U.S. patent number 3,854,231 [Application Number 04/773,691] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-17 for electrically fired multiple barrel superimposed projectile weapon system.
Invention is credited to Howard F. Broyles.
United States Patent |
3,854,231 |
Broyles |
* December 17, 1974 |
ELECTRICALLY FIRED MULTIPLE BARREL SUPERIMPOSED PROJECTILE WEAPON
SYSTEM
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.
Inventors: |
Broyles; Howard F. (La
Crescenta, CA) |
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to September 17, 1989 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
25099013 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/773,691 |
Filed: |
September 26, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/84; 89/1.41;
89/16; 102/703; 42/41; 89/6.5; 102/501 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B
5/08 (20130101); F42B 5/035 (20130101); F41A
19/62 (20130101); F41A 21/06 (20130101); F41A
19/64 (20130101); F42B 12/58 (20130101); Y10S
102/703 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F42B
5/08 (20060101); F41A 21/06 (20060101); F41A
19/00 (20060101); F42B 5/00 (20060101); F41A
21/00 (20060101); F41A 19/64 (20060101); F41A
19/62 (20060101); F42B 12/58 (20060101); F42B
12/02 (20060101); F42B 5/03 (20060101); F41c
019/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;42/40,76A,84,1R,1F
;89/1R,1L,6.5,28,135,1.814 ;102/40,7.2R,46 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bentley; Stephen C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wagner; John E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention has been brought about by an obvious need to enhance
the effectiveness of the individual soldier when he finds himself
facing overwhelming odds in relation to manpower and close quarters
fighting.
The unusual tactics involved in limited warfare, more often than
not, finds U.S. forces in the situation described above. It is,
therefore, most urgent that the fighting man have more effective
weapons and an increased delivery means available.
The presently used automatic rifle and machine guns along with hand
grenades and mortars and other such infantry weapons are effective
only if they can be brought to bear on the enemy in a timely
manner.
The weapons system described hereinafter makes it possible to bring
to bear a variety of weapons in a matter of moments as the
situation changes.
This weapon is also ruggedized and designed to withstand the most
severe environment including being water-tight for submergence in
the water for long periods.
A search of the literature of superimposed charges and Roman candle
type firearms reveals that, despite being a perennial favorite of
weapons inventors who almost from the beginning of the firearms era
in the early 14th century recognized the awesome inherent firepower
potential, they had virtually disappeared from military and
sporting fields by the 1860's being replaced by the metallic
self-contained cartridge type weapons.
The reasons were many. From the outset the multiple superimposed
charge weapon was prone to premature ignition of unfired charges by
gas leakage around the balls and from the compaction of unfired
propellant by the rearward pressure developed during the firing of
previous rounds.
SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION
The following description is directed to a small arms weapon
similar to a hi-low shotgun, having four barrels clustered together
instead of two, but in substantially the same orientation.
The barrels are formed together as a cluster so that they may
operate in the barrel receiver as would a single barrel. The
cluster is disposed in an elongated groove formed in the barrel
receiver-breech combination in a manner so as to allow the barrels
to slide forward and move upward when unlocked from the breech to
allow reloading of cartridges.
The appearance of the cartridges is similar to shotgun shells with
the exception that they are much longer so as to provide a
plurality of rounds to be disposed therein in a manner so as to be
fired from the cartridge successively starting with the first round
in the muzzle end of the cartridge.
The gun is electrically fired by a firing circuit disposed in the
outer casings of the cartridge and individually connected to each
round. The electrical power for firing the gun is provided by a
rechargeable storage battery disposed in the grip of the trigger
module.
A delayed firing squib circuit is also provided for use on
ammunition such as grenades, etc., requiring time delay for range
control operation.
Means for generating power to charge the battery is also included
in the gun structure as well as means to charge the battery from an
outside power source.
The cartridges are adaptable to a wide variety of types of
ammunition, only four of which are described herein. Each round of
ammunition consists of a propellant charge and a propelled charge.
The novelty of these charges resides in the fact that the propelled
charge is selected from a variety of missiles such as shot,
fletchettes, etc., having voids which can be filled with the
propelling charges, such as gun powder and the like, thus
essentially cutting the over-all length and diameter of the rounds
greatly .
These and other features of a hand gun weapon system are described
in detail hereinafter supported by the drawings wherein:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partially fragmented exploded view of the gun showing
the trigger and the grip module as well as the coil wound
barrels.
