Self contained internal chamber for a projectile
First Claim
1. An unguided projectile comprising at least one internal high-pressure chamber configured to exhaust gas from the chamber based on a combustion reaction of propellant inside the chamber while the projectile is located inside a barrel,a plurality of exhaust outlets coupled to the at least one internal chamber, wherein the plurality of exhaust outlets comprises tangential nozzles that are radially spaced on an exterior surface of the projectile and towards a barrel wall to produce an internal chamber pressure that is greater than a barrel pressure based on the combustion reaction within the chamber and to provide rotational force to the projectile, wherein exhaust gas from the plurality of exhaust outlets is restricted against the barrel wall,wherein the internal chamber pressure is independent of the barrel pressure based on the configuration of the plurality of exhaust outlets,wherein substantially all of the propellant is combusted while the projectile is located inside the barrel.
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a projectile with a self-contained internal chamber. Reaction of propellant inside the internal chamber can generate high pressure and the resultant exhaust gases can be used for projectile linear acceleration, rotational acceleration or other purposes. Torque can be produced by exhausting the pressure via radially placed, tangential nozzles or other outlets and can be configured to induce sufficient projectile spin to stabilize the projectile without the need for barrel rifling. The internal chamber may be separate or integral to the projectile itself. The projectile may include two or more chambers or compartments internal to the chambers. The disclosed projectile allows for higher pressures in the internal chamber than in the barrel and greater flexibility on pressure manipulation in the barrel and the projectile, allowing for a more efficient propellant combustion and manipulation of projectile characteristics such as muzzle and rotational speeds.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An unguided projectile comprising at least one internal high-pressure chamber configured to exhaust gas from the chamber based on a combustion reaction of propellant inside the chamber while the projectile is located inside a barrel,
a plurality of exhaust outlets coupled to the at least one internal chamber, wherein the plurality of exhaust outlets comprises tangential nozzles that are radially spaced on an exterior surface of the projectile and towards a barrel wall to produce an internal chamber pressure that is greater than a barrel pressure based on the combustion reaction within the chamber and to provide rotational force to the projectile, wherein exhaust gas from the plurality of exhaust outlets is restricted against the barrel wall, wherein the internal chamber pressure is independent of the barrel pressure based on the configuration of the plurality of exhaust outlets, wherein substantially all of the propellant is combusted while the projectile is located inside the barrel.
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20. An unguided projectile comprising
at least one internal chamber; -
propellant disposed in the at least one internal chamber; a plurality of exhaust outlets coupled to the at least one internal chamber; a tail; and a nose, wherein the plurality of exhaust outlets is configured to exhaust gas from the at least one internal chamber based on a combustion reaction of propellant inside the chamber while the projectile is located inside a barrel, wherein the plurality of exhaust outlets comprises tangential nozzles that are radially spaced on an exterior surface of the projectile and towards a barrel wall to produce an internal chamber pressure that is greater than a barrel pressure based on the combustion reaction within the chamber and to provide rotational force to the projectile, wherein exhaust gas from the plurality of exhaust outlets is restricted against the barrel wall, wherein the internal chamber pressure is independent of the barrel pressure based on the configuration of the plurality of exhaust outlets, wherein substantially all of the propellant is combusted while the projectile is located inside the barrel. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A munition, comprising
a cartridge case; -
a projectile coupled to the cartridge case, wherein the projectile comprises at least a tail and a nose; a first chamber located within the cartridge case and behind the projectile; and a second chamber located within the projectile, wherein the second chamber is coupled to a plurality of exhaust outlets, wherein the plurality of exhaust outlets is configured to exhaust gas based on a combustion reaction of propellant inside the second chamber while the projectile is located inside a barrel, wherein the plurality of exhaust outlets comprises tangential nozzles that are radially spaced on an exterior surface of the projectile and towards a barrel wall to produce a second chamber pressure that is greater than a barrel pressure based on the combustion reaction within the second chamber and to provide rotational force to the projectile, wherein exhaust gas from the plurality of exhaust outlets is restricted against the barrel wall, wherein the second chamber pressure is independent of the barrel pressure based on the configuration of the plurality of exhaust outlets, wherein substantially all of the propellant is combusted while the projectile is located inside the barrel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification