Cook-off in aircraft guns

✍ Scribed by Gunther Cohn

• Book ID: 103084346
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1961
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 229 KB
• Volume: 271
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-0032(61)90033-3

✦ Synopsis

Cook-off is the explosion of ammunition caused by absorption of heat from its surroundings.

Whereas it was once a vexing problem in aircraft guns, it is now on the brink of control.

The solution: a new seal, called a ring seal, which seals the propellant gases effectively and prevents excessive heating of the gun.

,The Air Force constantly strives to have its fighter planes carry more rounds per mission and deliver them at higher rates of firing. When a rapid firing burst ceases, the live round, already in place for the next shot, will absorb heat from the chamber walls and transmit this heat to propellant and explosives.

Too high a temperature, for too long, for a given quantity of explosive will cause cook-off.

Cook-off is a serious accident that may damage not only the weapon but also aircraft and personnel.

Among its latest aircraft guns, the Air Force employs two high-rateof-fire 20 mm weapons.

The M39A2 (Fig.