Piston/rocket projectile with frangible casing

A projectile for use with a launcher system having a barrel comprising:

• a projectile body having a combustion chamber for propellant, a piston moveable to extend out a base of the projectile as a result of ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, and vents for expulsion of combustion products from the ignition of propellant out of the projectile base after initial movement of the piston, the vents being formed in part by walls of an inner surface of the projectile body and in part by an outer surface of the piston;
• and
• a casing secured to the base of the projectile body by a joint between the casing and the base of the projectile body, the casing enclosing the piston and vents prior to the ignition of propellant,
• wherein, upon ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, the piston extends such that the vents are exposed before the piston reaches the limit of its travel within the projectile body, whereupon combustion products of the ignition of propellant are expelled through the vents out of the lower end of the projectile.

A projectile for use with a launcher system having a barrel comprising:

• a projectile body formed of an electrically non-conductive material having a combustion chamber for propellant, the combustion chamber having a gel-type propellant therein and an electrode extending through the projectile body and into the combustion chamber for electrically igniting the gel-type propellant, a piston moveable to extend out a base of the projectile as a result of ignition of said gel-type propellant in the combustion chamber, and vents for expulsion of combustion products from the ignition of said gel-type propellant out of the projectile base after initial movement of the piston;
• a casing secured to the base of the projectile body enclosing the piston and vents prior to the ignition of the gel-type propellant;
• and
• a frangible joint between the casing and the base of the projectile body,
• wherein, upon ignition of the gel-type propellant by the electrode in the combustion chamber, the piston is forced against the casing and causes the joint to break, leaving the casing in the barrel such that after the piston completes exertion of propulsion force against the casing, combustion products of the ignition of the propellant are expelled through the vents out of the lower end of the projectile and solid combustion byproducts from the ignition of the propellant are collected in the casing.

A projectile for use with a launcher system having a barrel comprising:

• a projectile body formed of an electrically non-conductive material having a combustion chamber for propellant, the combustion chamber having a gel-type propellant therein and an electrode extending through the projectile body and into the combustion chamber for electrically igniting the gel-type propellant, a piston moveable to extend out a base of the projectile as a result of ignition of said gel-type propellant in the combustion chamber, and vents for expulsion of combustion products from the ignition of the gel-type propellant out of the projectile base after initial movement of the piston;
• a non-electrically conductive layer between the gel-type propellant and the end of the chamber opposite the piston, the non-electrically conductive layer covering at least a portion of a width of the combustion chamber, said non-electrically conductive layer having an opening therein through which extends the electrode;
• and
• an electrically conductive layer covering at least a portion of the width of the combustion chamber, said electrically conductive layer disposed between the non-electrically conductive layer and the gel-type propellant in electrical contact with an end of the electrode,
• wherein, upon ignition of the gel-type propellant by the electrode and electrically conductive layer in the combustion chamber, the piston is forced outward from the lower end of the projectile and subsequently combustion products of the ignition of the gel-type propellant are expelled through the vents out of the lower end of the projectile.