AU2002300810B2 - Projectile launching apparatus and method for rapid delivery of matter - Google Patents

Description

PROJECTILE LAUNCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RAPID DELIVERY OF MATTER TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for delivering loaded projectiles for civilian purposes.

The civilian purposes which may be embraced by this invention include, but are not limited to: seismic exploration utilising explosive signal generators in the form of projectiles launched from a site remote from the location to be explored; target specific fire fighting utilising projectiles containing fire retardant; launching projectiles containing matter or objects to be delivered rapidly to a site remote from the launch site, such as difficult to access sites for subsequent retrieval from a containment part of the projectile, and launching projectiles containing matter to be dispersed from the a projectile in flight above a target zone, such as dispersal of fire retardants or insecticides or other treatment.

This invention has particular application to launching projectiles from a barrel having a plurality of projectiles arranged in-line within the barrel and which are associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the projectiles sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel. Sealing engagement is provided between projectiles and barrel so as to prevent rearward travel of an ignited propellant charge to the trailing propellant charge. Such barrel assemblies will be referred to hereinafter as of the type described. Such barrel assemblies are illustrated in earlier International Patent Applications filed by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND ART Seismic exploration of the earth's strata is extensively used in oil prospecting, as well as for site investigation in building large scale structures and other civil engineering projects such as for determination of depth to bedrock, delineation of sand and gravel deposits and detection of water-bearing fracture zones and the like in land and marine operations.

The principles of seismic methods of geophysical exploration or mapping are well known. Initially explosive charges were placed to initiate shock waves in the earth's crust. In order to provide appropriate signals a plurality of spaced apart subterranean charges were utilised. While this method is effective the cost of drilling and placement of the charges, mostly in remote areas, is extremely high. On-surface charges have also been trailed, however this did not result in the formation of an effective signal.

In more recent times most seismic exploration has been carried out using a VIBROSEIS type method in which vehicle mounted mechanical vibration apparatus is utilised to instigate the necessary subterranean shock waves. The mechanical vibrating source intmroduces a definite band of frequencies into the earth. Because of the physical constraints placed on a large vibrating body it is understood that the disturbance produced is in the form of an oscillatory pulse of finite duration in which the frequency changes, substantially linearly with time.

Such systems may have means to vary the frequency of vibration and amplitude of the pulse but such variations are also limited by the mechanical constraints of the particular equipment utilised. The duration of a typical seismic pulse will generally not exceed a few seconds with frequencies within a frequency range between 15Hz and 90Hz and with increasing amplitude of the pulse during the event.

Use of these methods is limited to vehicle accessible areas. However seismic signals are provided which enable a more detailed interpretation of the earth's strata to be achieved than is achieved using explosive detonation to generate the seismic signal. However this method is difficult to employ in remote areas and its cost of utilisation in such remote areas is high. There are also significant constraints on the signal type which may be generated, especially utilising mechanical vibration apparatus which of necessity must be by extremely large machines.

In marine operations, the most widely used method of generating seismic signals is to use an air-gun which discharges highly compressed air into the water.

Target specific fire fighting, such as remote fighting a fire in an office of a high rise building has typically been performed by directing a water stream or fire retardant from an elevated platform supported by an extendable ladder. This has limitations imposed by the time required to target the fire and the ability to closely position a nozzle to direct and supply the water or retardant to the site of the fire.

Q\OprrALC\2OQ.y 2006\12277690 p n I pga PA 132 d-12/5l -3- Limitations in delivery of other matter to remote sites are generally well understood.

OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION This invention aims to alleviate at least one or more of the difficulties 00 Sassociated with presently available delivery or placement methods.

Further aims of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the Sfollowing description.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a method of rapidly delivering matter or objects to a remote site, said method including the steps of: providing a barrel assembly of the type described which is capable of firing a plurality of projectiles, each projectile having a containment for matter or objects to be delivered to the remote site; loading the containments with the matter or objects to be delivered; providing control means for aiming and controlling the rate of fire of projectiles and/or quantity of the projectiles fired; and firing the projectiles in a controlled manner from the barrel assembly to the remote site.

In a further aspect this invention resides broadly in a projectile launching apparatus for rapidly delivering matter or objects to a remote site, said apparatus including: a barrel assembly of the type described which is capable of firing a plurality of projectiles; each projectile having a containment for matter or objects to be delivered to the remote site, and opening means for opening said containment; and a control means for aiming and controlling the rate of fire of projectiles and/or quantity of the projectiles fired.

Q \OpCALC\2\MS .y 2(M\12277690 .v nu IPA 132do-12/05/A -4- INO Each containment may contain matter to be dispersed in-flight above the remote location, such as fire retardant or insecticide or other treatment. In such applications the containment may be opened explosively or the containment may contain chemical or mechanical extrusion means for forcing the matter through one or more rupturable 00oO Sopenings formed in the wall of the containment.

Alternatively the containment may be adapted to be recovered intact to enable Sthe contents to be recovered. For this purpose the containment may include a cover which is latched or screw connected to the main body of the projectile or otherwise adapted to be opened for recovery of the contents therefrom. Further the projectile may be adapted to deploy a parachute above the target zone for delivery of shock sensitive material from the containment.

The projectiles may be formed of biodegradable material to prevent long term accumulation of refuse at sites to which material is delivered by the method of this invention.

BRIEF DETAILS OF THE DRAWINGS In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate typical embodiments of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cut-away view illustrating a barrel assembly for launching load carrying projectiles according to one aspect of this invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a firing arrangement suitable for delivery of agricultural chemicals or seeds, or for fighting a fire according to another aspect of this invention; FIG. 3 illustrates a firefighting vehicle according to a further aspect of this invention; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the barrel pods of FIG. 3 in their inoperative travel mode; and FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cut-away view illustrating the arrangement of the projectiles in a single pod of barrel assemblies of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The barrel assembly 10 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 has multiple load carrying projectiles 11 loaded in a rifled barrel 12 to impart spin upon firing for activating the arming device. Arming of the projectiles for discharge of their load from the containment 21 or activating firing of the explosive material carried thereby can be selected by a spin count method or others means, separately or in combination for additional safety, and commonly used in 40mm grenades, including a flight-timing device.

In the above embodiment the propellant 13 in each high pressure chamber 14 is adapted to be ignited by electronically controlled ignition to expel high pressure gases through the trailing ports into the low pressure chamber 15 by a detonator 16 triggered through an electrical circuit which uses the projectile column as one part of the circuit, the barrel 12 being made of insulating material or so lined and with the circuit completed by an imbeded insulated wire 17 leading from the detonator 16 to a contact 18 on the projectile surface which is aligned when loaded, with a complementary contact 19 supported in the barrel 12.

Alignment of the contacts 18, 19 can be achieved in a barrel where the projectile is located by rifling grooves during the loading process. In a non rifled design, the use of a annular contact in the barrel wall can achieve a similar result.

For the purposes of seismic exploration, a cluster of barrel assemblies adapted to launch grenade like projectiles is contained in a pod 23 such that a selected number of near simultaneously exploding grenades, as illustrated at 22, may be fired to the site to be explored to create the seismic signal.

Suitably 40mm grenades are used as the projectiles because of their ready availability. The grenades are fired selectively by computer control from the pod 23 which is envisaged will contain ninety-eight barrel assemblies each containing stacked grenades and having selectively ignitable internal or external propellant charges. The grenades may be selectively fired to form a controlled impact array of exploding grenades on the zone to be investigated.

By way of example, using such a barrel assembly in a pod of ninety-eight barrels that would measure approximately 350mm x 700mm in cross section, with each barrel loaded with six projectiles, and with each projectile similar in size to a conventional 40mm military grenade, a barrel length of 900mm would be required and the assembly would provide a projectile capacity of five hundred and eighty-eight projectiles.

This configuration would be suitable for seismic applications requiring a short range such as for delivering projectiles from downwardly facing barrels. For longer range delivery fewer projectiles would be accommodated in each of such barrels or longer barrels would be used and more propellant would be utilised to achieve higher muzzle exit velocities. Other configuration may be used to suit the particular requirements.

The maximum rate of fire per barrel is expected to be as high as 20,000 projectiles per minute. Therefore, the maximum rate for the combined ninety-eight (98) barrels would be 1,960,000 projectiles per minute, assuming that all barrels are fired simultaneously at the maximum rate.

For a ninety-eight shot burst firing the leading round from each of the ninetyeight barrels, the rate is infinitely variable and which may be a ninety-eight shot burst fired at a rapid frequency.

The above ninety-eight barrel pod is one example of a range of performance specifications that could be available. Different performance specifications can be generated by altering the component parts of the pod. For example, a pod may be preloaded such that the nature and weight of the explosive projectile may vary between individual barrels in the pod.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the grenades are fired downwardly from a pair of such pods 23, only one of which is shown, carried by a helicopter 24.

Alternatively the grenades 22 could be fired from ground based pod to impact a safe distance away. The pod could be remotely operated for safety reasons if desired.

Conventional recording means would be activated to record the resultant seismic signals for analysis of the strata by known methods.

The fire fighting vehicle 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 has banks of pods 31 mounted on turret mountings 32 whereby each pod 31 may be selectively directed toward a desired target. As illustrated in FIG. 5 each pod 31 may contain 100 barrel assemblies 33 of the type described and such as is illustrated in FIG. 1 each loaded with six projectiles 34 having fire retardant in their containment portion 21.

