BRIEF DETAILS OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment of the invention and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of FN-FNC rifle modified to incorporate an overhead barrel assembly;
FIG. 2 is a cut-away cross sectional view of the rifle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rifle of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a representation of a Steyr rifle having a 20 mm barrel inserted within a 40 mm parent barrel;
FIG. 5 is a cut away cross section of the Steyr rifle of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the Steyr rifle of FIGS. 4 and 5;
FIG. 7 is side elevational view of a Steyr rifle having an overhead barrel in accordance with a second aspect of the invention;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view the Steyr rifle of Figure;
FIG. 9 is a cut-away cross sectional view of the Steyr rifle of FIGS. 7 and 8;
FIG. 10 shows an FN-FNC barrel with a 40 mm overhead barrel;
FIG. 11 shows a cut away cross section of the rifle of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the rifle shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a rifle 10 incorporating a stock 11, a primary barrel 12 and an overhead barrel 13.
In FIG. 2 it can be seen that inside the overhead barrel 13 there is a forward barrel extension insert 14 together with a rear barrel section, in the form of a barrel assembly 15a, housing axially stacked projectiles 16. Additional or spare barrel assemblies 15b and 15c are stored within the stock 11 of the rifle 10. The spare barrel assemblies are arranged to be fed into alignment with the barrel insert 14 once the first barrel assembly 15a is exhausted after firing all projectiles 16. If required, the fed for the spare assemblies may occur automatically after the ejection of a spent barrel assembly 15.
The exploded view in FIG. 3 shows the forward barrel insert 14 withdrawn from the overhead barrel 13. The barrel assembly 15a is retained in place by a shroud 19 so as to keep the barrel assembly 15a in alignment with the barrel insert 14. The barrel assembly also includes a chamfered leading end 17 for ready engagement with a complementary trailing end 18 of the barrel insert 14, as shown in FIG. 2. A spring may be provided in the stock for urging the barrel assembly 15a forward to sealably engage with the barrel insert 14.
FIG. 4 shows a Steyr rifle 20 having a 40 mm overhead barrel 21 into which a 20 mm barrel insert 22 has been fitted. The barrel insert 22 has a forward barrel extension 23 incorporating a muzzle 24.
Turning to the sectional view of the rifle 20 in FIG. 5, the barrel extension 23 includes stand-offs, in the form of flanges 25 spaced at intervals along the extension, for engaging the bore of the parent barrel 21. A barrel assembly 26 containing axially stacked projectiles 27 is inserted into the rear of the barrel 21 below a shroud 28, thereby forming a rear barrel section. The barrel assembly 26 also incorporates flanges 25 for supporting the barrel assembly together with electronic firing means (not shown).
The electronic firing means may suitably be similar to any of the electronic firing arrangements, such as recesses provided in the barrel assembly 26 to accommodate ignition means or integrally manufactured with the barrel, as described in the present inventor's earlier International Patent Applications. In such a configuration a 40 mm barrel 21 may be converted into an electronically controlled 20 mm weapon.
The Steyr rifle 30 shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 includes a front overhead barrel section 31 and a rear barrel section 32. A rear barrel assembly 33 of the rear section houses a plurality of projectiles 35 and is provided with a chamfered leading end 34 for ready engagement with a rear end of the barrel extension 31. The 40 mm overhead barrel is retained in place by a shroud 37 that conforms to the barrel of the barrel assembly 33 containing the projectiles 35.
FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show an FM-FMC rifle 40 with a 40 mm overhead barrel 41. The 40 mm overhead barrel is in two parts, the muzzle 42 and/or its barrel extension 43, and retained within a housing 44 as is seen in FIG. 12. The rear barrel section comprising a barrel assembly 45 containing the projectiles 46 is provided with a chamfered leading end 47 to allow ready engagement with a complementary trailing end 48 of the barrel extension 43. A shroud 49 engages the barrel assembly to retain it in position on the rifle 40.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION
The use of a barrel assembly for insertion into a parent barrel in accordance with the first aspect of the invention provides an means of increasing the flexibility of the gun to fire a variety of type and calibre of projectiles, thereby enabling a single gun to be more useful in a variety of situations.
The relatively simple retrofitted barrel assembly that is inserted into an existing parent barrel provides significant advantages in terms of reliability, availability and cost, especially during manufacture, for expanding the operational capability of a gun or other weapon.
The second aspect of the invention allows a barrel assembly preloaded with projectiles to be readily attached to the barrel section of the weapon. Once all the projectiles have been fired, the barrel assembly may then be discarded and a fresh barrel assembly containing projectiles may be attached to the weapon system.
By having the projectile carrying rear section also act as part of the barrel, empty weapon weight may be reduced at the expense of weight in the projectile section. By preloading projectiles in a section of barrel, quality control may be enhanced. Transport and storage of projectiles and propellant may also be made easier.
In one particular application, a single use grenade launcher on an infantry weapon, which is typically underhung in relation to a primary barrel, substitutes an electronically fired barrel containing 5 or 6 projectiles having a higher muzzle velocity. A conventional grenade launcher requires a re-load action after each use, calling for reacquisition of the target and re-aiming, including adjustment for any aiming error in the previous shot. The invention reduces the amount of re-loading, provides improved accuracy and better ballistics solution in use—wherein only an immediate adjustment for aiming error is required with the weapon still aimed at the target. Most importantly, the weapon can more quickly an accurately deliver firepower in the critical first 10 seconds of an engagement with enemy forces.
It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth in the following claims.
Patent Application
20080052977
