Captive Piston Rocket-Assisted Projectile for Lightweight Launcher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-lethal weapons are often heavy, cumbersome, and lack the ability to quickly switch between non-lethal and lethal modes, compromising user safety and logistical efficiency, as they require large and heavy components like compressed gas tanks or complex reloading mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A captive piston driven rocket-assisted projectile system with a lightweight launcher that uses either mechanically or electrically initiated gas-generating propellant, allowing for compact, high-rate fire without the need for large logistical burdens, and can be easily mounted under or beside a conventional rifle, using projectiles that can be designed for either non-lethal or lethal applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional firearms use heavy metal barrels and cartridges with smokeless propellant, then the bullet can be propelled at high velocity, but the barrel becomes extremely heavy and unsuitable for light-weight non-lethal applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the heavy metal barrel and traditional cartridge casing from the system. Instead, it uses a lightweight polymer projectile with an integrated combustion chamber that contains the propellant burn, eliminating the need for a heavy barrel while maintaining propulsion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters from traditional metal construction to polymer materials for both the projectile and launcher components. This parameter change enables weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity and functional performance for non-lethal applications.
2Productivity
If non-lethal systems use compressed gas bottles and compressors, then rapid follow-up shots can be achieved, but the arrangement becomes heavy and requires large logistical burden
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the heavy compressed gas bottles and compressor components from the system. Instead, it uses a self-contained polymer projectile with an integrated combustion chamber that generates its own propellant gas, eliminating the need for external gas storage and compression equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs disposable polymer projectiles that contain their own propellant and combustion chamber. After use, the entire projectile is discarded, eliminating the need for complex reloading mechanisms and large gas storage systems, thereby reducing weight and logistical burden.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-lethal projectiles are designed to be blunt and large, then they can achieve non-lethal impact, but they become cumbersome to transport and fire
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the projectile parameters by using polymer materials that provide sufficient impact force for non-lethal applications while maintaining a compact size and lightweight construction. The integrated combustion chamber and propellant design enable effective propulsion without requiring large external structures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If weapons are designed to fire both non-lethal and lethal projectiles from the same launcher, then versatility is improved, but the readiness to respond with lethal force may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs dynamically adjustable projectile designs where the same launcher can accommodate different projectile types (non-lethal or lethal) based on mission requirements. The modular approach allows rapid configuration changes while maintaining operational readiness through standardized mounting and firing mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a compact, lightweight, and logistically efficient means to fire both non-lethal and lethal projectiles with high accuracy and rapid rate, maintaining rifle readiness and reducing logistical burdens by using a small number of moving parts and a lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
gas-generating propellant, allowing for compact, high-rate fire
Implementation Method 2
high temperature and high pressure gases that propel the bullet through the barrel
Implementation Method 3
captive piston driven rocket assisted projectile
Data Source
AI summary
A launcher system includes a launcher having a barrel adapted to receive a projectile with a charge of propellant and a magazine adapted to hold additional projectiles, with each projectile including a piston shiftably mounted for movement relative to a main body. When propellant in the projectile is ignited, either mechanically or electrically, the propellant forces the piston from a retracted position during a period of initial thrust and then the propellant exits through at least one vent hole to provide an additional thrust for the projectile upon the piston moving to a fully extended position and safely discharge pressure from within the projectile. The projectile may be fired at lethal or non-lethal velocities.