Barrel insert and rear barrel section for weapons

Abstract

A barrel assembly ( 14 ) for insertion into a parent barrel ( 13 ) of a gun ( 10 ) wherein said barrel assembly has a plurality of projectiles ( 16 ) axially disposed within at least one barrel ( 15 a ) of said barrel assembly and associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the projectiles from said at least one barrel wherein said barrel assembly ( 14 ) includes a parent barrel engaging means. The barrel is suitably provided in a removable rear barrel section ( 15 a ) having engagement means ( 17, 18 ) for operatively aligning the rear barrel section with a forward barrel extension. Spare rear barrel sections ( 15 b , 15 c ) may be stored in a stock ( 11 ) of the gun ( 10 ) and automatically fed into alignment upon exhaustion of the projectiles ( 16 ) in the barrel.

1 . A barrel assembly for insertion into a parent barrel of a gun wherein said barrel assembly has a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within at least one barrel of said barrel assembly and associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the projectiles from said at least one barrel wherein said barrel assembly includes a parent barrel engaging means.  
     
     
         2 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the barrel assembly comprises a single barrel.  
     
     
         3 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the barrel assembly includes a cluster of barrels aligned whereby the cluster of barrels may be retained in a close packed array for insertion in the parent barrel.  
     
     
         4 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the barrel assembly includes a housing in which the barrels are retained.  
     
     
         5 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the housing is formed integrally with the barrels.  
     
     
         6 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the housing is formed separately to the barrels and the barrels inserted into the housing prior to the housing being inserted into the parent barrel.  
     
     
         7 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the housing is formed from a material of sufficient structural strength to effectively retain the barrels in alignment during firing but is not so hard and stiff that the parent barrel is damaged by the repeated insertion and withdrawal of the housing into and from the parent barrel.  
     
     
         8 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the insertion of the barrel assembly provides the gun with an electronic firing system.  
     
     
         9 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the barrel assembly may be inserted into the parent barrel from the muzzle and retained therein.  
     
     
         10 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the barrel assembly includes means for engaging with the bore of the parent barrel.  
     
     
         11 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the barrel assembly is arranged for insertion in two sections, including a forward barrel extension and a rear barrel section.  
     
     
         12 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the forward barrel section does not contain projectiles and may be inserted within the parent barrel towards the muzzle end of the parent barrel.  
     
     
         13 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 11  wherein a rear barrel section contains the projectiles and may be inserted into a rear section of the barrel and be engaged with the forward barrel section to form a complete barrel assembly with projectiles and firing means.  
     
     
         14 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the barrel assembly may be engaged with the bore of the parent barrel by a plurality of stand off sections or tabs that extend from the barrel assembly to form an interference fit within the bore of the parent barrel.  
     
     
         15 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 14  wherein the stand off sections have substantially the same diameter as the bore diameter of the parent barrel.  
     
     
         16 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 14  wherein the stand off sections may be constructed of either metal or an insulating material.  
     
     
         17 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the orientation of the barrel assembly is affixed by a key system located at the muzzle, breach or both of the parent barrel.  
     
     
         18 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 1  further incorporating an electronic firing system that is hard wired to a firing mechanism outside of the parent barrel.  
     
     
         19 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the firing mechanism fires the projectiles by way of signal wires entering a rear section of the parent barrel.  
     
     
         20 . A method for converting a gun having a barrel of a predetermined calibre to a gun of a smaller calibre, said method comprising the step of inserting a barrel assembly having a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within at least one barrel of said barrel assembly and associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the projectiles from said at least one barrel wherein said barrel assembly includes a parent barrel engaging means.  
     
     
         21 . A barrel assembly for loading a gun, said barrel assembly forming a rear barrel section for engagement with a barrel extension, wherein said barrel assembly has a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel of said barrel assembly and associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the projectiles from the barrel wherein said barrel assembly includes a barrel extension engaging means.  
     
     
         22 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 21  wherein the barrel extension engaging means is a chamfered leading section of the barrel assembly that engages a complementary surface on the barrel extension.  
     
     
         23 . The barrel assembly according to either  claim 21  or  claim 22  wherein the barrel assembly is urged forward to sealably engage the barrel extension.  
     
     
         24 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 21  wherein the barrel extension engaging means includes a stepped section that engages a corresponding stepped section in the barrel extension.  
     
     
         25 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 21  wherein the barrel assembly abuts the barrel extension.  
     
     
         26 . The barrel assembly according to any one of  claims 21  to  25  wherein a sleeve is provided over the interface between the barrel assembly and the barrel extension to assist in retaining the barrel assembly in alignment with the barrel extension.  
     
     
         27 . The barrel assembly according to any one of  claims 21  to  26  wherein the barrel assembly and barrel extension are suitably associated a locking system for releasably locking the barrel assembly to the barrel extension.  
     
     
         28 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 27  wherein the barrel assembly containing the projectiles has a lever attached to aid locating and locking the rear section of barrel with the barrel extension.  
     
     
         29 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 28  wherein the lever may be either folded to form a low profile along the barrel section to facilitate transport and storage of the barrel section, or the lever may be raised for locating and locking the rear section of barrel.  
     
     
         30 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 29  wherein a keyring arrangement is provided on the barrel assembly for orientating and locking the barrel section.  
     
     
         31 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 27  wherein the barrel assembly is arranged to be pushed into the barrel extension obliquely and then pushed down to be locked from behind by a spring loaded mechanical lock system.  
     
     
         32 . The barrel assembly according to  claim 31  wherein the mechanical lock system also acts as an ejection system for the spent barrel assembly.  
     
     
         33 . A gun having a forward barrel extension and a barrel assembly for loading the gun, said barrel assembly forming a rear barrel section for engagement with the barrel extension, wherein said barrel assembly has a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel and associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the projectiles from the barrel wherein said barrel assembly includes a barrel extension engaging means.  
     
     
         34 . A gun according to  claim 33  wherein one or more spare barrel assemblies containing projectiles may be housed on the gun.  
     
     
         35 . A gun according to  claim 34  configured such that, subsequent to the last projectile being fired from an operative engaged barrel assembly, the spent barrel assembly may be automatically ejected and a spare barrel assembly automatically pushed and locked into position ready for a new fire command.  
     
     
         36 . A method for loading a gun having a forward barrel extension, said method including the steps of engaging a barrel assembly including a plurality of projectiles with a barrel extension wherein said plurality of projectiles are axially disposed within a barrel of said barrel assembly and associated with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the projectiles from the barrel wherein said barrel assembly includes a barrel extension engaging means.