EP0161363A2 - Dispositif de lancement à air comprimé - Google Patents

Dispositif de lancement à air comprimé Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0161363A2
EP0161363A2 EP84307925A EP84307925A EP0161363A2 EP 0161363 A2 EP0161363 A2 EP 0161363A2 EP 84307925 A EP84307925 A EP 84307925A EP 84307925 A EP84307925 A EP 84307925A EP 0161363 A2 EP0161363 A2 EP 0161363A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
piston
barrel
reservoir
valve
air
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP84307925A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0161363A3 (fr
Inventor
Roger Frederick Allen
Clin Ian Campbell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GQ Defence Equipment Ltd
Original Assignee
GQ Defence Equipment Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GQ Defence Equipment Ltd filed Critical GQ Defence Equipment Ltd
Publication of EP0161363A2 publication Critical patent/EP0161363A2/fr
Publication of EP0161363A3 publication Critical patent/EP0161363A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41B—WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F41B11/00—Compressed-gas guns, e.g. air guns; Steam guns

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air launcher.
  • air launcher means a compressed gas operated gun comprising a barrel, a firing valve at the breach end of the barrel and a compressed gas charge reservoir connected to the breach end of the barrel via the firing valve, from which reservoir compressed gas is delivered to the barrel when the valve is opened for "firing" the gun.
  • compressed gas will be air, but other gases may be used.
  • Such expansion results in the acceleration given to the projectile being initially high on opening of the valve and falling thereafter, the acceleration being substantially proportional to the pressure.
  • Substantially constant acceleration can be achieved by maintaining the pressure of the compressed gas substantially constant.
  • a large charge reservoir can provide a more constant acceleration than a small charge reservoir, since the change in volume experienced by the gas in the reservoir and in the barrel as the projectile moves down the barrel is less.
  • an air launcher with a large reservoir makes less efficient use of its gas charge since all the gas is vented to atmosphere after the projectile has left the barrel.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an improved air launcher giving a constant, or at least substantially maintained, acceleration to a projectile on firing.
  • An air launcher of the invention has a charge reservoir having a variable volume and includes a displacement member adapted to reduce the volume of the charge reservoir on firing of the air launcher and an actuator for driving the displacement member in such manner on firing.
  • the displacement member may be a diaphragm, it is preferably a piston acting in the circular cylindrical reservoir.
  • the actuator may be a hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit. Alternatively, as is preferred, it may be a pneumatic piston-and-cylinder unit.
  • the pneumatic pressure driving the actuator may be similar to that of the compressed gas charge in the charge reservoir provided the initial volume of the actuator and its pressure gas storage is larger than that of the reservoir.
  • the said pneumatic pressure is preferably considerably larger than that of the reservoir, whereby the piston in the actuator can be considerably smaller than the piston in the reservoir.
  • the swept volume in the actuator is smaller at least where there is a one-to-one mechanical advantage between the two pistons. This has the advantage that the change of volume in the actuator is small in comparison with the change in volume of the reservoir per se (excluding the associated barrel volume).
  • the change in volume in the actuator and storage will be a small proportion of its original volume giving a substantially constant actuator force producing a substantially constant reservoir pressure with a swept volume preferably corresponding to the major part of the original reservoir volume.
  • the actuator pressure may be kept constant by utilising pressure gas whose pressure has been dropped from the storage gas pressure to a constant pressure in a pressure regulator interposed between the storage and the actuator.
  • loss of actuator pressure during travel can be compensated for by providing a variable mechanical advantage between the actuator piston and the reservoir piston.
  • a variable mechanical advantage may be provided by systems of levers.
  • the mechanical advantage of the actuator piston with respect to the reservoir piston increases substantially in proportion to the distance travelled by the actuator piston raised to the power of y; whereby the loss of pressure in the actuator is compensated for to provide a constant pressure in the reservoir.
  • the diameter of the reservoir is substantially larger than the diameter of the barrel whereby the barrel can be comparatively long - for acceleration of the projectile over a longer time and distance to a higher speed - with respect to the length of the reservoir and the stroke of its piston.
  • a plurality of shorter stroke reservoir pistons may be provided ganged together to a single actuator.
  • the pressure ratio between the reservoir and the actuator may be between 10 : 1 and 40 : 1.
  • an air launcher of the invention permits the use of a comparatively small charge reservoir volume and secondly it permits the use of a comparatively short barrel for a given maximum acceleration and "muzzle" velocity.
  • the air launcher 1 there shown has a barrel 2 having a so-called slotted cylinder through the slot 3 of which a tongue 4 extends from a piston 5 for propelling a projectile.
  • the slotted cylinder is a device known in itself having a pair of strips (not shown) which normally close the slot in a pressure- tight manner. One of the strips passes above the level of the barrel wall and the other passes below the level of the barrel wall at the tongue to allow the tongue to extend out of the barrel wall and travel along the barrel. The barrel remains sealingly closed by the strips on both sides of the barrel.
  • the piston 5 is of composite structure carrying front and rear seals 6,7 on respective flanged annular members 8,9 captive to a central tubular member 10 by end caps 11,12.
  • the tongue 4 is secured to the tubular member 10.
  • the barrel 2 has front and rear sealing end closure caps 13,14, whereby the barrel spaces 15,16 on either side of the piston 5 are sealed.
  • a charge air port 17 Adjacent the rear end cap 14 of the barrel a charge air port 17 is provided for admitting charge pressurized gas preferably air to the barrel space 16 behind the piston 5.
  • a valve housing 18 is sealingly fixed to the barrel.
  • the housing 18 is generally cylindrical and accommodates a cylindrical inner member 19 having a closed free end 19'.
  • a sleeve valve member 20 Between the inner member 19 and the housing 18 is slidingly accommodated a sleeve valve member 20, which is shown in Figure 2 in its open position.
  • the valve member 20 When the valve member 20 is moved forwards towards the barrel 2, its forward end co-operates with an annular seal 21 to close ports 22 in the member 20 and hence close the valve, generally designated 18'.
  • the ports 22 are opened.
  • the valve member 20 has a rear flange 23, having a seal 24, which co-operates with an annular space 25 between the members 18 and 19 in the manner of a piston-and-cylinder unit.
  • An inwards extending flange 26 of the housing 18 defines a forward end of the space 25 and carries a seal 27 which in conjunction with an oppositely positioned seal 28 in the inner member 19 seals the valve piston-and-cylinder from the interior 29 of the valve housing 18.
  • a flange 30 in the rear end of inner member 19 is sealingly secured to the housing 18 to define the rear end of the space 25.
  • Ports 31 and 32 in the housing 18 to the space 25 on opposite sides of the piston flange 23 allow admission of pressure air to either end of the space 25 for moving the valve member 20.
  • valve 18' is pressure balanced in that the pressure across the valve member 20 provides negligible resistance to movement thereof, especially when the pressure within the valve member is higher and the valve is being opened, and hence opens very quickly with negligible subsequent pressure drop thereacross.
  • the charge reservoir pressure acts on the top face 20' of the valve sleeve to accelerate the process of opening of the valve 18'.
  • the valve Via the inner member 19, the valve is sealingly connected to a bend 33; itself sealingly connected to a charge reservoir 34.
  • the reservoir is circular cylindrical and has a piston 35 with a rod 36 passing out of end plate 37 of the reservoir opposite from the end plate 38 connected to the bend 33.
  • the piston 35 is sealed via its seal 39 to the charge reservoir. Accordingly, with the valve 18' open charge air is captive between the piston 35 in the reservoir 34 and the piston 5 in the barrel 2.
  • an actuator 40 in the form of a high pressure piston-and-cylinder unit whose piston 47 is connected to the opposite end of the rod 36 from the charge reservoir piston 35.
  • the working space of the actuator 40 Via a port 41, the working space of the actuator 40 is connected to a comparatively large high pressure air storage 42, with interposition of a pressure reducing regulator valve 43 for passing air at a constant pressure from the reservoir 42 to the actuator 40, see Figure 3.
  • a closable port 44 to the ambient.
  • a further port 45 is provided with a pipe 46 connecting it to a pressure air storage reservoir 42.
  • a valve 48 is provided in the pipe 46.
  • Typical diameters of the pistons are as follows:-
