Barrel assembly
OwnerJames Michael O'Dwyerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A barrel assembly (10) includes barrel (12), projectile assemblies (14) axially disposed within the barrel, propellant charges (16), ignition means (18), and control means (20). Projectile assemblies (14) are sequentially fired from the barrel. Also disclosed is an arming system, a barrel construction, means for preventing compression of the propellant charges and means for ensuring sealing between the projectile assembly and the barrel.
Claims26
A barrel assembly including:
- a barrel;
- a plurality of projectile assemblies axially disposed in end to end abutting relationship within said barrel in sealing engagement with the bore of said barrel, said plurality of projectile assemblies being disposed in axial abutting relationship to form a compression resistant column, each projectile assembly including a projectile head and extension means for at least partly defining a propellant space, said extension means including a spacer assembly which extends axially from said projectile head and abuts an adjacent projectile assembly, said spacer assembly extending through said projectile head;
- discrete propellant charges associated with each projectile assembly for propelling respective projectile assemblies sequentially through the muzzle of said barrel;
- ignition means for igniting said discrete propellant charges;
- and
- control means for selectively and sequentially actuating said ignition means.
A barrel assembly including:
- a barrel;
- a plurality of projectile assemblies axially disposed in end to end abutting relationship within said barrel in sealing engagement with the bore of said barrel, said plurality of projectile assemblies being disposed in axial abutting relationship to form a compression resistant column, each projectile assembly including a projectile head and extension means for at least partly defining a propellant space, said extension means including a spacer assembly which extends axially from said projectile head and abuts an adjacent projectile assembly, said spacer assembly supporting a thin cylindrical rear portion of said projectile head in operative sealing contact with the bore of said barrel;
- discrete propellant charges associated with each projectile assembly for propelling respective projectile assemblies sequentially through the muzzle of said barrel;
- ignition means for igniting said discrete propellant charges;
- and
- control means for selectively and sequentially actuating said ignition means.
A barrel assembly including:
- a barrel;
- a plurality of projectile assemblies axially disposed in end to end abutting relationship within said barrel in sealing engagement with the bore of said barrel, said plurality of projectile assemblies being disposed in axial abutting relationship to form a compression resistant column, each projectile assembly including a projectile head and extension means for at least partly defining a propellant head and extension means for at least partly defining a propellant space, said extension means including a spacer assembly which extends axially from said projectile head and abuts an adjacent projectile assembly, the complementary wedging surfaces being disposed on said spacer assembly and projectile head, respectively, said projectile head and spacer assembly being loaded into said barrel, and thereafter an axially compressive load being applied to ensure good sealing between said projectile head and the barrel, said projectile head defining a tapered aperture at its rearward end into which is received a complementary tapered spigot disposed on the leading end of the spacer assembly such that relative axial movement between the tapered aperture and the complementary tapered spigot causes a radially expanding force to be applied to the projectile heads;
- discrete propellant charges for propelling respective projectile assemblies sequentially through the muzzle of said barrel;
- ignition means for igniting said discrete propellant charges;
- and
- control means for selectively and sequentially actuating said ignition means.
A barrel assembly including:
- a barrel;
- a plurality of projectile assemblies axially disposed in end to end abutting relationship within said barrel in sealing engagement with the bore of said barrel;
- discrete propellant charges for propelling respective projectile assemblies sequentially through the muzzle of said barrel;
- ignition means for igniting said discrete propellant charges;
- and
- control means for selectively and sequentially actuating said ignition means;
- said barrel including ignition apertures and said ignition means being disposed outside said barrel and adjacent apertures.
A barrel assembly of the type having including a barrel, a plurality of projectile assemblies disposed in end to end abutting relationship within said barrel, discrete propellant charges associated with each projectile assembly for propelling respective projectile assemblies sequentially through the muzzle of said barrel, ignition means for igniting said discrete propellant charges, and control means for selectively and sequentially actuating said ignition means, wherein:
- each projectile assembly includes a projectile head arranged in sealing engagement with the bore of said barrel and a spacer assembly which extends through said projectile head and rearwardly therefrom;
- each said discrete propellant charge is disposed in a propellant space surrounding a respective rearward extension of said spacer assemblies, and
- said spacer assemblies extend in end to end abutting relationship to form a compression resistant column which positions said projectile assemblies and their propellant charges within said barrel.
A barrel assembly of the type having including a barrel, a plurality of projectile assemblies disposed in end to end abutting relationship within said barrel, discrete propellant charges associated with each projectile assembly for propelling respective projectile assemblies sequentially through the muzzle of said barrel, ignition means for igniting said discrete propellant charges, and control means for selectively and sequentially actuating said ignition means, wherein;
- each projectile assembly includes a projectile head arranged in sealing engagement with the bore of the barrel and a spacer assembly which extends through said projectile head and rearwardly therefrom;
- said spacer assemblies of said projectile assemblies abut one another to form a compression resistant column, and
- the rear end of each said projectile head is formed with a tapered socket which receives a complementary tapered spigot disposed adjacent the leading end of the mating spacer assembly, wherein relative rearward axial movement of a said projectile head along its spacer assembly moves said tapered socket over said complementary tapered spigot and causes a radially expanding force to be applied to said projectile head for wedging said projectile head into sealing engagement with said barrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.