Liquid propellant weapon

• US 3,916,792 A
• Filed: 10/23/1973
• Issued: 11/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lester C. Elmore, Thomas M. Broxholm
• Original Assignee: Lester C. Elmore, Thomas M. Broxholm
• Inventors: Elmore, Lester C., Broxholm, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feinberg, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tudor, H. J.
• Application Number:
  US05/408,571
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 102/38,40,88,93,92.4,92.6,92.7,45,43 89/7
• US Class Current: 102/431
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 1/04 Missile propulsion using the combustion of a liquid, loose powder or gaseous fuel, e.g. hypergolic fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/65 Box magazines having a cartridge follower
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/00 Projectiles or missiles, not otherwise provided for, characterised by the ammunition class or type, e.g. by the launching apparatus or weapon used F42B10/00, F42B12/00, F42B14/00 take precedence

Abstract

A small bore liquid propellant weapon fires projectiles transported to the firing chamber in a projectile carrier. The projectile carrier is separated from the projectile just prior to firing the projectile. The projectile carrier can be reconnected with the projectile to extract the projectile from the weapon in the event of a misfire. The small bore liquid propellant weapon has a reciprocating combustion chamber housing. The reciprocating combustion chamber housing forms a large diameter combustion chamber without ullage and eliminates a lock. The small bore liquid propellant weapon includes an integral magazine which has its own pump for the liquid propellant. The magazine also has a valve element with high pressure seals that operate only for the life of the magazine and that are discarded with the empty magazine.

Claims

1. A projectile-carrier assembly for a liquid propellant gun comprising, a projectile having a sidewall, propellant flow passage means in a sidewall of the projectile at the rear end of the projectile, a carrier having a sidewall, said carrier having an open ended front part for receiving the rear end of the projectile, connecting means on the carrier engageable with the projectile to connect the carrier and projectile so the projectile can be transported by the carrier, and opening means in the sidewall of the carrier associated with the passage means in the projectile for permitting the flow of liquid propellant through the opening means and passage means and between the projectile and the carrier to disconnect the connecting means and to separate the carrier from the projectile after the projectile has been placed in firing position in the gun.

2. A projectile-carrier assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting means include resilient clips on the carrier and recesses on the projectile for receiving the clips.

3. A projectile-carrier assembly as defined in claim 1 including a flat on the carrier for aligning the carrier and projectile with the bolt of the gun.

4. A projectile-carrier assembly as defined in claim 1 including a radially extending lip at the radial end of the carrier which can be engaged by a clip on the bolt to extract the carrier from the gun.

5. A projectile-carrier assembly as defined in claim 1 including an elastomer seal extending circumferentially around the projectile for forming a fluid-type seal with the bore of a gun when the projectile is placed in firing position in the gun.

6. A projectile-carrier assembly as defined in claim 1 including an elastomer seal extending circumferentially around the carrier for forming a fluid-tight seal with the rear end of the firing chamber of the gun.

7. A projectile-carrier assembly as defined in claim 1 including a percussive igniter in the carrier.

8. A projectile-carrier assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the projectile has a reentry body configuration and which is an aerodynamically stabilized shape.