Abstract:
An apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel having striations formed on an inner surface of the gun barrel includes a cleaning means that is in contact with the inner surface of the gun barrel as being moved by a drive means installed inside a cylindrical main body. The cleaning means includes a main member having a circular plate on which a plurality of insertion holes is formed along its circumference; a rotating member formed inside the circular plate and having a motor and a rotating gear interlocking with the motor; and cleaning members formed to be inserted into the insertion holes, respectively, to clean the inner surface of the gun barrel and having lower sides interlocking with the rotating gear, respectively, to be rotated. The apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel is rotated at high speed with an appropriate pressure along the groove part of the gun barrel accurately, and thus a wide area can be cleaned in a short time. Even if the brusher is worn out, an appropriate pressure is maintained by the spring, and thus the amount of wear is compensated for. Since the brusher does not secede from the barrel, the accuracy is increased, and since the respective brushers are replaceable and it is not required to replace the whole cleaning member, the cost is saved.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0007407, filed on Jan. 27, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel, which can clean an inner surface of a gun barrel having striations separately for the respective striations. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     After a shell is fired, alien substances produced due to the combustion of gun powder and ammunition are adhered to the inner surface of the gun barrel, and this lowers the accuracy of the shell being fired. Accordingly, after the gun barrel is used, the alien substances stuck on the inside of the gun barrel are removed and anti-corrosive oil is sprayed. 
     Typically, firearms having large-sized gun barrels such as self-propelled artilleries and towed howitzers are limited in disassembly, cleaning, and lubrication when they are repaired and maintained, as compared with common rifles which are individual carrying firearms. 
     In particular, the cleaning and washing of an inner surface of a gun barrel is performed in a manner that a brush is fixed to an end part of a connection rod, and the repetitive pushing/pulling operation of the connection rod into/from the gun barrel removes alien substances remaining in the gun barrel after firing. This cleaning process requires lots of hands and physical strength, and thus is hardly performed for many hours. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are cross-sectional views of apparatuses for automatically cleaning a gun barrel in the related art. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one apparatus for automatically cleaning a gun barrel in the related art includes a drive unit  20 , a cleaning unit  30  and a spray unit  40  which are installed between drive motors  20   a  and  20   b . Another apparatus for automatically cleaning a gun barrel in the related art as illustrated in  FIG. 2  includes a gear housing  50 , a main shaft  60 , a sun gear  70 , a planet gear  80 , and an external gear  90 . 
     These cleaning apparatuses in the related art use a method of cleaning an inner surface of the gun barrel whereby the cleaning apparatus rotates or moves cleaning members provided thereon forward/backward as it enters along the inner surface of the gun barrel using the drive motors. 
     However, the above-described cleaning apparatuses in the related art have the drawbacks in that they are not effective in cleaning the inner surface of the gun barrel in the case where striations are formed on the inner surface of the gun barrel to give a rotating force to the fired shell. 
     Also, if the cleaning members which clean the inner surface of the gun barrel are worn out, the cleaning work is ineffectively performed. 
     Also, it is difficult to replace the cleaning members. 
     Also, if the cleaning members secede from the gun barrel, they may not be accurately restored to their original positions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the related art while advantages achieved by the prior art are maintained intact. 
     One subject to be achieved by the present invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel, which can effectively perform the cleaning work even if the cleaning members are worn out, which can facilitate the replacement of the cleaning members, and which can make the cleaning members be restored to their original positions even if the cleaning members secede from the gun barrel, thereby achieving the effective cleaning of the inner surface of the gun barrel. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel having striations formed on an inner surface of the gun barrel, including a cleaning means that is in contact with the inner surface of the gun barrel as being moved by a drive means installed inside a cylindrical main body, wherein the cleaning means includes a main member having a circular plate on which a plurality of insertion holes is formed along its circumference; a rotating member formed inside the circular plate and having a motor and a rotating gear interlocking with the motor; and cleaning members formed to be inserted into the insertion holes, respectively, to clean the inner surface of the gun barrel and having lower sides interlocking with the rotating gear, respectively, to be rotated. 
     The insertion holes may be formed in zigzag along the circumference in a double line. 
