Patent Application
20110154979
The present invention relates to firing means for high caliber artillery, more specifically a direct fire weapon. In the prior art, various electrical and mechanical systems have been proposed for high caliber artillery, however, they have been implicitly confined to indirect firing, such as that which occurs with mortars and howitzers. Said artillery fire at high trajectories, from a vertically oriented position, unlike conventional firearms which can achieve accuracy inferior only to self-propelled projectiles. Nor can they be adapted easily for such use, as in the absence of a gravitational acceleration, firing means must rely solely on a mechanical and/or electrical energy input. To thus avert the complexity of an electrical system, should a mechanical means be sought, the power generated must be sufficient to propel a projectile of considerable mass. An essentially grand scale conventional firearm conception, in need of an alternate actuator to the finger, inevitably arises, such an alternate which the prior art is believed to only inadequately disclose.
The present invention is a hydraulic mechanical system, wherein a projectile of relative mass may be fired under minimal strain by an operator, through the realization of various mechanical advantages.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate firing mechanism to a conventional rifled arm, such that it may enable design of a large scale version thereof, which may serve as high caliber direct fire artillery.
It is a further object that said mechanism be adaptable for use in automatic firing artillery, such that ease of operation thereof be maximized.
A cutaway of the present invention is shown in the drawing enclosed.
A description of the presently preferred embodiment, such that it may be made and employed by one of ordinary skill in the art is hereon disclosed, with reference to the enclosed cutaway. The present invention is a mechanical actuator comprising a hydraulic pressure system, wherein motive force is applied to a spring-return piston 1A thereof. Said system further comprises a pawl 2 with sliding means, fixed atop the driven piston 1B, the former which is engaged to the teeth of a ratchet wheel 3. A series of pegs 4, proportionate but not necessarily equivalent to the number of teeth of said ratchet wheel, project circumferentially therefrom, and a lever 5 extends thereto, such that it be parallel to that peg in its immediate vicinity. Towards the opposing end of said lever a sear 6 projects in the vicinity of a spring powered cock 7, engaged such that positive displacement of the former negatively displaces the latter.
The actuation process begins with a downwards force, preferably by foot via pedal, applied to the spring-return hydraulic piston. Said force generates fluid pressure which displaces the driven piston, the pawl thereupon lifting upwards against the ratchet wheel. When maximum displacement of said driven piston is reached the pawl releases stored kinetic energy, or momentum, thereby sliding and acting further upon the ratchet wheel, imparting in total a rotation of roughly fifteen degrees. The rotation of said ratchet is transferred by peg to pivot the lever, such that sear of said lever charge the spring powered cock. As the cock pivots away from the spring upon expansion thereof, a firing pin at its tip or amplitude strikes a cartridge primer, causing an ignition which travels to a secondary charge, thus producing gas pressure to propel a projectile.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, safety actuation for the present invention may consist of a simple control valve, blocking flow of hydraulic fluid to the driven piston. As will be further apparent, this mechanism may be adapted for use in automatic firing artillery wherein a reciprocating firing pin replaces cock, by removing the ratchet wheel and engaging the pawl directly to the lever, with stopping means such that said pawl raise a jointed member along initial travel, and lower it subsequently on return. Since momentum possessed by said pawl is approximately equivalent to that force applied thereto in excess of the minimum magnitude required to impart initial motion, a reduction in mass of same pawl serves to increase its momentum and thus subsequent exertion. In order that physical strain in firing be minimized, it is recommended that conversion of displacement into force transpire between driving and driven piston respectively, as is shown. It is also advised that an operator of relatively heavy mass be employed.
While the disclosed mechanism could technically be employed in a single shot, repeating, or self-loading rifled weapon, due to the relatively slow rate of fire present in the former two types, the latter is believed to be most practical. It is further believed that gas operated self-loading action, combined with detachable box magazine capacity, such that empty magazines can be discarded and full ones supplied via forklift or other means, constitutes the best possible mode of employing said mechanism.
