Claims
- 1. A multi-shot ring airfoil projectile launcher comprising:a body, said body defining a receiving area for receiving a cartridge comprising a ring airfoil projectile mounted to a housing, said body defining a tubular passage leading from said receiving area through which said ring airfoil projectile is ejected upon firing; a trigger mechanism connected to said body, said trigger mechanism including a firing pin moveable to a position in which it contacts a portion of a cartridge in said receiving area; an extractor adapted to contact said cartridge when said cartridge is in said receiving area and retain said housing of said cartridge upon firing; an ejector, said ejector coupled to said body and movable from a first retracted position to a second extended position, said ejector when moved from said first position to said second position pressing downwardly upon a retained housing to force said housing outwardly of said body through an opening therein; a follower, said follower coupled to said ejector and configured to move downwardly from a first position to a second position when said ejector is moved to its second position, said follower when moved from its first to its second position adapted to move a cartridge into said receiving area; said body further defining a chamber leading to said receiving area opposite said tubular area, and including a breechblock movably located in said chamber, said trigger mechanism and ejector coupled to said breechblock; a track located in said breechblock and a pin extending from said ejector, said pin engaging said track, at least a portion of said track sloping downwardly, whereby movement of said breechblock from a first position to a second position effects said movement of said ejector from its first to its second position.
- 2. A multi-shot ring airfoil projectile launcher comprising:a body, said body defining a receiving area for receiving a cartridge comprising a ring airfoil projectile mounted to a sabot, said sabot mounted to a housing, said body defining a tubular passage leading from said receiving area through which said ring airfoil projectile is ejected upon firing, said body including a sabot stripper, said sabot stripper comprising an area of reduced dimension of said tubular passage at an end thereof opposite said receiving area; and a trigger mechanism connected to said body, said trigger mechanism including a firing pin moveable to a position in which it contacts a portion of a cartridge in said receiving area; an extractor adapted to contact said cartridge when said cartridge is in said receiving area and retain said housing of said cartridge upon firing; an ejector, said ejector coupled to said body and movable from a first retracted position to a second extended position, said ejector when moved from said first position to said second position pressing downwardly upon a retained housing to force said housing outwardly of said body through an opening therein; and a follower, said follower coupled to said ejector and configured to move downwardly from a first position to a second position when said ejector is moved to its second position, said follower when moved from its first to its second position adapted to move a cartridge into said receiving area.
- 3. The projectile launcher in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sabot stripper comprises a generally hollow ring located at said end of said passage, said sabot stripper rotatably connected to said body.
- 4. A multi-shot ring airfoil projectile launcher comprising:a body, said body defining a receiving area for receiving a cartridge comprising a ring airfoil projectile mounted to a housing, said body defining a tubular passage leading from said receiving area through which said ring airfoil projectile is ejected upon firing, said body defining a chamber adjacent said receiving area; a breechblock located in said chamber; a trigger mechanism connected to said body, said trigger mechanism including a firing pin moveable to a position in which it contacts a portion of a cartridge in said receiving area; an extractor adapted to contact said cartridge when said cartridge is in said receiving area and retain said housing of said cartridge upon firing; an ejector, said ejector coupled to said body and movable from a first retracted position to a second extended position, said ejector when moved from said first position to said second position pressing downwardly upon a retained housing to force said housing outwardly of said body through an opening therein; a follower, said follower coupled to said ejector and configured to move downwardly from a first position to a second position when said ejector is moved to its second position, said follower when moved from its first to its second position adapted to move a cartridge into said receiving area; and a grip extending outwardly of said body, said grip including a finger-engageable trigger connected to said trigger mechanism, said breechblock movable between a forward position and a retracted position through movement of said grip, said breechblock in said retracted position exposing said opening in said body through which said housing of said cartridge may be expelled, and said breechblock in a forward position obscuring said opening and located in a firing position.
- 5. In combination, a projectile launcher and a plurality of projectiles to be launched comprising:a plurality of projectiles each comprising a cartridge including a ring airfoil projectile mounted to a sabot and a housing containing said ring airfoil projectile and sabot, said cartridge having a generally cylindrical shape having a central axis extending therethrough, having a diameter perpendicular to said axis and a length along said axis, said diameter exceeding said length, one or more of said plurality of projectiles located in a magazine, said one or more projectiles oriented so that their central axes are aligned; and a launcher for launching said projectiles, said launcher including a receiver defining a cartridge receiving area and an elongate passage through which said airfoil and sabot are launched, a breechblock movably located in said receiver, a track located in said breechblock, a portion of said track sloping downwardly, a trigger mechanism connected to said breechblock, said trigger mechanism for firing a cartridge, said trigger mechanism including a grip extending from said receiver and having a finger-engaging trigger associated therewith, an ejector, a pin extending from said ejector, said pin engaging said track in said breechblock whereby movement of said breechblock from a forward position to a retracted position effects movement of said ejector from a first position to a second position in which a housing is ejected from said receiver, and a follower connected to said ejector, said follower moving a cartridge from said magazine to said receiving area when said breechblock is moved from its forward to its retracted position.
- 6. In combination, a projectile launcher and a plurality of projectiles to be launched comprising:a plurality of projectiles each comprising a cartridge including a ring airfoil projectile mounted to a sabot and a housing containing said ring airfoil projectile and sabot, said cartridge having a generally cylindrical shape having a central axis extending therethrough, having a diameter perpendicular to said axis and a length along said axis, said diameter exceeding said length, one or more of said plurality of projectiles located in a magazine, said one or more projectiles oriented so that their central axes are aligned; a launcher for launching said projectiles, said launcher including a receiver defining a cartridge receiving area and an elongate passage through which said airfoil and sabot are launched, a breechblock movably located in said receiver, a trigger mechanism connected to said breechblock, said trigger mechanism for firing a cartridge, said trigger mechanism including a grip extending from said receiver and having a finger-engaging trigger associated therewith, an ejector connected to said breechblock and movable to a position in which a housing is ejected from said receiver when said breechblock is moved from a forward to a retracted position, and a follower connected to said ejector, said follower moving a cartridge from said magazine to said receiving area when said breechblock is moved from its forward to its retracted position; and a sabot stripper, said sabot stripper comprising an area of reduced dimension of said passage at an end thereof opposite said receiving area.
- 7. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said sabot stripper comprises a generally hollow ring located at said end of said passage, said sabot stripper rotatably connected to said receiver.
- 8. A method of firing a plurality of ring airfoil projectiles in sequence comprising the steps of:(a) loading a cartridge comprising a housing, sabot and ring airfoil projectile into a receiving area of a launcher; (b) retaining said housing in said receiving area; (c) firing said cartridge; (d) launching said sabot and ring airfoil through a passage leading from said receiving area; (e) stripping said sabot from said ring airfoil, causing said ring airfoil to be ejected from said launcher; (f) ejecting said housing from said receiving area through an opening in said launcher; and (g) repeating steps (a)-(f).
- 9. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said launcher includes an ejector bar and said step of ejecting said housing comprises moving said ejector bar, engaging said housing and forcing said housing from said launcher.
- 10. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said launcher includes a loader and said step of loading comprises engaging said cartridge with said loader and moving said loader to cause said cartridge to be moved into said receiving area.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/299,045, filed Jun. 18, 2001.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/299045 |
Jun 2001 |
US |