  • a track 60 is provided for a trolley 61 fast with the piston 5 via its tongue 4.
  • a projectile to be launched can be mounted on the trolley.
  • the port 44 is maintained open, whereby the pressure in front of the piston remains at ambient pressure at least until the piston 5 passes the port 44. At this point the piston, and the attached trolley 48, will have attained maximum launch velocity. As soon as the port 44 is passed, pressure builds up in front of the piston 5 to brake it, whilst the charge pressure driving the piston is dumped to ambient through the port 44 - with the result that the pistons 35 and 47 stop at the end of their travel. Meanwhile, the main piston 5 is brought to rest by the build up of pressure in front of itself. Once it has stopped, it rebounds until it has returned to the vicinity of the port 44.
  • the air launcher is then ready for recharging.
  • Two actions are involved which can occur simultaneously, but are essentially independent. Initially the valve 18' is closed with use of a servo valve 49. Then in the first action, the port 44 is closed, and the valve 48 is opened to admit pressure air from the storage 42 to the barrel space 15. Valve 48 is ganged to valve 50 in the breach end cap 14 to vent the barrel space 16 to ambient. The piston 5 is thus driven back down the barrel. When it reaches the breach end, the valves 48,50 are closed and the port 44 is opened again ready for the next firing.
  • a bleed 51 from the actuator working space 52 is opened via valve 53 to admit charge pressure air to the reservoir 34. Due to the area ratios of the pistons, the quantity of air required to charge the relatively low pressure reservoir 34 is approximately that contained in the relatively high pressure actuator working space 52.
  • a trip 54 closes the bleed valve 53.
  • An isolating valve 55 is ganged to the bleed valve 53 to isolate the actuator space 52 from the storage 42 during this charging transfer action.
  • the bleed valve 53 is closed the isolating valve 55 is opened. Any short-fall in charge air for the reservoir 34 can be made up direct from the storage 42 on line 56 via a valve 57. It is by these latter that the reservoir is charged for a first charging of the air launcher.
  • a braking cannister 72 is provided in the form of a stepped cylinder 73 having a large diameter portion 74 and a small diameter portion 75.
  • the left hand end 76 of the cannister is fast with the barrel end cap 77 with a cannister charging bore 78 passing through both components 76,77.
  • Captive within the large diameter portion 74 of the cannister is a piston 79 having a tapered periphery engageable in the mouth of the small diameter portion 73 at the step 80 between the portions.
  • a light spring 81 urges the piston into engagement with the step.
  • the piston 79 has a small drilling 82 typically 0.020in. (0.5mm.) through it.
  • the free end of the small diameter portion has a lip 83 captivating a light weight small piston 84.
  • the main piston 85 of the air launcher has a hollow construction 86 whereby the small diameter portion of the braking cannister can extend into it.
  • the front seal 87 of the piston 85 is provided about the mouth of the hollow 86.
  • a rod 88 extends axially of the hollow to its mouth.
  • the free end of the rod 88 abuts the light weight piston 84, when the piston 85 has traversed the greater part of the length of the barrel.
  • the high pressure of gas introduced into the cannister via the bore 78 acts on the piston 84 to brake the main piston 85.
  • the tapered piston 79 is forced out of its seat at the step 80.
  • the main piston 85 has been braked to a halt the majority of the gas has been expelled from the small diameter portion 75.
  • Pressure in the cannister forces back the main piston.
  • the small diameter of the drilling 82 is such as to control the speed of rebound.
  • the operation of an air launcher including this brake is as described with reference to Figure 3.
  • valve 18" there shown is an alternative to the valve 18' of Figure 2 having a housing 518.
  • the upper, free end of the sleeve 520 of the valve has a radially inwards directed flange 520a.
  • the upper free end of an inner member 519 fixed to the housing 518 has a radially outwards directed flange 519a, extending in line with the closed end 519' thereof.
  • the sleeve flange 520a is below the inner member flange 519a, i.e. the sleeve flange 520 is positioned in the opening direction thereof from the inner member flange 519a.
  • a face seal 521 against which the sleeve flange 520a abuts in the closed position of the valve 18".
  • the diameter of the seal 521 is smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve, such that the charge pressure air, having passed through the ports 522, acts on the inside of the flange 520a (see arrow P) radially outwardly of the seal 521. Thus the charge pressure air acts to close the valve 18".
