CN1398341A - Sabot stripping - Google Patents

Abstract

Barrel assembly (10) includes an array of individual barrels (11) with each barrel (11) including a sabot stripping structure (23) and a sabot receiver (28) arranged to collect and prevent sabots (14) from exiting muzzle (20) of barrel (11). Each barrel (11) incoporates a multiplicity of sabotted projectiles (12) stacked axially within barrel (11) and a multiplicity of interposed corresponding propellent charges (16). Sabotted projectiles (12) each comprise projectile (13) and an associated sabot (14) detachably engaged with projectile (13). Detonation of a leading propellant charge (16) urges following sabotted projectiles (12) into sealing engagement with respective barrels (11).

Description

Extraction device

technical field

This invention relates to ammunition and firearms, and more particularly the invention relates to a shelled round, to a barrel assembly for firing a shelled round and to a barrel assembly with a plurality of axially stacked A barrel assembly of a cased shell within a barrel assembly.

Background technique

Shelled projectiles are used in applications requiring high kinetic energy of the projectile, such as in penetrating armor plates on ships and tanks, and for long range applications. Cased projectiles generally consist of a smaller caliber projectile assembled with a relatively lightweight case intended to form an airtight seal with the bore of the barrel. The case allows the propellant charge to apply propulsion over a larger area, so smaller caliber rounds and relatively lighter cases can achieve greater in-barrel velocities than full diameter rounds.

The cartridge case is normally separated from the smaller caliber shell after it exits the muzzle of the barrel, and in one structure may be adapted to disintegrate after it emerges from the muzzle of the barrel. Other casing constructions employ different systems for separating the casing from smaller caliber shells. The different centrifugal forces produced by the rifled barrel in the case and the smaller caliber shell have been exploited in case design to separate the case from the smaller caliber round.

A barrel assembly with multiple axially stacked projectiles within the barrel together with a dispersed selectively ignitable propellant charge for sequentially propelling the projectiles through the muzzle enables projectiles to be fired at extremely high velocities. Shelled rounds fired at such high velocities increase the likelihood that the shell will hit the casing from a previously fired round and be rendered ineffective. We have now discovered a structure that reduces the likelihood of a shell hitting the casing from a previously fired round.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention provides a barrel assembly containing a plurality of shelled projectiles axially stacked within the barrel assembly and a plurality of corresponding propellant charges disposed therebetween, wherein The barrel assembly includes a barrel having a muzzle, and wherein the barrel includes a casing ejection structure and a casing receiver configured to prevent casings from leaving the muzzle of the barrel, and wherein the plurality of cased projectiles includes a plurality of A shell and a number of associated shells, wherein the associated shell removably engages the shell whereby the explosion of the preceding shell pushes the following shell into sealing engagement with the barrel.

In a second aspect the invention provides a barrel having a muzzle, wherein the barrel includes a casing ejection structure and casing receiving means arranged to prevent casings from leaving the muzzle of the barrel.

In a third aspect the invention provides a cased projectile for axial stacking within a barrel assembly, comprising a projectile and a case, wherein the case releasably engages the projectile, and wherein in the axially stacked arrangement The detonation of the front propellant presumes the rear cased shell to be in sealing engagement with the barrel.

The present invention may utilize a barrel assembly of the general type described and/or shown in our earlier International Patent Applications such as PCT/AU94/00124 and PCT/AU96/00459 capable of firing controlled rapid-fire continuous rounds. However, other barrel assemblies containing a dispersed propellant charge for propelling corresponding shells axially stacked within the barrel assembly may also be used in the present invention.

The projectile may be round, conventionally shaped or rocket-shaped and its tail may be biased to create a stabilizing rotation as the rocket is propelled from the barrel which may be a smoothbore barrel.

Each projectile may include a bullet and a tail portion for at least partially defining a propellant volume. The tail may include a septum assembly extending rearwardly from the bullet and abutting an adjacent shell assembly.

Spacer assemblies may extend across the propellant space and bullet whereby compressive loads are transferred directly through adjoining adjacent spacer assemblies. In these configurations, the spacer assembly may add support to the extension means, which may be the thin cylindrical rear portion of the bullet. In addition, the extension means may form effective sealing contact with the bore of the barrel to prevent leakage of the combustion through the bullet.

