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US 11,920,888 B2Granted
Projectile accelerator with heatable barrel
AssigneeScience Applications International Corporation
InventorGary David Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for accelerating projectiles at high velocity. A barrel may include one or more heaters configured to heat a bore of the barrel prior to launch of a projectile. The barrel bore may be formed in a tungsten sleeve and may be heated to high temperatures. Heat from the barrel bore may be transferred to expanding propellant behind a projectile as it travels through the barrel bore.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a barrel comprising a bore and one or more controllable heaters configured to heat a surface of the bore;
- a first chamber configured to position a projectile relative to the barrel, wherein the first chamber is connected to a first purge gas channel and to a second purge gas channel;
- a first valve openable to allow flow of purge gas into the first chamber via the first purge gas channel and closeable to prevent flow of purge gas into the first chamber via the first purge gas channel;
- a second valve openable to allow flow of purge gas out of the first chamber via the second purge gas channel and closeable to prevent flow of purge gas out of the first chamber via the second purge gas channel;
- and
- a second chamber configured to direct a pressurized light gas behind the projectile for movement from the first chamber and acceleration through the bore.
3 more elements
A method comprising heating, using one or more controllable heaters, a surface of a bore of a barrel;
- placing a projectile in a first chamber;
- adding a light gas to a second chamber behind the first chamber;
- opening first and second valves to purge, with a purge gas, the first chamber;
- closing, after the opening of the first and second valves, the first and second valves;
- compressing, after the closing of the first and second valves, the light gas added to the second chamber;
- and
- propelling, using the compressed light gas, the projectile through the bore.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.