FIG. 2 is a partially fragmented elevation of the gun showing the
mechanism for breaking the gun and a sectional view of the
breech.
FIG. 3 is a partial elevation showing the gun broken for extracting
the fired cartridges and to ready the gun for fresh cartridges. The
fragmented area shows the ejector operation.
FIG. 4 is a section 4--4 of FIG. 2 showing the relationship of
wiring passages and the sliding trigger blocks.
FIG. 5 is a section 5--5 of FIG. 1 showing the underside of the
trigger module with the grip module removed and the trigger guard
in the open position.
FIG. 6 is a section 6--6 of FIG. 1 showing the top of the grip
module.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged section of FIG. 1 showing the coil winding on
the muzzle end of the barrel.
FIG. 8 is a view of the break mechanism in the closed position.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view 9--9 of FIG. 1 showing the break
mechanism in the closed position.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view 10--10 of FIG. 1 showing how the
barrels are placed and held together as well as a sectional view of
the passage holding the wiring leading from the trigger module to
the breech mechanism.
FIG. 11 is an expanded view of FIG. 9 showing details of how the
barrel assembly and the break mechanism function.
FIG. 12 is an end view of the breech end of the barrels showing the
breech end of the extractor and the ends of the breech locking
pins.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional of the barrel cluster showing
details of the ejector rod placement and the lever latching
block.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view 14--14 of FIG. 12 showing the ejector
plate, ejector rod and the barrel arrangement.
FIG. 15 is a view showing the relationship of the shell,
insulation, and the firing circuit.
FIG. 16 is a fragmented view of a cartridge showing the firing and
fusing circuits and how they are connected to the rounds as well as
the general construction features of the cartridge.
FIG. 17 shows a propelled charge of buckshot as it clears the
muzzle showing the retainer plate and opening spring bursting open
the propelled charge unit to free the projectile, and the plastic
envelope folding back and exposing the structural members used to
support recoil pressure of previous charges.
FIG. 18 is a fragmented view of two buckshot rounds as they are
placed in the cartridge. The fully sectioned charge is shown during
firing with the propellant gases flowing out through the retainer
plate to propel the driven charge yet retaining the projectile in
place, and the second charge represents an unfired charge with its
loading of projectiles, propellant charge and frangible seal cover
intact.
FIG. 19 is a view of a fletchette charge as it clears the
muzzle.
FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a fully loaded fletchette charge
illustrating propellant and projectile placement and seal cover,
and the method of retainment of fletchettes.
FIG. 21 is an elevational view of a grenade round with powder bags
showing placement of boresafe pins and electrical fusing contacts
on pin section.
FIG. 22 is an expanded view of the consumable propellant bags of
FIG. 21.
FIG. 23 is a fragmented elevational view of a recoilless rifle
using the multiple round cartridge idea to automatically fire
simultaneous masses of charge from both ends of the weapon to
achieve recoilless operation.
FIG. 24 shows a typical firing circuit to be used with a recoilless
rifle showing annular band type contacts for placement around the
cartridge casings.
FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing the firing circuit, power
generators and fusing circuits.
FIG. 26 is a symbol of FIG. 27.
FIG. 27 is a sectional view of a snap-action pressure switch with
positive latching action showing a drive type belleville element
and a driven belleville contact element.
FIG. 28 is a sectional view of an alternate pressure switch to that
shown in FIG. 27.
FIG. 29 is a symbol of FIG. 30.
FIG. 30 is a sectional view of an electric squib.
FIG. 31 is a symbol for FIG. 32.
FIG. 32 is a sectional view of a thermally fusible grounding
link.
FIG. 33 is a sectional view of a through-wall conductor to
projectile fusing contact.
FIG. 34 is a sectional view of a hermetically sealed thermal
conduction ignition delay train.
FIG. 34a is an individual delay increment unit of FIG. 34.
FIG. 35 is a longitudinal sectional view of a special ammunition
for loading in this type of cartridge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference is directed to the figures. This small arms type gun
consists of an elongated sheet metal barrel receiver 1 which is
formed into a troughlike member for receiving a cluster of four
barrels 2. The cluster of barrels 2 is formed by starting with a
substantially thin walled steel tubular member 3 best seen in FIG.
