Patent GB-1438072-A (GB)
Title: Projectile-carrier assembly for a gun using liquid as a  propellant for a projectile
IPC: F41A1/04
Filed: 1974-01-04
Abstract: 1438072 A projectile-carrier assembly for a liquid propellant gun; liquid propellant gun PULSEPOWER SYSTEMS Inc 4 Jan 1974 00512/74 Headings F3A and F3C Ammunition for a large or small bore liquid propellant weapon comprises a projectile 51, Fig. 5, and a carrier 53, Fig. 4, which resiliently engages the rear of the projectile to facilitate its loading in the weapon and is separable therefrom by the pressure of the liquid propellant in the weapon but which can re-engage the projectile to facilitate its extraction in the event of a misfire. Resilient fingers 65 of the carrier engage in grooves 61 in the projectile and are withdrawn therefrom when liquid propellant enters the space between the rear of the projectile and the front face of the carrier through ports 59 formed in the projectile. A flat 73 on the carrier enables the carrier to be correctly oriented by the bolt mechanism of the weapon. Stabilization ribs 55 are provided on the projectile. In another embodiment of the ammunition, Figs. 21A to 21D (not shown), the carrier and projectile are provided with a bayonet connection that for the purposes of extraction only becomes operative upon rotation of the bolt in the event of a misfire. The carrier contains a percussive charge (not shown) for igniting the propellant. A weapon for firing the ammunition comprises: a combustion chamber 107, Fig 9; and a reciprocating bolt that has an inner member 105 which engages the carrier 53 and conveys the projectile-carrier assembly forwards to place the projectile in the bore of the weapon; and then, still carrying the carrier but not the projectile, moves rearwards as propellant is pumped into the combustion chamber through a check valve 117 in an outer member 103 of the bolt The bolt carries a striker 129 for the percussive charge and a plunger (not shown) for ejecting the spent carrier The propellant is contained in a bellows-like reservoir in a magazine and is pumped therefrom by the bottom wall of the bellows being raised by a strap that is connected to the weapon's bolt and also serves to lift the projectile-carrier assemblies from the magazine. A valve 85 in the magazine is opened automatically when the magazine is fitted to the weapon by a conduit 89 extending from the weapon. A trombone-like conduit 111 in the weapon supplies the propellant to the combustion chamber. Another weapon, Fig. 18 comprises a reciprocating combustion chamber housing 161 that slides rearwardly along the barrel 163 to create a combustion chamber for a liquid propellant. The propellant is pumped from a reservoir 79 in a magazine 47 and into a space created between the front end of a fixed piston 195 and a cylinder 197 when the cylinder moves forwards with the housing 161. When the housing 161 and the cylinder 197 move rearwards, the propellant is forced into the expanding combustion chamber past a valve 215. The weapons are high velocity weapons and are operated automatically or semi-automatically; although a thermostat (not shown) overrides the latter action if the combustion chamber has become too hot.