EP2610574B1 - Small or medium caliber machine gun - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a small- or medium-caliber automatic cannon with a mounted in a weapon or cradle weapon barrel, the gun barrel of a mounted on the weapon mount or cradle and, taking into account the pipe return to the area immediately behind the mouth of the gun barrel extending pipe support is surrounded, which is formed as the weapon tube on all sides comprehensive tubular element whose inner diameter is larger by a predetermined amount than the outer diameter of the gun barrel, wherein between the inner wall of the tubular member and the outer wall of the barrel at least at the front end of the tubular element support elements are arranged, the fixed are connected to the tubular element and whose distance from the outer wall of the gun barrel is sized so that the unimpeded return of the gun barrel is guaranteed, but radial vibrations or bending of the barrel by means of Abstützelemen te counteracted.

In such machine guns, the problem arises that occur when shooting in the state or from the ride unwanted tube vibrations in terms of the gun barrel radial direction. These can influence the scattering of the weapon in the system. So far, attempts have been made to counteract the occurring radial tube vibrations by appropriate rigidity in the formation of the gun barrel. The problem is aggravated by the fact that, as a result of the use of intelligent ammunition, ever more complicated and heavier estuarial assemblies (muzzle brakes) have become necessary, some with electronic assemblies, for example Speed measurement and / or programming the ammunition were provided. Thus, the problems with the dispersion of the weapon by pipe vibrations accumulated.

In the FR 972 500 A is described a handgun with recoiling gun barrel. In the FR 596 175 A is a large-caliber weapon described with two-piece gun barrel, whose gun barrel is supported by ropes. The DE 707 201 C describes a gun with a tubular casing that surrounds the barrel and allows a return of the gun barrel.

The invention has for its object to provide a small- or medium caliber machine gun, in which the gun barrel is supported so that the radial amplitudes of the gun barrel occurring during firing are reduced as a result of pipe vibrations.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

A basic idea of the invention is to surround the weapon barrel with a pipe support which is guided to just behind the region of the mouth of the weapon barrel. This pipe support is firmly connected to the weapon mount or the cradle and performed so stiffened that it counteracts the occurring pipe vibrations. This is done via arranged in the pipe support support elements whose distance from the outer wall of the gun barrel is dimensioned so that an unobstructed return of the gun tube is guaranteed, but transmitted radial vibrations or bending of the gun barrel of these support elements on the pipe support and are collected by this.

When shooting without Rohrabstützung the gun barrel is set in vibration and it form local Schwingungsbäuche, where the vibration amplitude is increased compared to other locations of the gun barrel. The locations of the increased amplitudes are dependent on the characteristics of the weapon barrel, for example on the length, rigidity and material of the weapon barrel, which can be determined by simulation or by experiments. A particularly effective damping can be achieved if the support elements are arranged at the locations of the vibration amplitude, in particular the greatest oscillation amplitude, which is higher than other points.

The pipe support can be made in lightweight construction and the shaping can be such that a high rigidity is achieved. Due to the lightweight construction, a reasonable degree of imbalance can be achieved, so that in stabilized systems, the stabilization quality is not significantly adversely affected.

The pipe support is basically designed as a tubular element whose inner diameter is larger by a predetermined amount than the outer diameter of the gun barrel. The pipe element may have different cross sections. Thus, its inner cross section, for example, at least on one of the mouth of the gun barrel facing portion of its length circular, oval, elliptical or polygonal, for example, diamond-shaped, his. In the cross sections with different inner diameters, it has proved to be advantageous if the inner diameter in the elevation direction of the movement of the weapon barrel is greater than the inner diameter in the azimuth direction.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the tubular element with a circular inner cross-section has at least over part of its length a top piece, which may for example be arranged at the top of the tubular element and has a substantially V- or U-shaped cross-section and which is placed such that between Pipe element and attachment piece a continuous channel is formed. This top piece serves on the one hand to further stiffen the construction of the pipe support and also has the advantage that electrical leads can be passed through the formed as a continuous channel interior in a gun barrel with electrical components in the mouth of the gun barrel.

In the following, an exemplary embodiment of a weapon barrel of a small- or medium-caliber machine gun with a pipe support is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Fig. 1 in schematisierter Darstellung das Waffenrohr einer im übrigen nicht dargestellten Maschinenkanone in einer Ansicht von oben;
• Fig. 2 das Waffenrohr nach Fig. 1 in einer Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 3 das Waffenrohr nach Figuren 1 und 2 in einem Längsschnitt nach der Linie C-C in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 das Waffenrohr nach den Figuren 1 bis 3 in einer leicht verkleinerten perspektivischen Ansicht;
• Fig. 5 einen Querschnitt durch das Waffenrohr nach der Linie D-D in Fig. 3.

In the drawings show:

• Fig. 1 in a schematic representation of the gun barrel of a machine gun, not shown otherwise in a view from above;
• Fig. 2 the barrel after Fig. 1 in a side view;
• Fig. 3 the barrel after Figures 1 and 2 in a longitudinal section along the line CC in Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 4 the barrel after the FIGS. 1 to 3 in a slightly reduced perspective view;
• Fig. 5 a cross section through the barrel after the line DD in Fig. 3 ,

The FIGS. 1 to 5 show the barrel 1 of a machine gun, not shown otherwise, which is mounted in an only indicated weapon mount 2.
At the weapon mount 2, a pipe support is arranged, which has a tubular element 3, which is guided by the weapon barrel 1 to the area immediately behind the mouth 1.1 of the gun barrel 1 surrounding the barrel 1, with additional muzzle assemblies, such as a muzzle brake and electronic assemblies , may be provided, which are known per se and are not described in detail. The distance of the front end of the pipe element 3 from the mouth of the gun barrel is chosen so that the pipe return is taken into account and can go unhindered.

In the tubular element 3 supporting elements 5 are arranged at the front end. The arrangement is Fig. 5 to take more precisely. The support elements 4 are distributed on the circumference of the tubular element at an angular distance of about 120 ° and firmly connected to the tubular element 3. The distance between the support elements 4 of the outer wall of the gun barrel 1 is such that on the one hand unimpeded return of the gun barrel 1 under all conditions, including at elevated temperature is ensured, but received radial vibrations or bending of the gun barrel 1 of the support elements 4 and be transferred to the pipe element 3.

Investigations have shown that when shooting without pipe support at the point through which the section DD in Fig. 3 runs, the largest oscillation amplitude occurs. For this reason, the support elements 4 are arranged in the region of this point, so that an effective damping of the Oscillation with a low number and thus low additional weight of the supporting elements results.

As Fig. 3 can be seen, 3 more support elements 4 and 6 are distributed over the length of the tubular element. The tubular element 3 may have 1 different length over its length, depending on the thickness of the gun barrel. Thus, for example, in the rear thickened region 1.2 of the gun barrel, the inner diameter of the tubular element 3 is greater than at the front end and the support elements 6 are adjusted accordingly.

At the top of the tubular element 3, which has a circular cross-section at least in its front region, a top section 3.1 is arranged over part of its length, which, like Fig. 5 can be seen, has a substantially V-shaped or U-shaped, rounded cross-section and is welded with its free ends to the tubular element 3. This attachment 3.1 not only serves to further stiffen the pipe support, but its interior is a passage 3.2, through which electrical lines can be performed in a manner not shown, arranged in the mouth region 1.1 of the gun barrel, electronic components with signal and evaluation not shown connect. In the rear region of the tubular element 3, the pipe support is stiffened by a further attachment piece 3.3.

Like that Figures 2 and 4 can be seen, the walls of the tubular element 3 are provided with laterally disposed, extending in the longitudinal direction air passage slots 7.

Claims (9)

1. A small or medium bore machine cannon having a weapon tube which is mounted in a weapon holder or cradle, wherein the weapon tube (1) is surrounded by a tube support which is mounted on the weapon holder (2) or cradle and which, taking into account the return movement of the tube, extends into the region immediately behind the orifice (1.1) of the weapon tube (1), and which is constructed as a tube element (3) which surrounds the weapon tube (1) on all sides, the internal diameter of said tube element being a predetermined amount greater than the external diameter of the weapon tube (1), wherein a supporting element (5) is arranged between the inner wall of the tube element (3) and the outer wall of the weapon tube (1) at the front end of the tube element (3), which supporting element is fixedly connected to the tube element (3) and is at a spacing from the outer wall of the weapon tube (1) which is dimensioned such that the unimpeded return movement of the weapon tube (1) is ensured but radial oscillations or deflections of the weapon tube (1) are counteracted by the supporting element (5),
   characterised in that
   further such supporting elements (4, 6) are arranged along the length of the tube element (3), between the inner wall of the tube element (3) and the outer wall of the weapon tube (1).
2. A machine cannon according to Claim 1, characterised in that the internal cross-section of the tube element (3), at least over a partial section of its length which faces the orifice of the weapon tube (1), is circular.
3. A machine cannon according to Claim 1, characterised in that the internal cross-section of the tube element, at least over a partial section of its length which faces the orifice of the weapon tube, is oval or elliptical, wherein the internal diameter in the elevation direction of the movement of the weapon tube (1) is greater than in the azimuth direction.
4. A machine cannon according to Claim 1, characterised in that the internal cross-section of the tube element, at least over a partial section of its length which faces the orifice of the weapon tube and over at least part of its circumference, is polygonal, wherein the internal diameter in the elevation direction of the movement of the weapon tube is greater than in the azimuth direction.
5. A machine cannon according to Claim 2, characterised in that the tube element (3) with the circular internal cross-section has at least over part of its length an attachment (3.1) with a substantially V- or U-shaped cross-section, which is mounted and welded to the tube element (3) in such a way that a continuous channel (3.2) is formed between the tube element (3) and the attachment (3.1).
6. A machine cannon according to Claim 5, characterised in that the attachment (3.1) is arranged on the upper side of the tube element (3).
7. A machine cannon according to Claim 5 or 6, characterised in that, in the case of a weapon tube (1) with electronic components, electric leads are led through the continuous channel (3.2) in the region of the orifice (1.1) of the weapon tube (1).
8. A machine cannon according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the walls of the tube element (3) are provided with air-passage slots (7) over at least part of its length.
9. A machine cannon according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the supporting elements (4) are arranged at the point or points at which, without any tube support, there is a greater oscillation amplitude, in particular the greatest oscillation amplitude, by comparison with other points.

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