Wake stabilized supersonic combustion ram cannon
US4726279A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1986 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41A1/04
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A supersonic combustion ram cannon (1) includes a conical projectile (8) with a flat base (9) which produces a subsonic wake (12) as it flies through a barrel (2). The projectile is configured to avoid a normal shock, relying instead on supersonic compression, combustion and gas expansion. The supersonic combustion of a fuel-oxidizer mixture around the tail of the subsonic wake, pressurizes the wake and drives the projectile forward. By utilizing wake stabilized supersonic combustion, the compression and combustion pressures can be matched to the limiting barrel working pressure, thereby providing for optimum thrust and maximum projectile acceleration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.