초록 ▼

A weapon comprising a transportable pod having a plurality of barrel assemblies (10) of the type including a plurality of projectiles (11) arranged in-line within barrel (12). Each projectile (11) is associated with a discrete, selectively ignitable propellant charge (13) for propelling each project

A weapon comprising a transportable pod having a plurality of barrel assemblies (10) of the type including a plurality of projectiles (11) arranged in-line within barrel (12). Each projectile (11) is associated with a discrete, selectively ignitable propellant charge (13) for propelling each projectile (11) sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel (12). Each projectile (11) includes projectile body (22) which matter or objects may be transported. Projectiles (11) are arranged with one another and barrel (12) so as to prevent rearward travel of an ignited propellant charge to the trailing propellant charge. The pod can include a direction control means for selectively varying the relative alignment between barrel assembles (10) so as to selectively vary the relative delivered position of projectile (11) fired from different barrels (12). The weapon may be used for military or civilian applications.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A barrel assembly for mounting in a transportable pod, said barrel assembly having a plurality of projectiles arranged in-line in sealing engagement with a barrel, which plurality of projectiles are associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling individual ones o

1. A barrel assembly for mounting in a transportable pod, said barrel assembly having a plurality of projectiles arranged in-line in sealing engagement with a barrel, which plurality of projectiles are associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling individual ones of said plurality of projectiles sequentially through a muzzle of the barrel, wherein: each projectile includes a projectile body having a nose portion, and a separate trailing collar assembly captively mounted to the projectile body and, when arranged in the barrel, said trailing collar assembly extends rearwardly of the projectile body to wedge against the nose portion of a following projectile body to effect said sealing engagement with the barrel; anda swivel mount for supporting the barrel assembly in the transportable pod to enable variation in alignment of said barrel assembly relative to said transportable pod.2. The barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wedging configuration formed in the trailing end of the collar assembly is a wedge with a wedge-sealing angle less than or equal to 30° from an axis of the barrel.3. The barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collar assembly is mounted for limited axial movement relative to the projectile body and the leading end of the collar assembly is formed with an annular sealing face engageable with a trailing sealing face formed on the projectile body.4. The barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trailing sealing face and the annular sealing face are complementary part-conical sealing faces.5. The barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each projectile is associated with a high pressure propellant chamber exhausted to respective low pressure propulsion chambers formed between adjacent projectiles.6. The barrel assembly of claim 5 wherein the high pressure propellant chamber is formed integrally with the projectile body.7. A projectile firing apparatus including a plurality of barrel assemblies as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of barrel assemblies are arranged in the transportable pod whereby the barrels may be transported to and directed at a selected target, and wherein the transportable pod further includes:pod housing;support means for stably supporting the pod housing;the plurality of barrel assemblies supported in spaced relationship within said pod housing by respective swivel mounts; and direction control means for selectively varying the relative alignment between the barrel assemblies so as to selectively vary the relative delivered positions of projectiles fired from different barrels at the target.8. The projectile firing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the direction control means permits uniform pivoting of the barrel assemblies so that the inclination of the axes of the barrel assemblies relative to a pod axis may be selectively varied to enable a target position relative to the pod to be varied.9. The projectile firing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the direction control means permits individual pivoting of each barrel assembly so that the inclination of each barrel axis relative to said pod axis may be individually varied to enable said target position or individual target positions relative to the pod to be varied.10. The projectile firing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to9 wherein the direction control means permits a controlled splaying of said plurality of barrel assemblies.