US 4,729,319 A · Controlled explosion projectile ejection system

Abstract

The controlled explosion projectile ejection system utilizes a source of combustible gas through a controllable input valve into a combustion chamber. Inside the combustion chamber is a sparking means. After the chamber is loaded or filled with gas, a spark control signal is applied to the sparking means and the gas ignites. At the output of the chamber is disposed a controllable output valve. In a simple embodiment, the output valve is simply a valve head biased against the output port of the chamber thereby inhibiting any gas flow from the chamber unless the pressure in the chamber exceeds the biasing force against the valve head. After ignition, the gas expands and the resulting pressure is much greater than the biasing force on the output valve head and the valve opens. Downstream of the output valve is a barrel with the projectile loaded therein. The expanding gas passes through the output valve and ejects the projectile from the barrel.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A controlled explosion projectile ejection system utilizing a source of combustible gas and ejecting a projectile based upon an input command signal from a generator, the system comprising:

a combustion chamber means having a gas input port and a gas output port;
a controllable sparking means for receiving said input command signal and producing a spark inside said chamber means;
a one-way input valve intermediate said source of combustible gas and said gas input port controlling the amount of combustible gas passing therethrough into said chamber means;
a barrel means, within which is disposed said projectile, attached to said chamber means at said gas output port;
a cooling jacket about said chamber means having passages through which pass a freon gas coolant;
and,
wherein a controlled amount of said combustible gas is fed into said chamber means via said input valve, said combustible gas explodes by said spark from said sparking means based upon said input command signal and due to the expansion of said combustible gas, said projectile is ejected from said barrel means.

4 more elements

A controlled explosion projectile ejection system utilizing a source of combustible gas and ejecting a projectile based upon an input command signal from a generator, the system comprising:

a combustion chamber means having a gas input port and a gas output port;
a controllable sparking means for receiving said input command signal and producing a spark inside said chamber means;
an input valve intermediate said source of combustible gas and said gas input port controlling the amount of combustible gas passing therethrough;
a barrel means, within which is disposed said projectile, attached to said chamber means at said gas output port;
an output valve intermediately disposed between said output port and said barrel means, said output valve being biased closed by a biasing means towards said output port;
a controllable locking mechanism that maintains said output valve in a closed position until an unlock control signal is applied to said locking mechanism;
a pressure sensor having access to the inside of said chamber means and generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure in said chamber means, and an output valve controller receiving said pressure signal and generating an unlock control signal when said pressure signal exceeds a threshold value;
wherein a controlled amount of said combustible gas is fed into said chamber means via said input valve, said combustible gas explodes by said spark from said sparking means based upon said input command signal and due to the expansion of said combustible gas, said projectile is ejected from said barrel means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Controlled explosion projectile ejection system

Life of this patent

Controlled explosion projectile ejection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20