  • valve 531 On admission of firing pressure via valve 531 a higher pressure is required than in the Figure 2 arrangement. This is advantageous in avoiding misfiring.
  • the valve opens. The charge pressure then acts on the opposite side of the flange 520a, i.e. on the side previously abutting the seal 521, and accelerates the sleeve 520 towards its open position.
  • the air launcher 101 there shown, has a barrel 102 having at its breach end a sleeve valve 103 of the type which opens virtually instantaneously to give substantially no pressure drop between the barrel and an annular charge reservoir 104, arranged peripherally of the sleeve valve 104.
  • the reservoir 104 has a charge gas displacement piston 105 sealingly arranged therein.
  • the piston 105 has seals 106,107 sealingly engaging the radially outer and inner internal surfaces of the charge reservoir. Movement of the piston along the reservoir alters its volume.
  • the piston 105 is mechanically connected by a rod 108 to a piston-and-cylinder unit 109 pneumatically connected with the interposition of a valve 110 to a high pressure gas store 111.
  • the valve 110 may be ganged to open simultaneously with the valve 103. Alternatively the valve 110 may be permanently open or even omitted, in either of which latter cases the ratio of pressures in the reservoir 104 and the gas store 111 is dictated by the area ratio of the annular piston 105 and the piston 112 in the piston and cylinder unit provided neither piston is against a stop.
  • the unit 109 extending out behind the barrel 102, the unit could be arranged in front of the charge reservoir either with the connecting rod passing through the reservoir or the piston 105 arranged at the front end of the reservoir.
  • the piston 112 may have a diameter of 44.7 mm to enable a storage pressure of 100 bar to balance the pistons.
  • Such ratios give a swept volume ratio of 20 : 1.
  • the charge reservoir and accumulator arrangement there shown includes two features, namely an increasing mechanical advantage of the actuator over the charge reservoir piston and a duplication of charge reservoir pistons whereby a greater displacement can be achieved for a given movement.
  • the first of these features enables not only a higher charge reservoir pressure to be obtained but also a more constant one.
  • the second feature enables a comparatively short reservoir piston stroke to be utilized.
  • a branched duct 201 leads to the firing valve 202 from twin charge reservoirs 203,204 provided in line beneath the barrel 205.
  • Each charge reservoir has its piston 206,207 connected to a common connecting rod 208.
  • the connecting rod passes sealingly through the front reservoir 203 to the rear reservoir 204 with the piston 206 carried medially of the piston rod.
  • the forward end of the piston rod carries a roller 209 which bears against a lever 210 pivotally connected at one end 211 to the supporting framework 212 of the air launcher and at the other end 213 to the piston rod 214 of the actuator 215.
  • the cylinder end 216 of the actuator 215 is also pivotally connected to the framework 212.
  • Figure 6 shows the actuator and charge reservoir with their pistons in mid-stroke.
  • the end 213 of the lever 210 describes a circular arc 218, whereby the moment arm 219 of the actuator about the lever end 211 increases, with decrease in the angled between the actuator and the lever 210 towards 90°.
  • the consequence is that as the pressure in the actuator storage 220 falls on expansion of its pressure air the mechanical advantage thereof over the pistons 206,207 increases so that charge reservoir pressure can be maintained substantially constant during travel of the pistons on firing of the air launcher.
  • the provision of the two charge reservoirs provides twice the displacement of charge air into the barrel for a given piston displacement. This enables the individual charge reservoir diameters and/or strokes to be kept comparatively smaller than would be the case if a single charge reservoir alone were employed, as in the Figures 1 and 2 embodiment.
  • the barrel may be another form of rodless cylinder, i.e. a cable cylinder, or indeed a rodded cylinder, as opposed to a slotted cylinder.
  • the firing valve such as 18', 18", 103, 202, may be included in the barrel as such at its breach end, or in an axial extension of the barrel at its breach end, or in any duct leading directly to the breach end of the barrel. All these arrangements are intended to be included within the term "at the breach end of the barrel" as used in the second paragraph of this specification and in the claims.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Actuator (AREA)
  • Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
  • Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
EP84307925A 1983-11-24 1984-11-15 Dispositif de lancement à air comprimé Withdrawn EP0161363A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8331381 1983-11-24
GB8331381 1983-11-24

