Patents by Inventor Klaus Unterstein

Klaus Unterstein 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).

  • Patent number: 6302008
    Abstract: A process of producing a propellant charge igniter for cartridge ammunition of the type including an ignition tube with a booster charge, wherein the ignition tube is composed of a sheathing tube (4) with ignition openings (3) and a thin-walled protective tube (6) which is arranged inside the sheathing tube (4) in order to protect the booster charge, and wherein the external wall of the protective tube fits against the internal wall of the sheathing tube (4) and covers the ignition openings (3). To avoid microscopic gaps between the sheathing tube and the protective tube, which gaps influence the performance of the propellant charge igniter, a paste-like sealing agent (5) is introduced into the sheathing tube (4) before the protective tube (6) is inserted into the sheathing tube (4), and only then is the protective tube (6) inserted into the sheathing tube (4) to displace the sealing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Rheinmetall W&M GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Lübben, Stefan Thiesen, Klaus Unterstein
  • Patent number: 5481981
    Abstract: A sabot for a subcaliber projectile, preferably an arrow projectile, having an essentially cylindrical guide gage (8) of a lightweight material and a tail-side drive element (14) detachably connected thereto for tail-side support of the projectile body (1). The guide cage (8) has a radially inwardly-extending support wall (12) for supporting a projectile body (1) disposed therein in its forward to central region, and the drive element is a propelling disk (14) that is received by a circumferential or annular groove (13) in the tail region of the guide cage (8), which is segmented in the axial direction of the projectile body (1). As a result, a further reduction in weight can be accomplished with simpler fragmenting of the sabot that practically does not impair the projectile at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Sippel, Thomas Heitmann, Willhelm Becker, Klaus Unterstein, Jurgen Leeker, Walter Simon
  • Patent number: 5477786
    Abstract: A subcaliber arrow projectile includes a projectile body which has a rearwardly widening, conical projectile tip having a forward point and a rearward base, whose caliber corresponds to the projectile caliber. The projectile body further has a rearwardly widening, resistance-stabilizing conical rear part immediately adjoining the base of the projectile tip. The rear part has an enlarged caliber which is greater than the projectile caliber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Leeker, Klaus Unterstein, Wilhelm Becker
  • Patent number: 5295428
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of disassembling large-caliber combat cartridges, particularly armor-piercing cartridges, including a combustible casing jacket that conically widens in the direction of the projectile, a casing bottom and a casing cover to which is fastened a sub-caliber projectile equipped with a propelling sabot.To be able, on the one hand, to reduce expenditures for the disassembly of such combat cartridges and, on the other hand, to reuse a major portion of the original combat cartridges for the production of corresponding training cartridges, it is proposed to separate the casing jacket as well as the casing cover starting at their outer circumference, in regions having approximately the same, predetermined diameter D1. This diameter D1 here corresponds to the maximum diameter of the component of the new cartridge to be produced later from the disassembled components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Heitmann, Klaus Unterstein, Walter Simon, Dieter Jungbluth
  • Patent number: 4889030
    Abstract: A projectile has at two parts (3, 4) axially arranged one behind the other and mutually linked, of which at least one contains a deployable parachute (6, 6'). In order to achieve a design that ensures a smooth and reliable separation of the parts (3, 4), followed by the deployment of the parachute (6, 6'), both parts (3, 4) are mutually linked by radial bolts (19) that can be radially actuated by the gas pressure generated by at least one pyrotechnic load (15) and radially moved by the gas pressure, thus separating the two parts (3, 4). The pyrotechnic load (15) can be ignited by a fuse (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Grosswendt, Klaus Unterstein
  • Patent number: 4889053
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projectile including a cylindrical receiving chamber (4) delimited by an interior wall (3) for a braking parachute (17) which can be ejected by way of a piston (9) that is longitudinally displaceable in the projectile, with the piston (9) being chargeable by an ignitable pyrotechnic charge (10). The braking parachute (17) is encased in a longitudinally divided sleeve (18) one side of which is in engagement with the piston (9). In order to completely or partially recover the projectile and not to impede deployment of the braking parachute (17), it is provided that the rear of the receiving chamber (4) is sealed by a cover (23) which can be ejected by way of the piston (9), is equipped with a rotational imbalance (26) and is in engagement with the other side of the sleeve (18). The braking parachute (17) is fastened to the piston (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Grosswendt, Klaus Unterstein, Walter Simon
  • Patent number: 4765565
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve arrangement forming a combination with a pyrotechnic gas generator having a housing; a combustion chamber enclosed by the housing; a pyrotechnic propellant charge disposed within the combustion chamber; control nozzles disposed in the housing and communicating with the exterior of the housing; gas channels connecting the combustion chamber with the nozzles; valve devices for opening and closing the gas channels; and a control member for actuating the valve devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH.