     The cleaning member may include a case having a spring provided therein; a brusher coupled to the spring to clean the inner surface of the gun barrel; a rotating shaft formed on a lower side of the case and inserted into the insertion hole; and a bevel gear coupled to a lower part of the rotating shaft and interlocking with the rotating gear to rotate the cleaning member. 
     The case may have an accommodation groove formed on a lower side thereof and may be attached/detached by a ball plunge mounted on the rotating shaft. 
     The case may further include an accommodation member accommodating the brusher in an inner periphery thereof on the upper side; wherein the brusher is formed on the accommodation member, and the spring is connected to a lower side of the accommodation member. 
     The accommodation member may be attached or detached by a fastening pin. 
     The rotating shaft may be further provided with a metal bearing formed on a side surface thereof, and adjustment members provided on upper and lower parts of the metal bearing so as to adjust the position of the case. 
     Guide rollers operated by the drive means may be further provided on front and rear sides of the cleaning means; and a position sensor is attached to one side of the guide roller; wherein in the case where the gun barrel cleaning apparatus secedes from a predetermined position, the position sensor transfers a signal to the drive means. 
     With the above-described construction according to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel is rotated at high speed with an appropriate pressure along the groove part of the gun barrel accurately, and thus a wide area can be cleaned in a short time. 
     Also, even if the brusher is worn out, an appropriate pressure is maintained by the spring, and thus the amount of wear is compensated for. 
     Also, since the brusher does not secede from the barrel, the accuracy is increased. 
     Also, since the respective brushers are replaceable and it is not required to replace the whole cleaning member, the cost is saved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for automatically cleaning a gun barrel in the related art; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of another apparatus for automatically cleaning a gun barrel in the related art; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of a cleaning means according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of a cleaning means according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning member according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the circumference of a circular plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a bottom surface of a case according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and elements, are nothing but specific details provided to assist those of ordinary skill in the art in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and thus the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     The construction and operation of an apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for cleaning a gun barrel according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of a cleaning means according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of a cleaning means according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning member according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the circumference of a circular plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a bottom surface of a case according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     First, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning means  100  is coupled to a circular main body having a conventional drive means (not illustrated). The drive means (not illustrated) includes wheels coupled to a drive motor to move the circular main body along the inner surface of the gun barrel. To the rear end part of the circular main body, a controller for controlling a cleaning means  100  may be coupled, or an oil tank and an oil pump may be coupled for a smooth cleaning operation. 
     Also, the oil tank for storing cleaning solution or anti-corrosive oil is installed in the front part of the main body, and the oil pump sprays the cleaning solution or anti-corrosive oil through a spray orifice formed adjacent to the cleaning means  100  and toward the inner surface of the gun barrel at a specified angle. However, the detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 8 , the cleaning means  100  includes a main member  200  having a circular plate  210  on which a plurality of insertion holes  212  is formed along its circumference; a rotating member  300  formed inside the circular plate  210  and having a motor (not illustrated) and a rotating gear  300  interlocking with the motor; and cleaning members  400  formed to be inserted into the insertion holes  212 , respectively, to clean the inner surface of the gun barrel and having lower sides interlocking with the rotating gear  300 , respectively, to be rotated. 
     Hereinafter, the detailed construction of the cleaning means will be described in detail. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the main member  200  has the circular plate  210  that is tilted to correspond to the slope of striations formed on the inner surface of the gun barrel. 
     The circular plate  210  has a predetermined width, and the plurality of insertion holes  212  is formed along the circumference of the circular plate  210 . In accordance with the kinds of guns, the number of insertion holes  212  is changed. In the case of a 155 mm gun, 48 right-inclined striations are formed and thus 48 insertion holes  212  are required, while in the case of a 105 mm gun, 24 right-inclined striations are formed and thus  24  insertion holes  212  are required. 
     Preferably, the insertion holes  212  are arranged in zigzag along the circumference in a double line. That is, for a smooth rotation of the cleaning members  400 , the first line of the insertion holes is positioned on an odd-numbered striation and the second line of the insertion holes is positioned on an even-numbered striation, so that the rotational interference is avoided. 
