US3160064A

US3160064A - Liquid propellant gun

Info

Publication number: US3160064A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-08

Description

. 8, 1964 c. R. BELL ETAL LIQUID PROPELLANT auu Filed May 27. .1957

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Churle 5 E E all INVENTORS Kenne ih ELJc hnsnn Dec. 8, 1964 c. R. BELL ETAL LIQUID PROPELLANT GUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1957 INVENTORS) film-DIE 5 E. E all 8, 1964 c. R. BELL ETAL LIQUID PROPELLANT auu 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1957 m LmHm INVENTOR; [Il-1111 125 R-EE11 Kennelh 5.3011115571 BY United States Parent 3,160,tl64 LIQUID PROPELLANTGUN v Charles R. BellyCanoga Park, Calif., and Kenneth G.

Johnsor, Aurora, lil., assignors, by mesne assignrrents,

to the United States of Americaas represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed May 27, 1957, Ser. No. 661383 2 Claims. (Cl. 89-155) Our invention relates to a revolver-type automatic gun having a pair of barrels andmore particularly to such a gun disposed for operation by a liquid propellant.

It is an object of our invention to provide such a gun with a firing device for dischargng the liquid propellant.

A further object of our nvention is to provide such a charging a liquid propellant is provided with a cylinder g for combustion thereof and passage means' for delivering gases from the combustion simultaneously to a pair of firing Stations for action against projectiles disposed in axial alignment with the twin barrels of a revolver-type The firing device is provided with a reservor adjacent the combustion chamber and a piston biased to a battery position and disposed for reciprocal axial operation responsive to the combustion. Valves disposed between the piston, the stern of the piston and the housing control pasasge of the propellant from a supply thereof to the reservor and from the reservor to the combustion cylinder responsive to the axial operation of the piston. The reservor holds a sufiicient quantity of propellant for propelling projectiles sinultaneously through both barrels."

A cam mechanisrn is dispo sed between the piston and the receiver to control operation of the valves responsive to the axial reciprocation, and a' sleeve nechanism is connected through racks and a pinion to the actuator of the gun for operation of the cam device responsive to reciprocation of the actuator of the gun.

For a more complete understanding of our invention, reference is directed to the following explanation and the accompanying drawings in 'which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the gun with the actuator in seared position;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 with the actuator in battery position; u

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 with the actuator in forward position;

FIG. 4 is a View along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a View along line 6-.-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view along line'7-'7 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 8 isa developed view of the follower cam.

Accordingly, a gun 12 includes a receiver 14 with twin barrels 15 Secured therein and a housing 16 including forward, intermediate and

rearward sections

18, 20 and 22, respectively, removably Secured together and provided with a cylindrical aperture 25 of varying diameters therethrough. Rearward section 22 is substantially 'i'- shaped in configuration and includes lateral arms 23 secured to receiver 14 by pins 24.

A drum 26 including chambers 28 for projectiles 30 is disposed for rotation around the leg portion of rearward section 22 and intermediate section 20 to simultaneously convey diametrically-disposed chambers 28 to firing stations in respective alignment with barrels 15.

Aperture 25 includes a cylinder 32 in rearward section 22 connected by tubes 33 in arms 23 to openings 34- in respective alignment with barrels 15. Rearward section 22 is provided with an electric igniter 36 so as to extend into cylinder 32. A pisten 38 axial ly slidable in cylinder 32 'is biased to a rearward position by a spring 60* and provided with a stern 40 having a cylindrical Compartment 42 therein. The portion of cylinder 332 between the rear end of piston 38 and the rear end of aper-ture 25 forms a combustion chamber 35. A cylindrical seat 44 is rotationaliy fixed within the portion of aperture 25 which is disposed in intermediate section 20 and the seat is provided with an aXial bore 31 to slidingly receive stern 40. Seat 44 and piston 38 are spaced to provide a reservor 45 therebetween for inclosing the quantity of propellant required for simultaneous discharge of barrels 15 when piston 38 is in the rearward position. A ring spring 46 is disposed between seat 44 and section 26 to resilient ly stop pisten 38 in a forward battery position.

