Discarding sabot for guide and method for attachment of such sabots

Abstract

To maintain predetermined tolerance conditions for the front guide region ( 7 ) of a guide sabot ( 5 ) in a simple manner without reconditioning, even if the drive or guide cage ( 5 ) is plastic, the invention begins with a premounted cage shot ( 1 ), i.e., a sabot projectile, wherein cage segments directly adjacent to one another on circumferential sides surrounding the shot body are selected so that the cage ( 5 ) has an outer diameter in the front guide region ( 7 ) that is less than the predetermined target diameter (Do). Adjustment of the diameter of the guide region ( 7 ) then occurs subsequently, for example, by the insertion of an insert ( 12.1 ) designed in the shape of a bushing, wherein the insert has a conical outer surface ( 13 ) and is placed into an annular gap ( 11 ) remaining between the shot body ( 2 ) and segments ( 19, 20 ) of a support wall ( 8 ) of the cage ( 5 ).

1 . A sabot projectile having a discarding or guide sabot, wherein the discarding or guide sabot comprises:
 (a) at least two sabot segments;   (b) a projectile body; and   (c) an adjustment element included between the projectile body and the sabot segments.   
     
     
         2 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sabot has only two sabot segments, and each of the two sabot segments are in the form of half-shells. 
     
     
         3 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment element comprises a deformable plastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment element is an insert in the form of a bush. 
     
     
         5 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the insert in the form of a bush is formed from one or more parts and has weak points in areas that are radially adjacent to separating joints of two segments of a supporting wall. 
     
     
         6 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the insert that is in the form of a bush comprises two parts that are in the form of half-shells, wherein separating joints that are located between the two parts are radially adjacent to the separating joints of the two segments of the supporting wall of the sabot. 
     
     
         7 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the insert is in the form of a collar-type bush. 
     
     
         8 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment element is an attachment that can be pushed on over a supporting wall to serve as a bracket or clasp. 
     
     
         9 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two sabot segments are formed from plastic. 
     
     
         10 . A method for attachment of a sabot projectile to a sub-caliber projectile body and to a segmented, essentially hollow-cylindrical, discarding or guide sabot, wherein the discarding or guide sabot has a circumferential guide area in a front area and has a supporting wall in a front-to-central area of the projectile body, wherein a supporting wall extends radially inward and has a central opening through which the projectile body projects, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 (a) first, introducing—the projectile body into the sabot, wherein sabot segments that are adjacent to one another on a circumferential side are chosen and arranged so that the sabot segments are radially moveable and are in a pushed-together state, wherein a front guide area of the sabot results and has an external diameter that is less than a predetermined nominal-value diameter, and an annular gap remains between the projectile body and an inner surface of the central opening in the supporting wall;   (b) then pushing—an adjustment element into the annular gap from a front face of the sabot; and   (c)—then fixing the adjustment element with a force fit in the annular gap and the sabot segments of the sabot are connected to one another with a force fit.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein, in order to match a diameter of the circumferential guide area to the nominal-value diameter, a preassembled unit comprising the projectile body and the sabot is inserted in an area of the circumferential guide area into an annular assembly tool, wherein an internal diameter of the annular assembly tool corresponds to the nominal-value diameter of the circumferential guide area. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein, in order to fix the adjustment element with a force fit, the adjusting element is adhesively bonded or welded to the supporting wall. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein, in order to connect the sabot segments of the sabot with a force fit, each of the sabot segments is provided on the circumferential side with at least one part that is in the form of a lug and is adhesively bonded into a depression located in a corresponding adjacent sabot segment, or is connected thereto by a welded joint. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein, when the adjustment element is an insert in the form of a bush, the insert is pushed into the annular gap until an external diameter of the circumferential guide area corresponds to the predetermined nominal-value diameter as a result of pushing the segments of the supporting wall that are supported on the insert apart from one another. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein, when the adjustment element is an attachment in the form of a bracket or clasp, the attachment is deformed between the sabot segments and the projectile by an assembly tool that is pulled over the attachment. 
     
     
         16 . The sabot projectile as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment element comprises a deformable plastic material.