Patent ID: 6810615
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: B23P,C21D,F41A

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a thick walled large caliber gun barrel, wherein the barrel requires active cooling to maintain a rate of fire, comprising the steps of:calculating a thermal profile for the barrel based on barrel geometry, barrel material and heat flux produced from a maximum fire rate scenario; calculating a barrel yield strength of the barrel based on the thermal profile; calculating a maximum residual stress profile based on the barrel yield strength; forging the barrel; mapping the inner diameter of the barrel; testing the yield strength of the barrel forgings; constructing a mandrel, wherein said mandrel is sized according to the inner diameter of the barrel, yield strength of the forging and residual stress profile; pressing the mandrel through the barrel; machining the outer diameter of the barrel to its finished dimensions; and machining the inner diameter of the barrel to its finished dimensions.