     The circular plate  210  has a hollow space part formed therein, and the rotating member  300  to be described later is installed therein. 
     The main member  200  is provided with a connection member  220  for connecting the circular plate  210  to the apparatus for cleaning the gun barrel, and a drive force of the drive means (not illustrated), a power, and the like, are transferred through the connection member  220 . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the rotating member  300  is formed in the hollow space part inside the circular plate  210 , and includes a motor and a rotating gear  300  interlocking with the motor. 
     Here, the power of the motor is supplied through the connection member  400 . 
     The rotating gear is a well-known gear set for rotating cleaning members  400 , respectively, to be described later, and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted. That is, the rotating gear  300  is constructed to make it possible to rotate respective bevel gears  440  of the cleaning members  400 , and the multi-stage gear construction is well known in the art. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning members  400  are formed to be inserted into the insertion holes  212 , respectively, to clean the inner surface of the gun barrel and have lower sides interlocking with the rotating gear  300 , respectively. 
     Accordingly, if the rotating gear  300  is operated by the driving of the motor, the cleaning members  400  are individually rotated to clean the inner surface of the gun barrel. 
     Preferably, the cleaning member  400  includes a case  410  having a spring  412  provided therein; a brusher  420  coupled to the spring  412  to clean the inner surface of the gun barrel; a rotating shaft  430  formed on a lower side of the case  410  and inserted into the insertion hole; and a bevel gear  440  coupled to a lower part of the rotating shaft  430  and interlocking with the rotating gear  300  to rotate the cleaning member. 
     The case  410  is provided with a spring  412  which is made of a steel material having high strength and hardness and is compressed and decompressed in the case  410 . 
     Also, the case  410  is in the form of a cylinder, and has an upper part that is open and a lower part that is partially or entirely closed to mount the spring  412  therein. 
     Here, the brusher  420  is inserted into the upper side of the case  410 , and is coupled to the upper side of the spring  412 . The brusher  420  is made of a synthetic resin material, and is in direct contact with the inner surface of the gun barrel during cleaning. The brusher  420  is worn out with the lapse of time. 
     In particular, the brusher  420  is initially put to compress the spring, and as the brusher is worn out, the spring is released  412 , so that the brusher cleans the inner surface of the gun barrel under the same condition. 
     Here, the rotating shaft  430  is a part that is coupled to the lower side of the case  410 , and is inserted into the insertion hole  212 . That is, the diameter of the rotating shaft  430  is smaller than the diameter of the insertion hole  212 , and thus the rotating shaft  430  is inserted into the insertion hole  212 . Also, the rotating shaft  430  connects the bevel gear  440  to the case  410 , and by the operation of the rotating gear  300  interlocking with the bevel gear  440 , the case  410  and the brusher  420  are rotated. 
     The bevel gear  440  interlocks with the rotating gear  300 , and by the operation of the rotating gear  300 , the rotating direction of the bevel gear  440  is changed to rotate the rotating shaft  430  and the brusher  420  in order. 
     Preferably, the case  410  has an accommodation groove  417  formed on the lower side thereof, and is attached/detached by a ball plunge  436  mounted on the rotating shaft  430 . 
     The case  410  has a closed lower side, and the accommodation groove  417  in the form of a sphere is formed on the lower surface of the case. On the upper side of the rotating shaft  430 , a ball plunger  436  having a size larger than that of the accommodation groove  417  is formed, and is coupled to the ball plunge  436  and the accommodation groove  417  in a tight insertion manner. 
     Accordingly, the case  410  can be easily replaced. 
     Preferably, the case  410  is further provided with an accommodation member  414  accommodating the brusher  420  in an inner periphery thereof on the upper side. The brusher  420  is formed on the accommodation member  414 , and the spring  412  is formed on the lower side of the accommodation member  414 . 
     The brusher  420  is made of a synthetic resin, and it is difficult that the brusher  420  is directly coupled to the spring made of a still material. Accordingly, the accommodation member  414  is in the form of a bowl, and accommodates the brusher  420  therein. On the lower side of the accommodation member  414 , the spring  412  is formed. Also, a stepped portion  419  is formed from the upper edge to the lower side of the case  410  to prevent the accommodation member  414  from seceding from the case  410 . 
