Abstract: A gun is provided having a housing, a main gun barrel, a combustion chamber, a liquid propellant pumping chamber, and valve means for providing a variable orifice injection port intercoupling said pumping and combustion chambers which includes means for controlling the rate of opening of the orifice during the period of injection.

Abstract: This invention provides an annular piston, annular control valve, liquid propellant gun system, having a dual angle injection mechanism to provide both bore and chamber gas requirements with a single injection control valve. The dual angle feature assures a stable combustion zone. A flexible lip on the projectile is used in conjunction with the dual angle injection mechanism to positively eliminate backflow of propellant through the injection mechanism during the ignition phase of the gun cycle.

Abstract: A projectile is accelerated to hypersonic velocity in an initially closed barrel of a diameter considerably larger than the projectile diameter which is filled with a compressed fuel-oxidizer mixture. The projectile comprises a conical nose portion, an intermediate portion formed to generate oblique detonation waves, and a tapering tail portion provided with several radial vanes. The projectile is propelled by an initiator gun at supersonic speed through one of the intitially closed ends in the barrel, were the detonation waves cause detonation and combustion of the fuel-oxidizer mixture. The detonation results in a high pressure increase to the rear of the projectile accelerating it along the barrel and shooting it at the reached hypersonic speed through the other, initially closed end of the barrel into the open.

Abstract: This invention provides a liquid propellant round of ammunition having a traveling charge which is ignited after both such charge and the projectile have received an initial forward acceleration.

Abstract: A feature of this invention is the provision in an annular piston, annular control valve, liquid propellant gun, of a check valve to permit liquid propellant under relatively low pressure to flow from the supply system into the combustion chamber and to preclude the pulse of pressure generated in the combustion chamber from feeding back to the supply system. This valve allows propellant to be removed automatically from the pumping chamber in the event of a misfire.Another feature of this invention is the provision in an annular piston, annular control valve, liquid propellant gun of a frangible stem which secures the projectile to the cartridge case. The stem breaks to release the projectile for travel down the gun bore when a predetermined level of combustion gas pressure has been developed in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a controlled increase in muzzle velocity of a projectile while reducing peak value of gas pressure inside a gun barrel. A cartridge includes an elongated body having a central bore divided into three chambers, with a fuel chamber separated from an oxidizer chamber and an elongated capillary chamber by a plurality of membranes. A fuse wire and a power supply vaporize a plasma base in the capillary chamber and provide a controlled jet to provide combustion between a second fuel in the fuel chamber and an oxidizer material in the oxidizer chamber. The power supply controls the fuel-oxidizer combustion rate to obtain a relatively steady pressure of long duration against the projectile which results in high projectile velocity with relatively low peak values of pressure in the gun barrel.

Abstract: This invention provides the provision of a liquid propellant gun system having a traveling charge which is ignited after both such charge and the projectile have been accelerated forwardly by a regenerative piston device.

Abstract: This invention provides the provision of a liquid propellant gun system having a traveling charge which is ignited after both such charge and the projectile have been accelerated forwardly.

Abstract: The controlled explosion projectile ejection system utilizes a source of combustible gas through a controllable input valve into a combustion chamber. Inside the combustion chamber is a sparking means. After the chamber is loaded or filled with gas, a spark control signal is applied to the sparking means and the gas ignites. At the output of the chamber is disposed a controllable output valve. In a simple embodiment, the output valve is simply a valve head biased against the output port of the chamber thereby inhibiting any gas flow from the chamber unless the pressure in the chamber exceeds the biasing force against the valve head. After ignition, the gas expands and the resulting pressure is much greater than the biasing force on the output valve head and the valve opens. Downstream of the output valve is a barrel with the projectile loaded therein. The expanding gas passes through the output valve and ejects the projectile from the barrel.

Abstract: A propulsion device uses an electrically driven plasma injector to feed combustible fuel into a chamber prefilled with an oxidizer. A reaction between the two constituents augments the electrical power input to produce amplified pressure for the acceleration of projectiles.

Abstract: A simple to manufacture high pressure rechargeable ammunition cartridge comprising a hollow pressure casing 20 providing a gas storage space 19 to hold compressed gas therein, with a discharge passage 25 in a front part of said casing said gas storage space; an actuation passage 24 extending into said casing from the rear; a valve opening 52 at a front end of said actuation passage, and a valve member which has a normal position wherein it closes said valve opening and blocks said discharge passage, and is movable bodily forwards as shown from said normal position to open both said valve opening and said discharge passage to allow gas to escape from the pressure casing directly through both of said passages to drive a missile. The valve member may be modified so as to be dischargeable from the cartridge and may form part of a missile.

