Liquid propellant gun

• US 4,945,809 A
• Filed: 11/30/1984
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics Armament Systems, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bulman, Melvin J., Maher, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, David H.
• Application Number:
  US06/677,151
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 89/7, 89/8, 102/430, 102/440
• US Class Current: 89/7
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 1/04 Missile propulsion using the combustion of a liquid, loose powder or gaseous fuel, e.g. hypergolic fuel

Abstract

This invention provides an annular piston, annular control valve, liquid propellant gun system, having a dual angle injection mechanism to provide both bore and chamber gas requirements with a single injection control valve. The dual angle feature assures a stable combustion zone. A flexible lip on the projectile is used in conjunction with the dual angle injection mechanism to positively eliminate backflow of propellant through the injection mechanism during the ignition phase of the gun cycle.

Claims

1. A liquid propellant gun system comprising:

a housing having a longitudinally extending first cavity, therein;

a gun barrel having a longitudinal axis and a firing bore with a projectile receiving chamber and a combustion chamber disposed along said longitudinal axis;

a projectile disposed in said projectile receiving chamber;

said gun barrel being disposed within said housing first cavity and with said housing defining a second closed cavity which is a portion of said first cavity and is of substantially annular, longitudinally extending shape and is coaxial with said barrel longitudinal axis;

a valve of substantially annular, longitudinally extending shape coaxial with said barrel longitudinal axis and disposed in said second cavity;

a piston of substantially annular, longitudinally extending shape coaxial with said barrel longitudinal axis and disposed in said second cavity;

said piston and said valve being journaled for relative motion with respect to each other and said gun barrel, said piston and said valve mutally defining a pumping chamber of variable volume for liquid propellant;

obturating means for closing the aft end of said projectile receiving chamber;

supply means for supplying liquid propellant under pressure; and

first and second conduit means for coupling said pumping chamber to said projectile receiving chamber;

additional valve means disposed on said projectile when under relatively low pressure for precluding the flow of liquid propellant from said projectile receiving chamber into said combustion chamber and when under relatively higher pressure for permitting the flow of liquid propellant from said projectile receiving chamber into said combustion chamber.

2. A gun according to claim 1 where first conduit means is angled aft and second conduct means is angled forward.

3. A liquid propellant gun system comprising:

a housing,

a gun barrel,

a differential annular valve,

a differential annular piston,

said housing, barrel, valve and piston defining a fill chamber, a pumping chamber, a projectile receiving chamber, and a combustion chamber,

a projectile disposed in said projectile receiving chamber, and

valve means, disposed in part on said projectile, when under relatively low pressure for precluding the flow of liquid propellant from said pumping chamber into said combustion chamber and when under relatively higher pressure for permitting the flow of liquid propellant from said pumping chamber into said combustion chamber.

4. A gun system according to claim 3 wherein:

said valve means comprises an annular seal means which seals said projectile to said projectile receiving chamber at relatively low pressure and which opens at relatively higher pressure to provide an annular gap between said projectile and said projectile receiving chamber.