Ejectable Cartridge Laser Weapon System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas dynamic lasers are inefficient in producing light energy, prone to contamination from chemical reactions, and require extensive and costly maintenance due to soot and metal vapor byproducts, limiting their usability to a single firing before needing cleaning and replacement of components.

Innovation Solution

A laser weapon system utilizing an ejectable ammunition cartridge with a combustible gas mixture that produces a post-detonation gas flow, which is cooled and directed between mirrors to emit light energy, reducing heat emission and avoiding contamination issues by using the gas flow as the lasing media, allowing for repeated use without maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If chemical reactions between gases are used to produce light energy in gas dynamic lasers, then energy emission occurs, but the chemical reaction produces primarily heat energy instead of light energy, resulting in high inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight energy production efficiencyVSAvoidheat energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state and parameters of the gas mixture by cooling it after combustion. This parameter change transforms the hot combustion products into a medium that can lase, converting the previously wasted heat energy into useful light energy through stimulated emission in the cooled gas medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful hot combustion gases, which were previously just heat loss, into a beneficial lasing medium. By cooling the combustion products, the system transforms waste heat into a population inversion medium that produces coherent light, turning the chemical reaction's primary output (heat) into the desired output (light).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Use of energy by moving object

If metal oxides are combusted to produce heat and light energy, then energy emission occurs, but soot and metal vapor byproducts quickly contaminate mirrors and windows, limiting the laser to single use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy emissionVSAvoidcomponent contamination and reusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the combustion chamber and spent ammunition cartridge from the optical path after firing. This separation allows the optical components (mirrors and windows) to remain clean and uncontaminated, enabling repeated use of the laser system without maintenance or replacement of expensive optical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the system into separate functional modules: the combustion chamber containing the ammunition cartridge is separated from the optical chamber containing mirrors and windows. This segmentation isolates the contamination-generating combustion process from the contamination-sensitive optical components, allowing the optical components to be reused multiple times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Use of energy by moving object

If traditional gas dynamic lasers are used, then light energy can be produced, but extensive maintenance including removal, cleaning, and replacement of chamber components is required after single firing, which is time-intensive and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight energy productionVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a disposable ammunition cartridge containing the combustion chamber that is ejected after single use. This disposable component replaces the need for maintaining expensive, fragile optical components, significantly reducing maintenance time and costs while enabling rapid replacement and repeated operation of the laser system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 achieves a combustion reaction efficiency of 30% to 50%, producing a laser beam with approximately 5,000 Joules of energy and eliminating soot contamination, enabling multiple firings without component degradation or maintenance, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

combusting a gas disposed in a removable cartridge to form a post-detonation gas flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

cooling a portion of the post-detonation gas flow upstream of the first and second mirrors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

this release of energy can be defined as a stimulated emission from the photons contained within the heated gases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStimulated emission: Laser

Implementation Method 4

directing the post-detonation gas flow between a first mirror and a second mirror

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS8752465B2Laser weapon system and method

Publication Date: 2014.06.17 LMD APPLIED SCIENCE LLC

AI summary

A laser weapon system includes a chamber configured to direct a post-detonation gas flow between a first mirror and a second mirror, and an ejectable ammunition cartridge containing a first gas and a second gas. The cartridge is fluidly connected to the chamber.