WEAPON SYSTEM

Abstract

A weapon system that includes a breechblock, which is formed at least by a breechblock carrier and a breechblock head, the breechblock carrier being designed so as to carry the breechblock head. To achieve the fact that forces acting upon the breechblock drive during the unlocking of the breechblock and the withdrawal of a cartridge casing are minimized or even eliminated, the breechblock head is freely movable relative to the breechblock carrier. To separate the breechblock with a breechblock drive of the weapon system during the recoil of the recoiling masses of the weapon system, a device is designed in such a way that a mechanical separation takes place between the breechblock and the breechblock drive during the recoil of the recoiling masses of the weapon system. During the forward motion of the recoiling masses, the mechanical connection between the breechblock drive and the breechblock is reestablished via the device.

Claims

1. A weapon system comprising: a breechblock, the breechblock being mechanically connected to a breechblock drive of the weapon system; a device that is designed such that a mechanical separation between the breechblock and the breechblock drive takes place during the recoil of the recoiling masses of the weapon system, and the device reestablishes the mechanical connection between the breechblock drive and the breechblock during the forward motion of the recoiling masses.

2. The weapon system according to claim 1, wherein the breechblock is formed at least by a breechblock carrier and a breechblock head, and the breechblock carrier being designed so as to carry the breechblock head.

3. The weapon system according to claim 2, wherein the breechblock head is freely movable relative to the breechblock carrier.

4. The weapon system according to claim 1, wherein at least one connection rod of the device is designed so as to detachably connect the breechblock carrier to the breechblock drive.

5. The weapon system according to claim 4, wherein a breechblock slider is provided, which may move the breechblock carrier and be detachably connected to the breechblock drive.

6. The weapon system according to claim 4, wherein the connection rod is fixedly mounted on breechblock slider by a rear end, viewed in the firing direction, and the front end may be connected to or separated from the breechblock carrier.

7. The weapon system according to claim 1, wherein the device includes at least one slide, which protrudes from the breechblock carrier in a direction of the gun barrel.

8. The weapon system according to claim 4, wherein the device includes at least one second slide for mechanically separating the connection rod from the breechblock carrier.

9. The weapon system according to claim 1, further comprising a guide curve introduced into the breechblock carrier for guiding a control bolt of the breechblock head.

10. The weapon system according to claim 1, wherein a firing pin is integrated into a bore in the breechblock head.

11. The weapon system according to claim 4, wherein at least one bore is introduced into the breechblock carrier, a front end of the connection rod being adapted to be guided within the bore.

12. The weapon system according to claim 4, wherein two connection rods are used, which are oriented in parallel to each other, the breechblock head being arranged between the two connection rods.

13. The weapon system according to claim 4, wherein at least one third slide is provide on the device, which releases the breechblock carrier during its return transport by the breechblock slider in order to assume its starting position.

14. A method for unlocking a breechblock from a gun barrel of a weapon system according to claim 1, the method comprising: initiating a weapon recoil and recoil of the recoiling masses; and unlocking the breechblock during a forward motion of the recoiling masses.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein a mechanical separation takes place between the breechblock carrier of the breechblock and a breechblock drive during the recoil of the recoiling masses, and a mechanical connection is established between the breechblock carrier and the breechblock drive during the forward motion of the recoiling masses.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein a portion of the forward motion energy of the recoiling masses is used to remove the cartridge casing from the gun barrel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a representation of the gun barrel, including a device according to the invention, in a side view;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a representation from FIG. 1 in a top view;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the carrier or the carrier system from FIG. 1 in a view from below;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a device illustrated in FIG. 1 in a side view;

[0044] FIG. 5 shows the device from FIG. 4 in a representation without a cover, viewed from above;

[0045] FIG. 6 shows the device from FIG. 4 in a sectional representation;

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a sectional representation of the breechblock carrier according to FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a representation of a further section of the breechblock carrier from FIG. 7;

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a view of the breechblock carrier from FIG. 5, including a firing pin;

[0049] FIG. 10 shows another view from FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] A barrel assembly of a weapon is shown in FIG. 1 with reference numeral 1. This barrel assembly 1 comprises at least one gun barrel 2 as well as a breechblock head 3. Gun barrel 2 and breechblock head 3 are guided via a carrier 4 or are fastened thereto. Breechblock head 3 is carried by a breechblock carrier 5. Breechblock head 3 and breechblock carrier 5 form a breechblock. In the present preferred embodiment, breechblock carrier 5 is functionally connected to a breechblock slider 6 and the latter to a drive, an external drive in this case.

