FR2725268A1 - Projectile launcher with disposable barrel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The launcher consists of a support module (100) carrying a single-use firing assembly consisting of a barrel (210) and a projectile (220) packaged within it. The firing assembly is secured to the support module by detachable fasteners (120). The front and rear portions of the barrel are dimensioned differently in order to withstand the different levels of pressure ahead of and behind the projectile on firing. An automatic release mechanism ejects the barrel from its connection to the support module after the projectile has been fired. The barrel engages the support with a sliding fit and is secured in position by a locking collar having an aperture (122) dimensioned to receive the barrel.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of launchers, in particular firearms, designed for launching projectiles.

The present invention can find both civil and military applications. In the civil field, the present invention can be used for example in anti-avalanche, anti-hail systems, rockets of civil fireworks, etc.
More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of launchers comprising a launching barrel and a pressure source which communicates with the chamber of the barrel receiving the projectile.

 Modern armaments require many projectiles. Their shooting from the same weapon generally requires technological devices and sometimes ergonomic for the shooter because the usual weapons are not always adapted to the requested projectiles.

 The present invention aims to improve existing launchers.

 The present invention aims in particular to allow the firing of different projectiles from the same launcher.

 These objects are achieved according to the invention thanks to a launcher comprising - a support adapted to ensure the ergonomic firing interface, - a single-use assembly, barrel / projectile conditioned in the barrel, adapted to be placed on the support, and - non-permanent fixing means of the barrel / projectile assembly on the support.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, the launcher further comprises automatic means for ejecting the barrel, after each shot.

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, each barrel is preferably adapted to hold the pressure prevailing in the front part of the barrel, that is to say near the mouth, while the barrel and the support are dimensioned to hold the prevailing pressure in combination at the rear of the barrel.

 As will be explained below, this arrangement makes it possible to produce the barrels in the form of a tube of small thickness and consequently of low mass.

 Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples and in which - Figure 1 represents a schematic view of 'a support and a separate cannon / projectile assembly constituting a launcher according to the present invention, - Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the same launcher according to the present invention, in the assembled position, - Figure 3 illustrates the same launcher and represents the pressure curve generated in the barrel tube, during a firing, - FIG. 4 represents another schematic view illustrating this pressure curve in the tube, juxtaposed with a view in longitudinal section of the barrel tube, - FIG. 5 represents a view in longitudinal section of the single cannon / projectile assembly in accordance with the present invention, FIGS. 6 to 9 represent schematic views in longitudinal section of a cannon / projectile assembly according to a particular variant embodiment of the invention, at different stages of its implementation, - Figure 10 shows a schematic view of a cannon according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention, - Figure 1 1 shows a schematic view of a magazine launcher according to the invention capable of integrating a plurality of gun / projectile assemblies of the type illustrated in Figure 10, - Figure 12 shows a schematic view, with axial section of the loader, of the launcher in accordance with FIG. 11, and - FIGS. 13 to 17 schematically illustrate the operation of the launcher shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

 The launcher according to the present invention illustrated in the appended figures essentially comprises a support 100 and at least one assembly 200 comprising a barrel or tube 210 which houses a projectile 220.

 In the accompanying drawings, a long gun was drawn.

However, the present invention can find many other applications, such as handguns, artillery, etc.
The support 100 may be the subject of numerous variant embodiments. It is adapted to allow the ergonomic firing interface, the mechanical and electrical interface for maintaining the barrel 210.

 This support 100 is also equipped with an electrical or mechanical firing system, with any system allowing aiming, in particular telescopic sight, sight or handlebar, and any system making it possible to limit the effects of recoil of the launcher during the shoot.

 There is shown schematically in the appended figures, a front frame 110 fitted on the rear with a stick 112. The frame 110 carries a set of handles 114 and a trigger guard 116 which surrounds the trigger 118. The frame 110 may be provided with all appropriate security.

 In addition, the frame 110 is provided with non-permanent fixing means for the barrel 210. These fixing means can be formed from bases of various configurations provided on the upper surface of the frame 110.

 According to the preferred embodiment shown in the appended figures, these fixing means comprise a sheath 120 above the butt 112. The sheath 120 has its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the weapon.

 The sheath 120 has an internal bore 122 adjusted to the outside diameter of the barrel 210 and open towards the front of the launcher either in the firing direction.

 The barrel 210 is preferably in the form of a rectilinear tube of outer section substantially constant over its length.

 However, the barrel can be provided with various pieces of equipment, for example a muzzle brake, such that its section is not constant or alternatively, the barrel 210 can have an evolving section if necessary to allow an adaptation of caliber.