     The accommodation member  414  is attached or detached by the fastening pin  416 , and this is to facilitate the replacement of brusher  420  when the brusher  420  is worn out. 
     Accordingly, the fastening pin  416  is coupled to the accommodation member  414  through the stepped portion  419 . On the other hand, the accommodation member  414  is separated by removing the fastening pin  416  and slantingly pressing the accommodation member  414  in a downward direction to separate the accommodation member  414 . On the other hand, the groove that corresponds to the stepped portion  419  is formed in side-surface direction, and the accommodation member  414  is separated by removing the fastening pin  416 , rotating the accommodation member  414 , and making the groove coincide with the stepped portion  419 . 
     Preferably, the metal bearing  432  is formed on the side surface of the rotating shaft  430 , and adjustment members  434 , which can adjust the position of the case  410 , are further provided on upper and lower parts of the metal bearing  432 . The metal bearing  432  is to make the rotating shaft  430  rotate as being fixed to a predetermined position, and the adjustment members  434  are formed on the upper and lower parts of the metal bearing  432  to function as rings that strongly connect the lower surface of the case  410  to the upper side of the rotating shaft  430  and the upper side of the bevel gear  440  to the lower side of the rotating shaft  430 , respectively. That is, the adjustment members  434  are connection rings. Typically, collars are used as the adjustment members  434 , and the collars mean connection rings which are put to connect or strengthen a pipe or the like. 
     Preferably, guide rollers  600  are further provided on front and rear sides of the cleaning means  100 , and a position sensor (not illustrated) is attached to one side of the guide rollers  600 . If the gun barrel cleaning apparatus secedes from the predetermined position, the position sensor (not illustrated) transfers a signal to the drive means (not illustrated). 
     The guide rollers  600  are auxiliary transfer rollers which are positioned on the front and rear sides of the position where the cleaning means  100  is formed, and are operated when the gun barrel cleaning apparatus secedes from the predetermined position. Of course, it is separate from a main roller for transferring the gun barrel cleaning apparatus forward and rearward. 
     Accordingly, the position sensor (not illustrated) is installed on one side of the guide roller to recognize whether the guide rollers  600  secede from the inner surface of the gun barrel for a predetermined distance. The position sensor (not illustrated) compares input distance values, and if the sensed distance exceeds the predetermined distance, it transfers the signal to the drive means (not illustrated), and the guide rollers  600  are operated to restore the apparatus to its original position. 
     Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. 
     First, a user inserts the gun barrel cleaning apparatus according to the present invention into the gun barrel, and moves the apparatus to the inside of the gun barrel. Accordingly, the gun barrel cleaning apparatus is guided along the striations on the inner surface of the gun barrel. 
     The cleaning means  100  may be individually formed in accordance with the number of striations on the inner surface of the gun barrel to perform the cleaning operation. 
     Accordingly, if the apparatus reaches the cleaning position on the inner surface of the gun barrel, the motor of the rotating member  300  is rotated, and the brusher  420  that is in contact with the inner surface of the gun barrel is rotated to perform the cleaning operation. Here, if the brusher  420  is worn out, the compressed spring  412  restores the brusher  420  in the upward direction to correspond to the worn-out of the brusher  420 , and thus the cleaning is performed under the same condition. 
     If the brusher  420  is completely worn out and the replacement thereof is required, the fastening pin  416  is separated to take out the accommodation member  414  from the case, and the brusher  420  is replaced. Also, in the case of replacing the case  410  and the spring  412  due to the aging thereof, one-touch replacement thereof is possible since they are tightly inserted by the ball plunge  436 . 
     In summary, with the rotation of the motor, the rotating gear, the bevel gear  440 , and the rotating shaft  430  are operated to make the brusher rotate at high speed of about 1278 rpm. Accordingly, about 200 times the cleaning effects and 5 times the cleaned state can be obtained in comparison to the manual cleaning of the inner surface of the gun barrel. 
     As described above, the gun barrel cleaning apparatus according to the present invention performs a cleaning work in a manner that the striations on the inner surface of the gun barrel are respectively cleaned. Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in he accompanying claims.