Abstract: A two-stage gas launcher is disclosed wherein a low molecular weight gas such as hydrogen or helium is compressed to a high pressure within the bore of the launcher by a low mass, propellant-driven piston. A releasably restrained projectile is abruptly released so as to be launched from the bore at a high velocity by the pressure of the compressed low molecular weight gas.

Abstract: A bipropellant gun in which an immiscible hydrocarbon fuel and oxidizer are combined in the gun's combustion chamber just prior to, or simultaneous with, ignition thereof. The oxidizer consists of hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of less than 73 percent by weight. In one embodiment, the oxidizer alone is bulk loaded into the combustion chamber and a powdered solid hydrocarbon fuel is dispersed into the oxidizer by the function of a pyrotechnic igniter. In another embodiment, the oxidizer and a liquid hydrocarbon are emulsified and the emulsion is bulk loaded into the combustion chamber with a pyrotechnic igniter subsequently initiating combustion. In each embodiment, the volume of the combustion chamber exceeds the volume of fuel and oxidizer and provides a void or headspace of compressible gas which limits the rate of pressure rise in the chamber.

Abstract: A bullet is fired from an ammunition cartridge upon piercing a breakaway section in the rear wall of the cartridge to form a gas escape port. The cartridge has one open end in which is seated the bullet and the breakaway section of the rear wall is directly opposite the bullet. A moveable sealing element is adapted to move between two positions. One position seals off the opening in the one end, and the other position is displaced from the opening to allow gas to escape under pressure from the opening. Piston-type element, in response to the housing wall being pierced, stops the flow of gas from this escape port and moves the sealing element from the first to the second position.

Abstract: Air gun apparatus for firing missiles 11 including a gun and a replaceable cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a casing having a detachable hollow nose, a pressure cylinder slidably located in the casing, and a valve mechanism normally biased by a valve spring in the cylinder to close a gas discharge path from the interior of the cylinder to the hollow nose via a removable hollow valve abutment member. The valve mechanism is openable by forcible movement of the cylinder towards the hollow nose. The gun includes a seating at a breech end of a barrel, a breech, and a breech block assembly. A firing spring acts on an inertia member which is releasable by a trigger mechanism.

Abstract: A round of ammunition comprising a missile 10, retaining means 11 for holding the missile, and a cartridge 12; and the cartridge 12 is an assembly comprising a hollow casing 13 within an intermediate portion of which is a gas storage space 18 disposed between a hollow discharge (front) end portion 14 and a base (rear) end portion 20 of the casing, discharge valve means 30 and actuating means 60. The actuating means generally comprises servo-piston means 61, servo actuating means 62 and discharge valve actuating means 63 arranged so that the means 62 is responsive to being struck by a firing pin 43 of a gun to allow the piston means 61 to utilize energy from compressed gas stored in the space to open the discharge valve means, and thus release the gas to expel the missile 10 from the retaining means.

Abstract: This invention concerns an improved round for use in liquid propellant gu The improved round comprises a projectile attached to a carrier which is shaped like an abbreviated cartridge case. The carrier has a plurality of injection ports that communicate to an expandable volume. Sealing means prevent the escape of liquid propellant from the expandable volume which upon injection causes the projectile to be pumped to a forcing cone leaving the carrier behind. Several ignition means are used employing Boxer, Berdan or electric primers.

Abstract: A round of ammunition uses both a solid propellant and an oxygen-rich, lid monopropellant. The liquid propellant is held within a plastic container within the conventional case.

Abstract: A fuze for the firing of a projectile from a gun barrel comprises a breech piece threaded onto the rear end of the barrel and defining therewith a cylindrical chamber for a charge of liquid propellant to be tangentially introduced upon insertion into the barrel of the projectile to be fired. A pyrotechnical detonator is carried on the aft end of the projectile and extends rearwardly therefrom into the chamber when the projectile is thus emplaced, with the injected propellant circulating around it. The projectile is discharged upon ignition of the detonator by a firing pin. The pin is guided in a plunger surrounded by a retractable sleeve which serves to position the shell in the barrel by engaging an area of its aft end surrounding the detonator.

Abstract: A mixture of aqueous nitric acid (about 90 volume percent HNO.sub.3 and 10 volume percent H.sub.2 O) and Decalin are used as a propellant for a liquid propellant gun.

Abstract: A cleaning device for firearms having a firing pin and a barrel with a shell chamber, in which a casing contains several barrel cleaning layers consisting of an abrasive, solvent, wiper and lubricant layers. A propellant is disposed in the casing in close proximity to the firing pin which activates the propellant to propel the cleaning layers through the barrel. The propellant may be a cartridge containing CO.sub.2, having a neck and cap in close proximity to the firing pin which strikes and ruptures the cap to release the CO.sub.2 and drive the cleaning layers through the barrel. A soft fabric may be disposed around the cartridge, and may be impregnated with lubricant for treating the barrel after the cleaning layers have passed therethrough.