# US 2014/0150683 A1 · Gas generators, launch tubes including gas generators and related systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150683 A1 - Document ID: US20140150683A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,040 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Alliant Techsystems Inc. - Applicants: Alliant Techsystems Inc. - Inventors: James D. Dunaway; Duane J. Garbe; William P. Sampson; Robert L. Hatch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150683A1 ## CPC - F42B 3/04: for producing gas under pressure {(generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26)} - F41A 1/04: Missile propulsion using the combustion of a liquid, {loose powder} or gaseous fuel, e.g. hypergolic fuel - F41F 3/04: for rockets - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) - F41A: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE - F41F: APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING PROJECTILES OR MISSILES FROM BARRELS, e.g. CANNONS (smallarms F41C); LAUNCHERS FOR ROCKETS OR TORPEDOES; HARPOON GUNS (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B) ## Abstract Gas generators may be utilized for launching a projectile. Launch tubes may include gas generators. Methods of launching a projectile may include utilizing gas generators to impart an initial velocity to a projectile. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas generator for use in launching a projectile, comprising: a housing having a longitudinal axis and configured to be positioned within a launch tube for a projectile, the housing comprising: a first plenum; a second plenum adjacent to the first plenum; a first plurality of apertures in the housing extending from the first plenum to the second plenum in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and a second plurality of apertures in the housing, the second plurality of apertures extending from the second plenum to an exterior portion of the housing in a second direction along the longitudinal axis of the housing; at least one propellant positioned within the first plenum of the housing; and an initiator for igniting the at least one propellant, the initiator positioned proximate to the at least one propellant in the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas generator of claim 1, wherein the first plenum is positioned at a central portion of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gas generator of claim 2, wherein the second plenum substantially surrounds the first plenum. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gas generator of claim 3, wherein the housing has a substantially cylindrical shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gas generator of claim 1, wherein the housing has an outer surface sized and configured to be positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the launch tube when the gas generator is disposed within the launch tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gas generator of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: an outer housing; and an inner housing disposed at least partially within the outer housing, wherein the first plenum is located within the inner housing, wherein the second plenum is located between the inner housing and the outer housing, and wherein the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures are located in the inner housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gas generator of claim 6, wherein the second plurality of apertures in the inner housing are located to form a ring of apertures about the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the gas generator is configured to form a plurality of propulsive jets exiting the gas generator through the second plurality of apertures in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing of the gas generator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gas generator of claim 1, wherein the gas generator is configured to form a plurality of propulsive jets exiting the gas generator through the second plurality of apertures in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing of the gas generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gas generator of claim 1, wherein a diameter of each of the first plurality of apertures is less than a diameter of each of the second plurality of apertures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gas generator of claim 1, further comprising a burst foil disposed between the at least one propellant and each aperture of the first plurality of apertures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The gas generator of claim 1, further comprising a shock attenuator positioned within the at least one propellant and disposed between the initiator and at least a portion of the at least one propellant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gas generator of claim 11, further comprising an explosive booster disposed between the initiator and at least a portion of the at least one propellant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A launch tube assembly, comprising: a tube containing at least one projectile; and the gas generator of claim 1 disposed within the tube adjacent the at least one projectile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The launch tube of claim 13, wherein the gas generator is configured to form a plurality of propulsive jets exiting the gas generator through the second plurality of apertures in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method of launching a projectile using the gas generator of claim 1 adjacent a projectile in a launch tube, the method comprising: providing the gas generator of claim 1; igniting the at least one propellant with the initiator; combusting at least a portion of the at least one propellant to form a gas; flowing the gas through the first plurality of apertures formed in the housing surrounding the first plenum in the first direction to the second plenum; and flowing the gas through the second plurality of apertures formed in the housing in the second direction to form a plurality of propulsive jets exiting from the housing; and imparting an initial velocity to the projectile with the plurality of propulsive jets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising retaining the gas in the first plenum with a burst foil until the gas reaches a predetermined pressure within the first plenum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising introducing the gas into the second plenum to reduce the pressure of the gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising reorienting flow of the gas from the first direction to the second direction that is transverse to the first direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the plurality of propulsive jets in a ring extending about a longitudinal axis of the housing of the gas generator at an exit portion of the gas generator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising dissipating a shockwave formed by actuation of the initiator with a shock attenuation device positioned within the at least one propellant.