A light gas gun

Abstract

The application provides a light gas gun, which comprises a barrel, a bore, a breech, a breechblock, a charge feeding device, a cartridge assembly and a firing device; through the structure of each component and the cooperation relationship between each component, including the cooperation of the charge feeding device and the bore, the cooperation of the cartridge assembly and the bore, and the cooperation of the breechblock and the bore, the problems of the sealing property of gas propellant and the like are solved, the sealing pressure and the launching energy can be greatly improved, the range and the precision of the gun are improved, and the demand of modern war for super-long-range fire support is met.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a combustion light gas cannon. [Background Technology]

[0002] In the early 1990s, the United States established the development concept of "long-range, deep precision strike." Because traditional solid-propellant artillery is limited by the composition of the propellant, the explosion temperature, and the relative molecular mass of the combustion products, it is difficult to achieve significant breakthroughs in range. Therefore, the U.S. company Utro innovated the way the firing energy is supplied, proposing the concept of the combustion light gas gun (CLGG), which can meet the needs of long-range fire support.

[0003] A combustion-propellant light gas cannon is a projectile propelled by the combustion and expansion of a combustible mixture with relatively low molecular weight. The combustible mixture is typically a light gas, usually hydrogen and oxygen. Traditional gunpowder gases have relatively large molecular weights, and a significant portion of the energy used to accelerate the projectile is used to accelerate the propellant gases themselves, thus reducing the energy available for projectile acceleration. Combustion-propellant light gas cannons are an effective way to increase projectile muzzle velocity. The American company UTRON has completed the design and installation of a 155mm testbed and conducted firing tests in 2007. It is projected that a 15kg projectile fired from a 70-caliber barrel will achieve a muzzle velocity exceeding 1500m / s.

[0004] Combustion-powered light gas guns possess technological advantages such as high muzzle velocity, long range, variable muzzle velocity, and reduced barrel erosion. Propellant preparation and sourcing are relatively easy and simple. However, several key technologies need to be addressed, including cryogenic propellant supply, projectile sealing technology, ignition technology, and combustion and pressure control technology. Each of these four technologies significantly impacts the firing process of a combustion-powered light gas gun, with effective sealing of the projectile being the sole determining factor in whether the gun can be fired at all.

[0005] Unlike conventional artillery, the combustion light gas gun uses gaseous fuel. Before firing, gas needs to be added into the barrel. The chemical energy of the added gas determines the kinetic energy of the projectile. With a fixed barrel volume, the higher the added gas pressure, the greater the chemical energy, and the greater the energy that can be provided to the projectile. The higher the added gas pressure, the better the seal of the barrel. For the combustion light gas gun, the addition of gas is a prerequisite for projectile firing.

[0006] Existing light gas cannons use a special dynamic-static seal. The three main performance requirements for the projectile seal are: first, an initial seal at the start of refueling; second, a self-tightening seal during refueling; and third, accurate release of the projectile at the required pressure point. UTRON's research has identified two main projectile seal structures for light gas cannons: a skirted seal structure and a shear ring seal structure.

[0007] UTRON's skirted sealing structure works by placing a sealing ring, typically made of a softer metal, in the rear middle of the projectile. Before firing, proper loading creates initial compression between the sealing ring and the bore, achieving initial positioning and sealing of the projectile. During pressurization, further compression between the sealing ring and the bore achieves gas sealing. Because the contact area between the sealing ring and the bore is much smaller than the projectile's base area, the stress on this contact surface is much greater than the gas pressure inside the barrel and increases with the increase in barrel pressure, thus achieving a self-tightening seal. After the gas is ignited, the internal pressure increases, and the projectile begins to move forward. The bore compresses the sealing ring, causing it to collapse and be forced into a groove behind it, releasing the projectile and completing the firing process.

[0008] UTRON's shear ring sealing structure primarily consists of a protruding sealing ring on the outside of the projectile, with a skirt behind it providing auxiliary sealing. The problem is that this sealing structure cannot be used with the conical bore of traditional artillery. To solve this, an auxiliary structure needs to be designed to work with both the sealing structure and the bore, increasing the design complexity. When the pressure inside the barrel reaches a certain value after ignition, the sealing ring is sheared off the projectile, releasing it. However, the shear surface is not smooth enough to achieve a complete seal within the barrel, requiring an additional skirt sealing ring structure to achieve the final seal. Furthermore, the sealing ring remains inside the barrel after firing, needing to be removed before each shot, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.

[0009] Skirt-type and shear ring-type sealing structures also have the following problems:

[0010] 1. Both sealing structures change the existing structure of the projectiles, and the corresponding production lines need to be adjusted accordingly. The projectiles need to be redesigned and reproduced, and the old projectiles may not be interchangeable, resulting in waste.

[0011] 2. The two sealing structures increase the difficulty and complexity of processing, thus increasing production costs. For example, in the shear ring type, the main sealing surface is the front end face of the sealing ring, which must be machined to be very flat and smooth to prevent air leakage.

[0012] 3. During use, accidental damage or detachment of the skirt and shear ring may occur, causing abnormal launch.

[0013] 4. Skirt-type sealing structures cannot achieve initial sealing through the mortise and tenon joint.

[0014] 5. For subsequent firing, the shear ring sealing structure requires a redesigned cartridge case to work with it. Artillery using shear rings for sealing employs a rotating chamber, which introduces many other requirements besides the projectile's sealing, making the design more complex and difficult. Sealing the rotating chamber is also a problem that needs to be solved.

[0015] As a novel artillery concept, the combustion-propelled light gas gun is still in the basic research stage in China, and the sealing of the projectile remains an unresolved issue. Currently, there is limited research on combustion-propelled light gas gun technology in China, with only some exploratory work conducted in numerical simulation. However, combustion-propelled light gas guns have not yet been practically applied, mainly because breakthroughs in combustion and pressure control technology and projectile sealing technology have not been achieved, and these technologies are still not publicly available. Research on combustion-propelled light gas guns in my country is virtually nonexistent. [Summary of the Invention]

[0016] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a gas-fired cannon that solves problems such as the sealing of gas propellants by means of the structure of each component and the cooperation between them, thereby greatly improving the range and accuracy of the cannon and meeting the needs of ultra-long-range fire support in modern warfare.

[0017] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the technical solution adopted in this invention is: a light gas combustion gun, comprising a barrel, a bore, a breech, a breechblock, a propellant feeding device, a cartridge assembly, and a firing device;

[0018] The barrel, the breech, and the breech are connected in sequence;

[0019] The firing device is mounted on the breechblock, and the breechblock is mounted on the breech.

[0020] The inner diameter of the barrel is smaller than the inner diameter of the bore. A transition step is formed at the junction of the barrel and the bore. The inner wall of the barrel is rifling. The bore is provided with a propellant passage that penetrates the bore wall.

[0021] The drug feeding device is closely connected to the drug feeding channel;

[0022] The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge, a sealing head, and a cartridge rupture valve plate;

[0023] The cartridge case is fitted inside the barrel and has a propellant inlet and an igniter. The propellant inlet is connected to the propellant passage, and the igniter is located at the end of the cartridge case and connected to the firing device.

[0024] The sealing head is sealed inside the barrel and tightly connected between the transition step and the cartridge case. The sealing head has a cavity, and the cartridge case detonation valve plate radially seals the cavity.

[0025] Furthermore, the drug feeding device includes a first drug inlet, a second drug inlet, a premixing chamber, and a drug outlet pipe; both the first drug inlet and the second drug inlet are connected to the premixing chamber, and the premixing chamber is tightly connected to the drug feeding channel through the drug outlet pipe.

[0026] Furthermore, the cavity of the sealing head is an arc-shaped surface, forming a throat, and the cartridge explosion valve plate is located at the throat; the cartridge explosion valve plate is a metal circular plate with multiple radial crack grooves on its surface; or the cartridge explosion valve plate is a smooth circular plate of combustible material.

[0027] Furthermore, the cartridge explosion valve plate and the sealing head are die-cast into an integral structure using the same material or by pre-embedding.

[0028] Furthermore, the sealing head and the cartridge are coaxially arranged and their end faces overlap, and are then connected as a whole assembly by welding or riveting.

[0029] Furthermore, the sealing head also includes at least one of a first sealing ring or a second sealing ring. The first sealing ring is disposed on the end face of the sealing head to seal against the transition step. The second sealing ring is disposed on the outer side of the sealing head to seal against the inner wall of the gun barrel. The first sealing ring and the second sealing ring are O-rings, Y-rings, or sealing strips.

[0030] Furthermore, the outer circumference of the cartridge case near the breechblock is provided with at least one annular sealing groove, and a third sealing ring is provided in the annular sealing groove. The third sealing ring is a Y-shaped sealing ring.

[0031] Furthermore, a clearance groove is provided at the end of the barrel to accommodate the annular sealing groove at the bottom of the cartridge case. The inner circular surface of the clearance groove is machined with a certain taper to facilitate the smooth sliding of the third sealing ring into the clearance groove during cartridge case loading.

[0032] Furthermore, the breechblock is a wedge-type breechblock or a screw-type breechblock.

[0033] The advantages of this invention are:

[0034] 1. No changes will be made to the existing structure of the projectile;

[0035] 2. The sealing structure is simple and reliable, and the cost is low;

[0036] 3. The process of initial sealing, self-tightening sealing, and accurate release of the projectile is combined into one, resulting in a simple and reliable structure and process;

[0037] 4. The loading process becomes smooth, eliminating the need to worry about damage to the skirt or shear ring from impact with the barrel during loading;

[0038] 5. Artillery using shear rings for sealing does not require a complex rotating propellant chamber structure;

[0039] 6. Eliminates the troublesome loading process of removing the shear ring left in the gun barrel after firing. [Attached Image Description]

[0040] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0041] Figure 1 This is an axial cross-sectional view of the combustion light gas cannon of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 1a yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure along section AA.

[0043] Figure 1b Figure 1 A partially enlarged structural diagram.

[0044] Figure 1c yes Figure 1 Another enlarged schematic diagram of the structure.

[0045] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cartridge assembly of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 2a yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure along section BB.

[0047] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing head structure of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 3a yes Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure along the CC section.

[0049] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the end view structure of the explosive valve plate of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 4a This is a schematic diagram of the state of the cartridge explosion valve plate after explosion.

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a Y-type sealing ring.

[0052] Figure 5a This is a schematic diagram of the axial cross-sectional structure of the Y-type sealing ring.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0053] This invention provides a gas-fired cannon that solves problems such as the sealing of gas propellants by optimizing the structure of its components and their interrelationships. This significantly increases the sealing pressure and firing energy, thereby improving the cannon's range and accuracy and meeting the needs of ultra-long-range fire support in modern warfare.

[0054] The technical solution in this invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems. The overall concept is as follows: A new type of gas-fired gun is proposed, including a barrel, a bore, a breech, a breechblock, a propellant feeding device, a cartridge assembly, and a firing device. Through the structure of each component and their mutual cooperation, including the cooperation between the propellant feeding device and the bore and cartridge assembly, the cooperation between the cartridge assembly and the bore and cartridge, and the cooperation between the breechblock and the bore, the problem of gas propellant sealing is solved. This significantly improves the sealing pressure and firing energy, thereby increasing the range and accuracy of the gun and meeting the needs of ultra-long-range fire support in modern warfare.

[0055] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0056] Please see Figures 1 to 5a As shown, the combustion gas gun 100 of the present invention includes a barrel 1, a barrel 122, a breech 2, a breech 3, a propellant feeding device 4, a cartridge assembly 6, and a firing device 7.

[0057] The barrel 1, the breech 122, and the breech 3 are connected in sequence;

[0058] The firing device 7 is mounted on the breechblock 2, and the breechblock 2 is mounted on the breech 3;

[0059] The inner diameter of the barrel 1 is smaller than the inner diameter of the bore 122. A transition step 123 is formed at the junction of the inner diameters of the barrel 1 and the bore 122. The inner wall of the barrel 1 is provided with rifling 124. The bore 122 is provided with a propellant channel 125 that penetrates the bore wall.

[0060] The cartridge assembly 6 includes a cartridge 5, a plugging head 61, and a cartridge explosion valve plate 62;

[0061] The cartridge case 5 is fitted inside the barrel 122 and is provided with a propellant inlet 51 and an igniter 52. The propellant inlet 51 is connected to the propellant channel 125, and the igniter 52 is located at the end of the cartridge case 5 and is connected to the firing device 7.

[0062] The drug delivery device 4 is tightly connected to the drug delivery channel 125 and is used to provide the propellant. The drug delivery device 4 includes a first drug inlet 41, a second drug inlet 42, a premixing chamber 43, and a drug outlet pipe 44. The first drug inlet 41 and the second drug inlet 42 are both connected to the premixing chamber 43, and the premixing chamber 43 is tightly connected to the drug delivery channel 125 through the drug outlet pipe 44.

[0063] The sealing head 61 is sealed inside the barrel 122 and tightly connected between the transition step 123 and the cartridge 5. The sealing head 61 has a cavity 611, and the cartridge explosion valve plate 62 radially seals the cavity 611.

[0064] The sealing head 61 and the cartridge case 5 are coaxially arranged and their end faces overlap, and then connected as a single assembly by welding or riveting, allowing two assemblies to be installed at once. Alternatively, the cartridge case assembly 6 and the projectile 63 can also be connected as a single unit. The sealing head 61 and the cartridge case 5 are coaxially arranged and their end faces overlap, and then connected as a single assembly by welding or riveting. A projectile 63 is also fixedly connected to the front end of the sealing head 61. The projectile 63 is loaded together with the cartridge case 5, reducing the procedure of loading the cartridge case assembly separately. The cartridge case assembly 6 is relatively lightweight, so the increase in weight for the personnel loading the projectile is minimal. This configuration is more suitable for smaller caliber artillery (such as naval guns) and has certain advantages in increasing the rate of fire.

[0065] The cavity of the sealing head 61 is an arc-shaped surface 612, forming a throat 613. The cartridge detonation valve 62 is located at the throat 613. The throat 613 is similar to a Laval nozzle, its function being to enhance the airflow velocity, which is beneficial for increasing the projectile base pressure. It also increases material strength and facilitates the arrangement and installation of the cartridge detonation valve 62. The cartridge detonation valve 62 seals the gaseous propellant in the cartridge 5 and is required to have a certain compressive strength to withstand the pressure of the mixed gas in the cartridge 5, which can reach over 70 MPa. The higher the sealing pressure, the higher the energy density, which is a decisive factor in increasing the initial velocity of the projectile. Furthermore, it has a simple structure and high reliability.

[0066] The cartridge explosion valve plate 62 is a circular metal plate, and can be installed in various ways, such as embedding, nesting, spring clips, welding, etc. Its surface has multiple radial crack grooves 622 (eight in the figure, but not limited to eight); alternatively, the cartridge explosion valve plate 62 can be a smooth circular plate of combustible material. At the crack grooves 622 of the metal circular plate, the material thickness decreases and the strength weakens. The pressure of the high-pressure gas flows along the crack grooves 622, causing the cartridge explosion valve plate 62 to rupture open, with the flange facing outwards. When the cartridge explosion valve plate 62 is made of combustible material, it flows out of the tube along with the gas after combustion, leaving no residue, thus eliminating the need for the crack grooves 622. The cartridge explosion valve plate 62 can also be die-cast integrally with the sealing head 61 using the same material or be pre-embedded, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.

[0067] The cartridge assembly 6 further includes at least one of a first sealing ring 64 or a second sealing ring 65. The first sealing ring 64 is disposed in a first sealing groove 614 on the end face of the plugging head 61, and may be one or more, to seal the transition step 123. The second sealing ring 65 is disposed in a second sealing groove 615 on the outer side of the plugging head 61, and may be one or more, to seal the connection to the inner wall of the barrel 122. The first sealing ring 64 and the second sealing ring 65 are O-rings, Y-rings, or sealing strips, etc., and can be made of non-metallic or metallic materials to ensure that the high-pressure gas propellant is not leaked after loading.

[0068] Thus, the sealing method of the plug head 61, combined with the sealing method of the cartridge 5, effectively solves the sealing problem after the gas propellant is filled, providing feasibility for high-energy firing of the combustion light gas gun.

[0069] At least one annular sealing groove 53 is provided on the outer circumference of the end of the cartridge case 5 near the breechblock 2. To facilitate the setting of the annular sealing groove 53, a clearance groove 121 is provided at the end of the bore 122. A third sealing ring 54 is provided inside the annular sealing groove 53. The third sealing ring 54 is a Y-shaped sealing ring. One or more annular sealing grooves 53 can be provided to achieve a seal between the cartridge case 5 and the bore 122. The inner circular surface of the clearance groove 121 is machined with a certain taper to facilitate the smooth sliding of the third sealing ring 54 into the clearance groove 121 when the cartridge case 5 is loaded. The shape of the Y-shaped sealing ring... Figure 5 and Figure 5a As shown, the skirt is pressed tightly to seal the gun barrel 122 to prevent air leakage.

[0070] The breechblock 3 can be a wedge-type breechblock or a screw-type breechblock.

[0071] The working principle of the combustion light gas cannon of this invention:

[0072] The cartridge case 5 is equipped with a propellant inlet 51, an annular sealing groove 53, a third sealing ring 54 (Y-type sealing ring), and an igniter 52. After the cartridge case assembly is pushed into the barrel 122, the propellant inlet 51 of the cartridge case 5 is aligned with the air inlet of the barrel 122, allowing a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen from the outside to enter the cartridge case 5 through the propellant inlet 51. The annular sealing groove 53 is located on the outer ring of the end near the breechblock 2, forming a convex structure, which facilitates the application of a force along the outer edge to eject the cartridge case 5 from the barrel 122 after firing.

[0073] Igniter 52 ignites the propellant under the action of firing device 7. Igniter 52 has various structural forms, such as cartridge cap, central ignition tube, or new ignition devices.

[0074] The cartridge assembly 6 is a single-use item and should be recycled as much as possible after firing.

[0075] Taking hydrogen-oxygen propellant as an example, the propellant feeding device 4 is a gas path structure. The first inlet 41 is connected to its own on-board gas supply device and gas tank or to an external on-board high-pressure gas supply device via a high-pressure gas pipe, and is used to introduce hydrogen. The second inlet 42 is used to introduce oxygen. Hydrogen and oxygen are mixed in the premixing chamber 43, and then enter the cartridge 5 through the outlet pipe 44 and the inlet channel 125. After the breech 2 is closed, the high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen fill the cartridge 5 within 1 to 3 seconds.

[0076] The working process of the combustion light gas cannon of this invention:

[0077] ① After the artillery is ready to fire, open the breechblock 2;

[0078] ② Propel the projectile 63 into the gun barrel 122 and propel the cartridge assembly 6; or propel the entire cartridge assembly 6, including the projectile 63, so that the projectile 63 enters the gun barrel 122;

[0079] ③ Close the breechblock 2;

[0080] ④ After loading the propellant;

[0081] ⑤ Adjust the firing parameters;

[0082] ⑥ Triggering the firing device 7 ignites the igniter 52, causing the propellant to burn;

[0083] ⑦ The high-pressure gas causes the cartridge explosion valve plate 62 to rupture and burst out of the cartridge, and the gas propels the projectile 63 away from the barrel 1;

[0084] ⑧ Open the breechblock 2 and remove the cartridge assembly 6.

[0085] The design parameters and calculation results of the 52-45-155mm hydrogen-oxygen combustion light gas gun of the present invention are listed below for reference.

[0086] Barrel diameter: 155mm;

[0087] Bore inner diameter: 218mm;

[0088] Chamber volume: 45L;

[0089] Injection pressure: 70 MPa;

[0090] Maximum chamber pressure: 400 MPa ~ 450 MPa;

[0091] Bullet: Use existing bullets.

[0092] The hydrogen-oxygen propellant provides more than 2.2 times the firing energy of the PCL-181 52-25-155mm self-propelled howitzer's traditional propellant. Using the full-bore long-range ERFB-BT projectile, the projectile weighs 45kg, with a theoretically estimated muzzle velocity υ0 = 1534m / s, a ballistic efficiency of approximately 21%, and a range exceeding 80km (over 100km with base bleed projectiles). This range significantly exceeds the 38.4km range of the existing PCL-181 52-25-155mm self-propelled howitzer using traditional propellant. This allows our artillery units to operate from the rear, moving beyond the traditional firing-and-relocating operational model. Forward observers only need to provide target information, and the vehicle-mounted fire control system automatically calculates firing parameters, adjusts the gun position with a single click, and provides fire support to forward personnel within tens of seconds.

[0093] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that the specific embodiments described are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Equivalent modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the spirit of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A light gas gun for combustion, characterized by: The gun barrel, the bore, the breech, the breechblock, the charging device, the cartridge assembly and the firing device are included; The gun barrel, the bore and the breech are connected in sequence; The firing device is arranged on the breechblock, and the breechblock is arranged on the breech; The inner diameter of the gun barrel is smaller than the inner diameter of the bore, a transition step is formed at the joint of the gun barrel and the bore, the inner wall of the gun barrel is provided with rifling, and the bore is provided with a charging channel penetrating the bore wall; The charging device is tightly connected with the charging channel; The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge, a sealing head and a cartridge burst valve plate; The cartridge is sleeved in the interior of the bore and is provided with a charging port and an igniter, the charging port is connected with the charging channel, and the igniter is arranged at the end of the cartridge and is connected with the firing device; The sealing head is sealingly arranged in the interior of the bore and is tightly connected between the transition step and the cartridge, the sealing head has a cavity, and the cartridge burst valve plate radially closes the cavity.

2. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The charging device includes a first charging port, a second charging port, a premixing chamber and an ejection tube, the first charging port and the second charging port are connected with the premixing chamber, and the premixing chamber is tightly connected with the charging channel through the ejection tube.

3. The light gas gun according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cavity of the sealing head is an arc surface and forms a throat, and the cartridge burst valve plate is arranged at the throat; The cartridge burst valve plate is a metal circular plate and is provided with a plurality of radial crack grooves on the surface, or the cartridge burst valve plate is a smooth circular plate made of combustible material.

4. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The cartridge burst valve plate and the sealing head are integrally formed by pressure casting through the same material or are integrally formed by pressure casting through a pre-embedding mode.

5. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing head and the cartridge are coaxially arranged and are connected into an integral assembly through welding or riveting after the end faces coincide.

6. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The sealing head and the cartridge are coaxially arranged and are connected into an integral assembly through welding or riveting after the end faces coincide, and a projectile is further fixedly connected to the front end of the sealing head.

7. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The cartridge assembly further includes at least one of a first sealing ring or a second sealing ring, the first sealing ring is arranged on the end face of the sealing head to sealingly abut the transition step, and the second sealing ring is arranged on the outer side face of the sealing head to sealingly connect the inner wall of the bore; the first sealing ring and the second sealing ring are O-shaped sealing rings, Y-shaped sealing rings or sealing strips.

8. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: At least one annular sealing groove is further arranged on the outer circle of the end portion of the cartridge close to the breechblock, a third sealing ring is arranged in the annular sealing groove, and the third sealing ring is a Y-shaped sealing ring.

9. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: An avoiding groove is arranged at the end portion of the bore, and the inner surface of the avoiding groove is processed to have a certain taper.

10. A light gas gun as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The breechblock is a wedge breechblock or a screw breechblock.

Images