatic equipment, with any possibly occurring insertion shock not resulting in relative axial movement of the projectile with respect to the propelling cage sabot due to a frontal holding region and the centering surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1987Date of Patent: July 25, 1989Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Peter Wallow, Karl W. Bethmann
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Patent number: 4724770Abstract: A subcaliber projectile has a small-diameter projectile body extending along and centered on an axis, having a radially outwardly directed outer surface, and adapted to move in a predetermined axial back-to-front direction, and a sabot formed of a plurality of similar segments annularly surrounding at least a portion of the body, the segments forming an inner surface generally on the outer surface of the body and having an extreme front end and an extreme rear end. This projectile is formed on one of these surfaces at the extreme rear end of the sabot with a radially projecting ridge of generally semicircular shape having a center of curvature. The other of the surfaces is formed at the extreme rear end of each segment of the sabot with a radially open recess complementary to and receiving the ridge.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1985Date of Patent: February 16, 1988Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Reinhart Fuchs, Hans W. Luther, Peter Wallow, Jurgen Boecker, Walter Simon, Rudolf Romer, Klaus Gersbach, Bernhard Bisping, Karl W. Bethmann
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Patent number: 4677915Abstract: A sub-caliber armor-piercing projectile exhibits for improving its penetration effect against a strongly inclined target surface a break-up in the region of a fracture zone of an expendable nose portion. The latter is provided at its point region with an arrangement which favors a sliding-off, which arrangement includes at least two frusto-conical surfaces which encompass the longitudinal projectile axis A and which surfaces are differently inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the projectile or include a sphere disposed in a spherical recess. The arrangement can be cladded with a ballistic hood and can be provided in the region of the frusto-conical or the spherical surfaces with a lubricating medium. The fracture zone is constructed in such a way that when a deviating sliding-off of the arrangement occurs, as large as possible a twisting impulse is transferred under the main projectile portion in order to improve its penetration capability by means of a more favorable penetrating angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1984Date of Patent: July 7, 1987Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Juegen Boecker, Klaus Gersbach, Karl W. Bethmann
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Patent number: 4616569Abstract: An armor-penetrating projectile comprises an outer substantially cylindrically tubular member of great length/diameter ratio and density, centered on an axis, and having an axially throughgoing bore defined by an inner surface and an axially elongated inner member of greater strength and elasticity than the outer member extending axially through the bore the full length of the outer member and having an outer surface in tight radial contact with the inner surface of the outer member at at least a plurality of annular locations spaced along the axis. This inner member can be a bundle of wires that is inserted through the bore after the outer member has been expanded by heat, then twisted and longitudinally prestressed to lock tightly in the outer member.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1983Date of Patent: October 14, 1986Assignees: Rheinmetall GmbH, L'Etat Francais represente par le Delegue General pour l'Armement Bureau des Brevets et InventionsInventors: Patrick Montier, Jean-Claude Sauvestre, Karl W. Bethmann, Bernhard Bisping, Peter Wallow
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Patent number: 4616567Abstract: A method and apparatus for covering a target area with ammunition, wherein a container, which contains active bodies W arranged on different decks 30.1, 30.2 and which is to be brought over the target area, releases the active bodies W through release openings 34 on its sides to become effective from above on respective individual flight paths against objects, for example armored vehicles, present in the target area.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1985Date of Patent: October 14, 1986Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Rudolf Romer, Karl W. Bethmann, Christian Jaeneke, Manfred Moll
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Patent number: 4555971Abstract: In the method and apparatus for covering a target area with ammunition, a container, which contains active bodies W arranged on different decks 30.1, 30.2 and which is to be brought over the target area, releases the active bodies W through release openings 34 on its sides to become effective from above on respective individual flight paths against objects, for example armored vehicles, present in the target area.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1982Date of Patent: December 3, 1985Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Rudolf Romer, Christian Jaeneke, Karl W. Bethmann, Manfred Moll
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Patent number: 4551287Abstract: Inserts for hollow charges, especially for armor-piercing projectiles, are formed with a monocrystalline, unitary structure by melting and directional solidification of a body of the insert material, e.g. copper, in which a shaping member has been provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1979Date of Patent: November 5, 1985Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventor: Karl W. Bethmann
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Patent number: 4524697Abstract: A projectile arrangement for a gun barrel weapon having a plurality of sub-caliber projectiles which are mounted on a common sabot which is composed of a plurality of segments. These projectiles are designed for a sequential flight one behind the other at predetermined distances and along a common flight path and are joined to each other by means of a wire. The leading projectile deactivates a detonating charge upon impacting on a target region of a "actively armored" target, so that the next following projectiles can become target-effective without being disturbed.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1982Date of Patent: June 25, 1985Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Jurgen Bocker, Klaus Gersbach, Karl W. Bethmann, Gerhard Glotz
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Patent number: 4519316Abstract: In ammunition, preferably for machine cannons, including a subcaliber stabilized projectile equipped with a body of tracer material and a stabilizing element, the heat released during combustion of the tracer material is utilized to drastically change the strength of the material of an element used to fasten the stabilizing element to the projectile. By being able to set the time of combustion and of the change in the material, the stabilizing element changes its position with respect to the projectile. The system or ammunition in question becomes unstable and drops to the ground.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1982Date of Patent: May 28, 1985Inventors: Karl W. Bethmann, Ulrich Theis
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Patent number: 4369071Abstract: A process and arrangement for introducing an automatic cleaning device into the open end of a gun barrel so that the cleaning device may reciprocably move through the gun barrel and clean it. The cleaning device includes a drive motor, drive rollers, a pair of oppositely rotating brush members and sensing means. The arrangement for introducing the cleaning device into the gun barrel includes a lower trough-like member adapted to be joined to the muzzle of the gun barrel and an upper complementary member which jointly form a composite pipe member having essentially the same caliber than the gun barrel. A centering and tensioning mechanism is mounted on the muzzle of the gun barrel and serves to connect the composite pipe member to the gun barrel in axial alignment therewith. The cleaning device is positioned on the trough-like member and thereafter the complementary member is mounted on the trough-like member and connected thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1980Date of Patent: January 18, 1983Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbHInventors: Jurgen Flach, Rigobert Opitz, Karl W. Bethmann