    Inventors: Sigfrid Buchele-Buecher, Klaus Unterstein
  • Patent number: 4727902
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve for a hot gas generator is constructed as a valve arrangement which can be subjected to high temperature shocks and abrasion causing gaseous streams. The valve arrangement is constructed so as to have a prolonged operative life despite such operative demands, whereby simultaneously the predetermined pressure resistance for this valve arrangement is precisely maintained. For this purpose the valve arrangement includes a piston of substantially longitudinal cylindrical shape which has hemispherically shaped ends. A coil spring is operatively maintained behind the piston between a pair of end pieces which bias the piston towards a combustion chamber. The valve arrangement includes a valve body in which the piston is slidably moved. The valve body is made of a high temperature molybdenum alloy, whereas the piston, the seat and the end pieces for the coil spring 16 are made of a material having poor heat conduction characteristics, preferably silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Unterstein, Sigfrid Buchele-Buecher
  • Patent number: 4726544
    Abstract: A steering block for the final phase of a guided projectile comprises control jets acted upon by hot gas created in a combustion chamber. A preferred embodiment of more compact and acceleration resistant construction, uses four control jets arranged lying in the cross sectional plane of the projectile casing equidistantly distributed around the circumference of the projectile casing. Each control jet has a corresponding valve likewise arranged lying in a plane in such a way that their longitudinal axes extend along chords of the circular cross section of the projectile casing. In another preferred embodiment, for purposes of further cost reduction in volume and weight, the valves have an adjusting member made of memory alloy which is electrothermically acted upon by way of a heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Unterstein
  • Patent number: 4688379
    Abstract: The invention concerns a gas generator with a fuel gas filter for the pyrotechanical production of gases from a propellant charge. A separator chamber is disclosed that is designed with annular slots for the purpose of cleaning gas contaminated with solid residue from combustion. The gases produced in the combustion chamber enter the separator chamber through tangentially arranged gas ducts. After flowing through the annular formed separator chamber, the gases flow around the frontal area of the central axially arranged center block before they reach the guidance components, which are sensitive to soiling. Subsequently, the hot gases exit by way of a jet. Through the effect of centrifugal forces, the contaminating particles are slung against the outer wall of the annularly slotted separator chamber and are held fast in its special profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Sigfrid Buechele-Buecher, Klaus Unterstein
  • Patent number: 4659037
    Abstract: The invention concerns a missile body having a first flight guide and stabilization means mounted on the missile body and a second guide and stabilization means mounted on the missile body in front of the first guide and stabilization means with respect to the direction of flight. The second guide and stabilization means comprise a plurality of wings which are folded inwardly (collapsed inwardly, pivoted inwardly) into the missile body when in their inoperative position. These wings can be pivoted or slid outwardly when in their operative position by means of a collapsed expandable body which is expanded by means of pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is stored in a pressurized gas cylinder mounted within the missile body. The expandable body expands in a radial direction and thereby exerts a force on the wings which causes them to either pivot about a rotatable axis or to move in a radial direction outwardly of the missile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Unterstein