Patents by Inventor Rolf Hellwig

Rolf Hellwig 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: 4854241
    Abstract: A spin stabilized carrier projectile comprising: a projectile body having a rear end; at least one submunition projectile disposed in, and ejectable from, the projectile body; and a projectile bottom disposed at, and ejectable from, the rear end of the projectile body, the projectile bottom having a side surface facing the submunition projectile and containing a recess, and a folded, expandable deceleration element for reducing the velocity and spin of the projectile bottom upon ejection from the projectile body, the deceleration element including a sheet of material fastened in the recess for producing air resistance, and the deceleration element being deployable from a folded condition to an expanded condition with the aid of rotation of the projectile bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Synofzik, Rolf Hellwig, Klaus D. Karius
  • Patent number: 4722282
    Abstract: A payload-carrying projectile 1 includes a sensor 16 and a sensor carrier 15 disposed in a launch-resistant manner in a recess 14 in the tail section 11 of the projectile 1. After impact of the projectile, which is stabilized by extendable vanes 12, in the target area, where it may penetrate the ground as necessary, the object is to deploy the sensor from its protected position inside the projectile 1and to place it as high as possible above the surface of the ground. For this purpose, the sensor 16 is connected with a concertina bellows 15 which for its part leads into a reservoir 13a which is disposed in the projectile, and which is filled with polyurethane foam mixed with a propellant gas under high pressure. The connection of the reservoir 13 with the concertina bellows 15 is made via a valve 13c which is regulated by an electronic control element 13a containing, for instance, a timer switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Synofzik, Rolf Hellwig
  • Patent number: 4589340
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor-carrier which is transported by a useful load projectile to a predetermined target region which may be inaccessible and is set down in said region. For the purpose of avoiding damaging the sensitive sensor, the latter is, together with the sensor support, compactly mounted in a folded retracted condition in a rugged housing and is automatically projected out of the housing in an erected, extended position when the sensor-carrier is set down and the housing is opened. The sensor support consists of a plurality of rotationally symmetrical support members which are strung on a steel cable in a manner similar to a pearl necklace. The steel cable is surrounded by a sheathing and is connected via a disc to a coil spring for tensioning the steel cable. The sensor-carrier serves to position the sensor in an elevated position over the ground surface for improving its sensing and transmitting capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Hellwig, Jens Seidensticker, Klaus D. Karius
  • Patent number: 4342262
    Abstract: A subcaliber missile to be launched from a barrel, in order to serve as a carrier for satellite missiles of other ejectable bodies, has an envelope divided into two half-shells of tapering configuration which are articulated to the missile bottom and are held together by a missile head and by internal partitions separating the ejectable bodies from one another. When the missile is in flight, the ejection of the head by the detonation of a charge exerts a backward reaction force upon the envelope, causing its load to move forward therein whereby the partitions are disengaged from the two half-shells and allow them to flip apart. The half-shells are provided with slots for a recessed tail-wing assembly and with back fins which, like the missile bottom, conform to the caliber of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Romer, Rolf Hellwig, Dietmar Karius
  • Patent number: 4119037
    Abstract: A versatile carrier projectile for receiving and ejecting differently-sized ejectable payloads such as guided missiles and incendiary bombs is described. The payloads are disposed in successive, longitudinally spaced relation within a central cylindrical body of the projectile, with successive ones of the payloads being separated by a spacer disc. Each spacer disc carries an outwardly biased blocking rod. The outer end of each blocking rod terminates in engagement with a sawtooth-shaped groove on the inner periphery of the cylindrical body, so that the forward propulsion of the successive payloads through the cylindrical body is accomplished under a steady spring load of the blocking member on the inner wall of the cylindrical body. The front and rear portions of the cylindrical body are respectively secured to the shell head and the ignition charge container by shear pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Romer, Rolf Hellwig, Dietmar Karius