Non-lethal munition system for shoulder launcher
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsMatthew J. Sanford, Gregory D. DuChane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-contained non-lethal munition system is provided for use with a shoulder launcher. A barrel is coupled to a breech end of the launcher and is coaxially aligned therewith. A solid sphere having a hardness in the range of approximately 50 durometer is pressure sealed in the barrel. Launch pressure is supplied aft of the sphere. The launch pressure must overcome the sphere's pressure seal with the barrel and propel the sphere with a kinetic energy of between approximately 135-220 Joules/cm2 for distances up to approximately 30 meters.
Claims20
A self-contained non-lethal munition system for use with a shoulder launcher having a launch tube, comprising:
- a barrel coupled to a breech end of the launch tube and coaxially aligned therewith;
- a solid sphere of a compressible material having a hardness in the range of approximately 50 durometer, said solid sphere positioned in said barrel and forming a pressure seal therewith;
- and
- means coupled to said barrel for on-demand generation of a launch pressure aft of said solid sphere, said launch pressure overcoming said pressure seal to propel said solid sphere through said barrel and the launch tube with a kinetic energy of between approximately 135-220 Joules/cm2 for distances up to approximately 30 meters.
A self-contained non-lethal munition system for use with a shoulder launcher having a launch tube, comprising:
- a constant caliber barrel;
- an outer casing disposed about and coupled to said barrel, said outer casing including means for rigid coupling to a breech end of the launch tube, wherein said outer casing coaxially aligns said barrel with the launch tube;
- a solid sphere of a compressible material having a hardness in the range of approximately 50 durometer, said solid sphere positioned in said barrel and forming a pressure seal therewith;
- and
- means coupled to said barrel for overcoming said pressure seal to propel said solid sphere through said barrel and the launch tube with a kinetic energy of between approximately 135-220 Joules/cm2 for distances up to approximately 30 meters.
A self-contained non-lethal munition system for use with a shoulder launcher having a launch tube, comprising:
- a constant caliber barrel;
- an outer casing disposed about and coupled to said barrel, said outer casing including means for rigid coupling to a breech end of the launch tube, wherein said outer casing coaxially aligns said barrel with the launch tube;
- a lacrosse ball positioned in said barrel and forming a pressure seal with said barrel;
- and
- means coupled to said barrel for overcoming said pressure seal to propel said lacrosse ball through said barrel and the launch tube with a kinetic energy of between approximately 135-220 Joules/cm2 for distances up to approximately 30 meters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.