Counter mass container for a weapon

Abstract

The present invention relates to a counter mass container (2) enclosing a plurality of parallel axially extending channels (1). The invention also relates to an assembly of a plurality of such counter mass containers (2). The invention also relates to a weapon comprising a barrel (5) accommodating such an assembly.

Claims

1. Counter mass container (2) enclosing a plurality of parallel axially extending channels (1) surrounding cores (8, 10) of the counter mass container (2), the counter mass container (2) being configured to be arranged in a barrel.

2. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1 containing a counter mass material.

3. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein an axial length of the counter mass container ranges from 30 to 150 mm.

4. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein a radial length of the counter mass container ranges from 6 to 12 cm.

5. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the channels (1) ranges from 5 to 30 mm.

6. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the channels have channel walls having a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 2 mm.

7. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an axial length of the counter mass container to a radial length of the counter mass container ranges from 0.3 to 2.

8. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein a surrounding wall encloses the channels (1).

9. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the channels (1) have a hexagonal cross section.

10. Counter mass container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the container is made of a polymeric material.

11. Assembly of a plurality of counter mass containers (2) according to claim 1.

12. Assembly according to claim 11, wherein from 2 to 100 containers are comprised.

13. Assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one propellant container (3) is arranged between said plurality of counter mass containers (2).

14. Assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one counter mass container (2) and at least one propellant container (3) are arranged adjacent to one another.

15. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein a fuse is arranged to ignite a propellant contained in at least one propellant container arranged between a projectile and the counter mass container.

16. Assembly according to claim 11, further comprising at least one propellant container (3).

17. Weapon comprising a barrel (5) accommodating an assembly according to claim 11.

18. Counter mass container (2) enclosing a plurality of parallel axially extending channels (1) surrounding cores (8, 10) of the counter mass container (2), wherein a fuse is arranged to ignite a propellant contained in at least one propellant container arranged between a projectile and the counter mass container.

19. Weapon comprising a barrel (5) accommodating an assembly of a plurality of counter mass containers (2) each enclosing a plurality of parallel axially extending channels (1) surrounding cores (8, 10) of the counter mass container (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a counter mass container.

(2) FIG. 2a-b schematically illustrate a side view of a counter mass arrangement.

(3) FIG. 3a-b show an arrangement of a plurality of counter mass containers and propellant containers.

(4) FIG. 4 schematically shows containers suitable for counter mass material and propellant.

(5) FIG. 5 shows channels with a hexagonal cross section.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a schematically a plurality of containers for propellants, counter mass material etc (channels not shown).

(7) FIG. 7 shows a cross section of square-shaped channels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a container 2 containing counter mass material in channels 1 surrounding the cores 8 and 10. According to one embodiment, a container such as container 2 may comprise propellant and/or ignition charge in addition to counter mass material. Preferably, propellant and/or ignition material is contained in the central channels, e.g. in two or more central channels of the inner core 10 of the container. According to one embodiment, the central channels, e.g. two or more central channels of the outer core 8 may contain counter mass material, propellant and/or ignition material. At least some of the surrounding channels 1 may be partially or entirely free from counter mass material, i.e. some of the surrounding channels may contain counter mass material whereas other containers may be free of counter mass material. Preferably, the counter mass container 2 comprises square-shaped channels. Preferably, the container 2 is fabricated of an inert material such as plastic or paper or a combustible material such as nitrocellulose.

(9) FIG. 2a shows a barrel 5 accommodating a projectile 4, a propellant enclosed in a propellant container 3, a counter mass container 2 corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 1. A primer 6 is arranged to the container adjacent the barrel 5. A bursting disc (end plate) 7 is arranged at the rearmost part of the barrel 5.

(10) The rearmost container may comprise an ignition charge 9 and a peripherally positioned primer 6. The ignition charge may be a mixture of propellant and particles, for example a mixture of black powder and zirconium particles.

(11) FIG. 2b shows a fluidization state of the counter mass subsequent to ignition by the the primer 6 of the ignition charge and the propellant. As the combusted propellant gases expand, formation of a cloud-like fluid of gases and counter mass material is initiated flowing towards the end plate. The zone 11 (at a certain point in time, e.g. 5 ms after ignition of the ignition charge) is shown in which fluid will start to exit the barrel in a homogeneous manner. Preferably, this design enables a Laval type expansion carrying counter mass at supersonic velocity.

(12) FIG. 3a shows an assembly comprising a plurality of counter mass containers 2 corresponding to the counter mass container of FIG. 2a. Plural intermediate propellant containers 3 are positioned between the counter mass containers 2. The central channels in cores 8 and 10 are as described in e.g. FIG. 2a.

(13) FIG. 3b shows the counter mass container assembly after ignition of the ignition charge 9 and propellant. Fluidization occurs subsequent to ignition of the propellant whereby combusted propellant gases and counter mass material form a cloud-like solid-gas mixture maintaining a high pressure whereby the projectile is propelled in the fire direction and the fluid of counter mass and combusted propellant is flowing symmetrically in the opposite direction breaking the end plate. The formed fluid is efficiently reducing or eliminating recoiling forces as the projectile is propelled. From the point in time the primer ignites the ignition charge which may take less than 1 ms, fluidization is thus initiated following combustion of propellant in the counter mass containers which may start within for example 5 ms.

(14) FIG. 4 shows counter mass containers 2. The radial extension of the containers is the same. The axial extension of the counter mass containers is different in FIG. 4 and exemplifies containers of different axial lengths may be present in one and the same assembly.

(15) FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a container having channels 1 with hexagonal form.

(16) FIG. 6 shows a plurality of counter mass containers 2 and propellant containers 3 which may be arranged axially with a distance from each other in a barrel. The containers may also be arranged adjacent one another. The containers may also be joined, for example by means of a suitable adhesive. A propellant container 3 may thus be positioned between each counter mass container 2.

(17) FIG. 7 shows a preferred cross section of propellant and counter mass containers with square-shaped channels 1.