Patents by Inventor Thomas Heitmann
Thomas Heitmann 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).
-
Publication number: 20110000391Abstract: A method for producing a shell and a shell produced by this method, wherein the shell has a projectile, a combustible propellant charge casing, and a casing cover that joins the propellant charge casing with the projectile, such that the projectile has a sealing ring adjacent to the casing cover. To realize cost-effective assembly of a shell of this type, the casing cover is produced as an injection molded part made of an elastic plastic, such that the front end region of the casing cover facing the projectile forms the sealing ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2009Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITON GMBHInventor: Thomas HEITMANN
-
Publication number: 20100294160Abstract: A projectile (1) is optionally used as a fragmentation projectile or as a projectile that utilizes a pressure wave effect created when the explosive charge (3) explodes. The projectile (1) contains an ejection charge (12), and an explosive charge (3) arranged in a jacket (4) that can be moved axially with respect to a fragmentation casing (5). The ejection charge (12) allows the explosive charge (3) and surrounding jacket (4) to be pushed at least so far out of the projectile casing (2) that, in the event of explosion, the explosive charge does not act on the fragmentation casing (5). In order to ensure that the jacket (4) of the explosive charge (3) does not develop any fragmentation effect, or develops only a small fragmentation effect, when the explosive charge (3) is ignited, a molded part composed of plastic or a light alloy is used as the jacket (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBHInventors: Christian BAUMANN, Thomas HEITMANN
-
Publication number: 20100236441Abstract: A cartridge (1) is provided comprising a cartridge case (2) and a projectile arrangement (3; 3?) with an arrow projectile (5; 5?) with a sub-caliber control unit (7), wherein the projectile arrangement (3; 3?) is connected to the cartridge case (2) via a case cover (4), wherein, after firing of the projectile arrangement (3; 3?), a precise guiding of the arrow projectile (5; 5?) in the corresponding weapon barrel is ensured due to a receptacle device (28; 28?) that centers the control unit (7) of the arrow projectile (5; 5?), and that can be separated from the control unit (7) when the projectile arrangement (3; 3?) is fired. The receptacle device is connected to the case cover (4) on the projectile side, wherein the receptacle device grasps a ring-shaped rear flange (29; 29?) whose outer diameter corresponds to the projectile caliber of the respective cartridge (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBHInventors: Thomas HEITMANN, Christian BAUMANN
-
Publication number: 20100212479Abstract: A method and work tool for inserting predetermined breaking points in a ring-shaped holding- and sealing band of a sabot cage projectile with an impact sabot cage are provided, wherein the band is arranged on a partial area of a receptacle device segmented through at least two longitudinal slits. The receptacle device connects the propelling element to the guiding cage of the impact sabot cage, and the guiding cage is segmented through at least two longitudinal slits. After mounting the band on the receptacle device, but before installation of the guiding cage in the area of the holding- and sealing band covering the longitudinal slits of the receptacle device, notch-shaped predetermined breaking points are inserted in the holding- and sealing band from inside of the band with the aid of a work tool, wherein longitudinal slits of the receptacle device are used for lateral guiding of the work tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBHInventor: Thomas HEITMANN
-
Publication number: 20100139518Abstract: The invention relates to a projectile (1) having a sub-caliber projectile core (2) and a guide cage or sabot (3) that comprises a driving element (4), which acts on the projectile core (2) at the rear thereof and is in the form of a plate composed of metal. In order to produce such a projectile (1) at low cost, the projectile core (2) and the driving element (4), which is in the form of a plate, are inserted as inserts into an injection-molding tool, and are extrusion-coated so that the injection-mold shape is chosen so that the contour of the guide cage or sabot (3) of the projectile (1) is produced after the injection-molding process.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbHInventors: Christian Baumann, Holger Brase, Thomas Heitmann, Michael Vagedes
-
Publication number: 20100077934Abstract: A shell with a subcaliber penetrator, which has a conical tailpiece, and with a basically disk-shaped propulsion element, wherein the conical tailpiece has a frustum-shaped recess that is open towards the rear end. The propulsion element is joined with the penetrator, preferably by a screw connection (projectile fastening bolt. To this end, a bolt element joins the propulsion element and the penetrator in the area of the tailpiece and has a borehole that is open at the rear end, into which propellant charge gases flow when the shell is fired and cause rending of the bolt element and thus separation of the propulsion element from the penetrator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBHInventors: Thomas HEITMANN, Klaus-Dieter FREUDENTHAL, Michael VAGEDES
-
Patent number: 7118065Abstract: A lateral thrust control is provided for influencing the flight trajectory of a projectile. The control has a main control unit; a central, axially extending main recess in the main control unit; a plurality of thruster recesses in the main control unit for accepting correction thrusters; an ignition element for one of the correction thrusters disposed in each of the thruster recesses; and at least one tubular conductor support of an electrically insulating material arranged inside the main recess of main control unit. At least some of the electrical conductors are in the form of conductive tracks fixedly arranged on the at least one tubular conductor support such that a particular contact element for a particular ignition element contacts the conductive track assigned to the particular contact element.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbHInventors: Thomas Heitmann, Michael Schwenzer
