Disk-shaped sabot

Abstract

A disk-shaped sabot is provided for accelerating a projectile body fired from a smoothbore barrel, the projectile body having the same caliber as the barrel. The sabot is configured so that it is supported only in sections on the rear zone of the projectile body to transmit gas pressure forces impacting the projectile body, at least one cavity remaining between the sabot and the rear of the projectile body. At least one pressure-relieving bore extends through the bottom of the sabot, through which bore propelling gases penetrate the cavity when the projectile unit is fired and produces a defined excess pressure in relation to the outer ambient pressure, which causes the sabot to separate from the projectile body as soon as the projectile unit, consisting of the projectile body and the sabot, passes the muzzle of the barrel and without impairing the further trajectory of the projectile body.

1 . A disk-shaped sabot for accelerating a projectile body that can be fired from a launch tube embodied as a smoothbore barrel having a caliber and a muzzle, wherein the projectile body has the same caliber as the barrel, wherein the sabot comprises:
 (a) an outer diameter that corresponds to the caliber of the barrel;   (b) a body configured to transmit gas pressure forces impacting the projectile body during firing when the projectile body and the sabot form a projectile unit, wherein the body of the sabot is supported only in sections at the projectile body so that at least one cavity remains between the sabot and a rear of the projectile body when the sabot and the projectile body are disposed to form the projectile unit; and   (c) at least one pressure-relieving bore that extends through a bottom of the body of the sabot opposite the rear of the projectile body, wherein propelling gases move through the bore so that propelling gases penetrate the at least one cavity between the sabot and the rear of the projectile body in a controlled manner when the projectile unit is fired so that the propelling gases produce a defined excess pressure in relation to outer ambient air pressure, wherein the excess pressure causes the sabot to separate from the projectile body as soon as the projectile unit has passed the muzzle of the barrel.   
   
   
       2 . A sabot according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cavity remaining between the sabot and the projectile body is arranged to ensure that, after the projectile unit has passed the muzzle, the sabot and the projectile body uniformly separate. 
   
   
       3 . A sabot according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one cavity arranged between the sabot and the rear of the projectile body encloses a central longitudinal axis of the projectile unit centrally, or in a ring-shaped manner, or both centrally and in a ring-shaped manner. 
   
   
       4 . A sabot according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the sabot is plate-shaped with an outwardly domed bottom in relation to the rear of the projectile body, wherein the outwardly domed bottom is supported at an outer edge on the projectile body. 
   
   
       5 . A sabot according to  claim 4 , wherein the sabot is supported also in a central area of the projectile body via at least one support web at the rear of the projectile body. 
   
   
       6 . A sabot according to  claim 5 , wherein the support web is ring-shaped. 
   
   
       7 . A sabot according to  claim 1 , wherein in that the sabot is embodied to be one-piece. 
   
   
       8 . A sabot according to  claim 1 , wherein the sabot is made of a light metal. 
   
   
       9 . A sabot according to  claim 2 , wherein the body of the sabot is plate-shaped with an outwardly domed bottom in relation to the rear of the projectile body, wherein the outwardly domed bottom is supported at an outer edge on the projectile body. 
   
   
       10 . A sabot according to  claim 3 , wherein the body of the sabot is plate-shaped with an outwardly domed bottom in relation to the rear of the projectile body, wherein the outwardly domed bottom is supported at an outer edge on the projectile body. 
   
   
       11 . A sabot according to  claim 8 , wherein the light metal is an aluminum alloy. 
   
   
       12 . A sabot according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one cavity comprises a central cavity separated by a ring-shaped support web from a ring-shaped cavity. 
   
   
       13 . A projectile unit comprising:
 (a) a disk-shaped sabot disposed to accelerate a projectile body that can be fired from a launch tube embodied as a smoothbore barrel having a caliber and a muzzle; and   (b) a projectile body that has the same caliber as the barrel, wherein the sabot comprises
 i. a body that has an outer diameter that corresponds to the caliber of the barrel, wherein the body of the sabot is plate-shaped and includes an outwardly domed bottom; 
 ii. a ring-shaped support web disposed on a concave side of the domed bottom so as to form a central cavity and a ring-shaped cavity that is separated from the central cavity by the ring-shaped support web; and 
 iii. at least one pressure-relieving bore that extends through the domed bottom of the body of the sabot opposite a rear of the projectile body and that communicates with the ring-shaped cavity, wherein, during firing, propelling gases move through the bore so that propelling gases penetrate the ring-shaped cavity disposed between the sabot and the rear of the projectile body in a controlled manner so that the propelling gases produce a defined excess pressure in relation to outer ambient air pressure, wherein the excess pressure causes the sabot to separate from the projectile body as soon as the projectile unit has passed the muzzle of the barrel of the launch tube. 
   
   
   
       14 . A disk-shaped sabot for accelerating a projectile body that can be fired from a launch tube embodied as a smoothbore barrel having a caliber and a muzzle, wherein the projectile body has the same caliber as the barrel, wherein the sabot comprises:
 (a) a body that has an outer diameter that corresponds to the caliber of the barrel, wherein the body of the sabot is plate-shaped and includes an outwardly domed bottom;   (b) a ring-shaped support web disposed on a concave side of the domed bottom so as to form a central cavity and a ring-shaped cavity that is separated from the central cavity by the ring-shaped support web; and   (c) at least one pressure-relieving bore that extends through the domed bottom of the body of the sabot and that communicates with the ring-shaped cavity, wherein, during firing, propelling gases move through the bore so that propelling gases penetrate the ring-shaped cavity disposed between the sabot and a rear of the projectile body in a controlled manner so that the propelling gases produce a defined excess pressure in relation to outer ambient air pressure, wherein the excess pressure causes the sabot to separate from the projectile body as soon as the sabot and the projectile body, forming a projectile unit, have passed the muzzle of the barrel of the launch tube.