Gun barrel for firing spin-stabilized projectiles

Abstract

A gun barrel for locking spin-stabilized projectiles using a driving band and a sealing ring disposed behind the driving band, the gun barrel comprising a breach area, a rifled barrel part, and a transitional cone disposed between the breach area and the rifled barrel part. In order to achieve a reliable initial seal between the projectile and the profile of the rifled barrel part against hot propulsion charge gases, a smooth barrel section is disposed between the transitional cone connected to the breach area and the rifled barrel part, wherein the interior diameter of the smooth barrel section is greater than or equal to the exterior diameter of the driving band, but is approximately equal to the exterior diameter of the sealing ring, wherein the length of the smooth barrel section corresponds to at least the lengths of the driving band and the sealing ring of the projectile.

1 . A gun barrel configured for firing a spin-stabilized projectile, wherein the projectile has a drive band and a sealing ring that is arranged at a rear end of the projectile behind the drive band, wherein the gun barrel comprises:
 (a) a breach area;   (b) a rifled barrel part;   (c) a transitional cone that is arranged between the breach area and the rifled barrel part, wherein the transitional cone is adjacent to the breach area; and   (d) a smooth barrel section that is in the form of a smooth barrel, wherein the smooth barrel section is arranged between the rifled barrel part and the transitional cone, and the smooth barrel section has an internal diameter, wherein the internal diameter of the smooth barrel section is greater than or equal to an external diameter of the drive band of the projectile, but is approximately the same diameter as an external diameter of the sealing ring of the projectile to be fired from the gun barrel, and a length of the smooth barrel section corresponds at least to the combined length of the drive band and length of the sealing ring of the projectile.   
   
   
       2 . A gun barrel configured for firing a spin-stabilized projectile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the drive band and the sealing ring of the projectile are arranged directly one behind the other. 
   
   
       3 . A gun barrel configured for firing a spin-stabilized projectile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the drive band and the sealing ring of the projectile are arranged directly one behind the other, and are also integrally formed. 
   
   
       4 . A gun barrel configured for firing a spin-stabilized projectile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring is located in a separate groove in the projectile, and further behind the drive band. 
   
   
       5 . A gun barrel configured for firing a spin-stabilized projectile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the projectile is loaded in the gun barrel, the sealing ring of the projectile contacts the smooth barrel section of the gun barrel so that the smooth barrel section and the rifled barrel part of the gun barrel are reliably sealed against propulsion charge gases produced in the breach area of the gun barrel when a shot is fired. 
   
   
       6 . A gun barrel configured for firing a spin-stabilized projectile as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the projectile is loaded in the gun barrel, the sealing ring of the projectile contacts the smooth barrel section of the gun barrel so as to provide a complete initial seal between the breach area and the rifled barrel part of the gun barrel so that the riffled barrel part is reliably and completely sealed against propulsion charge gases produced in the breach area of the gun barrel when a shot is initially fired.