[0051] A motor is provided as the external drive, which moves a chain or a connecting rod to move the breechblock carrier 5, and thus the breechblock, from a front position (firing position) into a rear position (loading position). The necessary standstill times of the breechblock within the weapon are implemented via the external drive.

[0052] Reference numeral 20 designates a device/mechanical separator. The function of device 20 is a mechanical separation between breechblock carrier 5 and breechblock slider 6 when breechblock head 3 is still locked and is moved together with recoiling gun barrel 2 as part of the recoiling masses of the weapon system or the weapon against the firing direction. During the forward movement of the recoiling masses, device 20 discontinues this mechanical separation.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows barrel assembly 1 from FIG. 1 in a top view, and FIG. 3 shows a view of carrier system 4 from below.

[0054] An enlarged representation of device 20 is apparent in FIG. 4. Device 20 is apparent in cooperation with breechblock carrier 5 and in the operation of breechblock head 3. A guide groove or a guide curve 21 for a control bolt 22 of breechblock head 3 is introduced, preferably on the side, in breechblock carrier 5.

[0055] Breechblock carrier 5 is detachably connected to breechblock slider 6 via at least one connection rod 23 (FIG. 6). Connection rod 23 is fixedly mounted on breechblock slider 6 by a rear end, viewed in the firing direction. The front end is connected to breechblock carrier 5 and may be separated therefrom.

[0056] Connection rod 23 ensures that breechblock carrier 5 is fixedly connected to breechblock slider 6 for transporting the breechblock during the actual weapon operation. In addition to connection rod 23, a pressure spring 24, preferably a helical pressure spring in this case, is integrated or arranged between breechblock slider 6 and breechblock carrier 5.

[0057] Device 20 furthermore includes at least one first slide 25. This first slide 25 protrudes from breechblock carrier 5, pointing in the direction of gun barrel 2 (FIG. 4). As long as first slide 25 is not actuated, i.e. not pressed, breechblock carrier 5 and breechblock slider 6 form a mechanical unit via connection rod 23.

[0058] In addition to first slide 25, device 20 comprises at least one second slide 26. The latter is used to mechanically separate connection rod 23 from breechblock carrier 5 and may be driven out by first slide 25, so that connection rod 23 may release the connection with breechblock carrier 5 on the front end (FIG. 4).

[0059] FIG. 4 also shows guide curve 21 introduced into breechblock carrier 5, which is provided for guiding control bolt 22 of breechblock head 3 for unlocking breechblock head 3 from gun barrel 2. In addition, at least one spring sleeve 45 as well as a tensioning sleeve 46, which is displaceably and rotatably supported thereon, are also carried by breechblock carrier 5. Pressure springs 41, 42, preferably helical pressure springs, and a tensioning pin 43 for a firing pin 40 situated in a bore 44 in breechblock head 3, are introduced thereinto. Pressure spring 41 is used for tensioning firing pin 40. The function of pressure spring 42 is to transfer breechblock head 3 into an opened position and to hold it in its unlocked position.

[0060] These are illustrated in a sectional representation in FIG. 6. Reference numeral 31 marks a pressure spring of first slide 25. and reference numeral 32 marks its stop piece for first slide 25 in breechblock carrier 5.

[0061] An exemplary operation is as follows:

[0062] According to the figures, the breechblock or breechblock head 3 is locked and the weapon discharged. The firing has taken place. Gun barrel 2, including the central tube, breechblock head 3 as well as assemblies 40, 46 integrated into/on breechblock head 3 as recoiling masses of the weapon, move toward the rear against the firing direction. Gun barrel 2 strikes first slide 25 and moves it along its path 25′ within breechblock carrier 5. This first slide 25 pushes aside at least one second slide 26, due to the shape or contour of first slide 25. A blocking mechanism 50 provided by this second slide 26 and illustrated in FIG. 8 is released, the front end of connection rod 23 lying free within a bore 11 of breechblock carrier 5. The mechanical connection between breechblock carrier 5 and breechblock slider 6 is released. Breechblock carrier 5 is carried along by recoiling masses, while connection rod 23 may slide freely forward within bore 11. Connection rod 23 passes over at least one third slide 29 and pushes it away during the recoil of the recoiling masses.

