Gun

• US 6,752,061 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Inventors: Knorich, Friedhelm, Baumann, Berthold
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEMUNEGUS, LULIT
• Application Number:
  US10/414,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20040020352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 42/750.2, 89/371.3, 89/370.1, 89/140.5
• US Class Current: 89/14.05
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/481 using partial or interrupted threads, e.g. bayonet-type mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 25/00 Gun mountings permitting recoil or return to battery, e.g. gun cradles; Barrel buffers or brakes recoilless guns F41A1/08

Abstract

A gun whose barrel (2′) is connected to a breech ring (16), and is seated to be displaced in a cradle barrel (3). To prevent a lifting effect of the barrel (2′) inside the cradle barrel (3) upon firing, a slide-bushing bearing is disposed on at least the muzzle side of the barrel (2′). The bearing encompasses a barrel bushing (7′), in which the barrel (2′) is disposed free from any lifting effect, and whose outside surface (8) slides in a form-fit (i.e., with the smallest possible amount of play) in the cradle barrel (3), so that the barrel (2′) is independently guided to slide both axially and radially. The radial sliding guidance of the barrel (2′) during firing is effected by tab-shaped protrusions (10′), which extend into corresponding, groove-shaped recesses (9′) of the barrel bushing (7′) and hold the barrel (2′) in the center of the barrel bushing (7′).

Claims

1. A gun having a barrel that is connected to a breech ring and that is seated to be axially displaced in a cradle barrel of a gun cradle, and wherein:

the gun barrel is seated at least in a first slide-bushing bearing disposed at the muzzle-side end of the cradle barrel, and in a second slide-bushing bearing disposed at the breech ring-side end of the cradle barrel;

at least the first slide-bushing bearing is constructed to be free of any lifting effect, and including a barrel bushing, whose outer surface is seated to slide in the cradle barrel;

an inner surface of the first barrel bushing has at least three groove-shaped recesses, that are uniformly spaced over the circumference of the first barrel bushing;

a plurality of tab-shaped protrusions corresponding to the number of said recesses is disposed on one of an outer surface of the gun barrel and an outer surface of an inside ring disposed on an outer surface of the gun barrel in a form-fit connection with the barrel gun, with the protrusions extending into respective groove-shaped recesses of the barrel bushing; and

a predetermined amount of play is provided between the outer surface of the gun barrel or of the interior ring and the inner surface of the barrel bushing, and between respective end surfaces of the protrusions and respective adjacent inner surfaces of the respective groove-shaped recess of the barrel bushing with an expansion of the gun barrel during firing being within the predetermined amount of play.

2. The gun according to claim 1, wherein the tab-shaped protrusions are secured to the inside ring that is connected in a form-fit to the gun barrel.

3. The gun according to claim 1, wherein the tab-shaped protrusions is formed on the outer surface of the gun barrel.

4. The gun according to claim 1, wherein the second slide-bushing bearing is also constructed to be free of any lifting effect, and corresponds in design to the first slide-bushing bearing.

5. The gun according to claim 1, wherein at least the first barrel bushing has four groove-shaped recesses, which are uniformly spaced around the circumference, and into which the corresponding respective tab-shaped protrusion extends, and side surfaces of the respective protrusion rest in a form-fit against corresponding side surfaces of the groove-shaped recesses.

6. The gun according to claim 1, wherein the barrel bushing of the second slide-bushing bearing is connected to the breech ring for axial movement therewith.

7. The gun according to claim 6, wherein the length of the barrel bushing of the second slide-bushing bearing is such that the barrel bushing is completely pulled out of the cradle barrel when the gun barrel recoils;

and an additional slide bushing is disposed, with a predetermined amount of play in the cradle barrel, in front of the second slide-bushing bearing, with the additional slide bushing assuming the task of guiding the gun barrel when the barrel bushing is pulled out of the cradle barrel during recoil.

8. The gun according to claim 5, wherein the length of the second slide-bushing bearing is such that the barrel bushing of the second slide-bushing bearing remains within the cradle barrel during recoil of the gun barrel.