A sleeve 48 fixed to stern 40 includes a flange 49 projecting into an annular cavity 50 of section 18 to form v an expansible chamber 51 which is connected to a pressurized supply of nitrogen, or other inert gas (not shown), to prevent scepage of unexploded propellant along stern 40 and to danpen the forward movement of piston 33.

Stern 40 includes an extension 53, and a follower 54 splined thereto between

shoulders

55 and 56 is provided with diametral rollers 57 spaced 90 degrees apart for engagement with spital cams 58 provided in receiver 14.

An actuator 64 axially slidable in receiver 14 is pro- Vided with a cam 66 for engagement with radial rollers 68 mounted on drum 26 so as to correspond to chambers 28. Actuator 64 is rearwardly biased to a battery position by a pair of drive springs 70 to selectively retan pairs of .the chambers 28 in the firing Stations and the cam is disposed for the sequential rotation of successivo pairs of such chambers to the firing Stations responsive to operation of the actuator. A cylinder 72 Secured to receiver 14 receives an axially'sldable pisten 74 Secured to actuator 64, andan aperture 75 conducts discharge gases from barrels 15 to cylinder '72 for forward operation of piston 74 responsive to the gases.

Stern 40 is provided with four apertures 76 which communicate with corresponding holes through sleeve 48 and four radial ducts 78. Piston 38 is provided with four nozzles comprising elemental depressions disposed in the rearward portion of the periphery of piston 38 and back of the apertures 76, ducts 78 and such nozzles are spaced apart 90 degrees. Nozzles St) are angularly displaced 35 degrees from ducts 78.

Liquid propellant under pressure is supplied through a tube 79 to an annulus 81 of cylindrical aperture 25 disposed in section 18 so as to be at all times, in communication with apertures 76. Flow of the propellant to the annnlus is controlled by a valve (not shown).

Valves to control flow of propellant to combustion chamber 35 include diametral grooves 82 in seat 44 and Channels 84 in rearward section 22 and such groovesand channels communicate respectively with ducts '78 and nozzles Sii. Propellant flow is indicated 'by the'arrows in FIG. 1.

Cams 58 include

steps

85 and 86 and rollers 57 are biased outwardly by corresponding springs 59 for engagement therewith for progression of the rollers to

positions

88, 90, 92, and 94 in the sense noted in FIG. 8. When the rollers 57 are in the

positions

88 or 94, ducts 78 are aligned with grooves 82, and when in the

positions

90 or 92, nozzles 80 are aligned with channels 84.

A trigger mechanism (not shown) is disposed for retention of actuator 64 in an intermediate position substantially one inch before the battery position.

In operation, the propellant valve is closed, the trigger mechanism is released and gun 12 is cycled three times by a charger (not shown) to dispose a pair of the projeotiles in the charging Stations. In the third cycle, actuator 64 is seared and the propellant valve is opened to permit flow of the propellant into compartmen't 42 and reservoir 45. i

When the trigger mechanism is again released, actuator 64 proceeds to the battery position responsive to spring 70. The rearward movement of actuator 64 is converted to forward movement of follower 54 by the operative cooperation of a pinion gear 102 journaled in receiver M with a pair of

racks

100 and 101 provided respectively on actuator 64 and a collar 104 which is slidingly mounted over extension 53 for engagement With follower 54 during rearward movement of actuator 64 under the bias of spring 70, the rollers 57 are cammingly rotated to position 90 and thereby piston 33 is rotated to register nozzles 80 with channels 84 for flow of the propellant therethrough responsive to the pressur of the propellant to begin combustion thereof in combustion charnber 35 by igniter 36.

Piston 38 moves forwardly responsive to gases from the combustion and rollers 57 engage cam 58 for rotation of the rollers to position 94 for alignment of ducts 78 With grooves 82. Piston 38, continues forwardly to force the propellant in reservoir 45 rearwardly through channel 84 and nozzles 80 into combustion chamber 35 until the propellant is exhausted from such reservoir, whereby none of the unexploded propellant remains in the reservoir to pass into the drum for discharge therein to cause damage to the gun and operating personnel.

During the forward movement, ducts 78 are blocked -by the inner surface of seat 44. Near the end of the rearward stroke, cam 58 displaces r-ollers 57 to position 94 to cut oli flow of propellant through channel 84.

Pressure on piston 38 is reduced as projectiles 30 leave barrels 15 and piston 38 is returned to the rearward position responsive to follower spring 60 and the compressed gases in charnber 51. As stern 4.0 moves rearwardly, ducts 78 are uncovered for flow of propellant to fill reservoir 45 for the succeeding cycle of the gun.

Projectiles 30 are propelled from chambers 28 in the firing stations through barrels 15 responsive to the dis` charge, and the gases therefrom are conducted to cylinder 72 through apertures 75, as the apertures are uncovered by the projectiles, for the forward operation of piston '74.

Gun 12 is provided with a feeder (not shown) to convey projectiles 30 to positions in aXial alignment with loading Stations of chambers 28, which are the stations occupied by those chambers next succeeding the firing station chanbers. A rammer 116 secured to actuator 64 includes fingers 118 for half-ramming projectiles 30 into the next succeeding chambers and fingers 120 for finishramming the cartridges into the chambers succeeding the firing station chambers responsive to the rearward strokes of actuator 64.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

i We claim:

1. In combination with a pressurized supply of liquid propellant, an automatic gun including a receiver, a pair of 'barrels, a drum rotatably mounted in th receiver for simultaneously cnveying projectiles to firing Stations in alignment with said barrels, an actuator disposed in said receiver for longitudinal reciprocation during cyclic operation of said gun and cam means for converting the longitudinal reciprocation of said actuator to rotation of the drum, a firing device including a housing provided with an aperture including a cylindrical portion terminated by an end portion, a piston slidingly mounted in said cylindrical portion for reciprocation between a bat tery and a recoil position, a spring for biasing said piston to the battery position, a combustion chamber formed in said cylindrical portion between said end portion and said piston for the discharge of a metered quantity of said liquid propellant therein, said piston being disposed for actuation to the recoil position by the discharge, duct means for directing the gases from the discharge against the projectiles in the firing stations for the simultaneous propulsion thereof through said barrels, a stem portion extending from said piston along said aperture, a cylindrical seat mounted in said aperture and provided With an aXial hole for slidingly receiving said stern portion, said seat being spaced from said piston When in the battery position -to form a reservoir therebetween for metering apredetermined quantity of said propellant sufiicient for the simultaneous propulsion of the projectiles through the 'barrels, said seat being engageable by said piston when in the recoil position to completely reduce said reservoir, a cylindrical compartment axially disposed in said stern portion, means for conducting propellant from the pressurized supply to said compartment, ducts extending through said stern portion from said compartment, grooves, channels and nozzles corresponding to said ducts provided respectively in said sleeve, housing and piston, a follower mounted to said stern portion for limited iongitudinal movement relative thereto and rotational movement therewith, cam portions provided in the receiver for engaged cooperation with said follower for rotating said piston to align said ducts With said grooves during movement of said piston to the battery position by said spring for passage of said propellant from said compartment to fill said reservoir and to align said nozzles with said channels when said piston is in the battery position and for passing the metered quantity of said propellant from said reservoir to said combustion chamber during movement thereof to the recoil position, and means for di-scharging the propellant in said combustion chamber.

2. A firing device as in claim 1 with a-collar inclosing said stem for engagement with said follower, a pair of racks respectively secured to said collar and the actuator and a gear journaled on the receiver for engagement therewith to displace said follower and rotate said piston for alignment of said ducts and said grooves responsive to the reciprocation of said actuator.

