Hypervelocity cannon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690424-B2
Application number	US-201716088485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	Jul 25, 2016
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A modified projectile includes a projectile, a container, and a liquid propellant in the container. The container is detachably attached to the projectile.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modified projectile comprising:
a projectile disposed about an axis; and
a container and a liquid propellant in the container, the container being detachably attached to the projectile by a mechanical connector such that the container is detachable from, and reattachable to, the projectile without destruction of the container and projectile, the mechanical connector including a connector portion having circumferentially-spaced lugs that project radially inwardly and a mating connector portion having circumferentially-spaced flanges that project radially outwardly, the circumferentially-spaced flanges fitting through circumferential spaces between the circumferentially-spaced lugs to a position beyond the circumferentially-spaced lugs and then being rotatable to interlock and secure the projectile and container together.

2. The modified projectile as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an ignitor disposed at an aft end of the container.

3. The modified projectile as recited in claim 2 , wherein the ignitor has a delay fuse.

4. The modified projectile as recited in claim 1 , wherein the container abuts the projectile.

5. The modified projectile as recited in claim 1 , wherein the container is formed of a container body disposed about a central axis of the container, and the container body defines an interior cavity that contains the liquid propellant.

6. The modified projectile as recited in claim 5 , wherein the container body includes one or more radiused corners facing into the interior cavity.

7. The modified projectile as recited in claim 5 , wherein the container body includes a forward and aft sections, the forward section being proximal relative to the projectile and the aft section being distal relative to the projectile, and the aft section flares radially outward.

8. The modified projectile as recited in claim 5 , wherein the container body includes one or more break-away joints at which the container fractures upon pressurization from ignition of the liquid propellant.

9. The modified projectile as recited in claim 8 , wherein the one or more break-away joints includes one or more notches.

10. The modified projectile as recited in claim 9 , wherein the container is formed of plastic.

11. A cannon comprising:
a barrel; and
a modified projectile disposed in the barrel, the modified projectile including,
a projectile, and
a container and a liquid propellant in the container, the container being detachably attached to the projectile by a mechanical connector such that the container is detachable from, and reattachable to, the projectile without destruction of the container and projectile, the mechanical connector including a connector portion having circumferentially-spaced lugs that project radially inwardly and a mating connector portion having circumferentially-spaced flanges that project radially outwardly, the circumferentially-spaced flanges fitting through circumferential spaces between the circumferentially-spaced lugs to a position beyond the circumferentially-spaced lugs and then being rotatable to interlock and secure the projectile and container together.

12. The cannon as recited in claim 11 , wherein the barrel includes a bore that has a bore inside diameter, the container is formed of a container body disposed about a central axis of the container, the container body defines a container outside diameter, and the container outside diameter is equal to or greater than the bore inside diameter.

13. The cannon as recited in claim 11 , wherein the container is formed of a container body disposed about a central axis of the container, and the container body defines an interior cavity that holds the liquid propellant.

14. The cannon as recited in claim 13 , wherein the container body includes one or more break-away joints at which the container preferentially fractures upon pressurization from ignition of the liquid propellant.

15. The cannon as recited in claim 14 , wherein the one or more break-away joints includes one or more notches.

16. The cannon as recited in claim 11 , wherein the exterior of the container includes a lip projecting radially outwardly there from and extending circumferentially around the container.

17. The cannon as recited in claim 16 , wherein an outer diameter of the container taken at the lip is greater than an inner diameter of the barrel.

18. The modified projectile as recited in claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the container includes a lip projecting radially outwardly there from and extending circumferentially around the container.

19. A cannon comprising:
a barrel; and
a modified projectile disposed in the barrel, the modified projectile including,
a projectile, and
a container and a liquid propellant in the container, the container being detachably attached to the projectile with a mechanical connector, the mechanical connector including a connector portion having circumferentially-spaced lugs that project radially inwardly and a mating connector portion having circumferentially-spaced flanges that project radially outwardly, the circumferentially-spaced flanges fitting through circumferential spaces between the circumferentially-spaced lugs to a position beyond the circumferentially-spaced lugs and then being rotatable to interlock and secure the projectile and container together.

Assignees

• Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc

Inventors

• Bulman Melvin J

Classifications

• F42B5/105 Primary

  propelled by two propulsive charges, the rearwardly situated one being separated from the rest of the projectile during flight or in the barrel; Projectiles with self-ejecting cartridge cases · CPC title

• F42B14/08

  Sabots filled with propulsive charges; Removing sabots by combustion of pyrotechnic elements or by propulsive-gas pressure (arrangements on barrels for removing sabots from projectiles F41A21/46) · CPC title

• F41A1/04

  Missile propulsion using the combustion of a liquid, {loose powder} or gaseous fuel, e.g. hypergolic fuel · CPC title

• F41A1/02 Primary

  Hypervelocity missile propulsion using successive means for increasing the propulsive force, e.g. using successively initiated propellant charges arranged along the barrel length; Multistage missile propulsion · CPC title