The spacer assemblies may include a rigid flange extending outwardly to engage a thin cylindrical rear portion of the malleable bullet in ineffective sealing contact with the barrel bore so that axial compressive loads are transferred directly between the spacer assemblies, thereby avoiding Deformation of a malleable bullet.

Preferably, each shell has a bullet-shaped bullet portion with a casing disposed therearound and a tail portion extending rearwardly into abutting relationship with the front end of the next adjacent rear shell, whereby the stacked column of rounds is secure in the barrel. located in their working positions. This structure makes it possible to use a high volume of propellant charge for each projectile, giving the projectile high kinetic energy.

Alternatively, the projectile charge may be formed as a solid block to space the projectile within the barrel or the propellant charge may be contained in a metal or other rigid box which may include an embedded primer with external contact means for contacting Pre-positioned electrical contacts attached to the barrel. For example the primer may be provided with a spring-loaded contact which can be retracted to allow the loaded charge to be inserted into the barrel and jump out of the access hole when aligned with that hole to be effective with the barrel contact. touch. The barrel can be expendable or chemically assist in the combustion of the propellant when necessary.

The cartridge cases may take the form of complementary wedge surfaces respectively provided on the bullet whereby the bullet is forced to engage the bore of the barrel in response to relative axial compression between the spacer means and the bullet. In this arrangement, the bullet and spacer assembly can be loaded into the barrel and then moved axially to ensure a good seal between the bullet and the barrel. The extension is suitably pushed into engagement with the bore of the barrel.

The barrel may be non-metallic, and the bore of the barrel may include recesses that fully or partially accommodate the firing means. In this construction, the barrel is fitted with electrical leads which facilitate the electrical connection between the controls and the firing means. This structure can be used for disposable barrel assemblies which have a limited firing life and the ignition means and control wires can thus be manufactured integrally with the barrel.

The cartridge may optionally include ignition holes in the barrel and the ignition means may be provided outside the barrel and adjacent to these holes. The barrel may be surrounded by a non-metallic outer barrel which may form a sleeve which may include a recess for receiving the firing means. The outer barrel may also be provided with electrical leads which facilitate the electrical connection between the control means and the ignition means. The outer barrel may be formed as a laminated plastic barrel which may include a printed circuit layer for the ignition means.

The cartridge may have adjacent shells separated from each other and held in spaced relationship by locating means separate from the shells, and each shell may include expandable sealing means for forming an effective seal with the bore of the barrel. The locating means may be a propellant charge located between adjacent projectiles, and the sealing means suitably includes an edge portion which expands outwardly when subjected to an in-case load. In-barrel loading may be applied during installation of the shell or after loading, eg by priming, to reinforce the shell column and propellant charge, or may result from the firing of an outer shell, especially an adjacent outer shell.

These shells may be adapted to sit and/or be positioned within a circumferential groove or in a bore or rifling groove in a bore by an annular rib, and may include a metal jacket encasing at least an outer end portion of the shell. The projectile may be provided with a retractable circumferential retaining ring which extends outwardly into an annular groove in the barrel and which retracts into the projectile when fired so that it passes freely through the barrel.

Electrical ignition for sequentially igniting the propellant charges of a barrel assembly may preferably include the steps of igniting the preceding propellant charge by sending an ignition signal with the stacked shells and igniting the leading propellant charge with the next firing signal. The charge is ignited to assemble the next propellant charge for actuation.

Ignition of the propellant can be accomplished electrically, or ignition can be accomplished using conventional striker-type methods such as by using a center-fired primer that ignites the outermost shell and controlling the subsequent ignition so that the sequential ignition of the propellant charges of subsequent rounds conduct. This can be achieved by controlled backward leakage of combustion gases or by controlled combustion of a fuse post extending through the shell.

In another form, ignition is controlled electrically using corresponding propellant charges connected to primers which are triggered by different ignition signals. For example, priming in stacked propellant charges may be sequential to increase pulse width ignition requirements whereby an electrical control may selectively send ignition pulses of increased pulse width to sequentially ignite the propellants at selected times charge. Preferably, however, the propellant charge is ignited by a set pulse width signal, and the combustion of the preceding propellant charge equips the next propellant charge for activation by the next firing pulse.