-
Publication number: 20050188891Abstract: A discarded propelling cage sabot for a sub-caliber projectile is provided. The sabot includes a plurality of propelling cage sabot sections arranged side-by-side in a circumferential direction and separated by separating joints, each of the propelling cage sabot sections having a pressure flange having a groove-shaped recess, and a frustum-shaped propelling cage sabot region which is positioned rearward in the direction of flight relative to the pressure flange. The sabot also includes a plurality of sealing band segments that are arranged side-by-side in the circumferential direction and are separated by separating joints, each of the sealing band segments corresponding to one of the propelling cage sabot sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2004Publication date: September 1, 2005Inventors: Thomas Heitmann, Michael Imdahl, Martin Berg, Stefan Keil
-
Publication number: 20050115446Abstract: A case bottom is provided for use with a large-caliber ammunition cartridge. The case bottom has a bottom section; a cylindrical section connected to the bottom section; a guide region provided on an end of the cylindrical section opposite the bottom section; and a ring-shaped elastic obturation that projects from and is connected to the cylindrical section. An outside diameter of the guide region is such that it is for supporting itself directly on an inside wall of a loading chamber for a respective weapon barrel following loading of the cartridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: June 2, 2005Applicant: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbHInventors: Thomas Heitmann, Martin Berg
-
Patent number: 6827206Abstract: A packaging container is provided for a large-caliber cartridge having a thin-walled cartridge case and a projectile, whose projectile head projects out of the front of and is connected to the cartridge case. The packaging container has an outer container and an inner container, which receives the cartridge. To secure the projectile of the cartridge inside the packaging container, with respect to a possible displacement of the projectile toward the rear end of the container, the projectile head of the cartridge is disposed in the inner container in a frictional lockup. For this purpose, the inner container has a one-piece projectile-head shaped receptacle at the front, to which a first half-shell that partially surrounds the cartridge case is connected, and a second half-shell, that is hinged to the first half-shell and can be secured to it.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventors: Holger Brase, Thomas Heitmann
-
Patent number: 6769364Abstract: A full-caliber projectile having a cylindrical guide region (5) and an ogival projectile tip (7). To improve the stabilization of the projectile (1) inside a gun barrel (2) in a simple manner, and therefore improve the intermediate ballistics and hit accuracy over those of comparable projectiles, a guide ring (8), which is segmented in the circumferential direction, and whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of a gun barrel (2) of the same caliber, is secured to the projectile tip (7) such that the radially spaced guide-ring segments (9) detach from the projectile (1) in the gun barrel (2) when a predetermined firing acceleration occurs in the gun barrel, and the segments (9) are pushed toward the projectile (1), axially relative to the cylindrical guide region (5), by dynamic pressure until they rest against the inside wall (18) of the gun barrel (2) and against the projectile (1).Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventors: Jürgen Kolodzey, Thomas Heitmann, Michael Imdahl, Michael Vagedes
-
Publication number: 20040084330Abstract: A packing case (1) for a large-caliber cartridge (2), having a thin-walled cartridge case (3) and a projectile (4), which protrudes at least partially out of the front of the cartridge casing (3), and has at its outer circumference an annular stop groove (5), with the packing case (1) including an outer case (6) and an inner case (7) that comprises at least two partial cases disposed one behind the other. To enable the cartridge to be easily secured in the packing case and subsequently removed, at least two spring-loaded stop elements (19) that can pivot toward the projectile (4) and have guide elements (21) are provided. The stop elements extend with a form-fit into the stop groove (5) of the projectile (4) and are supported at the rear against a partial case (11) of the inner case (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Applicant: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventors: Lutz Borngen, Holger Brase, Silvia Bruske, Thomas Heitmann, Michael Vagedes, Martin Berg
-
Patent number: 6725781Abstract: A cartridge, comprising a cartridge case (3), a projectile (4), a propellant charge igniter (8) extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of cartridge (1) and arranged inside the cartridge case (3), and an electrically programmable projectile fuse arranged in the projectile (4) and connected via at least one electrical line (110) to an electrode on the cartridge base (2). The cartridge case (3) comprises at least two case sections (5, 6) with at least one separation location in the region between the front end (7) of the propellant charge igniter (8) and the projectile tail (9) for the installation of a section of the electrical line (110) between the cartridge base (2) and the projectile fuse using two rotating connector assemblies, one of which turns more easily than the other.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventors: Torsten Niemeyer, Thomas Heitmann, Rupert Reinstadler, Michael Vagedes, Frank Schötzig, Rainer Himmert
-
