Barrel Control Inspection System

Why barrel control?

Life degradation of barrels generally occur due to generation of reactive gases, thermal fatigue and residual stresses and can cause accidents with major consequences on material and personal.

Mission Readiness:

Maintaining gun barrels in optimal condition is essential for ensuring mission readiness and operational readiness. Any deterioration in barrel health can lead to decreased readiness levels, impacting the ability to respond effectively to threats or engage targets with precision and reliability.

Operational Reliability:

Ensuring the consistent performance of gun barrels despite wear and erosion is crucial for operational success. Any degradation in barrel health can compromise accuracy, range, and overall effectiveness, leading to potential mission failure or safety hazards.

Safety Concerns:

Barrel degradation can pose safety risks to both personnel and equipment. This includes the potential for catastrophic barrel failure during operation, which can result in injuries, damage to surrounding infrastructure, and loss of valuable assets.

Maintenance Costs:

Addressing wear and erosion issues in gun barrels can incur significant maintenance costs, including repair or replacement of worn-out components. Failure to effectively manage barrel degradation can result in increased downtime and operational expenses.

Measuring principle

The sensor electrode and the targeted object make up
a condensator the inverse capacitance of which is measured. Thus, according to the used sensor, the electronics provides an output voltage proportional to displacement ;
the potential of the targeted object is taken as reference.

Measuring principle (large calibers)

The diameter measurement is carried out by means of four sensors located on two diameters, these two diameters being located at 90° from each other (see fig).

The measuring head is motorized and makes a 90° rotation so as to  obtain all the diameters of one section.

The sensor location and barrel structure have for consequence that tops and bottoms are always diametrically opposite, what allows to carry out a correct diameter measurement

  • Without tool centring
  • Without contact (measuring)
  • By means of a multisensors capacitance head

Small and medium calibers

From 4.6mm to 12.7mm for Small caliber
From 20mm to 57mm for Medium caliber Accuracy (repeatability): +/-1µm
Manual rotation
Adding rod up to 3m for Middle caliber

Large calibers

  • Fragments identification acquired by Phantom cameras recordings
  • 3D area identification and creation through reference points
  • 3D scenario output with data regarding each target: speed, angular speed, acceleration, and more
  • Generation of the statistical analysis function of the event

Data Display

Specs

Portable and versatile measurement system of barrels

  • Assessment of pitting
  • Erosion measurement

Multi-caliber ranges system

  • from 4.6mm (Small caliber) to 155mm (Large caliber)

High metrology performances

  • Fogale’s high accuracy non contact sensors
    • Capacitive technology
    • Accuracy (repeatability) : from +/-1µm
    • Resolution : +/-1µm
  • Non sensitive to the type and surface of metal target
  • Accuracy guaranty by calibration procedure with a
    reference ring
  • No need tool centering
  • Identification of each groove by indexation ergot

Inspection by camera

  • Visualize the level of fouling
  • Visualization of the peeling of coating

Intuitive software user interface

  • Unique software for all calibers
  • Custom inspection protocol definition
  • Assisted measurement sequence with station
    positioning
  • Comprehensive reporting for tube lifetime monitoring

Benefits

  • safety for investments and personnel by reducing the
    risk of accidents
  • maintain target precision & range by improved exit
    velocity prediction
  • adapt cleaning sessions

Software

Software Directed Inspection (SDI)

BCSoft is the user interface of the Barrel Control System (BCS) system.
It connects all the different components and functions and collects all data.
BCSoft guides the operator through the inspection step by step.
BCSoft combines, organizes and creates graphical reproductions based on the measurement data. Images with and without measurement data are processes and stored.
From the automatically stored BCSoft file six different report formats can be chosen according to the required level of
detail.

System in summary

Robust, User friendly, Adaptable, Follow erosion track by track, Very accurate, high repeatibility, Non contact technology Automatic report generation Used by numerous armies in the world for more than 30 years. Measurement on the real diameter Can be used in new and used tubes

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