Projectile sealing arrangement
A projectile sealing arrangement for a barrel assembly of a weapon wherein a plurality of projectile assemblies ( 10 ) are axially disposed in abutting relationship within a barrel ( 20 ), each projectile assembly ( 10 ) including a body ( 11 ) associated with a discrete propellant charge ( 15 ); said sealing arrangement comprising rearward opening ( 13 ) communicating with cavity ( 14 ) provided in said projectile assembly ( 10 ) for retaining the discrete propellant charge ( 15 ) and a forward portion ( 16 ) of an abutting projectile arranged for operative sealing engagement with a complementary portion ( 17 ) of the rearward opening ( 13 ). The sealing arrangement suitably includes surface portions of complementary shapes such that, during application of a compressive load (L) to abutting projectile assemblies ( 10 ), discrete propellant charge ( 15 ) is scaled within the cavity ( 14 ). There is also disclosed and claimed a chain of individual projectiles connected head to tail by complementary spigot and socket members.
1. A projectile arrangement including at least two projectiles coupled together by a frangible coupling to form a chain, wherein each projectile has a head portion, a tail portion and a respective propellant charge, and wherein the frangible coupling includes a first retaining means disposed on the tail portion of the leading projectile engaged by a screw action with a second retaining means disposed on the head portion of the trailing projectile, wherein the first and second retaining means are threadably engaged.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the tail portion of the leading projectile and the head portion of the trailing projectile form a seal around the propellant charge of the leading projectile.
3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the seal includes an adhesive connection between the leading and trailing projectiles.
4. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the seal includes contact between complementary surfaces on the leading and trailing projectiles.
5. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining means include complementary spigot and socket.
6. An arrangement as in claim 5 wherein the spigot and socket are provided on the trailing and leading projectiles respectively.
7. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein either the first or second retaining means is frangible.
8. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the coupling is broken by combustion of the propellant charge in the leading projectile.
9. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the first retaining means includes a socket formed in the propellant charge.
10. A projectile for a chain of projectiles, having a head portion, a tail portion and a respective propellant charge, the tail portion having a first retaining means and the head portion having a second retaining means, wherein each of the first and second retaining means is able to engage corresponding retaining means on a trailing or leading projectile in a chain by a screw action to form respective frangible couplings, wherein the first and second retaining means are threaded.
11. A projectile according to claim 10 wherein the first and second retaining means includes a socket and a spigot.
12. A projectile according to claim 11 wherein either the spigot or the socket is frangible.
13. A projectile as in claim 10 wherein each coupling is frangible by virtue of combustion of the propellant charge in the leading projectile.
14. A projectile as in claim 10 wherein the first retaining means includes a socket formed in the propellant charge.
15. A projectile as in claim 10 wherein the tail portion includes a sealing surface which forms a seal with the trialing projectile.