Multivalve hypervelocity launcher (MHL)

Projectile launcher barrel apparatus comprising:

• an inner barrel having an inner barrel chamber having proximal and distal ends;
• a projectile in the inner barrel chamber;
• an outer casing surrounding the inner barrel;
• an axial gas chamber surrounding the inner barrel between the inner barrel and the outer casing;
• plural spaced pressure-activated valves connected between the axial gas chamber and the inner barrel chamber, the valves sequentially opening from pressure behind the projectile and admitting pressurized gas from the axial gas chamber to the inner barrel chamber and accelerating the projectile through the inner barrel toward the distal end, further comprising internal supports extending between the inner barrel and the outer casing and having openings in the supports permitting pressure front travel along the axial gas chamber from near the bulkhead at the proximal end toward the bulkhead at the distal end.

Projectile launcher barrel apparatus comprising:

• an inner barrel having an inner barrel chamber having proximal and distal ends;
• a projectile in the inner barrel chamber;
• an outer casing surrounding the inner barrel;
• an axial gas chamber surrounding the inner barrel between the inner barrel and the outer casing;
• plural spaced pressure-activated valves connected between the axial gas chamber and the inner barrel chamber, the valves sequentially opening from pressure behind the projectile and admitting pressurized gas from the axial gas chamber to the inner barrel chamber and accelerating the projectile through the inner barrel toward the distal end, a pressurized gas storage chamber and a storage chamber valve between the pressurized gas storage chamber and the axial gas chamber for storing pressurized gas in the pressurized gas storage chamber and supplying the pressurized gas from the pressurized gas storage chamber to the axial gas chamber, further comprising an igniter in the pressurized gas storage chamber for igniting and combusting gas in the pressurized gas storage chamber prior to supplying the pressurized gas from the pressurized gas storage chamber to the axial gas chamber.

The method of projectile launching comprising:

• providing an inner barrel having breech and muzzle ends;
• providing an inner barrel chamber in the inner barrel;
• providing a projectile in the inner barrel chamber near the breech end of the inner barrel;
• providing an outer casing surrounding the inner barrel;
• providing an axial gas chamber between the inner barrel and the outer casing;
• providing supporting interconnections between the inner barrel and the outer casing;
• evacuating the inner barrel chamber near the muzzle end;
• providing series of pressure-activated valves along the inner barrel;
• driving the projectile from the breech end and toward the muzzle end;
• providing pressurized gas in the axial gas chamber;
• sequentially opening the valves with force differentials from pressure and area differentials of inner barrel chamber lower pressures applied to relatively large areas and axial gas chamber higher pressures applied to smaller areas;
• flowing pressurized gas from the axial gas chamber through open valves into the inner barrel chamber behind the projectile as the projectile moves from the breech end to the muzzle end;
• closing the valves with springs;
• and accelerating the projectile from the breech end through the inner barrel chamber and outward through the muzzle end.