[0063] At the end of the recoil, the recoiling masses are moved forward again together with breechblock carrier 5 in the firing direction, and the forward motion is ended. It is understood that this end of the recoil, or the path of the recoiling masses associated therewith, is taken into account in the length of bore 11.

[0064] With the forward motion of breechblock carrier 5, connection rod 23 is caught at a front edge 52 of the at least one third slide 29. The mechanical connection to breechblock slider 6 is reestablished thereby.

[0065] Due to the mechanical coupling of breechblock carrier 5 with breechblock slider 6, only breechblock head 3, together with locked gun barrel 2, now moves forward. Control bolt 22 on breechblock head 3 is guided along guide curve 21, and breechblock head 3 is rotated. The rotation of breechblock head 3 effectuates an unlocking of breechblock head 3 from gun barrel 2, which detaches from breechblock head 3 during the further forward motion and moves away from breechblock head 3. A cartridge casing, which is held by a withdrawal claw 54 of breechblock head 3 is pulled out, at least to some degree, from gun barrel 2 during this forward motion of gun barrel 2. The cartridge casing is released from gun barrel 2 at the point in time of the neutral position of gun barrel 2.

[0066] Breechblock carrier 5 takes up the starting position during its return transport by breechblock slider 6, i.e. upon the actual breechblock transport during the weapon operation. The at least one third slide 29 is driven out by a cam 71 on carrier 4, and the blocking mechanism is released by front edge 52 of slide 29. The front end of connection rod 23 slides under and past the at least one second slide 26 and moves back into its starting position. The front end of connection rod 23 comes to rest behind a rear edge 53 of the at least one second slide 26, which is placed in front of the front end of connection rod 23, driven by a pressure spring 27. The front end of connection rod 23 is secured toward the rear by an edge 55 in breechblock carrier 5 (FIG. 8).

[0067] Pressure spring 24 supports breechblock carrier 5 upon removal from its starting position. Breechblock slider 6 may continue to transport breechblock carrier 5 into its rear position within the weapon. The cartridge casing is ejected in this way.

[0068] Two connection rods 23 are preferably used. They are oriented in parallel to each other, breechblock head 3 being arranged between the two. This construction increases the functional reliability of device 20. If two connection rods 23 are used, two pressure springs 24 as well as two second slides 26 are also provided within device 20 on breechblock carrier 5. They both interact functionally with particular connection rod 23. Slides 26 are supported in their function by pressure springs 27, preferably helical pressure springs. This structural design then preferably also necessitates two third slides 29 (FIG. 5) and two cams 71 on carrier 4.

[0069] The tensioning of firing pin 40 takes place during the locking of breechblock head 3 with gun barrel 2. For this purpose, breechblock carrier 5, together with breechblock head 3, is moved forward by breechblock slide 6, and the latter by a breechblock drive, again in the direction of gun barrel 2.

[0070] A fourth slide 47 is pressed upward by a spring 48 in the starting position (FIG. 9). During the forward motion of breechblock 3 or breechblock carrier 5 during the actual weapon function, breechblock head 3, together with its control bolt 22, slides along guide curve 21 and locks to gun barrel 2. During this rotational movement, tensioning bushing 46 is guided toward the rear along its tensioning curve 49 with firing pin 40 against fourth slide 47 against the firing direction, tensions pressure spring 41 situated therein and thus firing pin 40 (FIG. 10).

[0071] When breechblock head 3 has ended its rotational movement, fourth slide 47 runs on a cam 70 in carrier 4. Fourth slide 47 moves downward thereby, and tensioning bushing 46 loses its support. Tensioning bushing 46 and firing pin 40 are pressed forward by released pressure spring 41. Firing pin 40 leaves bore 44 of breechblock head 3 at the front side and fires a cartridge carried along. In this position, a fifth slide 60 locks fourth slide 47 in its lower position via a pin 61.

[0072] Slide 60 remains in this position up to the discharge operation. Upon the retraction of breechblock slider 6, cam 70 actuates this fifth slide 60, so that fourth slide 47 may be pressed into its starting position by spring 48.

[0073] The cycle begins again with the gun recoil which sets in.

[0074] The weapon or the weapon system may fire individual shots in a targeted manner as well as fire fully automatically.

[0075] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.