Patent GB-1371814-A (GB)
Title: Modular liquid propellant gun
IPC: F41A1/04
Filed: 1972-01-05
Abstract: 1371814 Liquid propellant gun PULSEPOWER SYSTEMS Inc 5 Jan 1972 [7 Jan 1971] 491/72 Heading F3C  A liquid propellant gun of the kind in which liquid propellant is burned in a combustion chamber to fire a projectile from the gun, the gun including a propellant injection mechanism for injecting liquid propellant into the combustion chamber and means for preventing the heat of the combustion chamber from overheating the propellant prior to injection into the combustion chamber. The propellant injecting mechanism comprises a cylinder 70, Figs. 17, 17A, and a piston 63 which are reciprocably mounted within a bore 70A of a barrel 43. A spring biased check valve 403 is mounted in the cylinder 70 and permits propellant to flow therefrom into a combustion chamber 57, via a port 71. A one-way check valve 75 is mounted in the piston 63. In operation the cylinder 70 remains in the forward position as shown in Fig. 17 during the firing of a burst while the piston 63 reciprocates back and forth within the cylinder 70 during the firing of each round. After the firing of a burst, the entire cylinder 70 and piston 63 assembly is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 17A to isolate the propellant from the hot barrel 43. Thus the liquid propellant within the injection mechanism is protected from the heat produced in the combustion chamber 57 prior to being injected therein. The gun 31, Fig. 1, comprises a barrel assembly 33, a receiver assembly 35 and a control assembly 37 and operates as follows: when the gun is placed in the armed position a main cam drive motor (not shown) is energized and hydraulic power is supplied through a line 191 Fig. 14B. If the trigger is in the "off" position, a breech lock 165 will be unlocked and a projectile loader lever 109, Fig. 14A, will be moved to the "up" position. Bolt 55, Fig. 14B, and injector yoke 61 are in the "rear" position. When a trigger solenoid 197 is moved to the "on" position, the hydraulic control system and main cam 49 will effect moving downwards of the lever 109, Fig. 14A, so that a projectile 105 is forced into a loading tray 111, Fig. 12, (b) the moving forwards of the bolt 55 so as to ram the projectile 105 into the combustion chamber 57, Fig. 17, when the bolt 55 is fully forward, the breech lock 165, Fig. 14B, is locked, (c) the moving forward of injector pistons 63, 65, Fig. 12, along with the bolt 55, inject a charge of fuel and acid through pre-combustion chamber 73, Fig. 3A, and then into the combustion chamber 57, (d) the sealing of injection ports 71, Fig. 3A, 72, Fig. 2A, by spark plug 79, (e) the supplying of electrical power to the plug 79, (f) the unlocking of the breech lock 165, Fig. 14B, (g) the moving of the projectile loader lever 109, Fig. 14A, to the "up" position, (h) the driving of the bolt 55, Fig. 12, and the injector pistons 63, 65 to the rear, propellant being passed through valves 75, Fig. 3A and 77, Fig. 2A so that the respective injector cylinders 69, 70 receive a charge of fuel and acid which will subsequently be injected into the firing chamber 57, and (j) the repeating of the firing cycle. In the event of a misfire the misfire detection mechanism 113, Fig 14A and shut down valve 223, Fig. 14B will shut off the hydraulic supply. The breech lock 165 will be locked, the projectile loader lever 109, Fig. 14A, will go to the "up" position, and the bolt 55, Fig. 12, and injector pistons 63, 65 will be forced to the forward position.