Suitably in these embodiments all propellant charges inwardly from the end of the loading barrel are rendered incapable of detonation by means of inserts of corresponding insulating fuzes arranged between normally closed electrical contacts, these fuzes being arranged to Burning is timed so that the contacts close when a suitable trigger signal is delivered and each insulated lead leads to a respective leading propellant charge for ignition thereby.

Any conventional trigger can be used in the present invention. Conventional trigger mechanisms may be used. In such conventional trigger mechanisms, a single firing event may be a single squeeze or compression of the trigger for a predetermined number of rounds to be fired. It is not necessary to keep the trigger under pressure in order to enable a predetermined number of rounds to be fired as is the case with automatic weapons such as automatic mode machine guns. Other trigger mechanisms may be employed as long as a single firing event is directly or remotely initiated by the user, which actuates the trigger and fires a predetermined number of shells.

The casing connected to the shell is preferably designed against forward movement relative to the shell, whereby the casing is accelerated integrally with the shell through the barrel towards the muzzle. Preferably, the case releasably engages the barrel, whereby it secures it against forward movement relative to the shell. The casing may be detachably secured to the shell by detents for engaging the shell, for example into corresponding recesses. Alternatively, the projectile may be provided with detents for engaging the case, for example into corresponding grooves on the case. Preferably, the releasable engagement of the casing with the shell does not inhibit its rearward movement along the shell for spalling, whereby the shell does not slow down significantly as the shell is stripped from the shell.

In one embodiment, complementary shallower inwardly directed annular ribs on the inner surface of the casing are located in shallower outer annular grooves in the shell and they are disengaged by the ejection device. Alternatively, the annular cavity in the inner surface of the case may be located around complementary raised outer annular portions of the projectile which are disengaged by the casing means. In yet another embodiment, the interference fit between the shell and the shell is preferably a tapered interference fit that provides a removable engagement between the shell and the shell, and which disengages as the shell moves forward relative to the shell. Open, for example, by ejection devices.

In a preferred embodiment, each cartridge case comprises a pair of complementary continuous or segmented annular portions which engage through opposing tapered platform portions whereby the outer annular portion is forced to move at the start of movement of the inner annular portion therethrough. sealingly engages the barrel. The inner annular portion is forced to move through the outer annular portion by detonation of the propellant charge located in front of the shells in the axially stacked column. Transversely extending flanges may be provided on one annular portion to limit relative longitudinal movement of the inner portion through the outer portion. In one embodiment, the flange is preferably a radially outwardly extending flange formed on the trailing end of the inner annular portion.

The barrel assembly includes a barrel including a casing ejection structure and a barrel receiver configured to prevent the casing from exiting the muzzle of the barrel.

The ejection casing structure preferably includes an inner sleeve portion disposed concentrically with the barrel at or near the muzzle through which shells can pass and around which casings can pass. The sleeve may be tapered at its ejection end to force the casing away from the shell into the annular barrel portion between the sleeve and the muzzle of the barrel.

In a preferred form, the barrel flares outwardly at the muzzle near the ejection end of the sleeve to accommodate the ejected case from the shell, and the ejected case is not substantially radially compressed. The inner sleeve portion may be supported by a web extending between the sleeve and the flared portion of the barrel and between which the withdrawn casing segments may pass.

The ejected casings can pass through the annular barrel section near the slide. Preferably, the ejected shell casings are secured in an annular storage portion at the muzzle end of the barrel so as to prevent it from potentially interfering with the firing of the next rapid-fire shell group. The ejected shell casings can exit the barrel through side holes near the muzzle.

The braking of ejected casings within the barrel will provide a force that helps reduce recoil of the barrel assembly. This effect can also be achieved by forcing the cartridge case to undergo radial compression during transfer through the annular channel.

Brief description of the drawings

In order to understand the present invention more easily and put the present invention into practical application, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a typical multi-barrel artillery according to the invention, in schematic cross-section, for purposes of illustration.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The multi-barrel artillery 10 comprises a set of barrels 11 each supporting a round 12 in a respective barrel 11 in an axially stacked relationship.

Each round includes a projectile 13 supported within a respective barrel by a case assembly 14 . The tail portion 15 extends rearwardly into abutting relationship with the nose of the next shell 12 . The afterbody of tail rod 15 is provided with groove for this reason, and this groove just bites the front end of projectile 13.

