US 6,138,395 A · Barrel assembly with axially stacked projectiles

Abstract

A barrel assembly (10) having a plurality of projectiles (11) stacked axially within the barrel (12) together with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges (13) for propelling the projectiles (11) sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel (12) is provided with adjacent projectiles (11) separated from one another by locating means (13) independent of the projectiles. The locating means may be a solid propellant charge (13) located between adjacent projectiles or it may be a rigid casing (122) for the propellant. When subject to an in-barrel load a rear skirt portion of the active projectile (11) is expanded outwardly by the interaction between an inwardly reducing recess (14) formed in the rear end of a projectile and the nested complementary leading portion of the propellant charge (13) or propellant casing (122).

Claims6

Dependent claims

A barrel assembly containing adjacent projectiles, wherein:

adjacent projectiles are separated from one another and maintained in spaced apart relationship by locating means independent of the projectiles, said locating means being the propellant charge between adjacent projectiles;
each projectile includes expandable sealing means for forming an operative seal with the bore of the barrel, said sealing means including a skirt portion of each projectile which expands outwardly when subject to an in-barrel load;
each projectile having a relatively hard mandrel portion located by said propellant charge and disposed within said skirt portion for expanding said skirt portion into sealing engagement with the barrel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Barrel assembly with axially stacked projectiles

Life of this patent

Barrel assembly with axially stacked projectiles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6