Mortar system with improved gas seal

A mortar system comprising:

• a combination of a barrel and a projectile fired therefrom, said barrel having a substantially tubular shape, said barrel having an open muzzle end and an opposing sealed end, said barrel used in a substantially upright position, wherein said muzzle end points in a substantially upward direction,
• said projectile comprising a substantially ogive nose section, a substantially cylindrical middle section and a tail section,
• said projectile further comprising a propelling charge located substantially in said tail section,
• said projectile further comprising a propelling charge initiator located in said tail section,
• said projectile insertable by said tail section first into said muzzle of said barrel,
• said projectile after insertion moving downward inside said barrel by the action of gravity,
• said projectile having its maximum diameter at said middle section,
• said barrel having inner diameter larger than said maximum diameter of said projectile,
• said projectile further comprising obturator mechanism,
• said obturator mechanism energized by the force of gravity,
• said obturator mechanism further comprising an annular deformable obturator ring,
• said obturator ring comprising an uninterrupted annular structure,
• said obturator ring further stationary mounted onto said projectile,
• said obturator ring further capable of assuming at least two shapes, namely, a) an initial shape having outer diameter smaller than said inner diameter of said barrel, said initial shape permitting unimpeded downward movement of said projectile inside said barrel under a force of gravity, and b) a deformed shape having outer diameter generally equal to said inner diameter of said barrel,
• said obturator mechanism further comprising an annular anvil, said anvil stationary mounted on said middle section of said projectile between said deformable obturator ring and said tail section, said anvil further mounted in close proximity to said deformable obturator ring,
• said obturator mechanism further comprising a slidably movable annular deformer,
• said deformer capable of moving under the force of gravity from an initial position on said middle section of said projectile and proceeding longitudinally along said middle section,
• said initial position located on said middle section proximally to said nose section of said projectile,
• said movement of said deformer terminating in said deformer striking said obturator ring,
• said obturator ring deformed by cooperation of said deformer and said anvil,
• wherein said obturator ring upon being deformed creates a gas seal between said projectile and said internal surface of said barrel,
• wherein said projectile after striking said sealed end of said barrel causes said initiator to ignite after a delay said propelling charge,
• said propelling charge generating propelling gas after ignition,
• wherein said propelling gas is captured inside said barrel by said gas seal,
• wherein said propelling gas expels said projectile from said barrel,
• wherein said obturator ring assumes said deformed shape prior to ignition of said propellant charge.

A mortar system, comprising a substantially tubular barrel and a projectile, said projectile comprising a nose section, a middle section and a tail section, said barrel comprising an open muzzle end and an opposing sealed end, said barrel deployed in substantially vertical position with said muzzle end pointing substantially upward,

• said projectile further comprising obturator mechanism, said obturator mechanism comprising deformable obturator ring,
• wherein said obturator ring is slidably movable along said middle section of said projectile,
• said obturator ring further capable of assuming at least two shapes, namely, a) an initial shape having outer diameter smaller than said inner diameter of said barrel, said initial shape permitting unimpeded downward movement of said projectile inside said barrel under the force of gravity, and b) a deformed shape having outer diameter generally equal to said inner diameter of said barrel,
• wherein said obturator ring is further capable of assuming at least two positions on said middle section, namely, a) a first position and b) a second position,
• wherein said first position is located on said middle section on its end proximal to said nose section of said projectile,
• wherein said second position is located on said middle section proximal to said tail section of said projectile,
• wherein said middle section further comprises an annular stop element located in proximity to said first position between said first position and said nose section, said stop having outer diameter substantially smaller than said outer diameter of said middle section of said projectile,
• wherein said stop comprises an annular gas sealing element capable of accepting said obturator ring, said seal having outer diameter smaller than said outer diameter of said middle section,
• wherein said obturator mechanism further comprises a deforming element, said deforming element causing said obturator ring to deform,
• wherein said deforming element comprises an annular anvil, said anvil stationary mounted onto said middle section in general proximity to said second position of said obturator ring,
• wherein said obturator ring is slidably movable from said first position to said second position by action of inertia when said projectile reaches the sealed end of said barrel,
• wherein said obturator ring by action of inertia strikes said anvil in said second position,
• wherein said obturator ring upon striking said anvil assumes said deformed shape,
• wherein said obturator ring upon assuming said deformed shape creates a gas seal between itself and said inner surface of said barrel,
• wherein said propelling gas propels said obturator ring to said first position,
• wherein said obturator ring is stopped by said stop in said first position,
• wherein said obturator ring and said annular sealing element in cooperation create an additional gas seal while in said first position,
• wherein said obturator ring assumes said deformed shape prior to ignition of said propellant charge,
• wherein said obturator ring assumes said deformed shape prior to upward movement of said projectile inside said barrel.