The propellant 16 extends around the tailboom 15 and, when ignited electrically or otherwise, acts on the case 14 and any laterally extending face of the respective projectile, thereby propelling them with their case 14 through the barrel towards the barrel 10 The muzzle end of the 20 movement.

Each barrel 12 flares outwardly towards the muzzle at 21 from a position near the inner end 22 of a concentric ejection sleeve 23 supported within a respective flared end 24 by an end wall 25 .

The bore diameter of the sleeve 23 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the bullet 13 so that the bullet can pass directly therethrough and exit the barrel assembly 10 at high velocity.

The sleeves 23 taper towards their tail ends to present a relatively thin annular end approximately round, for engagement between the cartridge case 14 and the bullet 13 to remove the bullet from the bullet 13 when the bullet enters the sleeve 23. Move back the cartridge case 14 in the middle. The cartridge casings 14 are diverted around the sleeve 23 by their radial expansion and are collected in an annular channel 28 extending around the sleeve 23 .

This action causes the casing part to change direction around the sleeve 23 so that the movement will slow down and then stop the casing 14 by impacting the end wall 25 or another casing already located in the channel 28 .

This action is accompanied by a sharp deceleration due to the compression of the air between the forward end of the cartridge case and the end wall 25 . The resulting staged deceleration of the cartridge case will help to reduce recoil effects caused by ignition of the corresponding propellant charge.

Each cartridge case 14 has an inner annular portion 30 which engages on the bullet 13 by complementary engaging serrations 29 and an associated outer annular portion 31 which cooperates with the inner annular portion 30 along a forwardly tapering surface 33 so that the cartridge case passes through the barrel 11 The acceleration will be used to force the outer portion 31 to move rearwardly along the inner annular portion 30, with subsequent radial expansion, thereby forcing the case into effective sealing relationship with the barrel 11.

A radial flange 35 extends from the rear of the inner annular portion 30 to limit rearward movement of the outer annular portion 32 and/or substantially across an active surface 35 of the barrel 11 and against which propellant combustion products may act .

From the above it can be seen that the beneficial effect of a case enabling the use of a greater amount of propellant can be achieved without those case fragments which create local effects and without mid-air case fragments which impede subsequent fired rounds.

It will of course be appreciated that the foregoing are given by way of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and that all modifications and variations which would be apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the scope of the invention as set forth herein. within the broad scope and bounds of the invention.

Claims (35)

1. one kind is equipped with a plurality of band shell shell and a plurality of barrel assemblies that are arranged on corresponding propellant loading therebetween that axially are stacked in the barrel assemblies, wherein said barrel assemblies comprises the gun barrel with gun muzzle, and wherein said gun barrel comprises the ejection structure and is arranged to prevent that shell case from leaving the shell case receiving system of gun barrel gun muzzle, and the shell of wherein said a plurality of band shells comprises a plurality of shells and a plurality of relevant shell cases, wherein said relevant shell case is removably meshing shell, and the blast of front propellant forces band shell shell subsequently to become sealed engagement with gun barrel thus.

2. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of shells have the head of its bullet shape that is provided with shell case on every side and extend back the afterbody of the back shell syntople adjacent with the next one, and the piling post with the shell shell is arranged in its operating position reliably in gun barrel thus.

3. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein this shell case removably meshes shell, and it guarantees to prevent its travelling forward with respect to shell thus.

4. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 3, wherein shell case removably is fixed on shell by the ratchet that is used to be engaged on the corresponding recesses on the shell.

5. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shell is equipped with the ratchet that is used to be engaged on the corresponding recesses on the shell case.

6. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shell case comprise the circular rib of complementary more shallow inside guiding on the inner surface of shell case, be used for shell in more shallow external annular groove engagement.

7. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shell case comprises toroidal cavity in the inner surface of shell case, be used for and the outside annular section engagement of the complementary projection of shell.

8. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 3, wherein said shell case removably meshes shell by interference fit.

9. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 8, wherein said interference fit are a kind of interference fit of taper.

10. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein said relevant shell case comprises a pair of complementation annular section continuous or segmentation, relative taper terrace part is passed in this annular section engagement, external annular section is forced in when internal annular section therefrom moves beginning and radially expands sealably to mesh gun barrel thus, wherein, the propellant loading of the front by the band shell shell in axially piling up shell group blast forces internal annular section to move through external annular section.

11. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 10 wherein is provided with the flange of horizontal expansion on an annular section, be used for limiting the relative longitudinal motion of internal annular section by external annular section.

12. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 11, wherein said flange are the flange that extends radially outwardly that is formed on the tail end of internal annular section.

13. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ejection structure gun muzzle place or near comprise inner sleeve part with the concentric setting of gun barrel, and shell passes this inner sleeve part and shell case passes through around it.

14. suitably attenuating at place, its ejection end, barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 13, wherein said inner sleeve enter in the annular gun barrel part between sleeve and gun barrel gun muzzle to force shell case to leave shell.

15. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 13, wherein said inner sleeve part is by the web support that extends between inner sleeve and gun barrel.

16. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gun barrel is outwards expanded at gun muzzle place.

17. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shell case of being resigned from office is fixed in the annular storage area at the place, gun muzzle end of gun barrel.

18. the gun barrel with gun muzzle, wherein said gun barrel comprise the ejection structure and are arranged to prevent that shell case from leaving the shell case receiving system of gun muzzle of gun barrel.

19. a gun barrel as claimed in claim 18, wherein said ejection structure gun muzzle place or near comprise inner sleeve part with the concentric setting of gun barrel, and shell passes this inner sleeve part and shell case passes through around it.

20. suitably attenuating at place, its ejection end, gun barrel as claimed in claim 19, wherein said inner sleeve enter in the annular gun barrel part between sleeve and gun barrel gun muzzle to force shell case to leave shell.

21. gun barrel as claimed in claim 19, wherein said inner sleeve part is by the web support that extends between inner sleeve and gun barrel.

22. gun barrel as claimed in claim 18, wherein said gun barrel is outwards expanded at gun muzzle place.

23. gun barrel as claimed in claim 18, wherein said gun barrel comprise a clamper, the described shell case of peeling off is fixed in the annular storage area at the place, gun muzzle end of gun barrel.

24. a band shell shell that is used for axially being stacked in the barrel assemblies comprises shell and shell case, wherein shell case removably meshes shell, wherein forces subsequently band shell shell and gun barrel sealed engagement in the blast of axially piling up the front propellant in the group.

25. band shell shell as claimed in claim 24, the warhead section that wherein said shell has a bullet shape that is provided with shell case around it with extend back the afterbody that becomes syntople with next adjacent back shell, in gun barrel, be arranged in their operating position thus reliably with the piling post of shell shell.

26. band shell shell as claimed in claim 24, wherein said shell case is removably meshing shell, and it has guaranteed to prevent that it from travelling forward with respect to shell thus.

27. band shell shell as claimed in claim 26, wherein said shell case removably is fixed on shell by the ratchet that is used to mesh the corresponding recesses on the shell.

28. band shell shell as claimed in claim 26, wherein said shell is equipped with the ratchet that is used for meshing the corresponding recesses on the shell case.

29. band shell shell as claimed in claim 26, wherein said shell case comprise the circular rib of complementary more shallow inside guiding on the inner surface of shell case, be used for shell in more shallow external annular groove engagement.

30. band shell shell as claimed in claim 26, wherein said shell case comprises toroidal cavity in the inner surface of shell case, is used for meshing with the complementary projection external annular section of shell.

31. band shell shell as claimed in claim 26, wherein said shell case removably meshes shell by interference fit.

32. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 31, wherein said interference fit are a kind of interference fit of taper.

33. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 24, wherein said relevant shell case comprises a pair of complementation annular section continuous or segmentation, relative taper terrace part is passed in this annular section engagement, external annular section is forced in when internal annular section therefrom moves beginning and radially expands sealably to mesh gun barrel thus, wherein, the propellant loading of the front by the band shell shell in axially piling up shell group blast forces internal annular section to move through external annular section.

34. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 33 wherein is provided with the flange of horizontal expansion on an annular section, be used for limiting the relative longitudinal motion of internal annular section by external annular section.

35. barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 34, wherein said flange are the flange that extends radially outwardly that is formed on the tail end of internal annular section.

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