Gas gun and quick release mechanism for large loads

A fluid actuated large diameter gun for producing repeatable controlled shock fields in a target area comprising:

• a hollow barrel having a downstream projectile end for alignment with the target area and an opposite axially aligned upstream reaction end and having an intermediate side wall portion formed with a plurality of fluid inlets;
• a projectile releasably securable in the barrel from a cocked position in communication with the fluid inlets;
• and wherein the projectile includes side walls having respective forward and rearward portions extending axially for closely engaging internal sidewalls of the barrel and for straddling the inlets when in the cocked position and forming a fluid seal therebetween;
• a chamber for containing a fluid under pressure, said chamber secured externally of the barrel and enclosing the fluid inlets therewithin, said fluid for communicating with and pressurizing the barrel to cause the projectile to be slidably accelerated along the barrel to the outlet when released from the cocked position for engagement with the target area to thereby produce said shock field;
• release means secured within the barrel for releasable attachment to the projectile, said release means for releasably supporting the projectile in the cocked position in sealing relation with the fluid inlets and for releasing the projectile from the cocked position to the firing, wherein the release means further comprises:
• latches for engaging the projectile;
• a latch housing secured in the barrel carrying the latch between first and second positions for supporting and releasing the projectile respectively;
• and
• a releasable collar mounted in the barrel for relative movement with respect to the latch for engaging the latch in the first position and for disengaging the latch in the second position and wherein the latch and the collar each have corresponding camming surfaces for urging the projectile away from the outlet prior to release.