In a multiple projectile launcher system, cartridges are securely held within a cassette that can be loaded into a locking and priming mechanism in a base of a multiple projectile launcher. Once the cassette is loaded into the locking and priming mechanism, the cartridges in the cassette may be prim
In a multiple projectile launcher system, cartridges are securely held within a cassette that can be loaded into a locking and priming mechanism in a base of a multiple projectile launcher. Once the cassette is loaded into the locking and priming mechanism, the cartridges in the cassette may be primed by moving the locking and priming mechanism (which is holding the cassette) such that electric igniter contacts in the launcher base are in contact with electric igniters at the priming end of each cartridge. Once the cassette is locked (thereby priming the plural cartridges held in the cassette), the cartridges may be fired singly, severally, and/or all at the same time, using an electrically initiated fire control system. The multiple projectile launcher is particularly effective in crowd and/or riot control, where the payload of the cartridges comprise non-lethal and/or less-lethal munitions, such as tear gas grenades, sting-ball grenades, flash-bang rounds, bean bags, etc.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A multiple less-lethal projectile launcher comprising: a launcher base comprising: a first cassette bank having a first elevation and a first azimuth, comprising: a first movable cassette holding mechanism configured to receive a cassette of cartridges, said cassette comprisi
What is claimed is: 1. A multiple less-lethal projectile launcher comprising: a launcher base comprising: a first cassette bank having a first elevation and a first azimuth, comprising: a first movable cassette holding mechanism configured to receive a cassette of cartridges, said cassette comprising a substantially planar body having slots, wherein each slot is for holding a cartridge, and wherein each of said cartridges comprises an electric igniter, propellant, and a payload; and a first plurality of contact pads, wherein each contact pad comprises an electric igniter contact and corresponds to one of the slots in the cassette, and wherein the cartridges of a cassette loaded into the first movable cassette holding mechanism may be primed by moving said cassette such that the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads make electrical contact with the electric igniters of the cartridges; a second cassette bank having a second elevation and a second azimuth, wherein (i) said second elevation is different than said first elevation, and/or (ii) said second azimuth is different than said first azimuth, comprising: a second movable cassette holding mechanism configured to receive the cassette of cartridges; and a second plurality of contact pads, wherein each contact pad comprises an electric igniter contact and corresponds to one of the slots in the cassette, and wherein the cartridges of a cassette loaded into the second movable cassette holding mechanism may be primed by moving said cassette such that the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads make electrical contact with the electric igniters of the cartridges; wherein one or more cartridges primed in the first and/or second cassette bank may be fired by applying an electric charge to the electric igniters of said one or more cartridges through the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads of the first and/or second cassette bank; and whereby a plurality of payloads may be substantially simultaneously launched into two different areas. 2. The multiple projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second movable cassette holding mechanisms comprises: at least one guide rail for releasably engaging the cassette, wherein the cassette is loaded onto said launcher base by engaging said at least one guide rail. 3. The multiple projectile launcher of claim 2, wherein at least one lateral side of the cassette has a protruding lip. 4. The multiple projectile launcher of claim 3, wherein said at least one guide rail comprises: an inner track capable of engaging the protruding lip of the cassette, wherein the cassette is loaded into said each of the first and second movable cassette holding mechanisms by threading the protruding lip of the cassette onto the inner track of the at least one guide rail. 5. The multiple projectile launcher of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second movable cassette holding mechanisms comprises: a sliding mechanism for moving a cassette loaded into said movable cassette holding mechanism such that the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads make electrical contact with the electric igniters of the cartridges held in the cassette. 6. The multiple projectile launcher of claim 5, wherein motive power for moving the sliding mechanism is provided by an electric motor, an air piston, and/or a user of the multiple projectile launcher. 7. The multiple projectile launcher of claim 5, wherein each slot on a loading side of the cassette and each contact pad of each of the first and second cartridge banks are constructed such that, when the cassette is locked, at least a top portion of each contact pad is partially inserted inside the corresponding slot on the loading side of the cassette and in physical contact with a locking end of the cartridge in the corresponding slot. 8. A multiple projectile launcher system comprising: a plurality of cartridges, each cartridge comprising an electric igniter and a payload; a cassette comprising slots, wherein each slot is for holding one of said plural cartridges; and a launcher base comprising a movable cassette holder configured to receive said cassette of plural cartridges, and a plurality of contact pads, each contact pad comprising an electric igniter contact; wherein, after said cassette holding said plural cartridges is loaded into the movable cassette holder, the plural cartridges may be primed by moving said movable cassette holder holding said cassette such that the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads make electrical contact with the electric igniters of the plural cartridges; whereby said cartridges may be fired by applying an electric charge to the electric igniters of said cartridges through the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads of the launcher base; and whereby more than one cartridge may be discharged substantially simultaneously. 9. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein a payload of at least one of said plural cartridges comprises a less-lethal munition. 10. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein a payload of at least one of said plural cartridges comprises more than one munition. 11. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein each of said slots in said cassette releasably engages a cartridge whereby the cartridge may be (i) held in place in the cassette and/or (ii) disengaged from the cassette. 12. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein each of said plural cartridges is affixed within one of said slots in said cassette. 13. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein each of said plural cartridges comprises: a tubular substantially cylindrical case for containing said payload, said case having a launching end and a priming end, wherein said electric igniter is positioned at said priming end, and wherein an igniter center electrode is positioned with an interior end in contact with said electric igniter and an exterior end exposed on the outside of the priming end of the cartridge. 14. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 13, wherein each of said plural cartridges further comprises: an outer lip protruding from the outer circumference of the cartridge at the priming end. 15. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 14, wherein each of said slots in said cassette comprises a tapered inner surface wherein a diameter of the slot on a loading side of the cassette is larger than a diameter of the slot on a firing side of the cassette, whereby said tapered inner surface releasably engages the outer lip of the cartridge. 16. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 15, wherein said outer lip comprises: an O-ring securely positioned in an indentation formed around the outer circumference of the cartridge at the priming end, wherein said O-ring forms a friction seal with the tapered inner surface of the slot when said cartridge is inserted into said slot. 17. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 16, wherein said O-ring comprises rubber. 18. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 13, wherein the cassette is formed by holding the tubular cases of the plural cartridges in place while a material is molded around the priming ends of the cartridges whereby said material, once molded, comprises the cassette. 19. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 18, wherein the material comprises a polymer. 20. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 18, wherein propellant and payload are placed in said plural cartridges after said cassette has been formed. 21. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein each of said plural cartridges comprises: a case for containing said payload, said case having a launching end and a priming end, wherein said electric igniter is positioned at said priming end, and wherein an igniter center electrode is positioned with an interior end in contact with said electric igniter and an exterior end exposed on the outside of the priming end of the cartridge. 22. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 21, wherein said cassette comprises a substantially planar body. 23. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 22, wherein said plural cartridges are held in the cassette such that the launching ends of the cases of the plural cartridges are substantially parallel, whereby said payloads, when launched, will travel substantially similar and substantially parallel paths. 24. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 21, wherein the movable cassette holder comprises: at least one guide rail for releasably engaging the cassette, wherein the cassette is loaded onto said launcher base by engaging said at least one guide rail. 25. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 24, wherein at least one lateral side of the cassette has a protruding lip. 26. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 25, wherein said at least one guide rail comprises: an inner track capable of engaging the protruding lip of the cassette, wherein the cassette is loaded onto said launcher base by threading the protruding lip of the cassette onto the inner track of the at least one guide rail. 27. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 21, wherein each of the contact pads in the launcher base further comprises: an insulator surrounding the electric igniter contact; and a ground contact separated from the electric igniter contact by said insulator; wherein, when said plural cartridges are locked and primed, said ground contact is in contact with a remaining portion of the priming end of the cartridge in the slot corresponding to the contact pad. 28. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein said movable cassette holder further comprises: a sliding mechanism for moving said movable cassette holder such that the cassette is locked into position. 29. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 28, wherein the motive power for moving the sliding mechanism is provided by an electric motor, an air piston, and/or a user of the multiple projectile launcher system. 30. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 28, wherein, when in the locked position, said plural cartridges are primed. 31. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 30, wherein said plural cartridges are primed by moving the cassette such that the igniter center electrode at the priming end of each cartridge is in contact with the electric igniter contact in one of the contact pads of the launcher base. 32. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 28, wherein each slot on a loading side of the cassette and each contact pad of the launcher base are constructed such that, when the cassette is locked, at least a top portion of each contact pad is partially inserted inside the corresponding slot on the loading side of the cassette and in physical contact with the priming end of the cartridge in the corresponding slot, thereby making a substantially environment-impermeable seal. 33. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein the electric igniter contact in each of the contact pads of the launcher base is spring-loaded. 34. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, further comprising: a fire control system for supplying an electric charge to the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads of the launcher base whereby the firing of said plural cartridges may be controlled. 35. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 34, wherein the fire control system comprises: a fire control panel by which a user controls the fire control system. 36. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 35, wherein the fire control panel may be substantially physically separated from the launcher base and provide control signals over either a wire or a wireless connection. 37. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 36, wherein the fire control panel is hand-held, thereby allowing a user to control the firing of the multiple projectile launcher system while remaining mobile. 38. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein the movable cassette holder and the contact pads corresponding to the cartridges held in the cassette held in the movable cassette holder comprise a first cassette bank. 39. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 38, wherein the first cassette bank has a first at least one of an elevation and an azimuth relative to the launcher base. 40. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 39, said launcher base further comprising: a second cassette bank comprising a movable cassette holder and the contact pads corresponding to the cartridges held in a cassette held in the movable cassette holder; wherein said second cassette bank has a second at least one of an elevation and an azimuth relative to the launcher base different from the first at least one of an elevation and an azimuth relative to the launcher base. 41. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 38, wherein the first cassette bank is movable relative to the launcher base, whereby at least one of an elevation and an azimuth of the first cassette bank relative to the launcher base may be changed. 42. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 38, wherein the launcher base is movable relative to its surrounding environment, whereby at least one of an elevation and an azimuth of the first cassette bank relative to the surrounding environment may be changed. 43. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein the multiple projectile launcher is mounted to a vehicle. 44. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein the multiple projectile launcher is mounted to a building and/or emplacement. 45. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 44, wherein the multiple projectile launcher is mounted to an interior of the building and/or emplacement. 46. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein the multiple projectile launcher is mounted on a movable turret. 47. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 46, wherein the movable turret comprises a pan-and-tilt mount. 48. The multiple projectile launcher system of claim 8, wherein each cartridge further comprises a propellant. 49. A multiple projectile launcher comprising: a launcher base comprising: a movable cassette holding mechanism configured to receive a cassette of cartridges, said cassette comprising a substantially planar body having slots, wherein each slot is for holding a cartridge, and wherein each of said cartridges comprises an electric igniter and a payload; and a plurality of contact pads, wherein each contact pad comprises an electric igniter contact and corresponds to one of the slots in the cassette, and wherein the cartridges of a cassette loaded into the movable cassette holding mechanism may be primed by moving said cassette such that the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads make electrical contact with the electric igniters of the cartridges; wherein one or more cartridges primed in the cassette may be fired by applying an electric charge to the electric igniters of said one or more cartridges through the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads corresponding to said one or more cartridges; and whereby more than one cartridge may be discharged substantially simultaneously. 50. A modular system for launching multiple projectiles comprising: a plurality of multiple projectile launcher units, each multiple projectile launcher unit comprising: a movable cassette holding mechanism configured to receive a cassette of cartridges, said cassette comprising a substantially planar body having slots, wherein each slot is for holding a cartridge, and wherein each of said cartridges comprises an electric igniter and a payload; a plurality of contact pads, wherein each contact pad comprises an electric igniter contact and corresponds to one of the slots in the cassette, and wherein the cartridges of a cassette loaded into the movable cassette holding mechanism may be primed by moving said cassette such that the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads make electrical contact with the electric igniters of the cartridges; and a means for attaching to, and detaching from, other multiple projectile launcher units, whereby a larger multiple projectile launching device may be configured; wherein one or more cartridges primed in the cassette may be fired by applying an electric charge to the electric igniters of said one or more cartridges through the electric igniter contacts of the contact pads corresponding to said one or more cartridges; and whereby more than one cartridge may be discharged substantially simultaneously.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Carter William M. (Glendora CA) Klauschie Robert W. (Claremont CA) Schillreff George H. (Glendora CA), Decoy launcher system.
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Boudreau, David R.; Bovee, Stan; Matteson, Philip; Gaedke, Bruce; Borgwarth, Dennis, Multi-purpose missile launcher system for a military land vehicle.
Badura Wolfgang (Bad Reichenhall DEX) Watzinger Harald (Inzell DEX) Adamek Kurt (Bischofswiesen DEX), Projector assembly for a defensive projecting device.
Cox, Donald P; Knox, Robert W; Wall, Derek S; Stokes, Michael D; Smith, Darren C; Martin, Scott G; Holt, Michael J; Gaul, Bradley M, Payload deployment system and method.
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