7 which provides the internal liner surface for the barrels and
then winding the individual tubular members with a pre-impregnated
glass filament layer 4. The barrels 2 are wound with the glass
filament layer 4 to several times the thickness of the tubular
member then placed in a curing oven. After having been properly
cured the barrels are machined to a uniform outside diameter over
about three-quarters of their length and diammetrically reduced
from this diameter to a substantially smaller diameter toward the
muzzle end of the barrels. (See FIG. 13).
Each barrel is provided with a coil winding 5 of FIG. 7 dispersed
in the glass filament 4 near the muzzle end and located near the
tubular liner 3. Referring again to FIG. 13, a plurality of spacers
6 are centrally disposed between the four barrels and in spaced
relationship to one another in a manner so as to allow the matching
sides of the barrels to touch one another in order to allow the
barrels to be cemented together at these four points.
The spacers 6 are provided with centrally disposed bores 7 which
provide means for mounting a rod member 8 which, in turn, provides
means for the actuating of an ejector 9.
The receiver 1 is provided with a breech block 10 to be described
hereinafter. A butt plate 11 is rotatably mounted to the after end
of the breech block 10 and provides means for mounting a recoil pad
12. A breech locking means consisting of a pin 13 and a socket 14
is provided and shown in FIG. 2. The pin 13 being disposed on the
barrel cluster and the socket 14 being formed in the face of the
breech block.
On the muzzle end of the receiver 1 an unlocking mechanism 15 is
provided. This mechanism consists of a yoked lever 16. The yoke is
disposed on one end of the lever and serves to interconnect the
receiver 1 and the barrel cluster 2 being pivotally attached
thereto in a manner so as to cause the barrels to move forward and
away from the breech mechanism. (See FIG. 11). A lever locking
member 17 is disposed on the upper side of the lever intermediate
the ends thereof and adapted to cooperate with a latching member 18
mounted on the receiver 1. A short cam-like lever 19 is seen in
FIG. 2 adapted to engage the forward end of the ejector rod 8 is
formed on the unlock lever mechanism in a manner so as to lie
between the two lower barrels and to move upward therebetween when
the unlocking mechanism is actuated as is seen in FIGS. 3 and
9.
The receiver 1 is further provided with a substantially rectangular
trigger module 20. This module 20 is removably mounted to the
middle lower surface of the receiver.
The module 20 consists of a first trigger 21 for fire control. A
second trigger 22 is mounted forward of the first trigger 21 and
serves as a fuse-setting trigger to be used when firing fused
ammunition. Forward of the triggers 21 and 22 is a pushbutton
selector box 23 which provides means for selecting one of the four
barrels to be fired.
A swing-away trigger guard 24 is swingably mounted to the after
lower corner of the selector box 23 and adapted to fold up and lock
over the triggers 21 and 22.
A grip module 25 consists of a hollow shell-like member formed in
the shape of a pistol grip. A battery 29 is mounted in the lower
portion of the internal cavity of the grip. A hand operated battery
charger 30 is arranged in the front of the grip.
Other electrical and electronic components are arranged within the
trigger module and the grip module. These components will be
described hereinafter.
The barrel cluster 2 is covered by an elongated hood-like cheek
piece 31 and a fore-end hood-like heat shield 32. A removable
carrying handle 33 is mounted on top of the gun at the balance
point for convenience in carrying.
A safety pin 34 shown in FIG. 2 having a pull ring provides a
positive safety lock for the trigger mechanism.
A wire passageway 35 formed on the upper side of the receiver 1
above the trigger module, see FIG. 4, and running between the lower
barrels back to the breech, provides means for electrically
connecting the power generators and firing circuits to the battery
29 of FIG. 1.
The breech block 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is mounted on the after end
of the receiver 1. The block is made up of a forward plate 36 and
an after plate 37 which are rigidly mounted to an outside wall 38
covering three sides of the plates 36 and 37, thus forming a recess
39 within these walls accessible from the bottom side which is
mounted to the receiver 1. The recess 39 is mounted in such a
manner so that the passageway 35 opens into this recess.
The forward plate 36 is provided with four electrical firing
connections 40 which are located in the face of the plate so as to
be centrally located in each barrel when the barrels are locked
into firing position against the plate.
The connections 40 make electrical contact with the cartridge
firing circuit through a centrally located connector 41 in the face
of the cartridge 42. See FIG. 16. Located near each of the firing
connections 40 and in contact with the cartridge rims, are
connections for contacting the fusing circuits 43 located in the
periphery of the cartridge rim.
A third member located adjacent the firing and fusing connections
is a piezoelectric crystal 44. Each of the four crystals are
located in a manner so as to receive the recoil forces for the
individual cartridge as it is fired thus generating current which
feeds back to the battery 29.
Each of these units or groups of units in contact with the
cartridge are surrounded by an "O" ring seal which is disposed in
the face of the breech in a manner so as to seal the breech end of
each of the four barrels.
The after plate 37 is provided with a plurality of the
piezoelectric crystal generators 44 which are placed in the after
face of the plate in a manner so that the recoil force against the
butt plate 11 will generate current to be fed back to the battery
29 for recharging.
The recess 39 provides means for electrical wiring circuits to be
connected to the above described components. The recess is filled
with a potting compound to fill the voids and lend strength to the
block.
Referring now to FIGS. 16-22, the cartridge 42 is provided with a
plurality of rounds instead of the conventional one round. The
cartridges can be loaded with a great variety of ammunitions. Four
of the more conventional rounds are shown and described
hereinafter. The firing circuits for these rounds are generally the
same and are representative of the recommended rounds for this
weapons system.
The cartridge 42 consists of an inside metal shell 45 having a
conventional closed end 46 and rim 47. A first insulation
sleeve-like member 48 is disposed on the shell 45. A plurality of
groups of through bores 49 is formed in the shell and insulating
member. Each of these groups of through bores provides means for
mounting an electrical circuit in each of the rounds of ammunition
disposed within the cartridge.
The rounds of ammunition such as is shown in FIG. 18 are disposed
in the cartridge and a drill is used to puncture the outer surface
52 of the round so that access to the powder is provided for the
firing squib and other elements.
An electric circuit 50, such as a printed circuit, is laid in place
over the through bores 49. A second insulation sleeve 51 or outer
sleeve, is disposed over the cartridge covering the electric
circuitry and serving as the outer surface of the cartridge.
The circuitry designed for this system calls for some unusual
elements which have been designed for this purpose.
These are illustrated in FIGS. 24-26.
A snap action pressure switch 53, shown in FIG. 27, consists of a
round body member 54 adapted to fit into one of the through bores
49. An annular recess 55 is centrally disposed in the body 54. A
belleville spring type washer 56 designed to be snapped inside out,
is hermetically sealed in the recess 55. A second spring member 57
substantially the same shape, but not a complete washer as is the
first one, is snugly fitted against the washer 56. The elements
just described are electrically isolated from an electrical contact
58 which is disposed in a manner to be contacted by the belleville
washer 56 and the spring member 57 when pressure from the exploding
charge in which it is disposed occurs. The alternate position is
shown in dotted lines 59, thus closing the circuit.
The second spring member 57 is in the design because, normally,
following a concussion such as exploding powder, there is always a
negative pressure which can cause the hermetically sealed washer to
return to its original position. Even if this happens the spring 57
will stay in contact with contact 58 because it will not be
affected by this negative pressure.
A second species of this pressure switch is shown in FIG. 28 having
the same body member and electrical contact arrangement but the
belleville washer is replaced with a flat spring washer 60 having
an upturned periphery 61 resembling a chevron seal. An internally
disposed annular shoulder is formed in the recess 55 so that the
outer periphery of the member 61 will be engaged, thus holding the
contact against negative pressures.
The squib 62 shown in FIG. 30 is more or less standard. It is made
up of an annular body member substantially the same as the pressure
switch but the cavity is filled with an explosive 63 which is set
off by the bridgewire arrangement 64.
A thermally fusible grounding element 65 is shown in FIG. 32. This
element again has the same body member with a pair of posts 66
connected by a length of fusible wire 67. This element is essential
to the safety circuitry and may be combined with a pyrotechnic
delay mixture.
A through wall conductor element 68 is shown in FIG. 33. This
element is used to fuse ammunition such as the grenade shown in
FIG. 21. A conductive body member 69 is provided with an annular
cavity 70 centrally disposed therein. A belleville spring washer 71
is disposed in the cavity. An annular insulation member 72 is
disposed around the body member so that the conductive body is
insulated from the metal case of the grenade. The through wall
conductors are mounted in recesses in the grenade fin 73 in a
manner to allow the spring washer 71 to extend outward to contact
the wall of the cartridge. When the round is fused, the firing
takes place and the pressure buildup around the washer causes it to
invert and thus cut off the contact with the cartridge.
The grenade 74 is made up of a body member 75 containing the
explosive charge sealing means 76 positioned on the forward and
after ends thereof and a conical after body 77 which supports
radially outwardly directed fins 73. The fins have through bores 78
formed therein to allow ignition of powder bags 79. Small bore
riding boresafe pins 80 are disposed in the outer edges of the
fins.
The buckshot rounds shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 consist of a serrated
plastic outer casing 81 which contains the powder and shot mixture.
A plurality of metal structural elements 83 provide support against
breech pressure. A metal sabot 84 serves as a portion of the outer
casing and to receive the after end of the structural elements 83.
A perforated metal shot retainer plate 85 receives the forward end
of the structural elements. Annular seal means 86 for sealing back
pressure are disposed on the outer perimeter of the sabot 84. A
positive opening snap ring is disposed inside the forward end of
the plastic shot and powder retainer 81 to assure the proper
splitting and opening of the casing releasing the shot.
The fletchette rounds, shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, consist of a
partially serrated plastic outside casing 87. The internal wall is
supported by an annular metal plate 88 and the outside after wall
is supported by a second such plate 89. An internally directed
annular area 90 is formed as a part of the casing 87 and serves to
grip the fletchettes while the powder is fired driving the round
ahead out. A frangible plastic powder retainer cap 91 closes the
forward end of the casing.
A slug type round is shown in FIG. 35. This round consists of a
conical disc-like sabot 92 with the central portion of the disc
indented forming an annular protrusion 93 within the cone 92. A
slug 94 resembling a .45 caliber slug is removably mounted to the
protrusion 93. A fusible honeycomb material 95 formed to fit the
forward and after contours of the sabot and slug combination is
adapted to surround the slug and provide means for storing the
propellant charge and also adds to the structural strength of the
round.
The slug is blown free of the sabot as it leaves the barrel by a
combination tracer-igniter-separation charge mix stored in the
cavity 96 formed in the nose of the slug. A tracer mix is placed in
the axially disposed annular bore 97 in the after end of the slug
adjacent the charge in a manner so as to be ignited upon separation
of the sabot.
FIGS. 34 and 34a illustrate a thermal delay arrangement utilized in
various types of ammunition for this system.
An internally screw-threaded tubular member 171 provides means for
assembling a thermal delay train of selected time increments. An
ignition unit 172 is placed in one end of the tubular member
171.
The igniter unit consists of an outer, externally screw-threaded
sleeve 173 constructed of an insulating material. Centrally located
in the sleeve 173 is a metal sleeve 174 having a transverse wall
175 formed centrally therein to provide annular recesses 176. These
recesses contain a small amount of igniter mix 177 followed by a
gasless heater mix 178 to provide a specific thermal delay
increment.
FIG. 34a is a sectional view of a unit to be placed in the tubular
member 171.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL FEATURES
The gun, when used as a recoilless rifle will have a single barrel
containing a superimposed charge cartridge (FIG. 23) which contains
the electrical circuits, the electric squibs 99 (FIG. 24), the
thermally fusible grounding link 100 and the pressure switches 101
together with electrical conductors thereto directed longitudinally
along the superimposed charge cartridge. The combinations of
devices 99, 100, and 101 (FIG. 24) are cascaded along the
superimposed charge cartridge and are associated with each
superimposed charge 102. In an application where the superimposed
charge cartridge contains recoilless operation charges, devices 99,
100 and 101 and the electrical conductors thereto are included in
the superimposed charge cartridge in association with each recoil
nullifying charge. The operation and interaction of the devices 99,
100 and 101 are such that when the first superimposed charge 102 at
the end of the superimposed charge cartridge, is fired by sending
an electric current through the electric squib 99 and
simultaneously through the recoil squib 99', the pressure switches
101 and 101' are set to conduct by the pressure force of the
exploding charges 102 and recoil charge 102' respectively. The
continuity through the pressure switches 101 and 101' complete an
electrical path through the succeeding charge electrical squib 103
and 103' to enable the succeeding charge to be fired upon reception
of an electrical pulse through superimposed charge cartridge
contact ring 104, the conductors, and to the ground connection to
the gun barrel. To insure that recoilless operation of the gun is
optimized cascaded redundant circuits consisting individually of a
thermopile 105 associated with a charge 102 fires a squib 105' to
detonate the recoil charge 102' simultaneously with the detonation
of charge 102. Similarly, a thermopile 106' fires an electric squib
106 associated with the charge 102 to further insure the
coincidence of recoilless firing. Other charges and their recoil
inhibiting charge are arranged symmetrically in the cartridge and
are fired symmetrically as described above.
The function of the thermally fusible grounding link 100 is to
provide a conducting path around electric squib 103 in the event
that pressure switch 101 becomes shorted accidentally, and this
link also acts as a firing rate limiter. For example, squib 103 is
bypassed from firing until thermally fusible element 100 has burned
out. The burn out time is controlled by the pyrotechnic mixture
encapsulating the fusible element 100.
Referring now to FIG. 14 in relation to FIG. 25, the firing pulse
that enters the superimposed cartridge 42, FIG. 16, is generated in
a special generator and control circuit, FIG. 25. The barrel
selector switches 108 through 111, FIG. 25 (represented in FIG. 1
by numeral 23) are latching push in-push return type and can be
used to select any combination of four barrels as described
hereinbefore.
Section A of the barrel selector switches 108 through 111 lifts
ground from the particular barrel or barrels selected and Section B
allows a pulse of integrated circuit (IC) multivibrators 112
through 115 to pass through to the power amplifiers (Darlington
followers) 116 through 119. Section C removes the short from the
particular zener diodes 120 through 123 which reverse bias the
signal diodes 124 through 127. This biasing is designed to be
progressively higher for each higher diode associated with each
higher numbered barrel (1-4) and causes the barrels selected by the
barrel switches 108 through 111 to be fired sequentially as step
generator 128 passes an increasing voltage level to the
multivibrators 112 through 115. Diodes 129 through 132 limit the
pulse amplitude to each multivibrator at somewhat less than one
step of step generator 128 and prevent higher steps from
retriggering lower multivibrators. Diode 133 is reverse biased by
the number of zener diodes selected by the barrel switches so as to
become forward biased on the step number corresponding to the
number of barrel switches depressed. This triggers the reset
generator 134 through the delay multivibrator 135 which resets the
step generator 128 to zero with a short pulse after the pulse
generator 136 has completed the number of desired pulses. Thus the
number of steps from the step generator is the same as the number
of barrels in use.
The pulse generator 136 is a multivibrator IC which is
frequency-controlled by the trigger potentiometer 137 and its pulse
amplitude is set by zener diode 138 and standard diodes 139 and
140. The pulse amplitude at test point TP "A" is equal to the
voltage across diodes 120 through 123. Bias on the emitter follower
141 is set to give a d.c. (average) potential at test point A equal
to one-half the peak pulse (zener) voltage across diodes 120
through 123. This is a calibration adjustment.
The safety switch 143 is a rotary manually set switch having three
positions. Position 1 is off with contacts E thereof being open.
Position 2 closes contacts E and applies power to the circuits
through the trigger switch 142 contact A. Position 3 offers the
single shot circuit through contacts F and removes the short
(contact G) on the output of the pulse generator 136 for multiple
shots.
The trigger potentiometer 137 is mechanically coupled to the
trigger and is actuated in any position beyond the single shot
position of the trigger switch 142. Increased pulling results in
increased pulse rate and more rapid firing. Single-shot pulses are
generated by operating the trigger switch 142 such that contact A
is closed, completing the circuit through contact F of the safety
switch 143 enabling positive pulse amplitude to be set by diodes
138 and 139 for application to the step generator 128, emitter
follower 141 and the monostable multivibrators 112 through 115.
This enables the steps at test point A to be equal in amplitude to
the zener voltage of the individual diodes 120 through 123. DC bias
on the emitter follower is set to give a d.c. voltage at test point
A equal to one-half the zener voltage of diodes 120 through
123.
The trigger switch 142 is a sequential contact switch having three
fixed triggering modes and one variable mode in its travel from off
to full on. Contact A of switch 142 turns off the battery power
supplied through the safety switch. This is the rest position of
the trigger. Pulling the trigger slightly energizes the circuits.
Pulling further (mode 1) puts a d.c. pulse into the step generator
128 through contacts B and D and diode 144. Pulling yet further
(mode 2) opens contact D first disabling the single shot circuit,
then opening contact C to allow continuous pulses from the pulse
generator 136 to be applied to the step generator 128. Yet further
pulling of the trigger (mode 3) changes the resistance of
potentiometer 137 to control the pulse rate and consequently, the
rate of barrel firing.
The use of batteries for the firing circuits requires that
provision be made for recharging. This is done by four different
means: the first being a voltage generated in the barrel coil 5 of
FIG. 7 when a charge is fired through the air core volume, the
voltage being rectified by bridge diodes 147 and stored in d.c.
form across capacitor 148 for application to point Z of the battery
150 recharge circuit; the second being piezoelectric elements 151
in parallel mounted in the breech block for recoil absorption that
generates a voltage which is rectified by a second set of bridge
diodes 147 for application to capacitor 152 and point X of the
recharge circuit through limit resistor 153; the third means being
an external battery charger connected to the battery charging
circuit terminal mounted in the grip 25 of the gun; the fourth
means being a magnetic slug operably attached to the trigger-like
actuator 30 mounted on the front of the grip 25 and inserted into a
coil such that a pulse is generated when the trigger is released
rapidly against the urging of its bias spring. The pulse is applied
to point X of the battery recharge circuit.
A circuit is included in the electronics compartments of the piston
grip for firing the grenade type cartridge. This circuit includes a
facility for imparting a linear-with-range timing voltage whereby
the timed squib circuit in each grenade is set for the proper
range-before-explosion. The linear-with-range timing voltage
whereby the timed squib circuit in each grenade is set for the
proper range-before-explosion. The linear-with-range voltage may be
set by means of an external range finding apparatus such as a
laser, acoustic, or infrared ranging system. Thus, a grenade fired
from any of the four barrels would have the proper time lapse from
firing to explosion in accordance with the desired range which is
set by a voltage level imparted to each grenade through the vernier
squib control circuit. The wiring circuit to each grenade in the
cartridge is established along the cartridge shell and is shown in
FIG. 24. The time delayed squib (projectile) circuit, FIG. 25, is
integral with each grenade.
As shown in FIG. 25, an integrated circuit comprising; a capacitor
154, which takes a charge to the level set by the ranging circuit;
a squib 155 which is shorted by a boresafe switch 156 until after
the grenade projectile leaves the barrel; a standardizing circuit
consisting of transistor 157 and zener diode 159 in conjunction
with the biasing circuit consisting of capacitor 158 with resistor
160, is included in each projectile (grenade). The action of the
circuit is such that both transistors 157 and 162 are cut off until
capacitor 158 discharges to the point of transistor 157 conduction
because of the leakage of the charge on capacitor 158 to the zener
voltage of zener diode 159. When conduction through transistor 157
occurs, transistor 162 conducts thereby applying a current through
the squib 155 when set. It should be noted that a charge that
varies in accordance with the desired range of the projectile is
imparted to capacitor 154 when the projectile is in the barrel. The
time to explosion after firing depends only upon the level of the
charge on the capacitor 154 and the time constant of the circuit
consisting of resistor 160 and capacitor 158. Switch 80 (FIG. 21)
is closed as soon as the projectile leaves the barrel exposing the
squib 53 to the transistor 162 collector current. It is evident
that the higher the charge on capacitor 154 the longer the time
lapse between the firing and the exploding of the projectile.
The vernier squib control circuit includes: a DC to DC converter
163 to raise the battery voltage to a higher voltage whereby the
range of voltage settings on the capacitor 154 is expanded; a
voltage regulator 164; a selector switch 165 for the external range
measuring apparatus or the included manual trigger 22 operated
potentiometer 166. The output of the circuit is applied to the
projectile through the wiring circuit 168 (FIG. 24) on the
cartridge containing the projectile. This circuit includes the
capacitor charging band, the pressure switches 101, the fusible
grounding links 100 and the contacts 169 to the projectile contact
68. The functions of the devices 100 and 101 are the same as in the
superimposed charge 102 circuit.
For safety, the thermally fusible grounding link 65 provides a
conducting path around the squib 62 in the event of failure of the
boresafe switch 156. Additionally, the pressure switch 53 is
provided in series with the squib 62 so that the squib circuit is
not connected unless the normal pressure impulse from a prior
grenade or initial charge firing is received.
The above described embodiments of this invention are merely
descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered
limiting. The scope of this invention instead shall be determined
from the scope of the following claims, including their
epuivalents.
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