US3638526A

US3638526A - Gun barrel moving device

Info

Publication number: US3638526A
Application number: US824852A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans Klapdohr
Original assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie AG
Priority date: 1969-05-15
Filing date: 1969-05-15
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01

Abstract

A barrel-moving device for guns which comprises a pneumatic counter-recoil cylinder having a hydraulically operated barrelmoving cylinder. A driver connects operatively the counter-recoil cylinder with a gun barrel. The barrel-moving cylinder is in communication with the counter-recoil cylinder hydraulically and pneumatically and a hydraulic connection conduit is disposed between the barrel-moving cylinder and the counter-recoil cylinder. Finally, a manually operated pump is effective selectively in two feeding directions and is disposed in the connection conduit.

Description

United States Patent Klapdohr Feb. 1, 1972 [54] GUN BARREL MOVING DEVICE Primary ExaminerSamuel W. Engle [72] Inventor. Hans Klapdohr, Dusseldorf, Germany Assistant Examiner stephen c Bentley [73] Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH, Dusseldorf, Germany Attorney-Ernest G. Montague [22] Filed. May 15, 1969 ABSTRACT [21 Appl No.: 824,852 i A barrel-moving device for guns which comprises a pneumatic counter-recoil cylinder having a hydraulically operated barrcl- U-S- moving cylinder A driver connects operative)! the countcp [51] Int. Cl ..F4lf 19/14 recoil cylinder with a gun barreL The barrc| moving cylinder [58] held Search-m "89/42, 44144 177 is in communication with the counter-recoil cylinder hydraulically and pneumatically and a hydraulic connection conduit is [56] References C'ted disposed between the barrel-moving cylinder and the counter UNITED STATES PATENTS recoil cylinder. Finally, a manually operated pump is effective selectively in two feeding directions and is disposed in the con- Powlett action conduit 339,589 4/1886 Spiller ...89/43 1,074,566 9/ 1913 Dawson et al. ..89/43 1 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEBFEB 1m 3.638.526

INVENTOR 18W m niv n GUN BARREL MOVING DEVICE The present invention relates to a gun barrel moving device in general, and to movable guns in which the gun barrel must be displaced for reasons of a better load distribution for the gun transportation from its firing position into a rearward moving position, in particular.

For this purpose many particular gun barrel moving devices are provided, which move the barrel rearwardly either mechanically or by means of a barrel moving cylinder operated by means of a hydraulic pump. These devices suffice in case of a low counterrecoil force and a short displacement path, yet are, however, insufficient in case of greater counterrecoil forces and longer displacement paths, because the counterforces of the brake and counterrecoil cylinders, respectively, connected with the gun barrel become too great. For this reason, in most instances, the coupling means between the brake cylinder and the counterrecoil cylinder.

respectively and the gun barrel has been separated, prior to the operation of the barrel moving device. It is obvious, that this is very cumbersome for a fast position change of the gun, because the repeated uncoupling and coupling of the brake and counterrecoil device respectively with the gun barrel requires an appreciable amount of time in comparison.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel moving device, wherein the displacement of the gun barrel is simplified, so that the process can be performed without greater wordking-and time-expenditure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel moving device, wherein in a gun with a pneumatic counterrecoil device and a hydraulically operated barrel moving cylinder it is brought about, that the barrel moving cylinder is connected with the counterrecoil cylinder hydraulically and pneumatically, and that in the hydraulic connection conduit, a manually operating pump is disposed, which operates selectively in two feeding directions. By this arrangement, the counterforce of the counterrecoil cylinder can be eliminated in a simple manner and by operation of the manual pump, the gun barrel can be moved rearwardly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel moving device, wherein the structure and arrangement of the device is designed advantageously such, that the gas compression chamber of the counterrecoil cylinder is in communication with a gas compression chamber disposed in front of the piston of the barrel moving cylinder, and wherein an oil storage chamber provided behind the piston of the barrel moving cylinder is in communication with an oil pressure chamber disposed in front of the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder. By this arrangement, it is brought about that, for instance, during pumping of the oil from the oil storage chamber of the barrel moving cylinder into the oil pressure chamber in front of the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder, this piston is displaced in rearward direction, whereby the gas present in the gas compression chamber escapes into the gas storage chamber of the barrel moving cylinder, whereby the gun barrel is moved backwardly by means of the piston rod secured to the breech. In case of a desired opposite movement of the barrel, the feeding device of the pump, or in case of use of change valves, the feeding path must be reversed. Upon normal operation of the counterrecoil cylinder during the firing, the hydraulic connection is separated by means of a change valve and the barrel moving cylinder is thereby shut off and the chamber in front of the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder is connected with the atmosphere.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the only FIGURE is a schematic vertical section of one embodiment of the gun barrel moving device including all auxiliary means.

The barrel moving device comprises a pneumatic counterrecoil cylinder 1, including a piston 2, the piston rod 3, of which is rigidly connected with a driver 4, of a gun barrel 5, and it comprises further a barrel moving cylinder 6, with its flying piston 7. The piston 7 separates the inside of the barrel moving cylinder 6 into a rear oil storage chamber 13 and a front gas storage chamber 15. The gas storage chamber 15 is in communication with the gas storage chamber 14 of the counterrecoil cylinder 1 by means of a conduit 8. Furthermore, a conduit 9 is provided, which leads from the oil storage chamber 13 to an oil pressure chamber 17 disposed in front of the piston 2 of the counterrecoil cylinder 1. In the conduit 9 is disposed a manually operated pump 10 switchable into both directions of feeding, furthermore, a locking valve 11 and a change valve 12. If now upon corresponding position of the valves 11 and 12 the manually operated pump is operated and the feeding device corresponding with the arrow indicated next to the conduit 9, the hydraulic liquid is fed from the oil storage chamber 13 behind the piston 7 of the barrel moving cylinder 6 into the oil pressure chamber 17 in front of the piston of the counterrecoil cylinder 1 and thereby, the piston 2 is displaced, whereby the gun barrel 5 is moved by means of the piston rod 3 and the driver 4. During return sliding of the piston 2, the gas filling yields from the gas compression chamber 14 over the direct conduit 8 into the gas storage chamber 15 in front of the piston 7, which is displaced thereby in the same direction as the piston 2 in rearward direction.

By reversal of the feeding direction, it is brought about, that the hydraulic liquid is fed from the oil pressure chamber 17 back into the oil storage chamber 13 behind the piston 7, whereby due to escape of the piston 7 in the gas pressure chambers 14 and 15 a pressure is built up, which displaces the piston 2 in its desired position in forward direction. If now the counterrecoil cylinder 1 should operate during the firing in normal manner, the hydraulic connection of the two cylinders l and 2 by means of the conduit 9 is interrupted, by locking the locking valve 11 and opening the change valve 12 to the atmosphere.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A barrel moving device, comprising:

a pneumatic counterrecoil cylinder having a hydraulically operated barrel moving cylinder;

a driver operatively connecting said counterrecoil cylinder with a gun barrel;

said barrel moving being in communication with said counterrecoil cylinder hydraulically and pneumatically;

a hydraulic connection conduit between said barrel moving cylinder and said counterrecoil cylinder;

a manually operated pump effective selectively in two feeding directions and disposed in said connection conduit; said counterrecoil cylinder defines a first gas compression chamber;

said barrel moving cylinder defines a second gas compression chamber and includes a first piston;

said second gas compression chamber being arranged in front of said piston;

said first gas compression chamber being in communication with said second gas compression chamber;

said barrel moving cylinder defining additionally an oil storage chamber disposed behind said piston;

said counterrecoil cylinder defines additionally an oil pressure chamber and includes a second reciprocating iston having a piston rod;

the latter is connected with said driver; and

said oil pressure chamber is disposed in front of said second piston and in communication with said oil storage chamber by said connection conduit.

Claims

1. A barrel moving device, comprising: a pneumatic counterrecoil cylinder having a hydraulically operated barrel moving cylinder; a driver operatively connecting said counterrecoil cylinder with a gun barrel; said barrel moving being in communication with said counterrecoil cylinder hydraulically and pneumatically; a hydraulic connection conduit between said barrel moving cylinder and said counterrecoil cylinder; a manually operated pump effective selectively in two feeding directions and disposed in said connection conduIt; said counterrecoil cylinder defines a first gas compression chamber; said barrel moving cylinder defines a second gas compression chamber and includes a first piston; said second gas compression chamber being arranged in front of said piston; said first gas compression chamber being in communication with said second gas compression chamber; said barrel moving cylinder defining additionally an oil storage chamber disposed behind said piston; said counterrecoil cylinder defines additionally an oil pressure chamber and includes a second reciprocating piston having a piston rod; the latter is connected with said driver; and said oil pressure chamber is disposed in front of said second piston and in communication with said oil storage chamber by said connection conduit.