Title:
SILENT LAUNCH GUN FOR PROJECTILES
United States Patent 3837107
Abstract:
A silent launching system for projectiles having a launch tube with a bre to receive a special cartridge and a constricted muzzle and containing a sabot. The projectile, such as an arrow, is loaded tail-first into the muzzle to contact the sabot. When the cartridge is fired, the sabot and projectile accelerate toward the muzzle, where the sabot is arrested in the constriction and the projectile continues out the muzzle to the target. The arrested sabot traps the expanding gases within the launch tube, providing a flashless, smokeless, and noiseless launch.
Inventors:
Swaim, Frank H. (Silver Spring, MD)
Widmayer, Raymond S. (Laurel, MD)
Application Number:
05/291878
Publication Date:
09/24/1974
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Washington, DC)
Other Classes:
89/1.14, 89/14.6, 102/703
International Classes:
F42B29/00; F42B29/00; (IPC1-7): F41C19/04; F41F17/12
Primary Examiner:
Engle, Samuel W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Sciascia, Cooke Mcgiehan Donn R. S. J. A.
Claims:
We claim
1. A silent launching system for projectiles comprising:
2. The silent launching system of claim 1 wherein said barrel is removable from said housing and a threadably removable, centrally-perforated muzzle end cap is provided for retaining said barrel in the launching system.
3. The silent launching system of claim 2 wherein said sabot has a counterbore in said nose for concentrically and releasably receiving and end of a projectile.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to launchers, guns, propelling systems, ordnance and the like, and more particularly, to a flashless, smokeless, and noiseless propelling system for a projectile. The need for such a silent launcher is apparent when one considers the desirability of keeping the operator's whereabouts unknown. Clandestine sneak attacks on enemies, and even the hunting of dangerous wild game are but a few examples where the need to conceal the operator's location is important.
Alternatives to the use of an explosive charge to propel a projectile are obvious, and are the forerunners of the gun. The bow-and-arrow, probably the original propelling system, aside from lance throwing and slings, is powerful and accurate but is cumbersome to carry and use. The blow gun and dart system is accurate, but lacks power for many purposes. The crossbow, has extreme propulsive power and accuracy, but is also cumbersome to carry and to use.
The instant invention obviates the deficiencies of the ancient silent launch systems by providing a compact hand-held or rifle-attachable silent launch system using explosive generated gas propulsion in a closed chamber and barrel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a silent launch gun for projectiles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a launch gun that is smokeless, flashless, and noiseless.
A further object of the instant invention is to provide a launch gun the use of which does not disclose the operator's position.
A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a silent launch gun that is compact, readily carried through brush, and which may be hand-held or adapted to be rifle mounted for firing.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a silent launch gun using an explosive propellant charge in a sealed chamber.
Briefly, these and other objects of the present invention are attained by a short-barrel gun or launch tube having a breech to receive a special cartridge, a choked or constricted muzzle, and containing a sabot. A projectile, such as an arrow, rests on the sabot when loaded tail-first into the muzzle. The projectile may be a plain arrow, or carry explosives or incendiaries, or electronic surveillance equipment such as listening and radio transmitting devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A more complete understanding of the invention and the many attendant advantages thereto will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:
The FIGURE is an isometric view, partially cut away, showing the projectile launcher and a representative arrow projectile.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in the FIGURE a silent launch gun 10 having an arrow 12 partially inserted in the muzzle.
The silent launch gun 10 is made up of several major components, comprising a tubular housing 14, having an externally threaded muzzle 16 to receive a threaded end cap 18. End cap 18 has a center hole 20 to slidably accept a projectile 12. An O-ring seal 22 is contained in the cup-end of the end cap and is compressed against the muzzle end of a barrel 24 contained coaxially and pressed against a shoulder 26 within the tubular housing 14.
The breech end of the silent launch gun 10 contains a trigger and a firing pin assembly 28, a detailed discussion of which follows. A firing pin 30, is integrally formed as a cup-shaped plunger and slidably contained within a reduced diameter bore 32 of the tubular housing 14 and incidentally forms the shoulder 26. A striker 34 in the shape of a blunt-nose point is formed on the bottom outside of the cup-shaped plunger and coaxial with the plunger's slidable motion. Vent holes 36 surround the striker to preclude air pressure from slowing the firing pins 30 rate of travel. A spring 38, guided within the skirt of the firing pin 30, biases it toward the breech end of barrel 24 which contains an explosive cartridge 40 having a percussion primer 70. A spring seat pin 42 retains the spring at its other end and rests against a trigger 44 formed as a crosspin in a transverse bore 46.
The trigger 44 has a plurality of annular grooves, two of which contain O-ring seals 48. A pair of large diameter portions form the sear 50 of the trigger and thereby retain the firing pin 30 in the rearward position by residing in the round hole portions of a pair of key-holes 52 in the skirt of the cup-shaped firing pin plunger. Rearward of the round holes and intersecting therewith, are subtending a pair of slots 54 open at the edge of the skirt. These slots 54 are narrower than the diameter of the round hole portions, but are wider than annular grooves 56 on trigger 44, thus permitting free movement of the firing pin 30 when grooves 56 are aligned with slots 54.
The safety and arming mechanism comprises a bifurcated spacer 58 under the head of the trigger 44 retaining it in the retracted position shown. A pull pin 60, and its associated pull ring (not shown) fastens the bifurcated spacer to the trigger 44 retaining it under the head until it is desired to arm the launch gun.
Referring now to the details of the construction of the barrel 24, it has a constant diameter bore 64 except at the muzzle 16 where the barrel has a choked constriction diameter 66. At the breech end of barrel is the cartridge 40 threadingly engaged in the barrel 24. This cartridge comprises a percussion primer 70 and a black powder charge 72 sealed from the barrel by a flangible disk 74. Slidably contained within the barrel bore 64 is a sabot 76 having an O-ring seal 78 in an annular groove and in sliding sealing relationship with the bore 64. The sabot 76 has a long-taper ogive portion 80 and a concentric counter-bore 82 in the nose portion, the function of which will be explained hereinafter.
In operation, the silent launch gun 10 may be hand-held in the open, or the breech end pressed against a stump or the like to absorb recoil, or mounted on a rifle by any convenient fastening means (not shown). The safety and arming mechanism is activated as desired to ready the launch gun for firing by manually pulling the pull ring and therefore the pull pin 60. The bifurcated spacer 58 is then slid from under the head of the trigger 44, permitting it to be manually pushed inwardly. A projectile such as an arrow 12 is loaded tail first through the bore 20, the choke restriction 66 of the muzzle, down the barrel bore 64 and into contact in counter-bore 82 of sabot 76.
The launch gun is then aimed at the target along a sightline determined by experience, and fired by pressing the trigger 44. The inward movement of the trigger causes the large diameter sears 50 to slide a short distance through the round holes of the key-holes 52 aligning the adjacent annular grooves 56 on trigger 44 with the slots 54 of the key-holes 52. The firing pin 30 is thence freed to slide forward in its containing bore 32 biased by spring 38. The striker 34 strikes the percussion primer 70 of cartridge 40 and therefore initiates the black powder charge 72. The concomitant explosion and resulting gas expansion rapidly accelerates the sabot 76 and the contacting arrow projectile 12 toward the intended target. Along the barrel, the gases are sealed in by the O-ring 78 on the sabot. As the sabot 76 reaches the muzzle end 16, the long tapered ogive 80 engages the choke constriction 66 of the barrel rapidly decelerating the sabot to a stop, and the subsequent metal-to-metal interference fit positively seals the expanding gases in the barrel 24, and the arrow 12 continues toward the target by its own inertia. Thus a smokeless, flashless, silent launch of a projectile is accomplished which does not disclose the operator's position.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.