US3800657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular liquid propellant gun
Assignee: PulsePower Systems Inc
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Filing: 1971-01-07
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1991-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in the firing chamber to fire a projectile from the gun is constructed so that a number of gun modules can be combined in a modular gun. Each gun module is cam controlled, and a common cam is used to control each gun module in the modular gun. The cam can be a flexible cam having a belt configuration to permit the gun modules to be arranged in both circular groupings and in noncircular groupings, such as side by side. The modular gun includes fixed, non-rotating gun modules to eliminate the need for tangential velocity correction factors in the fire control and the need to accelerate the mass of the barrel assembly to operational speed. The individual gun module includes propellant injection mechanism for injecting propellant at high pressure when a non-hypergolic bi-propellant is used as the propellant. One or more hydraulic actuators are used to develop the high injection pressures and to operate other components of the gun, such as the bolt. The hydraulic actuators are also engaged with the cam to interlock the actuators and the controls for the actuators through the cam. A source of pressurized hydraulic fluid independent of the gun is used to power the actuators so that the weight and profile of the gun are kept to a minimum. The hydraulic system includes a compound spool control valve which operates in a dual mode to permit normal cyclic operation of the gun during firing and to maintain the gun in an open bolt condition during armed but non-firing operations. The hydraulic system includes a misfire detection mechanism and module shutdown valve which locks a misfired gun module in the closed bolt condition with the need to depressurize the hydraulic circuits of the other gun modules and without the need to include additional bypass circuits. The injection mechanism for injecting the bipropellant includes two pistons which are yoked together and operated by a single actuator to inject the propellant into the firing chamber both in metered amounts and in a constant mix ratio. The pistons for injecting the bi-propellant include valves in the pistons, and the pistons are drawn through the fuel on retraction strokes of the pistons. The injection mechanism is retracted away from the firing chamber after the firing of a burst to isolate the propellant in the injection mechanism from the heat of the firing chamber. A rotary lock is mounted closely adjacent the bolt mechanism and engages a relieved area of the bolt in the locked position of the lock so that a quite small force on the lock will hold the bolt mechanism locked against high combustion chamber pressures tending to open the bolt.
Inventors
- 👤 T Broxholm
- 👤 L Elmore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:52
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41F; F41F1/00; F41F1/08; F41A; F41A1/00; F41A1/04; F41A29/00; F41A7/00; F41A7/02; F41A7/04; F41A7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a firing chamber to fire a projectile from the gun and including, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, means for reciprocating the bolt in the receiver, a firing chamber, injection mechanism for injecting a non-hypergolic bi-propellant liquid propellant into the firing chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, said injection mechanism including a separate injector for each component of the bi-propellant, each said injector comprising a chamber and a piston of predetermined dimensions, means rigidly interconnecting said pistons, actuator means for moving the interconnected injector pistons as a unit whereby said predetermined dimensions and common actuator establish accurate metering and a constant mix of the bi-propellant injected directly into the firing chamber to fully occupy said chamber, igniter means for igniting the non-hypergolic bi-propellant in the firing chamber and control means effective to actuate the igniter means to ignite the propellant after the injection mechanism has filled the firing chamber with the non-hypergolic bi-propellant mix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a firing chamber to fire a projectile from the gun and including, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, means for reciprocating the bolt in the receiver, a firing chamber, injection mechanism for injecting a non-hypergolic bi-propellant liquid propellant into the firing chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, said injection mechanism including a separate injector for each component of the bi-propellant, each said injector comprising a chamber and a piston of predetermined dimensions, means rigidly interconnecting said pistons, actuator means for moving the interconnected injector pistons as a unit whereby said predetermined dimensions and common actuator establish accurate metering and a constant mix of the bi-propellant injected directly into the firing chamber to fully occupy said chamber, igniter means for igniting the non-hypergolic bi-propellant in the firing chamber and control means effective to actuate the igniter means to ignite the propellant after the injection mechanism has filled the firing chamber with the non-hypergolic bi-propellant mix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A gun as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator means include a motor powered by a source of fluid separate from the gun.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A gun as defined in claim 2 including a control valve for each motor, each said control valve having a control element driven by a cam follower, and a rotatable cam engaged to provide cam control and fluid actuator drive for the injection mechanIsm by each said follower.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A gun as defined in claim 3 wherein said motor includes a movable element including a cam follower and wherein the cam has a trace engaged by a respective control element cam follower and has a second trace engaged by the movable element of the motor to insure a precise phase relationship between the control valve and the motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
256 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a firing chamber to fire a projectile from the gun said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, bolt actuator means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected and a piston reciprocable within the cylinder to eject the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, mounting means mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism including the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position, and valve means within the piston operable on retraction of the bolt to permit refilling of the cylinder piston assembly with propellant as the piston is moved rearward through the propellant within the cylinder after a firing of a projectile from the gun.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
256 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a firing chamber to fire a projectile from the gun said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, bolt actuator means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected and a piston reciprocable within the cylinder to eject the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, mounting means mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism including the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position, and valve means within the piston operable on retraction of the bolt to permit refilling of the cylinder piston assembly with propellant as the piston is moved rearward through the propellant within the cylinder after a firing of a projectile from the gun.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
A hydraulically controlled gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a firing chamber to fire a projectile from the gun including, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, a first hydraulic actuator for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a firing chamber, injection mechanism for injecting a liquid propellant directly into the firing chamber, a second hydraulic actuator connected to actuate the injection mechanism, cam means, a control valve for controlling movement of each said hydraulic actuator, a hydraulic circuit interconnecting a source of high pressure hydraulic fluid independent of the gun with said valve means and said actuators to power said hydraulic actuators under the control of the valve means, each said valve means having cam follower means engaging said cam means whereby the injection of said liquid propellant is coordinated with the reciprocation of said bolt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
A hydraulically controlled gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a firing chamber to fire a projectile from the gun including, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, a first hydraulic actuator for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a firing chamber, injection mechanism for injecting a liquid propellant directly into the firing chamber, a second hydraulic actuator connected to actuate the injection mechanism, cam means, a control valve for controlling movement of each said hydraulic actuator, a hydraulic circuit interconnecting a source of high pressure hydraulic fluid independent of the gun with said valve means and said actuators to power said hydraulic actuators under the control of the valve means, each said valve means having cam follower means engaging said cam means whereby the injection of said liquid propellant is coordinated with the reciprocation of said bolt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A gun as defined in claim 6 wherein the liquid propellant is a mono-propellant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A gun as defined in claim 6 wherein the liquid propellant is a non-hypergolic bi-propellant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A gun as defined in claim 8 including actuators movable through relatively large distances for reciprocating the propellant injection mechanism and the bolt, cam followers movable through relatively small distances for controlling the actuators and wherein both the actuators and the cam followers are continuously engaged with the cam to insure a precise phase relationship between the actuators and the cam followers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
231 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, bolt actuator means for reciprocating the bolt within the reciever, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, saId injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected and a piston reciprocable within the cylinder to eject the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, mounting means including a bore in the receiver separate from the bolt mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder and the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
231 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, bolt actuator means for reciprocating the bolt within the reciever, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, saId injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected and a piston reciprocable within the cylinder to eject the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, mounting means including a bore in the receiver separate from the bolt mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder and the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A gun as defined in claim 10 including control means for the actuator means effective to retain the injection mechanism in the first, injection position during the firing of a burst and to retract the injector mechanism in the bore to the second, isolated position only after the firing of a burst has been completed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
242 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected and a piston reciprocable within the cylinder to eject the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber, mounting means for the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism and the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position, and wherein the mounting means mount the injection mechanism for reciprocation within the bolt and the injection mechanism is retracted to the second, isolated position with the retraction of the bolt after the firing of each round.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
242 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected and a piston reciprocable within the cylinder to eject the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber, mounting means for the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism and the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position, and wherein the mounting means mount the injection mechanism for reciprocation within the bolt and the injection mechanism is retracted to the second, isolated position with the retraction of the bolt after the firing of each round.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
225 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, bolt actuator means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected, means for ejecting the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, mounting means including a bore in the receiver separate from the bolt mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injection liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder and the liQuid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
225 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, bolt actuator means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected, means for ejecting the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber on each cycle of reciprocation of the bolt, mounting means including a bore in the receiver separate from the bolt mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injection liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism including said cylinder and the liQuid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
234 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected, means for ejecting the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber, mounting means mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism and the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position, and wherein the mounting means mount the injection mechanism within the bolt and the injection mechansim is retracted to the second, isolated position with the retraction of the bolt after the firing of each round.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
234 words
A rapid firing gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, said gun comprising, a barrel, a receiver, a bolt, means for reciprocating the bolt within the receiver, a combustion chamber having wall structure of substantial mass subjected to heat soak produced during the rapid firing of a burst of projectiles from the combustion chamber, injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber, said injection mechanism including a cylinder for containing the liquid propellant to be injected, means for ejecting the propellant from the cylinder into the combustion chamber, mounting means mounting the injection mechanism for movement between a first, injection position in which the injection mechanism is physically connected to the combustion chamber for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and a second, isolated position in which the injection mechanism and the liquid propellant in the cylinder are physically separated from the wall structure of the combustion chamber to provide a thermal barrier to heat flow from the hot combustion chamber wall structure to the propellant, and actuator means for moving the injection mechanism between the injection position and the isolated position, and wherein the mounting means mount the injection mechanism within the bolt and the injection mechansim is retracted to the second, isolated position with the retraction of the bolt after the firing of each round.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |