Caseless projectile and launching system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9500420-B2
Application number	US-201214367517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2012
Priority date	Dec 20, 2011
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A launcher system includes a launcher having a barrel adapted to receive a projectile and a charge of propellant and a velocity variator configured to shift relative to barrel to selectively vary a launch velocity of projectile from launcher. The velocity variator may be constituted by a collar selectively controlling the propellant gases vented out of projectile and into barrel and/or a sliding breech face behind which is an energy-absorbing plug.

First claim

We claim:

1. A launcher system comprising:
a projectile including:
a main body having at least one vent hole, and
a charge provided in the main body; and

a launcher including:
a barrel adapted to receive the projectile;
a velocity variator configured to shift relative to the barrel to selectively vary a launch velocity of the projectile from the launcher;
a sealed breech; and
a mechanism for activating the projectile,
wherein said barrel includes a vent hole or a cavity and said velocity variator is constituted by a collar formed with a passageway being mounted on the barrel whereby, when the mechanism activates the projectile and the charge is initiated, gas is created which exits the main body through the at least one vent hole to provide thrust for the projectile, and the collar is selectively movable from a non-venting position blocking the gas from exiting the vent hole or cavity to a venting position allowing the gas to pass from the barrel through the vent hole or cavity in the barrel into the passageway formed in the collar and to atmosphere whereby movement of the collar controls the launch velocity of the projectile.

2. The launcher system of claim 1 , wherein the barrel includes the vent hole, and wherein the collar is rotatable about the barrel from the venting position to the non-venting position so as to cover the vent hole in a progressive manner to provide continuous variable control of the launch velocity.

3. The launcher system of claim 1 , wherein the barrel includes the cavity, and wherein the collar is slidable relative to the barrel between the venting position and the non-venting position so as to cover the cavity in a progressive manner to provide continuous variable control of the launch velocity.

4. The launcher system of claim 1 , wherein the barrel includes a groove that aligns with the passageway when the collar is in the venting position, said groove being slanted to control how fast the gas passes from the barrel.

5. The launcher system of claim 1 , further comprising: a handle extending from the collar for selectively moving the collar from the venting position to the non-venting position.

6. The launcher system of claim 1 , wherein the velocity variator is constituted, at least in part, by a portion of the breech which is configured to slide relative to the barrel when the launcher is fired to vary the launch velocity of the projectile from the launcher.

7. The launcher system of claim 6 , further comprising an energy absorbing plug located behind the portion of the breech.

8. The launcher system of claim 7 , further comprising a bolt formed with an internal bore, the portion of the breech and the energy absorbing plug being located in the internal bore.

9. The launcher system of claim 8 , further comprising an adjustable plug located in the internal bore, with the adjustable plug being configured to apply a preload to the energy absorbing plug.

10. The launcher of claim 8 , further comprising a detent connected to the portion of the breech, wherein the bolt includes a slot and said detent is movable in the slot from a locked position, preventing the portion of the breech from moving, to an unlocked position, allowing the portion of the breech to move in order to reduce the launch velocity of the projectile.

11. The launcher of claim 10 , wherein the portion of the breech includes a breech face configured to be aligned with a piston located in the projectile, whereby additional energy is imparted to the projectile when the detent is in the locked position and more energy is absorbed by the energy absorbing plug when the detent is in the unlocked position.

12. The launcher of claim 11 , wherein the energy absorbing plug is made of urethane.

13. The launcher of claim 11 , wherein the energy absorbing plug is constituted by a coil spring.

14. A method of varying a launch velocity for a projectile fired from a barrel of a launcher that has a breech comprising:
a) initiating a charge provided in a main body of the projectile to generate charge gas, venting the charge gas through at least one vent hole in the main body to provide thrust for the projectile, and shifting a collar from a non-venting position blocking the charge gas from exiting a vent hole or a cavity provided in the barrel to a venting position allowing the gas to pass from the barrel through the vent hole or cavity into a passageway formed in the collar and to atmosphere, so as to slow the launch velocity of the projectile from the launcher; or
b) sliding a portion of the breech relative to the barrel when the launcher is fired to reduce the launch velocity of the projectile from the launcher; or
c) both a) and b).

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the barrel includes the vent hole, and wherein shifting the collar includes rotating the collar about the barrel between the venting position and the non-venting position so as to cover the vent hole in a progressive manner to provide continuous variable control of the launch velocity.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the barrel includes the cavity, and wherein shifting the collar includes sliding the collar relative to the barrel between the venting position and the non-venting position so as to cover the cavity in a progressive manner to provide continuous variable control of the launch velocity.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein shifting the collar includes aligning a groove of the barrel with the passageway when the collar is in the venting position.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein shifting the collar includes manually moving the collar between the non-venting and venting positions with a handle extending from the collar.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein sliding the portion of the breech includes moving a detent in a slot provided in a bolt formed with an internal bore from a locked position preventing the portion of the breech from moving, to an unlocked position, allowing the portion of the breech to slide relative to the barrel in order to reduce the launch velocity of the projectile.

20. A launcher system comprising:
a projectile including:
a main body having at least one vent hole, and
a charge provided in the main body; and

a launcher including:
a barrel adapted to receive the projectile;
a sealed breech; and
a velocity variator configured to shift relative to the barrel to selectively vary a launch velocity of the projectile from the launcher, wherein the velocity variator is constituted, at least in part, by a portion of the breech which is configured to slide relative to the barrel when the launcher is fired to vary the launch velocity of the projectile from the launcher.

Assignees

• Battelle Memorial Institute

Inventors

• Widder Jeffrey M
• Perhala Christopher A
• Rascoe James R

Classifications

• F42B5/184

  telescopic · CPC title

• F41A21/28

  Gas-expansion chambers; Barrels provided with gas-relieving ports (F41A1/06, F41A13/08 {and F41A21/36} take precedence) · CPC title

• F42B15/10

  Missiles having a trajectory only in the air · CPC title

• F42B15/00

  Self-propelled projectiles or missiles, e.g. rockets; Guided missiles (F42B10/00, F42B12/00, F42B14/00 take precedence; for practice or training F42B8/12; rocket torpedoes F42B17/00; marine torpedoes F42B19/00; cosmonautic vehicles B64G; jet-propulsion plants F02K) · CPC title

• F41A1/06 Primary

  Adjusting the range without varying elevation angle or propellant charge data, e.g. by venting a part of the propulsive charge gases, or by adjusting the capacity of the cartridge or combustion chamber {(adjusting the range by using gas-relieving ports in the barrel F41A21/28)} · CPC title