GB1192429A - Air Operated Projectile Firing Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,192,429. Pneumatic gun. VICTOR COMPTOMETER CORP. 28 Nov., 1967 [30 Nov., 1966], No. 54171/67. Heading F3C. A pneumatic gun for firing caseless type ammunition comprising a projectile portion and a propellant portion ignitable by surface contact with a high temperature gas includes a barrel 20, an ammunition holding chamber 24, and a movable gas compression cylinder 34 mounted behind the barrel and being movable between a firing position against the rear of the barrel and a loading position spaced rearwardly from the rear of the barrel. In the firing position the rear end 54 of the barrel 20 is received in a chamber 53 in the forward end of the cylinder 34 to define with the ammunition holding chamber a closed firing chamber. A valve 57 is provided for closing an air passage to the firing chamber to prevent rearward flow of propellant gas into the movable cylinder 34. In the construction shown the cylinder 34 slides in a guide housing 36 which is provided with a pair of depending flanges 40 to form a guide slot to guide a flange 42 of the cylinder 34 during the cocking operation. The cocking is achieved by a cocking lever 84 and linkage 88 which urge the cylinder 34 rearwardly, a piston 60 spring loadedly housed within the cylinder also being urged against its spring loading rearwardly until a notch 62 formed on the piston-rod 61 thereof is engaged by a projection 82 of a spring loaded sear 63. The spring 74 which loads the sear 63 also acts on a trigger 70. Operation of the trigger 70 withdraws the projection 82 from the notch 62 through the engagement of a pin 77 of the trigger in an opening 78 in the sear. A rubber-like cushion disc 55 is provided between the piston 60 and the forward end of the cylinder 34. The trigger cannot be operated during cocking due to the co-operation of a surface 116 on the trigger and a cam surface 114 on the cocking lever. Other safety devices comprise a slidable safety catch which is interposed between the trigger and an abutment of the housing 36 in its operative position (Fig. 7, not shown) and a spring loaded, pivotable latch arm which blocks the forward movement of the piston until the arm is manually pivoted away from its path (Fig. 6, not shown). The barrel 20 is surrounded by a sheath 18 which at the forward end of the barrel assembly is connected to the barrel 20 through a cap member and a front sight sleeve (Fig. 5, not shown).