References Cited by the Examner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,779,248 1/57 Stevens 89-155 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,003,687 2/47 France.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Pr'ma-y Exam'ner. SAMUEL BOYD, ARTI-IUR M. HORTON, Examiners,

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PRESSURIZED SUPPLY OF LIQUID PROPELLANT, AN AUTOMATIC GUN INCLUDING A RECEIVER, A PAIR OF BARRELS, A DRUM ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE RECEIVER FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CONVEYING PROJECTILES TO FIRING STATIONS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BARRELS, AN ACTUATOR DISPOSED IN SAID RECEIVER FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATION DURING CYCLIC OPERATION OF SAID GUN AND CAM MEANS FOR CONVERTING THE LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATION OF SAID ACTUATOR TO ROTATION OF THE DRUM, A FIRING DEVICE INCLUDING A HOUSING PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION TERMINATED BY AN END PORTION, A PISTON SLIDINGLY MOUNTED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION FOR RECIPROCATION BETWEEN A BATTERY AND A RECOIL POSITION, A SPRING FOR BIASING SAID PISTON TO THE BATTERY POSITION, A COMBUSTION CHAMBER FORMED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION BETWEEN SAID END PORTION AND SAID PISTON FOR THE DISCHARGE OF A METERED QUANTITY OF SAID LIQUID PROPELLANT THERE IN, SAID PISTON BEING DISPOSED FOR ACTUATION TO THE RECOIL POSITION BY THE DISCHARGE, DUCT MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE GASES FROM THE DISCHARGE AGAINST THE PROJECTILES IN THE FIRING STATIONS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS PROPULSION THEREOF THROUGH SAID BARRELS, A STEM PORTION EXTENDING FORM SAID PISTON ALONG SAID APERTURE, A CYLINDRICAL SEAT MOUNTED IN SAID APERTURE AND PROVIDED WITH AN AXIAL HOLE FOR SLIDINGLY RECEIVING SAID STEM PORTION, SAID SEAT BEING SPACED FROM SAID PISTON WHEN IN THE BATTERY POSITION TO FORM A RESERVOIR THERBETWEEN FOR METERING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF SAID PROPELLANT SUFFICIENT FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS PROPULSION OF THE PROJECTILES THROUGH THE BARRELS, SAID SEAT BEING ENGAGEABLE BY SAID PISTON WHEN IN THE RECOIL POSITION TO COMPLETELY REDUCE SAID RESERVOIR, A CYLINDRICAL COMPARTMENT AXIALLY DISPOSED IN SAID STEM PORTION, MEANS FOR CONDUCTING PROPELLANT FROM THE PRESSURIZED SUPPLY TO SAID COMPARTMENT, DUCTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID STEM PORTION FROM SAID COMPARTMENT, GROOVES, CHANNELS AND NOZZLES CORRESPONDING TO SAID DUCTS PROVIDED RESPECTIVELY IN SAID SLEEVE, HOUSING AND PISTON, A FOLLOWER MOUNTED TO SAID STEM PORTION FOR LIMITED LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO AND ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH, CAM PORTIONS PROVIDED IN THE RECEIVER FOR ENGAGED COOPERATION WITH SAID FOLLOWER FOR ROTATING SAID PISTON TO ALIGN SAID DUCTS WITH SAID GROOVES DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON TO THE BATTERY POSITION BY SAID SPRING FOR PASSAGE OF SAID PROPELLANT FROM SAID COMPARTMENT TO FILL SAID RESERVOIR AND TO ALIGN SAID NOZZLES WITH SAID CHANNELS WHEN SAID PISTON IS IN THE BATTERY POSITION AND FOR PASSING THE METERED QUANTITY OF SAID PROPELLANT FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF TO THE RECOIL POSITION, AND MEANS FOR DISCHARGING THE PROPELLANT IN SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER.