FIREARM OR REPEATING PYROTECHNIC MORTAR THAT ADVANCES CARTRIDGES FROM A MAGAZINE INTO A FIRING CHAMBER BY A CHEMICAL DETONATION OR STEAM EXPLOSION
A method of loading individual caseless cartridges sequentially into a firearm firing chamber by the expansive force of a small detonation in the magazine focused locally on the current top cartridge in a magazine without damaging remaining cartridges. Small individual propelling charges containing an igniter microchip located in the magazine behind each cartridge provides the loading thrust. More energetic charges containing igniter microchips are imbedded in the cartridges to fire the cartridge in the firing chamber at will.
This is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 12/321,820 “FIREARM OR REPEATING PYROTECHNIC MORTAR THAT ADVANCES LOADS FROM A MAGAZINE TO A RECEIVER BY A CHEMICAL DETONATION OR STEAM EXPLOSION”, filed on Jan. 26, 2009 Provisional Application No. 61/195,398 filed on Oct. 7 2008 by this inventor addresses explosively advancing cartridges from magazine into firing chamber.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSemi-automatic or automatic firearms commonly strip cartridges from a magazine and insert them to a firearm firing chamber manually, by mechanisms energized by recoil or by a gas piston moved by gases bled from the firearm barrel. Where cased cartridges are used, extraction of the casing is by elaboration of the same mechanisms. Pyrotechnic mortars with the notable exceptions of Roman candles and fountains are typically single shot and not automatically loaded. MEMS detonators developed at Georgia Tech and utilizing RFID technology are exemplary of igniter microchips referenced in this application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA method of loading individual caseless cartridges sequentially into a firearm firing chamber by the expansive force of a small detonation in the magazine focused locally on the current top cartridge in a magazine without damaging remaining cartridges. Small individual propelling charges containing an igniter microchip located in the magazine behind each cartridge provides the loading thrust. More energetic charges containing igniter microchips are imbedded in the cartridges to fire the cartridge in the firing chamber at will.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTIONObjects and advantages of the invention are:
- Objects and advantages of the invention are realized in a method of advancing caseless cartridges from a magazine into a firing chamber by means of a small explosion (a chemical or steam explosion) initiated electrically. Precisely applied small explosions drive nails, inflate air bags, and sever explosive bolts. Some advantages of explosive loading follow:
- Small explosions replace loading mechanisms, so moving parts are minimized.
- Rate of loading and firing can be increased by reducing mechanism inertia.
- A caseless cartridge eliminates the extraction cycle and lightens the ammunition burden.
A preferred firearm or repeating pyrotechnic mortar that loads individual caseless cartridges into a firing chamber by the expansive force of a small detonation in the magazine. In
The method (
The method (
The method (
The method (
The method (
Claims
1. A method of loading individual caseless cartridges into a firearm firing chamber by means of the expansive force of a small detonation on the rear of the foremost cartridge in a magazine as a means to propel that cartridge through a loading ramp into said firing chamber.
2. The method of claim 1 in which cartridges are stacked in a magazine with projectiles nearly touching, encased in propellant in a flattened configuration about the cylindrical projectile as a means to shorten the cartridge stack.
3. The method of claim 1 in which cartridges are in a magazine oriented parallel to the barrel with cartridges stacked at approximately a 45 degree angle to the barrel requiring them to rotate thru approximately another 45 degrees as they pass in a curvilinear path through said loading ramp to insert into the firing chamber.
4. The method of claim 1 in which said cartridges thrust by said expansive force with sufficient momentum as a means to wedge open a spring loaded biased closed breach block and pass into the firing chamber allowing the breach block to close behind the cartridge.
5. The method of claim 1 in which cartridges pass a spring loaded breach block previously opened by means of a pneumatic actuator actuated by propellant gas tapped from the barrel during the prior firing, whereupon the further passage of the cartridge trips a sear as a means to close the breach block.
6. The method of claim 1 in which end to end caseless cartridges sequentially thrust by small individual propelling charges from a magazine stack beside the barrel as a means to load them from the side into a side entry firing chamber.
7. The method of claim 1 in which end to end caseless cartridges thrust linearly, sequentially, by small individual propelling charges from a magazine stack in line behind the firing chamber as a means to load them into a rear entry firing chamber.
8. The method of claim 1 providing a firearm triggered by an encrypted electronic signal utilizing, for example RFID technology, transmitted by a trigger and firing impulse sender.
9. The method of claim 1 providing said firearm trigger and firing impulse sender located in various alternate ergonomic locations on the firearm.
10. The method of claim 1 providing a remote trigger and encrypted firing impulse sender located apart from the firearm;
- whereby only the person possessing said remote trigger can fire, said firearm; and
- thereby any motion at the remote trigger, has no affect on aim or accuracy of the firearm.
11. The method of claim 10, in which any fire arm of any design and manufacture meant to be carried and fired by hand, has the trigger thereon removed and replaced by a triggering actuator, triggered by an encrypted electronic signal transmitted by the remote trigger and firing impulse sender;
- whereby only the person possessing the remote trigger can fire, said firearm; and
- thereby any motion at the remote trigger, has no affect on aim or accuracy of the firearm.
12. A method utilizing the expansive force of a small detonation in a firearm magazine as a means of loading individual caseless cartridges into said firearm firing chamber.
13. The method of claim 12 in which said caseless cartridges are stacked in a magazine with cartridge propellent encasing but flattened about the projectile as a means to shorten the cartridge stack.
14. The method of claim 12 in which cartridges are stacked in a magazine at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the barrel as a means of requiring the cartridges to rotate only approximately another 45 degrees as they pass through a loading ramp to insert into the firing chamber.
15. The method of claim 12 in which said small detonation gives cartridges sufficient momentum as a means to force open a spring loaded breach block and pass into the firing chamber allowing the breach block to close behind the cartridge.
16. The method of claim 12 providing a spring loaded breach block opened by means of a pneumatic actuator actuated by propellant gas tapped from the barrel during previous firing,
- whereupon the passage of the cartridge trips a sear as a means to close the spring loaded breach block behind the cartridge.
17. The method of claim 12 in which end to end caseless cartridges sequentially thrust by small individual propelling charges from a magazine stack beside the barrel as a means to load them from the side into a side entry firing chamber.
18. The method of claim 12 in which end to end caseless cartridges thrust linearly, sequentially, by small individual propelling charges from a magazine stack in line behind the firing chamber as a means to load them into a rear entry firing chamber.
19. The method of claim 12 providing a firearm triggered by an encrypted electronic signal utilizing, for example RFID technology, transmitted by a trigger and firing impulse sender.
20. The method of claim 11 providing various alternate ergonomic locations on the firearm for said trigger and firing impulse sender.
21. The method of claim 11 providing a location disconnected from the firearm for an encrypted signal utilizing, for example RFID technology, from a remote trigger and firing impulse sender;
- thereby only the person possessing the remote trigger can fire, said firearm; and
- whereby any motion at the remote trigger, has no affect on aim or accuracy of the firearm.
22. The method of claim 21 providing that any fire arm of any design and manufacture meant to be carried and fired by hand, has the trigger thereon removed and replaced by a triggering actuator, triggered by said encrypted electronic signal transmitted by said remote trigger and firing impulse sender;
- thereby only the person possessing the remote trigger can fire, said firearm; and
- whereby any motion at the remote trigger, has no affect on aim or accuracy of the firearm.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 13, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 8, 2010
Inventor: James M. Powers (Ormond Beach, FL)
Application Number: 12/460,070
International Classification: F41A 19/58 (20060101); F41A 9/00 (20060101); F41A 9/61 (20060101);