Ordnance – Accelerating
Patent
1988-06-16
1991-01-08
Bentley, Stephen C.
Ordnance
Accelerating
102523, F41F 100
Patent
active
049826476
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for supersonically accelerating a projectile in a thermally choked subsonic combustion mode. A projectile (50) is initially preaccelerated using either a tank (24) of compressed helium or a chemical propellant charge preaccelerator (152). The projectile enters a portion of a tube (22) filled with a combustible mixture (54) of a gaseous fuel and an oxidizer and is propelled by a ram acceleration process as the mixture burns. In several different embodiments, various devices are used to control the velocity of a shock wave generated as the projectile enters the combustible mixture and the dynamic impulse pressure immediately behind the projectile, so that the shock wave attaches to the projectile along an aft portion, thereby establishing a stable subsonic combustion zone along the aft end (64) of the projectile, in which combustion of the gaseous fuel accelerates the projectile down the bore of the tube. In one embodiment, a perforated sabot (52) is used to propel the projectile during preacceleration. The sabot has a plurality of passages (114) extending longitudinally between its front and rear surfaces, which are initially closed with a thin plate (110) during the preacceleration of the projectile. However, the plate is dislodged as the projectile enters the combustible mixture, allowing the dynamic pressure of the shock wave caused by the sabot to dissipate through the open passages.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4726279 (1988-02-01), Kepler et al.
Bruckner et al., "Ram Accelerator Direct Launch System for Space Cargo," 10/87.
Knowlen et al., "Performance Capabilities of the Ram Accelerator," 06/87.
Bruckner et al., "Investigation of Gasdynamic Phenomena Associated with the Ram Accelerator Concept," 06/87.
Hertzberg et al., "A New Chemical Method for Accelerating Projectiles to Ultrahigh Velocities," 11/86.
Hertzberg et al., "The Ram Accelerator: a New Chemical Method of Achieving Ultrahigh Velocities," 09/86.
Bogdanoff David W.
Bruckner Adam P.
Hertzberg Abraham
Knowlen Carl
Bentley Stephen C.
Washington Research Foundation
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