ELECTRICALLY FIRED MULTIPLE BARREL SUPERIMPOSED PROJECTILE WEAPON SYSTEM

• US 3,854,231 A
• Filed: 09/26/1968
• Issued: 12/17/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howard F. Broyles
• Original Assignee: Howard F. Broyles
• Inventors: Broyles, Howard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US04/773,691
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 42/40,76A,84,1R,1F 89/1R,1L,6.5,28,135,1.814 102/40,7.2R,46
• US Class Current: 42/84
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/62 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/64 for automatic or burst-firing mode
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/06 Plural barrels
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/58 Cluster or cargo ammunition, i.e. projectiles containing one or more submissiles F42B12/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/035 the cartridge or barrel assembly having a plurality of axially stacked projectiles each having a separate propellant charge
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/08 modified for electric ignition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 102/703 Flechette

Abstract

An electrically fired multiple barrel superimposed projectile weapon system is disclosed. The system includes an array of light weight barrels with a common receiver and breech block containing piezoelectric crystals, one for each barrel providing recoil and energized charging energy source for a common battery. A removable trigger assembly contains a rechargable battery and fire rate controls. Firing control circuitry extends along the lengths of the barrels to engage firing and safety circuits associated with each round of the superimposed projectiles. Additional charging circuits for the battery are actuated by projectile travel through an air core coil, trigger release action and by an external recharger. Various forms of ammunition and firing circuitry therefore are disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrically operated gun system and ammunition therefore comprising:

a. an elongated receiver including a trough portion;

b. a cluster of gun barrels operatively mounted thereon in said trough portion with the breech portions pivotable out of said trough for reloading;

c. a combination breech block and recoil mechanism rigidly mounted to said receiver;

d. a trigger removably mounted on said receiver;

e. an electrical power source and related circuitry operatively disposed within said gun; and

f. an electrically fired multiple charge cartridge adapted to be fired in said gun, wherein said breech and recoil mechanism comprise a generally rectangular breech block adapted to receive and hermetically seal the breech end of the barrel cluster, the forward face thereof being provided with a plurality of electrical connections capable of transmitting electrical power to cartridges disposed in said barrels and a piezoelectric element disposed adjacent thereto in a manner so as to receive the recoil force of each cartridge each time it fired so as to generate power thereby.

2. An electrically operated gun and ammunition therefor as described in claim 1 wherein:

said trigger module consists of a pair of slidably operated electrical triggers disposed adjacent one another within a removable housing, said housing being further provided with a pushbutton type selector panel for selecting the barrel to be fired and electrical wiring for operatively connecting said breech block to a power source.

3. An electrically operated gun and ammunition therefor as described in claim 2 wherein:

said power source is a rechargeable battery disposed in a pistol grip type housing removably disposed adjacent the trigger module.

4. An electrically operated gun and ammunition therefor as described in claim 3 wherein:

said multiple charge cartridge consists of an elongated casing having a plurality of propelling and propelled charges superimposed therein providing a plurality of rounds of ammunition in a manner so as to allow a propelling charge to drive a propelled charge successively therefrom, and electrical circuitry disposed in said casing interconnecting each of said propelling charges to said electrical connectors in said breech block.

5. A gun and ammunition therefor comprising:

a. an electrically operated gun system wherein the gun mechanism includes a plurality of barrels;

b. a rechargeable power source disposed within said gun mechanism;

c. an electrical trigger mechanism having a plurality of triggers is mounted on said gun mechanism adjacent said power source and electrically connected thereto;

d. electrically fired multiple charge cartridges adapted to be loaded into the barrels of said gun and having an electrical firing circuit disposed within the casing thereof said circuit being capable of transmitting electrical power to each of said charges individually and successively in a manner so as to fire said charges therefrom;

e. an electrical firing circuit disposed within said gun mechanism in a manner so as to connect said trigger to said firing circuit of said cartridge;

f. selecting means for selecting a barrel to be fired wheRein;

said electrical firing circuit comprises a rechargeable electrical battery connected to said system elements for supplying electrical power thereto;

a first charging means for recharging said battery comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements utilizing the recoil of said gun to provide power thereto;

a second charging means for recharging said battery comprising an air core inductor connected to said battery for applying a polarized voltage thereto when a plasma stream passes therethrough;

a third charging means for recharging said battery including an air core inductor connected to said battery for applying a polarized voltage thereto when a permanent magnet traverses the air core volume.

6. A gun and ammunition therefor as described in claim 5 wherein:

said electrical trigger mechanism includes a first sequentially operated switch having a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to be actuated in sequence when said trigger is pulled along its travel providing changing rates of fire from single shot to high rate;

a first potentiometer actuated by said trigger, near the far end of its travel, whereby said pulse generator repetition rate is increased in a manner so as to increase the rate of firing;

a second potentiometer mechanically linked to a second trigger and adapted to control a voltage with actuation of said trigger;

a safety switch disposed adjacent said trigger having a plurality of circuits adapted to switch power to said firing circuits for operation of the gun and to supply a single step voltage to said step generator in the single shot mode and to unground said pulse generator in an automatic mode position of the switch whereby the gun is enabled to fire in the single shot or automatic modes or to be turned to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position.

7. A gun and ammunition therefor as described in claim 6 wherein:

said firing circuit disposed in said cartridge casing includes a plurality of squibs and squib protection circuits cascaded in association with each of said charges disposed within said cartridge in a manner so as to fire sequentially from the muzzle end thereof;

each of said protection circuits comprising a normally open pressure switch adapted to close in response to the pressure differential between the cartridge pressure and ambient upon the firing of said gun, said switch adapted to close the firing circuit to a following squib, each of said squibs being protected from accidental short of said pressure switch by a thermally fusible element shorting said squib whereby current flows through said thermally fusible element instead of said squib, said thermally fusible element remaining at a low resistance shunting said squib until opened by the firing of the associated charge; and

, at least one contact ring disposed on said cartridge and adapted to interfit with said breech electrical connection means.

8. A gun and ammunition therefor as described in claim 7 wherein:

said electrical fusing circuit includes a pulse generator having a variable frequency output controlled by said trigger, a first selecting means for selecting the time and rate of said pulses at the output of said pulse generator;

a step generator connected to said pulse generator and adapted to generate an output voltage of increasing level by increments upon receipt of successive pulses from said pulse generator;

a diode network responsive to successively higher voltage steps whereby voltages of specific levels are permitted therethrough at specific points of said network, each point having a specific voltage assignment;

a plurality of monopulse generators each of which connect to a unique point on said diode network and respond to the unique voltage thereon;

a second selecting means for selecting which of said monopulse generators is connected to said diode network;

a plurality of power amplifiers each connected to one of said monopulse generators;

a third selecting means for selecting wHich of said amplifiers will have an output;

an electrical conductor set terminating in contact rings at one end thereof and to said power amplifiers whereby said signals from said power amplifiers are distributed to the breech; and

a reset generator having delay proportional to the number of steps generated by said step generator and having an output connected to said step generator whereby it is set to zero level, the delay being determined by the setting of said second selecting means.