WO2004097331A1

WO2004097331A1 - Canister for a weapon firing less than lethal projectiles

Info

Publication number: WO2004097331A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000555
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Michael O'dwyer; Sean Patrick O'dwyer
Original assignee: Metal Storm Limited
Priority date: 2003-05-02
Filing date: 2004-05-03
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Also published as: TW200506314A

Abstract

A canister containing multiple projectiles (23) for a weapon. On firing, the canister moves partway down the barrel (10) of the weapon and is limited by a stop (15). The projectiles (23) are then propelled from the canister towards the target. A closure or plug in the base of the canister may drive the projectiles (23) from the barrel (10) in addition to the momentum they gain through movement of the canister. The projectiles (23) are generally less-than-lethal 'stingers' and the weapon provides a relatively low impulse to the projectiles (23).

Description

CANISTER FOR A WEAPON FIRING LESS THAN LETHAL PROJECTILES

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates particularly but not only to containers for projectiles having less-than- lethal characteristics, such as those used as firearms by police for crowd control. A range of weapon systems that fire non-lethal projectiles or "stingers" are in existence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a canister for less-than-lethal projectiles and method of firing the canister from a weapon, or at least to provide an alternative to existing systems for non-lethal projectiles.

In one aspect the invention is a canister for use in a weapon having a barrel, including: a substantially cylindrical case having a breech end-and a muzzle end, adapted to fit within the barrel, the case containing multiple projectiles to be propelled from the weapon, a breech closure and a muzzle closure at respective ends of the case to retain the projectiles until the weapon is fired, and a shoulder extending outward at the breech end of the case to interact with a stop against movement of the case inside the barrel when the weapon is fired.

Preferably the breech closure is fitted within the breech end of the case and is forced through the case behind the projectiles when a propellant charge is ignited in the breech end of the barrel. Preferably the muzzle closure is fitted to the muzzle end of the case and is forced from the case ahead of the projectiles.

In further aspects the invention is a weapon for firing a canister as defined above, and a method of firing the weapon.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows the barrel of a weapon, Figure 2 shows a canister containing projectiles for the weapon,

Figure 3 is a cross section through the barrel loaded with the canister and a propellant charge,

Figure 4 is a cross section showing the canister shortly after the igniting the propellant change,

Figure 5 is a cross section showing projectiles leaving the canister, and

Figures 6A, 6B show a weapon having multiple barrels.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings it will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in many forms for a variety of weapons, typically but not necessarily firearms. Many features of these weapons, such as triggering and aiming mechanisms will be understood by a skilled reader and need not be described in detail.

Figure 1 shows the main part of a weapon having a barrel 10 with a breech 11 and a muzzle 12. The breech includes an ignition means 13 for a propellant charge, suitable for either a mechanical or electrical ignition system. The barrel may include longitudinal guides 14 to control sliding movement of a canister down the barrel, and a stop 15 which determines a limit for movement of canister along the guides. These components are preferably metallic but may be of any material suitable for relatively low impulse weapons of this general kind.

Figure 2 shows a canister for the barrel in Figure 1, with a case 20 having a breech end 21 and a muzzle end 22. The case is an elongate cylinder containing multiple projectiles 23. In this example, the projectiles are shown as spheres, stacked in line within the case. A range of different cases and projectiles could be provided for different purposes. For less- than-lethal weapons the projectiles are typically rubber spheres, and the case may be filled with liquid to reduce distortion of the spheres when the weapon is fired. The liquid may also be flammable to create a flash effect.

The canister in Figure 2 has a shoulder 24 towards the breech end, provided in this example as the edge of a base portion 25 of the case. The base portion fills the bore of the barrel and preferably contains a closure 26 that retains the projectiles at the breech end of the case. The shoulder of the base interacts with a stop in the barrel to limit movement of the canister in the barrel as mentioned above. The muzzle end of the canister contains a closure 27 that retains the projectiles within the case. Each closure is made of a suitably tough material, such as relatively dense rubber for the closure 26 and a relatively light frangible wad for the closure 27.

Figure 3 shows the canister of Figure 2 assembled in the barrel of Figure 1 with a propellant charge 30. Portion 25 of the canister is aligned with guides 14. The propellant is of any suitable kind able to be ignited by the ignition means 13, and may be attached to, or be provided as part of the canister, for example. The canister is typically loaded into the barrel through the breech end 11 , followed by the propellant. The canister and the barrel may be disposable, or the barrel may be adapted to be reloaded with fresh canisters.

Figure 4 shows the position of the canister in the barrel a short time after ignition of the propellant charge. The canister has been propelled down the barrel by combustion gases 40 and has reached the limit determined by interaction of shoulder 24 with the stop 15. The muzzle end of the canister is shown protruding from the muzzle of the barrel but will not necessarily do so in many weapons.

Figure 5 shows the state of the weapon shortly after the position reached by the canister in Figure 4. Closure 26 is driven through the base of the canister by the combustion gases and pushes the projectiles onwards through the case. Closure 27 is driven from the canister followed by the projectiles towards a target.

In an alternative embodiment the combustion gas leave the barrel through side vents in Figure 5, so that the closure 26 remains in place, and the projectiles are propelled from the canister with closure 27 by their own inertia.

Figures 6A and 6B show part of a weapon having multiple barrels forming a pod in a casing 60. The pod has a circular cross-section but may be provided in various forms depending on whether the weapon is hand-held or mounted, for example.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A canister for use in a weapon having a barrel, including: a substantially cylindrical case having a breech end and a muzzle end, adapted to fit within the barrel, the case containing multiple projectiles to be propelled from the weapon, a breech closure and a muzzle closure at respective ends of the case to retain the projectiles until the weapon is fired, and a shoulder extending outward at the breech end of the case to interact with a stop against movement of the case inside the barrel when the weapon is fired.

2. A canister according to claim 1 wherein the breech closure is fitted within the breech end of the case and is forced through the case behind the projectiles when a propellant charge is ignited in the breech end of the barrel.

3. A canister according to claim 1 wherein the muzzle closure is fitted to the muzzle end of the case and is forced from the case ahead of the projectiles when a propellant charge is ignited in the breech end of the barrel.

4. A canister according to claim 1 wherein the projectiles are a rubber material and the case is filled with liquid to reduce distortion of the material during firing.

5. A canister according to claim 1 wherein the shoulder of the case is adapted to move along guides inside the barrel after firing, until reaching a stop in the barrel.

6. A weapon including a canister as in claim 1 contained by a barrel having a stop that engages the shoulder of the canister as the canister moves down the barrel after the weapon is fired.

7. A method of firing projectiles from a weapon, including: loading a barrel of the weapon with a canister as in claim 1, igniting a propellant in the breech of the barrel behind the canister, moving the canister down the barrel in response to ignition of the propellant, stopping the canister partway down the barrel, and expelling the projectiles from the canister through the muzzle of the barrel.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the canister moves on guides in the bore of the barrel.