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US 7,681,352 B2Granted
Underwater gun comprising a valve-type barrel-seal
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsJyun-Horng Fu, Robert James Howard, Antonio Paulic, John W. Rapp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for sealing the barrel of an underwater gun between firings is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a valve that is moved between a sealing and non-sealing state by a valve-actuator. In some embodiments, the valve actuator is driven by gases that result when a round is fired.
Claims20
An underwater gun, comprising:
- a barrel, wherein the barrel has an axially-oriented bore;
- a valve, wherein the valve is coupled to the barrel so that the valve is capable of (a) substantially sealing the barrel to prevent water entry in a first state and (b) unsealing the barrel to permit passage of a round through a muzzle of the barrel in a second state, and wherein, in the first state, the valve is disposed in the barrel;
- and
- a valve actuator, wherein the valve actuator is operably-coupled to the valve to move the valve between the first state and the second state, and wherein the valve actuator is actuated based on an increase in pressure as a consequence of combustion of chemical propellant.
1 more element
A method for operating an underwater gun having a barrel, wherein the method comprises:
- loading at least one round in an underwater gun;
- firing the round, thereby generating combustion gases;
- and
- directing the firing gases to a valve actuator comprising a piston and a cylinder, wherein the piston is disposed outside of the gun's barrel, wherein the firing gases drive an outward stroke of the piston, and further wherein the piston is operably coupled to a valve and the valve and piston are arranged so the outward stroke of the piston causes the valve to move to a state that permits passage of the round through a muzzle of the barrel.
1 more element
An underwater gun having a barrel, wherein the gun comprises:
- a valve, wherein the valve is coupled to the barrel so that the valve is capable of (a) substantially sealing the barrel to prevent water entry in a first state and (b) unsealing the barrel to permit passage of a round through a muzzle of the barrel in a second state, and wherein, in the first state, the valve is disposed in the barrel;
- and
- a valve actuator that is operably-coupled to the valve to move the valve between the first state and the second state, wherein the valve actuator comprises a cylinder and a piston disposed in the cylinder, and wherein the piston is external to the barrel and is operably-coupled to the valve and arranged so that an outward stroke of the piston causes the valve to move the second state, and further wherein the cylinder is open to the ambient environment and water pressure actuates a return stroke of the piston to move the valve to the first state.
An underwater gun having a barrel, wherein the gun comprises:
- a valve, wherein the valve is coupled to the barrel so that the valve is capable of (a) substantially sealing the barrel to prevent water entry in a first state and (b) unsealing the barrel to permit passage of a round through a muzzle of the barrel in a second state, and wherein, in the first state, the valve is disposed in the barrel;
- a valve actuator that is operably-coupled to the valve to move the valve between the first state and the second state, wherein the valve actuator comprises a cylinder and a piston disposed in the cylinder, and wherein the piston is external to the barrel and is operably-coupled to the valve and arranged so that an outward stroke of the piston causes the valve to move the second state;
- and
- a port that penetrates a wall of the barrel and is in fluidic communication with the cylinder to deliver combustion gases thereto, and further wherein the combustion gases are conducted by the port to a base of the cylinder thereby actuating the outward stroke of the piston.
1 more element
An underwater gun having a barrel, wherein the gun comprises:
- a valve, wherein the valve is coupled to the barrel so that the valve is capable of (a) substantially sealing the barrel to prevent water entry in a first state and (b) unsealing the barrel to permit passage of a round through a muzzle of the barrel in a second state, and wherein, in the first state, the valve is disposed in the barrel;
- a valve actuator that is operably-coupled to the valve to move the valve between the first state and the second state, wherein the valve actuator comprises a cylinder and a piston disposed in the cylinder, and wherein the piston is external to the barrel and is operably-coupled to the valve and arranged so that an outward stroke of the piston causes the valve to move the second state;
- and
- an actuating round, wherein firing of the actuating round generates combustion gases that drive the outward stroke of the piston.
1 more element
An underwater gun having a barrel, wherein the gun comprises:
- an iris valve, wherein the valve is coupled to the barrel so that the valve is capable of (a) substantially sealing the barrel to prevent water entry in a first state and (b) unsealing the barrel to permit passage of a round through a muzzle of the barrel in a second state, and wherein, in the first state, the valve is disposed in the barrel;
- and
- a valve actuator, wherein the valve actuator is operably-coupled to the valve to move the valve between the first state and the second state upon receipt of a signal from a fire control system of the gun indicating that a round is about to be fired.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.