초록 ▼

A weapon system includes a gun barrel and a vibration absorber fitted onto a free end of the gun barrel. The vibration absorber includes a compliant energy storage device, such as a spring, and a mass secured to the energy storage device. The potential energy stored in the spring and the kinetic ene

A weapon system includes a gun barrel and a vibration absorber fitted onto a free end of the gun barrel. The vibration absorber includes a compliant energy storage device, such as a spring, and a mass secured to the energy storage device. The potential energy stored in the spring and the kinetic energy stored in the mass inertia are dissipated in part as friction, and re-introduced in part to the gun barrel such that the re-introduced energy is out of phase relative to the gun barrel motion. As a result, the vibration absorber does not totally dissipate the stored energy, but rather reshapes the receptance of the gun system so as to significantly reduce the vibration energy that migrates into the gun structure from known disturbances. This improves the overall accuracy of the gun system. In addition, the vibration absorber reduces the load between the gun barrel and the projectile during launch, thereby reducing the gun barrel muzzle wear and the exit yaw rate of the projectile.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A weapon system comprising:a gun barrel;a breech;a mount fixture;a vibration absorber fitted onto a free end of said gun barrel, said vibration absorber including an energy storage device and a mass secured to said energy storage device;a bore evacuator mounted on said gu

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A weapon system comprising:a gun barrel;a breech;a mount fixture;a vibration absorber fitted onto a free end of said gun barrel, said vibration absorber including an energy storage device and a mass secured to said energy storage device;a bore evacuator mounted on said gun barrel, at a predetermined distance from said mount fixture; andwherein when said gun barrel is in motion, said energy storage device stores potential energy which is a function of a relative displacement between said gun barrel and a displacement of said vibration absorber from its datum position, while kinetic energy is stored in the inertia of said mass; andwherein said stored potential energy and kinetic energy are re-introduced at least in part to said gun barrel in an out of phase relation relative to the gun barrel motion, for reshaping a receptance of the weapon system, so as to reduce vibration energy; andwherein said breech enables a round of ammunition to be loaded into the gun barrel, and further enables pressure within said gun barrel to be contained during firing; andsaid mass includes a forward thermal shroud secured on one side of said bore evacuator, said forward thermal shroud being secured between said bore evacuator and said vibration absorber, and wherein said energy storage device includes a dynamically tunable spring collar which is fixedly secured to one end of said forward thermal shroud, and wherein said vibration absorber includes at least one spring housed within said spring collar; anda rear thermal shroud secured on an opposite side of said bore evacuator from said forward thermal shroud.