초록 ▼

A projectile is initially accelerated to a supersonic velocity and then injected into a launch tube filled with a gaseous propellant. The projectile outer surface and launch tube inner surface form a ramjet having a diffuser, a combustion chamber and a nozzle. A catalytic coated flame holder project

A projectile is initially accelerated to a supersonic velocity and then injected into a launch tube filled with a gaseous propellant. The projectile outer surface and launch tube inner surface form a ramjet having a diffuser, a combustion chamber and a nozzle. A catalytic coated flame holder projecting from the projectile ignites the gaseous propellant in the combustion chamber thereby accelerating the projectile in a subsonic combustion mode zone. The projectile then enters an overdriven detonation wave launch tube zone wherein further projectile acceleration is achieved by a formed, controlled overdriven detonation wave capable of igniting the gaseous propellant in the combustion chamber. Ultrahigh velocity projectile accelerations are achieved in a launch tube layered detonation zone having an inner sleeve filled with hydrogen gas. An explosive, which is disposed in the annular zone between the inner sleeve and the launch tube, explodes responsive to an impinging shock wave emanating from the diffuser of the accelerating projectile thereby forcing the inner sleeve inward and imparting an acceleration to the projectile. For applications wherein solid or liquid high explosives are employed, the explosion thereof forces the inner sleeve inward, forming a throat behind the projectile. This throat chokes flow behind, thereby imparting an acceleration to the projectile.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for accelerating a projectile comprising: a launch tube having an inlet end and a muzzle end; a projectile disposed within said launch tube for acceleration from said inlet end to said muzzle end, said projectile and launch tube forming a ramjet; a combustible gaseous mixture contained wit

Apparatus for accelerating a projectile comprising: a launch tube having an inlet end and a muzzle end; a projectile disposed within said launch tube for acceleration from said inlet end to said muzzle end, said projectile and launch tube forming a ramjet; a combustible gaseous mixture contained within said launch tube; means for varying the density of said combustible gaseous mixture in a predetermined manner from the inlet end to the muzzle end of said launch tube to increase the speed of sound in a predetermined manner from the inlet end to the outlet end so that, as said projectile accelerates through said launch tube, the Mach number of said projectile is maintained within a predetermined range; and means for igniting said combustible gaseous mixture.