Stacked projectile launcher and associate methods
AssigneeMetal Storm Limited
InventorDaniel William Green
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is a barrel insert for use with a barrel containing a plurality of axially stacked projectiles. The barrel insert has a proximal and a distal end, the distal end adapted to engage a proximally disposed projectile disposed in the barrel. The barrel insert also defines an expansion volume for propellant gases for launching the proximally disposed projectile at a predetermined velocity.
Claims19
A barrel insert for use with a barrel containing a plurality of axially stacked projectiles, the barrel insert comprising:
- a proximal end;
- and
- a distal end, the distal end adapted to engage a proximally disposed projectile of the plurality of axially stacked projectiles disposed in the barrel and including a wall across the distal end of the barrel insert, the barrel insert defining an expansion volume for propellant gases for launching the proximally disposed projectile at a predetermined velocity, wherein the expansion volume is in part defined by a proximal side of the wall.
A method of firing a plurality of axially stacked projectiles from a single barrel, each projectile associated with a discrete selectively ignitable propellant charge, the method including the steps of:
- stacking the projectiles axially in the barrel, the barrel and projectiles together defining discrete expansion volumes for each propellant charge,
- providing a volume behind a wall across the barrel behind the rearmost projectile in the barrel, said volume predetermined to be larger than the expansion volumes defined for the other projectiles to minimize muzzle velocity variation between the rearmost projectile and the other projectiles in the barrel;
- and
- firing the projectiles sequentially.
A method of configuring a stacked projectile launcher, the launcher having a barrel with a plurality of axially stacked projectiles, each projectile associated with a discrete selectively ignitable propellant charge, the barrel and projectiles together defining discrete expansion volumes for each propellant charge, said method including the step of providing a volume behind a wall across the barrel behind the rearmost projectile in the barrel, said volume predetermined to be proportional to the expansion volumes defined for the other projectiles to minimize muzzle velocity variation between the projectiles when each propellant charge is ignited.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.