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US 2022/0057165 A1Published application
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
An apparatus comprising:
- a barrel comprising a bore and a plurality of heaters positioned along a length of the barrel and configured to maintain a surface of the bore at a temperature above 700° K;
- a first chamber configured to position a projectile relative to the barrel;
- a second chamber configured to direct a pressurized light gas behind the projectile for movement from the first chamber and acceleration through the bore;
- and
- a gas supply, coupled to the second chamber via a valve, containing a supply of the light gas, and wherein the light gas comprises one or more of hydrogen or helium.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a barrel comprising a bore and a plurality of heaters positioned along a length of the barrel, wherein the plurality of heaters are configured to create a continuously increasing temperature gradient in which portions of a surface of the bore nearer an exit of the barrel than an entrance of the barrel are heated to temperatures that are higher than temperatures to which portions of the surface of the bore, nearer the entrance of the barrel than the exit of the barrel, are heated;
- a first chamber configured to position a projectile relative to the barrel;
- a second chamber configured to direct a pressurized light gas behind the projectile for movement from the first chamber and acceleration through the bore;
- and
- a gas supply, coupled to the second chamber via a valve, containing a supply of the light gas, and wherein the light gas comprises one or more of hydrogen or helium.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.