Patent number: 6712005Abstract: A projectile to be fired from a gun having a chamber (2) with a conical transition region (4) to a caliber barrel (3) that adjoins the front of the gun. The projectile (5) has a sub-caliber penetrator (6), a jettisonable propelling cage sabot (7) connected to the penetrator (6), and at least one guide band (10) adapted to the caliber barrel (3) secured to the rear side or portion of the sabot. To ensure that the rear region of the propelling cage sabot (7) seals the chamber (2) against propellant gases that are pushing forward, even if the guide band (10) itself is still located in the chamber, an additional sealing ring (14; 17), comprising a deformable plastic, is provided on the existing guide band (10) adapted to the caliber of the barrel (3). The sealing ring assumes the function of providing the initial seal after the cartridge is ignited.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventor: Thomas Heitmann
-
Publication number: 20040003746Abstract: A cartridge, comprising a cartridge case (3), a projectile (4), a propellant charge igniter (8) extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of cartridge (1) and arranged inside the cartridge case (3), and an electrically programmable projectile fuse arranged in the projectile (4) and connected via at least one electrical line (110) to an electrode on the cartridge base (2). The cartridge case (3) comprises at least two case sections (5, 6) with at least one separation location in the region between the front end (7) of the propellant charge igniter (8) and the projectile tail (9) for the installation of a section of the electrical line (110) between the cartridge base (2) and the projectile fuse using two rotating connector assemblies, one of which turns more easily than the other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2003Publication date: January 8, 2004Applicant: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventors: Torsten Niemeyer, Thomas Heitmann, Rupert Reinstadler, Michael Vagedes, Frank Schotzig, Rainer Himmert
-
Publication number: 20030167957Abstract: A projectile to be fired from a gun having a chamber (2) with a conical transition region (4) to a caliber barrel (3) that adjoins the front of the gun. The projectile (5) has a sub-caliber penetrator (6), a jettisonable propelling cage sabot (7) connected to the penetrator (6), and at least one guide band (10) adapted to the caliber barrel (3) secured to the rear side or portion of the sabot. To ensure that the rear region of the propelling cage sabot (7) seals the chamber (2) against propellant gases that are pushing forward, even if the guide band (10) itself is still located in the chamber, an additional sealing ring (14; 17), comprising a deformable plastic, is provided on the existing guide band (10) adapted to the caliber of the barrel (3). The sealing ring assumes the function of providing the initial seal after the cartridge is ignited.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventor: Thomas Heitmann
-
Publication number: 20030101892Abstract: A full-caliber projectile having a cylindrical guide region (5) and an ogival projectile tip (7). To improve the stabilization of the projectile (1) inside a gun barrel (2) in a simple manner, and therefore improve the intermediate ballistics and hit accuracy over those of comparable projectiles, a guide ring (8), which is segmented in the circumferential direction, and whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of a gun barrel (2) of the same caliber, is secured to the projectile tip (7) such that the radially spaced guide-ring segments (9) detach from the projectile (1) in the gun barrel (2) when a predetermined firing acceleration occurs in the gun barrel, and the segments (9) are pushed toward the projectile (1), axially relative to the cylindrical guide region (5), by dynamic pressure until they rest against the inside wall (18) of the gun barrel (2) and against the projectile (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2002Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: Jurgen Kolodzey, Thomas Heitmann, Michael Imdahl, Michael Vagedes
-
Patent number: 6526892Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge case having a cartridge base; a projectile having a rearward portion received by the cartridge case; a propellant primer disposed in the cartridge case and extending along the longitudinal cartridge axis; an electrically programmable projectile fuze disposed in the projectile; an electrode disposed at the cartridge base; a plug mounted on the propellant primer at a frontal end thereof; a first contact carried by the plug; a first conductor extending in the propellant primer and connecting the first contact with the electrode; a socket, formed on the rearward portion of the projectile, receives and surrounds the plug; a second contact carried by the socket and being in electric contact with the first contact; and a second conductor extending in the projectile and connecting the second contact with the projectile fuze.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventors: Thomas Heitmann, Michael Vagedes, Michael Imdahl
-
Patent number: 6502515Abstract: A method of providing a high-explosive projectile with desired areas of fragmentation includes the following steps: securing a steel plate component in a circumferentially extending recess in the outer surface of a projectile body; directing an energy beam to outer surface portions of the steel plate component; heating, by the energy beam, narrow zones to a temperature above the melting temperature of the steel plate component to a predetermined depth thereof; and cooling the heated zones for effecting structural metallurgical changes in the steel plate component for obtaining the desired areas of fragmentation.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbHInventors: Helmut Burckhardt, Walter Simon, Thomas Heitmann
-
Publication number: 20020185386Abstract: A packaging container (1) for a large-caliber cartridge (2) having a thin-walled cartridge case (3) and a projectile (5), whose projectile head (6) projects out of the front of and is connected to the cartridge case (3), with the packaging container (1) including an outer container (7) and an inner container (8), which receives the cartridge. To secure the projectile (5) of the cartridge (2) inside the packaging container (1), with respect to a possible displacement of the projectile (5) toward the rear end of the container when the projectile is a full-caliber projectile (5) whose projectile head (6) has a smooth surface, the projectile head (6) of the cartridge (2) is disposed in the inner container (8) in a frictional lockup.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Inventors: Holger Brase, Thomas Heitmann