Ordnance – Barrels – Recoil absorbers and climb arrestors
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-10-30
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Ordnance
Barrels
Recoil absorbers and climb arrestors
C089S014200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308608
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to land warfare and projectiles fired by artillery, tanks, etc., and more particularly to apparatus and methods for reducing or eliminating the large amounts of dust raised by firing such projectiles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently there are only tactical solutions to the obstruction of soldiers' views by dust raised by the firing of projectiles. For example, in the case of tanks, present tactical methods may require tanks to work in teams of two. This ensures that when one tank fires and becomes temporarily “blinded” by the raised dust from the firing of the projectile, the second tank is not allowed to fire so that its crew can act as “spotters” to provide retargeting information to the tank that fired.
Among the disadvantages of the prior art method is that at any given moment, a percentage of a combat force is not free to fire weapons so that they may maintain an unobstructed view. Retargeting information is less accurate when it comes from a different location than the firing weapon due to parallax. Moreover, during the daytime, dust raised by firing a projectile gives away the location of a hidden weapon to the enemy. The flatter the trajectory of the fired projectile the closer the barrel of the weapon will be to the ground, and, therefore, the more dust will be raised. This problem is exacerbated when a tank or cannon is hidden “hull down” behind a small hill or embankment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The mechanism by which dust is raised by the firing of a projectile is as follows: There are two ball-shaped shock waves that exit the barrel when a projectile is fired. The first shock wave is created as the air in the barrel is compressed by the front of the projectile as it travels hypersonically down the barrel. The second shock wave is created by the gases of the explosive charge that push the projectile out of the barrel. Both shock waves are believed to contribute to the problem of raising dust. However, the effect of the second shock wave is more intense than the effect of the first. The present invention provides a novel structure which deals with the effects of these two shock waves.
When high pressure gases exit the barrel, a generally spherical shock wave expands in all directions and parts of this “sphere” impact the ground and raise dust. The solution of the present invention is to reduce the pressure of the gases at the exit point of the barrel, thus weakening the shock waves' abilities to raise dust.
Throughout the specification the terms gun and weapon are used interchangeably.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for suppressing raising of dust as a result of firing a projectile from a barrel of a weapon, wherein the dust is raised by a shock wave exiting the barrel, the method comprising reducing an exit pressure of gases of an explosive charge exiting the barrel.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the reducing of the pressure is accomplished by releasing gas at sides of a barrel extension element that extends from an end of the barrel. This is preferably accomplished by forming at least one gas exit hole on a side of the barrel extension element.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a weapon including a barrel with a barrel bore formed therethrough, the barrel bore having a longitudinal axis, and a barrel extension element extending from and in fluid communication with the barrel bore, the barrel extension element having a barrel extension bore formed therethrough, wherein a plurality of gas exit holes are formed on sides of the barrel extension element, the gas exit holes being non-symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane which passes through the longitudinal axis.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a plurality of gas exit holes are formed on sides of the barrel extension element, the holes being symmetrically formed with respect to a vertical plane which passes through the longitudinal axis.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one gas exit hole is angled upwards relative to a horizontal plane which passes through the longitudinal axis.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one gas exit hole is formed above the longitudinal axis.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention possible damage to the barrel is avoided by making a gas pressure at a bottom portion of a bore of the barrel extension element smaller than a gas pressure at a top portion of the bore of the barrel extension element.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a weapon including a barrel with a barrel bore formed therethrough, the barrel bore having a longitudinal axis, and a barrel extension element extending from and in fluid communication with the barrel bore, the barrel extension element having a barrel extension bore formed therethrough, wherein “c
T
” is defined as a clearance between the bore and the barrel extension bore at a top point where the barrel extension element extends from the barrel bore, “&agr;
T
” is defined as an angle between the barrel extension bore and the longitudinal axis at a top portion of the barrel extension, “c
B
” is defined as a clearance between the barrel bore and the barrel extension bore at a bottom point where the barrel extension element extends from the barrel bore, “&agr;
B
” is defined as an angle between the barrel extension bore and the longitudinal axis at a bottom portion of the barrel extension, and wherein at least one of two conditions is met: c
B
>c
T
and &agr;
B
>&agr;
T
.
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Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Eldred J. Woodrow
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