The barrel assemblies 33 are suitably contained within an expandable housing 35 whereby their outer ends 36 may be opened to accommodate the barrel assemblies 33 when disposed in a splayed arrangement, as illustrated in FIG 3. To achieve splaying a camming plate (not illustrated) may be arranged for movement along the outer end portions of the barrel assemblies 33 which have their inner ends pivotally located in the base wall of the housing Firing the projectiles 34 from splayed barrel assemblies would result in a more general distribution of the projectiles over the target zone, such as may be required for extinguishing a fire in a crashed jet liner. On the other hand if the target is a window in a multistorey building the barrel assemblies 33 could be retained in a parallel relationship, as illustrated in FIG. 4, or in a slightly converging relationship and their projectiles 34 could be fired simultaneously in banks as desired for delivering the required treatment directly to the site of the fire.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGs 3 to 5, up to 7,200 projectiles could be delivered from the vehicle 30 into a high rise building in as little as 0.02 seconds. As the pods 31 can be aimed the vehicle need only be parked proximate the building for emergency delivery of its fire fighting projectiles 34 into the building. The vehicle incorporates a laser aiming system 37 for accurate aiming of the barrel assemblies 33 contained in the pods 31.

The barrel assemblies, pods of barrel assemblies and their mountings as illustrated in FIGs 1 to 5 could also be utilised in the other aspects of this invention, utilising the containment portion 21 of each projectile 11 for delivering explosive material for seismic exploration, fire retardant, pyrotechnics, herbicide, pesticide, fertiliser or seed for example.

8 It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined by the following claims.

Claims (17)

1. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the barrel assembly is one of a plurality of barrel assemblies supported on a vehicle.
2. 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vehicle is provided with aiming means that provides a visual indication of the aim of the barrel assemblies.
3. 4. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the step of loading the containments involves loading matter to be dispersed in-flight above the remote site for treatment of said site. The method as claimed in claim 4 including the further step of opening the containment explosively to effect dispersal of the matter loaded therein.
4. 6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the containment contains chemical or mechanical extrusion means for forcing the matter through one or more rupturable openings formed in a wall of the containment.
5. 7. The method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the remote site is on fire and the matter loaded into the containment is a fire retardant. Q %0pcALC006WM y 2036\227769O ms nm pago IPA 132do.2d10O5/
6. 8. The method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the remote INO site is infested with insects and the matter loaded into the containment is an insecticide.
7. 9. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the containment is adapted to be recovered intact to enable its contents to be recovered. oO Mc 10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the containment includes a cover that is attached to a wall of the containment, which cover is adapted to be opened for recovery of material or objects from the containment.
8. 11. The method as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the projectile is adapted to deploy a parachute above the remote site for delivery of shock sensitive material from the containment.
9. 12. The method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the projectiles are formed of biodegradable material.
10. 13. A projectile launching apparatus for rapidly delivering matter or objects to a remote site, said apparatus including: a barrel assembly of the type described which is capable of firing a plurality of projectiles; each projectile having a containment for matter or objects to be delivered to the remote site, and opening means for opening said containment; and a control means for aiming and controlling the rate of fire of projectiles and/or quantity of the projectiles fired.
11. 14. The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the barrel assembly includes a barrel with a rifled bore for imparting spin to the projectiles upon firing Q 1OpcrVLCX2(DWay 2006N12277690 nS au nm pagm IPA 112 docI2/05A) -11- The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in either claim 13 or claim ID14 wherein the opening means causes the containment to open explosively for effecting dispersal of the matter or objects loaded therein.
12. 16. The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to oO Swherein the opening means includes chemical or mechanical extrusion means within the containment for forcing the matter through one or more rupturable openings formed in a Swall of the containment.
13. 17. The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16 wherein the containment is adapted to be recovered intact to enable its contents to be recovered.
14. 18. The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the opening means includes a cover that is attached to a wall of the containment, which cover is adapted to be opened for recovery of the contents from the containment.
15. 19. The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in either claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the projectile is adapted to deploy a parachute above the remote site for delivery of shock sensitive material from the containment. The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in any-of claims 14 to 19 wherein the projectiles are formed of biodegradable material.
16. 21. The projectile launching apparatus as claimed in any of claims 13 to wherein the projectiles are disposed within the barrel for operative sealing engagement with the bore of the barrel.
17. 22. A method of rapidly delivering matter or objects to a remote site substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. Q \OpcrALC\2OM6.y 2006112277690 nsmu pgc IPA 132doc.I160510 0 -12- I\O 23. A projectile launching apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. O DATED this sixteenth day of May 2006. 00 SMetal Storm Limited by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE SPatent Attorneys for the Applicant