ES357767A1 - High firing rate hypervelocity gun and ammunition therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A hypervelocity gun for firing primary ammunition rounds 32 containing a primary propellant 38 and a projectile 34 and booster ammunition rounds 42 containing a booster propellant 44 comprises a barrel 12 having a bore 14 and breech means 16, 18 for transporting primary ammunition rounds in succession to a primary firing position at the breech end of the barrel and co-axial with the bore thereof and booster ammunition rounds in succession to at least one secondary firing position in which the booster propellant in each booster round is in ignition relation to the bore forward of the breech end of the barrel. The arrangement is such that when a primary round is fired the projectile thereof is propelled forwardly through the bore and the propellant gases from the primary round ignite a booster round in the or each secondary firing position after the projectile has passed the or each position to produce additional propellant gas which enters the bore behind the projectile to further urge it through the bore. In the construction shown the breech means consists of two breech mechanisms 16, 18 each including a rotatable cylinder which is formed with laterally open firing chambers of generally triangular shape. In the firing position the chambers are closed by a firing strap of the associated breech frame 20. The cylinders are driven, step by step and in unison by an electric motor 66 through a Geneva mechanism, the rounds being fired electrically through a cam operated firing circuit (Fig. 5a, not shown). The firing chambers of the cylinders are fed from hoppers 80. The booster ammunition rounds 42 are provided with a co-axially arrayed, perforated tube which forms an intermediate portion of the bore of the barrel. The booster ammunition rounds 42 are further provided with a yieldable, non-combustible case 46 and a combustible cover sleeve (Fig. 4, not shown) the latter to prevent the booster propellant 44 from entering the tube during handling of the rounds. In a further embodiment (Figs. 6 to 8, not shown) the primary breech mechanism comprises a rotatable cylinder having closed chambers and the secondary breech mechanism is of the open chamber type as previously described but the chambers communicate with the bore of the barrel through ports passing through the breech frame and the wall of the barrel. The cylinders are coupled for rotation through gearing. The booster ammunition rounds are provided with an opening along one of its sides, the opening being closed by a combustible cover sheet (Fig. 8, not shown). The gun may also comprise a multi-barrel assembly (Figs 9, 10, not shown). In this case a barrel is provided for each co-operating pair of firing chambers in two open chamber cylinders and the barrels are connected to the cylinders for rotation therewith. The booster ammunition rounds are as those shown in the accompanying Fig.