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0161363A2 true EP0161363A2 (fr) 1985-11-21
EP0161363A3 EP0161363A3 (fr) 1987-01-28

Family

ID=10552288

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84307925A Withdrawn EP0161363A3 (fr) 1983-11-24 1984-11-15 Dispositif de lancement à air comprimé

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EP (1) EP0161363A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPS60133297A (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5859359A (en) * 1997-02-21 1999-01-12 Queen's University At Kingston Curling stone comparator
US10458008B2 (en) 2017-04-27 2019-10-29 Glassimetal Technology, Inc. Zirconium-cobalt-nickel-aluminum glasses with high glass forming ability and high reflectivity
US11371108B2 (en) 2019-02-14 2022-06-28 Glassimetal Technology, Inc. Tough iron-based glasses with high glass forming ability and high thermal stability

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5030516B2 (ja) * 2006-09-20 2012-09-19 株式会社Ｉｈｉエアロスペース 弾薬装填装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB133432A (fr) * 1900-01-01
US2688321A (en) * 1950-09-14 1954-09-07 Robert S Martin Automatic repeating gas pistol
DE1938359A1 (de) * 1969-07-29 1971-02-11 Pintsch Bamag Ag Vorrichtung zum einseitigen Antrieb eines Wurf- oder Stellorgans mit hoher Beschleunigung
DE2742495A1 (de) * 1977-09-21 1979-04-05 Orgaplan Ag Verfahren zum beschleunigen eines geschosses in einem lauf

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB133432A (fr) * 1900-01-01
US2688321A (en) * 1950-09-14 1954-09-07 Robert S Martin Automatic repeating gas pistol
DE1938359A1 (de) * 1969-07-29 1971-02-11 Pintsch Bamag Ag Vorrichtung zum einseitigen Antrieb eines Wurf- oder Stellorgans mit hoher Beschleunigung
DE2742495A1 (de) * 1977-09-21 1979-04-05 Orgaplan Ag Verfahren zum beschleunigen eines geschosses in einem lauf

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5859359A (en) * 1997-02-21 1999-01-12 Queen's University At Kingston Curling stone comparator
US10458008B2 (en) 2017-04-27 2019-10-29 Glassimetal Technology, Inc. Zirconium-cobalt-nickel-aluminum glasses with high glass forming ability and high reflectivity
US11371108B2 (en) 2019-02-14 2022-06-28 Glassimetal Technology, Inc. Tough iron-based glasses with high glass forming ability and high thermal stability

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0161363A3 (fr) 1987-01-28
JPS60133297A (ja) 1985-07-16

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Inventor name: ALLEN, ROGER FREDERICK