US3748957A

US3748957A - Gun barrel system

Info

Publication number: US3748957A
Application number: US00173845A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Perrin; W Arnold; B Woodman; J Lendway; M Mcgeehan
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1971-08-23
Filing date: 1971-08-23
Publication date: 1973-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-31

Abstract

A gun barrel system comprises a barrel forward section, a barrel aft section, collar means retaining said forward and aft sections together, a liner disposed within said aft sections, means longitudinally capturing said liner between said forward and aft sections, means rotationally aligning said liner with said forward section, and means for facilitating ready and nondestructive removal of said liner from said aft section.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Arnold et a1.

[ July 31, 1973 1 GUN BARREL SYSTEM [75] Inventors: William C. Arnold, Milton; Joseph K. Lendway, Burlington; Brian W. Woodman, Burlington; Michael T. McGeellan, Burlington; David P. Perrin, Hinesburg, all of Vt.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Burlington, Vt.

[221 Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 173,845

[52] US. Cl. 89/16, 42/76 [51] F4" 17/08 [58] Field of Search 89/14, 16; 42/76,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,442,172 5/1969 Wehrmann 89/16 2,775,164 12/1956 Tillander 89/16 475,071 5/1892 Willson 89/16 186,308 1/1877 Crispin 89/16 2,112,144 3/1938 Coupland... 89/16 3,550,502 12/1970 Keith 89/16 727,767 5/1903 Emery 89/16 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-H. J. Tudor Att0rneyBailin L. Kuch et al.

[ ABSTRACT A gun barrel system comprises a barrel forward section, a barrel aft section, collar means retaining said forward and aft sections together, a liner disposed within said aft sections, means longitudinally capturing said liner between said forward and aft sections, means rotationally aligning said liner with said forward section, and means for facilitating ready and nondestructive removal of said liner from said aft section.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures GUN BARREL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Use This invention relates to a readily replacable liner for a gun barrel, and is especially adapted to a revolving battery gun firing caseless ammunition.

2. Prior Art Liners for gun barrels are well known. Full length liners, for example, are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 566,679 issued Aug. 25, 1896 to M. Gledhill; U.S. Pat. No. 1,544,469 issued June 30, 1925 to I. Malaval et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 1,771,505 issued Aug. 12, 1930 to GM. Wells et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,502 issued Dec. 29, 1970 to G.H. Keith. Partial length liners, for example, are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,784,325 issued Dec. 9, 1930 to K. Witzell and U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,164 issued Dec. 25, 1956 to F. G. Tillander et a1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a gun barrel system having a readily replacable liner, and which is especially adapted for use with a revolving battery gun firing caseless ammunition and utilizing separable chambers such as is shown in U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 18,099 filed Mar. 10, 1970 by E. Ashley, et al., to which reference may be made for a disclosure of a total gun system.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a gun barrel system wherein any liner may be mated readily with any barrel with accurate alignment of the rifling of their bores, and which alignment will not shift in use; and which liner may be removed readily from such barrel without damage to either the barrel or the liner, as for replacement; and which system may be economically and readily fabricated of notch sensitive refractor material.

A feature of this invention is a gun barrel system comprising a barrel forward section, a barrel aft section, means retaining said forward and aft sections together, a liner disposed within said aft section, means longitudinally capturing said liner between said forward and aft sections, means rotationally aligning said liner with said forward section, and means for facilitating ready and nondestructive removal of said liner from said aft section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following specification thereof so taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a barrel system according to this invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The barrel system includes a forward section 20, an aft section 12, a liner 14, a collar 16, and a breech insert 18.

The forward two, 20 is substantially a cylinder of a first outer diameter having a bore 20 therethrough, an aft enlargement 22 having a second, larger outer diameter providing an outer, forward shoulder 24, an aft counterbore enlargement 26, two, longitudinally extending, diametrically spaced apart cups 28 into the side wall, and two, longitudinally extending, exterior, diametrically spaced apart flats 29. The enlargement has an inner transverse face 30 and an outer transverse face 32. The inner bore 20 is rifled, at 33, the rifling being oriented with respect to the cups 28. A recess 86 is provided to cooperate with a multi-barrel clamp, not shown.

The aft section 12 is substantially a cylinder of a third outer diameter equal to said second outer diameter, having a bore 34 thereon equal in diameter to the bore enlargement 26, and partially occluded at its aft end by an integral annular ring 36 providing a transverse annular face or shoulder 38, and having an inner diameter at 40 which is larger than the diameter of the bore 20. The forward outer end has two diametrically spaced apart projections 41 extending longitudinally forward from the front face 42 and is threaded at 43; and the aft outer end includes a plurality of interrupted threads 44.

The collar 16 is substantially a cylinder having a first inner diameter 46, and a larger second inner diameter 48, providing a transverse annular face of shoulder 50. The aft end of the bore is threaded at 52. A plurality of wrench receiving radial blind bores 54, and threaded radial bores 56 with set screws 58 are also provided.

The liner is substantially a cylinder having an outer diameter 64 equal to the diameter of the bore 34 and an inner diameter 66 equal to the diameter of the bore 20, and an aft face 67. The two diametrically spaced apart projections 68 of the thickness of the liner wall extend longitudinally forward from the front face. The liner is rifled, at 69, the rifling being oriented with respect to the projections 68.

The breech insert 18 is substantially a cylinder having an outer diameter 70, an inner diameter 72 larger than the inner diameter 66 by at least the rifling depth, an annular reduced diameter 74 equal to the diameter 40 providing a transverse face 76, an aft conical enlargement 78, and a plurality of threaded bores 80, aligned with respective threaded bores 82 in the aft section 12, receiving screws 84.

The barrel assembly is readily assembled with the liner 14 being thrust rearwardly into the aft section 12 until it bottoms on the transverse face or shoulder 38. The forward end of the liner is inserted into the counterbore 26 of the forward section 10 with the projections 68 mating with the cups 28 and the projections 41 mating with the flats 29. The collar 16 is slid aft onto the forward section 10 and threaded onto the aft section 12 to capture the liner. The breech insert 18 is thrust forward into the aft section and locked against rotation by the screws 84.

The barrel assembly is readily disassembled with the collar 16 being threaded off the aft section to release the aft section with the liner therein. The breech insert is removed, exposing the liner aft face 67. 1f the liner is siezed in the aft section it may be pressed out by applying longitudinal pressure to the exposed aft face 67 while restraining the aft section.

The mating projections 68 and cups 28 accurately align the respective rifling of the liner and the forward section, and preclude torsional shifting at the interface of the liner and forward section while permitting torsional shifting of the aft end of the liner.

The mating projections 41 and flats 29 accurately align the aft section with the forward section, to align the aft locking lugs 44 with the forward clamping recess 86.

The counter-bore 26 receiving and overlapping the forward end of the liner serves two functions. it provides ready and fixed axial alignment between the forward section bore 20 and the liner bore 65. It also provides a two state gas seal. As the bullet passes over the overlap it centrifugally presses the liner against the forward section, and afterwards the convolutions provide a static labyrinth seal.

The

shoulders

30 and 38 longitudinally capture the liner with 360' engagement and preclude rearward movement of the aft face of the liner. lf desired, to provide a refractory transverse face at the immediate aft end of the barrel assembly, the breech insert may be omitted, and a reduced annulus of the liner, having an outer diameter equal to the diameter 40, may be extended to be flush with the aft face of the aft section.

Locating the interface of the forward and aft sections adjacent the forward end of the liner serves two functions. lt permits ready machining of the cups 28 which are thereby immediately adjacent the end of the section. Together with the exposable aft annulus of the liner, it permits the non-destructive forwardly removal, by pushing, of the liner from the aft section. it is not necessary to screw or hook into the liner to pull it out.

it will be appreciated, that if desired, the projection 41 may be provided on the forward section and the flats on the aft section 12. Similarly, although the machining will be slightly more complex, the projections 68 may be provided on the forward section, within the counterbore, and the cups 28 may be provided in the liner. This will enhance the fracture resistance to notching of the liner.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A gun barrel system comprising:

a forward barrel section having a forward end and an aft end;

an aft barrel section having a forward end and an aft end;

first means removably securing said forward barrel section to said aft barrel section, with said aft end of said forward barrel section adjacent said forward end of said aft barrel section;

a liner removably disposed at least in part in said aft barrel section and having a forward end and an aft end;

second means, for longitudinally aligning said liner in said aft barrel section, including a first portion on said aft end of said forward barrel section and a second portion on said aft barrel section;

said liner, at its said aft end, having an aft transverse face, which aft face has an outer annular portion and an inner annular portion, and at its said forward end, having a forward transverse face;

said aft barrel section entirely transversely clearing said forward transverse face of said liner; and

said second portion of said second means abuting said outer annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner and thereby limiting aftward movement of said liner with respect to said aft barrel section, and clearing said inner annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner.

2. A system according to claim 1 further including:

a breech insert removably secured to said aft end of said aft barrel section and overlying said inner annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein:

said inner annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner is longitudinally substantially coextensive with said aft end of said aft barrel section.

4. A gun barrel system comprising:

a forward barrel section having a forward end and an aft end;

an aft barrel section having a forward end and an aft end;

first means rotationally aligning and removably securing said forward barrel section to said aft barrel section, with said aft end of said forward barrel section adjacent to and longitudinally overlapping with said forward end of said aft barrel section; a liner disposed at least in part in said aft barrel sec' tion and having a forward end and aft end; and second means, for longitudinally aligning said liner in said aft barrel section, including a first portion on said aft end of said forward barrel section and a second portion on said aft barrel section.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein:

said aft end of said forward barrel section and said forward end of said liner mutually longitudinally overlap.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein:

said first means includes a least a projection extending longitudinally from one of the group consisting of said aft end of said forward barrel section and said forward end of said aft barrel section, and a mating longitudinally extending recess in the other of said group.

'7. A system according to claim 4 wherein:

said forward end of said liner has a forward transverse face; and

said second means includes a counter-bore extending longitudinally into said aft end of said forward barrel section, a recess extending longitudinally further into said aft end of said forward barrel section from said counter-bore, and a projection for mating with said recess and extending longitudinally from said forward transverse face of said forward end of said liner.

# i i i i

Claims

1. A gun barrel system comprising: a forward barrel section having a forward end and an aft end; an aft barrel section having a forward end and an aft end; first means removably securing said forward barrel section to said aft barrel section, with said aft end of said forward barrel section adjacent said forward end of said aft barrel section; a liner removably disposed at least in part in said aft barrel section and having a forward end and an aft end; second means, for longitudinally aligning said liner in said aft barrel section, including a first portion on said aft end of said forward barrel section and a second portion on said aft barrel section; said liner, at its said aft end, having an aft transverse face, which aft face has an outer annular portion and an inner annular portion, and at its said forward end, having a forward transverse face; said aft barrel section entirely transversely clearing said forward transverse face of said liner; and said second portion of said second means abuting said outer annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner and thereby limiting aftward movement of said liner with respect to said aft barrel section, and clearing said inner annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner.

2. A system according to claim 1 further including: a breech insert removably secured to said aft end of said aft barrel section and overlying said inner annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein: said inner annular portion of said aft transverse face of said liner is longitudinally substantially coextensive with said aft end of said aft barrel section.

4. A gun barrel system comprising: a forward barrel section having a forward end and an aft end; an aft barrel section having a forward end and an aft end; first means rotationally aligning and removably securing said forward barrel section to said aft barrel section, with said aft end of said forward barrel section aDjacent to and longitudinally overlapping with said forward end of said aft barrel section; a liner disposed at least in part in said aft barrel section and having a forward end and aft end; and second means, for longitudinally aligning said liner in said aft barrel section, including a first portion on said aft end of said forward barrel section and a second portion on said aft barrel section.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein: said aft end of said forward barrel section and said forward end of said liner mutually longitudinally overlap.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein: said first means includes a least a projection extending longitudinally from one of the group consisting of said aft end of said forward barrel section and said forward end of said aft barrel section, and a mating longitudinally extending recess in the other of said group.

7. A system according to claim 4 wherein: said forward end of said liner has a forward transverse face; and said second means includes a counter-bore extending longitudinally into said aft end of said forward barrel section, a recess extending longitudinally further into said aft end of said forward barrel section from said counter-bore, and a projection for mating with said recess and extending longitudinally from said forward transverse face of said forward end of said liner.