 Preferably, the outside diameter of the barrel 210 is complementary to the internal diameter of the bore 122 formed on the sheath 120 secured to the support 100.

 Each projectile 220 is conditioned inside a respective barrel 210 for single use.

 The barrel 210 is adapted to be removably placed on the support 100, more precisely in the bore 122 of the sleeve 120, by sliding engagement from the front. The barrel 210 / projectile 220 assembly is packaged in firing order.

 For this purpose, there is schematically illustrated in FIG. 5 a pyrotechnic cartridge 230 packaged in the barrel 210, between the bottom 212 of the latter and the projectile 220.

 This cartridge 230 cooperates with any appropriate means, striker or equivalent integrated into the support 100.

 It should be noted that the barrel 210, like the support 100, can be without cylinder head.

 More precisely still, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the method of fixing the barrel 210 to the support 100 is constituted by a sliding adjustment between the outside of the barrel 210 and the bore 122 of the support 100.

For this we can provide for example an adjustment of the type
H8g7 according to standards NFE02-100 and NFE03-051 or any adjustment providing for 1 to 15 / 100th of mm of clearance of the diameter.

 During the commissioning of the pressure source 230, the pressure generated in the internal chamber 211 of the barrel 210 causes an elastic swelling thereof which cancels the previously described functional clearance existing between the outer surface of the barrel 210 and the internal surface of the bore 122. The external wall of the barrel 210 then comes to bear on the internal surface of the support bore 122 and thus makes it possible to involve the support sheath 120 in the mechanical resistance of resistance to the pressure of the tube canon 210.

 This arrangement is particularly advantageous insofar as it makes it possible to optimize the mass of the barrel 210.

 FIGS. 3 and 4 show in fact the shape of the pressure curve inside the chamber 2 1 of the barrel 210 as a function of the position of the projectile 220 in the interior ballistic phase of a weapon. .

 The dynamics of the powders and the volume of the initial chamber define a maximum pressure, referenced Pmax in FIG. 3, of gas which expands with the increase in volume of the chamber due to the progression of the projectile 220. Also, the rear part of the barrel, distant from the mouth 214, is the most stressed to the effects of pressure.

 By consequently authorizing a deformation of the wall of the barrel 210 in order to make the sheath 120 participate in the mechanical resistance held to the pressure of the barrel tube, it is possible to size, as suggested previously, the front part of the barrel 210 situated outside the barrel. sheath 120 to hold the pressure alone (lower than the pressure referenced P0 in Figure 3) prevailing in this front part, while the barrel 200 and the sheath 120 are adapted to support in combination the pressure prevailing in the rear part of the canon 210.

 For this, it is possible, for example, to provide a sheath 120 of constant thickness over its entire length, designed to hold in combination with the barrel 210 the maximum pressure Pmax, or else to provide an evolving thickness of the sheath 120 adapted to the evolution of the curve. pressure prevailing in chamber 211 of the barrel.

 This arrangement therefore allows the use of a thin-walled barrel tube designed to withstand only the pressure due to the largely relaxed gases prevailing in the front part of the barrel, on the outside of the barrel 120. Furthermore, the swelling of the barrel 210 during a shot is limited by its adjustment in the support 120, in order to avoid its explosion. Depending on the materials used, this swelling may be an elastic deformation or an irreversible plastic deformation or a combination of these two deformations.

 As mentioned above, there is preferably further provided means for automatic ejection of the cannon 210 for single use after each shot. There are many variants of such automatic ejection means.

 According to a preferred embodiment, these automatic ejection means comprise on the rear face of the barrel 210 a calibrated orifice 2 16.

 The barrel 210 according to the invention allows the optimal interfacing between the support 100 and the projectile 220. Its dimensioning and its packaging make it possible to obtain an interior ballistics adapted to the comfort of the shooter, despite the possible use of clearly different projectiles.

 In addition, the concept according to the invention allows any possibility of combining the projectile couple 220 / cannon 210. Mention may be made, by way of nonlimiting example, of the projectile / cannon couples: with multiple projectiles, with multiple guns, with ballistic chambers multiple, with pressure-regulated ballistic chambers, silent cannon, non-lethane projectiles, non-lethal projectiles (decoys, line throwers), projectiles with fire control, or any system permitted by the concept of mortar effect in a barrel used only once.

 The operation of the launcher shown in Figures 1 to 5 is essentially the following.

 When the gun 710 / projectile 220 assembly is in place on a support 100, the launcher system can be used like a conventional launcher.

 When the trigger 118 is actuated, the pressure source 230 is initiated, for example by actuation of a striker or also by electric primer or any equivalent means.

 The pressure developed by the source 230 expels the projectile 220.

 The pressure generated in the rear part of the chamber 211 of the barrel is mechanically supported in combination by the casing of the barrel 210 and by the casing of the support 100, more precisely by the casing of the sheath 120. In the front part, either on outside the sheath 120, the barrel 210 alone supports the lower pressure which prevails in the chamber 211.

 At the end of the firing, the calibrated orifice 216 at the bottom of the barrel 210 allows the use of residual pyrotechnic gases in order to eject the barrel 210 by sliding forwards out of the sheath 120.

 It then remains for the user to place a second cannon / projectile assembly on the support 100 to replace the launcher in firing order.

 The present invention can be the subject of numerous variant embodiments.

 Thus, according to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 9, the barrel 210 is equipped with automatic mouth closure means after firing. I1 is formed by a tube closed at one end, of a caliber d2 over its entire length, except at the mouth where it has a lower caliber dl.

Between the two portions of the tube of different calibers is a groove 217 of diameter d3.

 Projectile 220 has a caliber dl. The projectile 220 is provided in its front part with a groove 222 which receives an annular guide segment 240.

 A thrust plate 242 is further placed behind the projectile 220, between the latter and the pressure source 230 formed for example by a pyrotechnic cartridge and its firing means.

 The guide segment 240 and the thrust plate 242 are provided for guiding the projectile 220 of caliber dl in the portion of the tube 210 having a caliber d2. The operation of the system shown in Figures 6 to 9 is essentially as follows.

 After initiation of the pyrotechnic cartridge 230, the projectile 220 moves towards the mouth 214 of the barrel 210. The guide segment 240 at the passage of the portion of the caliber tube dl separates from the projectile 240 to position itself in the groove 217 of diameter d3 of the barrel, as seen in Figures 7 and 8.

 The push plate 242 then comes to block behind the guide segment 240 to close the barrel tube. Optionally, this thrust plate 242 can even be crimped into the barrel tube 210.

 The propellant gases from the source 230 are therefore trapped in the barrel tube. They will therefore be without thermal or sound signature.

 Where appropriate, an orifice can be provided at any point in the system allowing controlled emptying of the barrel tube 210.

 It will be noted that the forward impulse corresponding to the stopping of the thrust plate 242 can allow the expulsion of the barrel tube 210 without taking gas through a calibrated orifice 216.

 In addition, closing the mouth 214 of the barrel 210 can make it possible to provide internal ballistics at high final pressure, ballistics favorable to large firing dynamics.

 We will now describe three examples of sizing of a barrel tube 210.

EXAMPLE 1
Canon 210 having a caliber of 76.2 mm, a length of 800 mm, for a 1 kg projectile and an acceleration of 100 Ns - maximum pressure: 140 bars, - design pressure for the barrel tube: 70 bars, - mass of the barrel tube made of material coded under the name 2017A with reference to standard NFA-50-411: 550 g, - mass of the barrel tube made of material coded under the name 7049A with reference to standard NFA-50-411: 380 g, and - mass of the barrel tube in HR carbon filament winding: 150 g.

EXAMPLE 2
For a barrel 210 with a caliber of 60 mm, a length of 800 mm, and a projectile of 650 g, with an acceleration of 50 Ns - maximum pressure: 200 bars, - design pressure for the barrel tube: 100 bars, - mass of the barrel tube in 2017A: 530 g, - mass of the barrel tube in 7049A: 360 g, and - mass of the barrel tube in carbon filament winding HR: 120 g.

EXAMPLE 3
For a 210 mm caliber 210 barrel, a length of 450 mm, a projectile of 300 g and an acceleration of 50 Ns - maximum pressure: 160 bars, - design pressure for the barrel tube: 80 bars, - mass of the tube barrel in 2017A: 520 g, - mass of the barrel tube in 7049A: 80 g, and - mass of the barrel tube in carbon filament winding HR: 50 g.

 According to yet another alternative embodiment illustrated schematically in FIGS. 10 to 17, the support 100 is designed to receive not a single gun 210 / projectile 220 assembly, but a magazine 300 incorporating several such gun 210 / projectile 220 assemblies.

 This arrangement of course allows use of the launcher in rehearsal.

 In this case preferably, the frame 110 of the support 100 is provided on its front end with a retractable stop 130 which is used to precisely position each barrel 210.

 In addition, preferably to allow a simple loading of different guns 210 placed in the magazine 300, successively, on the support 100, the sheath 120 designed to receive the rear end of a gun 120, and participated in the recovery of effort, is mounted to slide telescopically on the support 100.

 The operation of the launcher also remains substantially identical to the operation described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

 This operation is shown schematically in Figures 13 to 17 attached.

 FIG. 13 shows a launcher ready to fire. The magazine 300 equipped with three guns 210 is placed on the support 100. The lower gun 210 is engaged in the sheath 120.

 The actuation of the trigger 118 by a shooter causes the abutment 130 to be retracted and then the pressure source 230 to be ignited.

 The effects of the interior ballistics then cause the departure of the projectile 220 and the retreat of the barrel 210 and the retreating part 120 of the support 100 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 14.

 As illustrated in FIG. 15, during recoil, there is expulsion towards the front of the barrel 210, for example thanks to the calibrated orifice 216.

 As shown in FIG. 16, the volume released in the lower part of the magazine 300 allows a new consumable barrel 210 to replace the barrel previously expelled. This movement is preferably created by the action of one or more springs implanted in the charger 300.

 The retractable stop 130 is then reactivated.

 As shown in Figure 17, resetting the battery forward of the receding part 120 of the support 100 locks the launcher system in its initial position. The launcher is then ready for a new shot.

 By way of nonlimiting example, for a point weapon, one can provide the following dimensioning - length of consumable guns 210: 450 mm, - diameter of consumable guns 210: 42 mm, - mass of projectiles 220: 300g, - mass a complete consumable barrel 210: 450 g, - mass of the receding part 120 of the support 100: 3.5 kg, - total mass of the weapon with three consumable barrels 210 placed in a magazine 300: 7.5 kg, - dimensions excluding ergonomic part i 500 x 150 x 60 mm.

 Of course the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which has just been described but extends to any variant in accordance with its spirit.

Claims (17)

 1. Launcher system, in particular pyrotechnic launcher, for projectile launching, characterized in that it comprises - a support (100) adapted to provide the ergonomic firing interface, - a single-use assembly, barrel (210) / projectile (220) packaged in the barrel (210), adapted to be placed on the support (100), and - means (120) for non-permanent fixing of the barrel (210) / projectile (220) assembly, on the support (100).  2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the front part of the barrel (210) is dimensioned to hold alone the pressure prevailing in the front part of this barrel, while the rear part of the barrel (210) and the support (120) are dimensioned to hold in combination the upper pressure prevailing in the rear part of the barrel (210).  3. System according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the launcher further comprises means (216) for automatic ejection of the barrel (210) after each shot.  4. System according to one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the barrel (210) / projectile (220) assembly is adapted to be engaged by sliding from the front on the support (100).  5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixing means comprise a sheath (120) integral with the support (100).  6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the sheath (120) has a bore (122) adjusted to the outside diameter of the barrel (210).  7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fixing means are constituted by a sliding adjustment between the outside of the barrel (210) and the inside of the support (120).  8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fixing means comprise an adjustment having a clearance of the order of 1 to 15 / 100th of mm between the outer surface of the barrel (210) and the internal bore (122) of the support (120).  9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fixing means comprise an adjustment of the type H8g7 between the outer surface of the barrel (210) and the internal bore (122) of the support (120).  10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9 taken in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the automatic ejection means comprise a calibrated orifice (216) in the rear wall of the barrel (210).  11. System according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises means (240, 242) for automatic closure of the mouth (214) of the barrel (210) after each shot.  12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a barrel tube (210) closed at one end of a caliber d2 over its entire length, except at the mouth (214) where it has a lower caliber dl , a groove (217) of diameter d3 being formed in the barrel tube (210) between the two portions of different calibers, a projectile (220) of caliber dl provided in its front part with a groove (222) which receives a segment guide (240) adapted to be positioned in the groove (217) of the barrel (210) when passing opposite it during a shot.  13. System according to one of claims 1 1 or 12, characterized in that it further comprises a thrust plate (242) behind the projectile (220) capable of being immobilized at the level of the mouth (214) of the barrel, stopped against a guide segment (240) engaging in a groove (217) formed on the front of the barrel tube (210).  14. System according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that it further comprises an orifice allowing the controlled emptying of the barrel tube (210).  15. System according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a magazine (300) containing several gun (210) / projectile (220) assemblies and means making it possible to successively arrange each gun (210) on the support, for a shot.  16. The system of claim 15, characterized in that the support (100) has a retractable stop (130) ensuring the positioning of each barrel (210) at the time of a shot.  17. System according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the fixing means comprise a sheath (120) mounted telescopically sliding on the support (100) between a position before holding a barrel tube ( 210) for a shot and a rear position authorizing the loading of a gun (210).