US4057002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Kinetic barrel gun
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
•
Filing: 1976-04-07
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Granted: 1977-11-08
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Expires: 1996-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A gun having a piston accelerated by a first charge and a projectile moun to and accelerated relative to the piston by a powder charge on said piston ignited by a firing pin pneumatically actuated by the gases of the first charge. The gases of the first charge travel a convuluted path of decreasing cross-section.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Donovan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:48
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A1/00; F41A1/02; F41F; F41F1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A gun for firing a projectile therefrom whereby the acceleration of the projectile is increased within the gun comprising: a tube having a primary combustion chamber and a piston-barrel chamber, said combustion chamber containing first charge means which includes an igniter means and a charge eccentrically mounted relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube to produce a stream of gas from said charge to said piston-barrel chamber and a gas pressure increasing means interposed between said charge and said chamber; said piston-barrel chamber having a piston therein accelerated by said gas from said charge means; said piston having means for retaining a projectile and second charge means for accelerating said projectile relative to said piston; and a firing means activated by said first charge means for igniting said second charge means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A gun for firing a projectile therefrom whereby the acceleration of the projectile is increased within the gun comprising: a tube having a primary combustion chamber and a piston-barrel chamber, said combustion chamber containing first charge means which includes an igniter means and a charge eccentrically mounted relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube to produce a stream of gas from said charge to said piston-barrel chamber and a gas pressure increasing means interposed between said charge and said chamber; said piston-barrel chamber having a piston therein accelerated by said gas from said charge means; said piston having means for retaining a projectile and second charge means for accelerating said projectile relative to said piston; and a firing means activated by said first charge means for igniting said second charge means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The gun according to claim 1 wherein said firing means includes a detachable breech block with said piston; a pneumatically actuated trigger piston pin mounted within said breech block and biasing means between said breech and said piston pin for biasing said piston pin away from said explosive charge means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The gun according to claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber communicates with said piston-barrel chamber through a toroidal channel of significantly reduced cross-sectional area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The gun according to claim 1 wherein said firing means includes a pneumatically actuated pin for igniting said explosive charge means and said pressure increasing means comprises a convoluting means with a larger input area than the output area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The gun according to claim 4 wherein said firing means further includes passage means in each of said piston and tube for allowing a portion of a gas produced by said first charge means to pneumatically actuate said pin via said passage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The gun according to claim 5 wherein said passage means in said tube includes an inlet leading from said piston-barrel chamber to a channel and an outlet downstream from said channel and said passage means in said piston includes a slot and a gas passage extending to said pin; said slot being in communication with said outlet for a time sufficient to pneumatically actuate said pin for igniting said second explosive charge means; said piston being in a completely sealed relationship with said tube except for said passage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The gun according to claim 1 wherein said tube further includes a barrel guide chamber extending forward of said piston-barrel chamber and said means for retaining said projectile includes a barrel integral with and longitudinally extending from said piston; a portion of said barrel being slidely received in said barrel guide chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gun according to claim 7 wherein said portion of said barrel is of a greater length than said barrel guide chamber so as to increase the overall length of said weapon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The gun according to claim 7 wherein said barrel has two portions of different diameters; a shoulder formed between said two portions; and said piston-barrel chamber includes a recess for receiving said shoulder to limit the movement of said barrel within said piston-barrel chamber and said guide chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A gun for accelerating a projectile therefrom comprising: a housing; a piston located in said housing; first charge means in said housing for accelerating said piston; a projectile mounted on said piston; second charge means retained on said piston for accelerating said projectile relative to said piston; and means actuated by said first charge means for igniting said second charge means including a pin pneumatically actuated by the gases of said first charge means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A gun for accelerating a projectile therefrom comprising: a housing; a piston located in said housing; first charge means in said housing for accelerating said piston; a projectile mounted on said piston; second charge means retained on said piston for accelerating said projectile relative to said piston; and means actuated by said first charge means for igniting said second charge means including a pin pneumatically actuated by the gases of said first charge means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The gun according to claim 10 wherein said first charge means includes an igniter means and charge eccentrically mounted relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing to produce a stream of gas for accelerating said piston.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
GB233824A
Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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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) | 1980-11-07 | 1981-05-09 | 1981-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-07 | 1985-05-09 | 1985-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-07 | 1989-05-09 | 1989-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |