Movable Breech Mechanism for Compact Weapon Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Breech-loading systems face challenges in efficiently loading projectiles and propellant charges that are significantly longer than the recoil distance, leading to increased weight and volume of the weapons carrier and reduced rate of fire due to the need for extensive space and complex loading mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A loading chamber and breechblock form a unit that moves relative to the cannon tube, allowing for simplified loading by enabling transverse displacement, rotation, or rotation parallel to the bore axis, thereby reducing the space requirement behind the weapon to only the recoil distance, and enabling simultaneous loading of the projectile and propellant charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the projectile and propellant charge are significantly longer than the recoil distance, then the weapon must move into an index position for loading or provide extensive space for loading, but this reduces the rate of fire and increases the weight and volume of the weapons carrier
Solution Approach 1:
The breech mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a loading chamber for receiving the projectile and propellant charge, and a breechblock for sealing and locking. This segmentation allows the loading chamber to be positioned optimally for loading operations while the breechblock remains integrated with the cannon tube, resolving the contradiction between loading space requirements and compact weapon configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The breechblock is made movable relative to the loading chamber, enabling it to transition between closed (firing) and open (loading) positions. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its space requirements based on operational mode, maintaining compact dimensions during firing while providing access for loading longer projectiles and propellant charges.
2Ease of operation
If a complex loading system with pivoting loading bridge is used to handle long projectiles, then loading capability is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The loading chamber is extracted as a separate component from the cannon tube, allowing it to be positioned and oriented independently. This extraction eliminates the need for complex pivoting loading bridges, as the loading chamber can directly receive projectiles and propellant charges in its optimal position, simplifying the overall loading mechanism while maintaining capability for long ammunition.
3Productivity
If the loading chamber and cannon tube form a separate unit that moves relative to the bore portion, then the projectile path is shortened and loading efficiency is improved, but sealing and power transmission become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The breechblock is designed to move into position and establish sealing contact with the loading chamber before the actual loading operation commences. This preliminary action ensures that sealing surfaces are properly aligned and engaged, preventing gas leakage during subsequent high-pressure firing operations while allowing the loading chamber to remain a separate, movable unit for improved loading efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
It is proposed that a loading chamber of a weapon with a breech mechanism no longer be part of a cannon tube but rather that it form, together with a breechblock, a unit, which additionally contains a device for firing ammunition and which can move relative to the bore portion of the cannon tube. This design solution can be used in all weapons with various and different breech mechanisms.