Compact artillery

• US 6,571,676 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Clive Tucker, George R. Wilson Jr, Lawrence R. Folsom, Martin Hughes, Robert E. Thompson, Robert J. Kogut, Steven L. Adams
• Inventors: Hughes, Martin, Adams, Steven L., Tucker, Clive, Folsom, Lawrence R., Kogut, Robert J., Wilson, George R. Jr., Thompson, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US10/006,319
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 89/17, 89/19, 89/202, 89/17.04, 42/750.2
• US Class Current: 89/17
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 13/04 Injecting fluids into barrels or cartridge chambers F41A13/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 25/20 Hydropneumatic systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/74 Obturating or packing devices for gas leak prevention in breech mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/45 the cartridge chamber or the barrel as a whole being tiltable or transversely slidable between a loading and a firing position F41A9/25 and F41A9/27 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/26 using centrifugal force

Abstract

A gun system has a two piece cannon assembly that is separated between a removable chamber instead of a traditional breech, and a projectile forcing cone. The chamber has a plug at one end that can accommodate any type of ignition system, and the other end is open and is attached to the barrel with a connection fitting. High pressure gases created by combustion of the propellant are sealed with a high-pressure gas compression seal at the interface between the chamber and the barrel. The connection fitting provides an attachment for a rear cannon bearing slide, which rides on rails attached to the main support structure, and also reacts any torque induced into the barrel from the actuation of the chamber/barrel locking collar. A turntable upon which are mounted two chamber elevating/support mechanisms and two projectile loader/rammer mechanisms is positioned around one of the main support structure legs.

Claims

1. A gun assembly, comprising:

a gun barrel and a separable chamber;

said separable chamber includes a plug at one end that accommodates a propellant ignition system;

said separable chamber having an open end opposite said one end, said open end having interrupted threads or bayonet fittings for connection to said barrel by way of rotating locking collar;

a connection fitting having a continuous internal thread for threadedly engaging continuous external threads on said locking collar;

said locking collar has internal bayonet features or interrupted thread to engage said interrupted threads or bayonet fittings at said open end of said chamber;

a torque plate attached to a lower face of said collar and extending radially beyond said connection fitting;

a slot in said torque plate aligned with a pin of a slide actuator attached to a frame cross-member;

whereby said actuator pin is located inside the torque plate slot when said gun assembly is in a battery position and is disengaged from said slot during recoil to disengage said chamber from said barrel during recoil.

2. A gun assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a projectile propellant canister for use in said gun assembly having a consumable casing and a high pressure gas seal at an outer end thereof for providing a gas seal at the interface between said open end of said chamber and said gun barrel;

whereby high pressure gases created by propellant combustion are sealed with said high-pressure gas compression seal at said interface between said chamber and said barrel.

3. A gun assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

said connection fitting has an attachment for a rear cannon bearing slide which rides on rails attached to a main support structure;

whereby any torque induced into said barrel from the actuation of said chamber/barrel is reacted into said locking collar.

4. A gun assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

recoil cylinders mounted in front of said chamber/barrel connection fitting;

said recoil cylinders having pistons with piston rods attached to said connection fitting;

said recoil cylinders having front ends connected to a main gun support to support the front of said recoil cylinders and transmit recoil forces generated when said gun fires to said main support;

whereby an extended “

wheelbase”

between the front and rear slides ensures improved shot repeatability.

5. A gun assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a turntable upon which are mounted two chamber elevating/support mechanisms and two projectile loader/rammer mechanisms is positioned around one of said main support structure legs.