Ram Accelerator Sweeper Baffles Stabilize Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ram accelerators face challenges in stabilizing the system for high velocity gains due to the cylindrical shoulder of the projectile, leading to unstart mechanisms and limited operational Mach number.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sweeper baffles along the axial length of the projectile bore in the ram accelerator, which sweep the combustion wave backward to prevent it from advancing into the projectile throat region, thereby stabilizing the combustion-driven shock wave system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical shoulder is used on the projectile, then the projectile structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the combustion wave advances into the projectile throat region causing unstart mechanisms and limiting operational Mach number
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile is divided into distinct sections: a cylindrical shoulder portion and a throat portion with a different cross-sectional area. This segmentation allows the combustion wave to be managed separately from the projectile structure, preventing the wave from advancing into the throat region while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A baffle is introduced as an intermediary element between the combustion chamber and the projectile throat. This baffle prevents the combustion wave from directly advancing into the throat region, stabilizing the combustion process and eliminating unstart mechanisms while allowing the cylindrical shoulder design to be maintained.
2Device complexity
If the projectile rides its own combustion wave without intervention, then the device complexity is low, but the system becomes unstable at high velocities due to unstart mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
A baffle is introduced as an intermediary element between the combustion chamber and the projectile throat. This baffle prevents the combustion wave from directly advancing into the throat region, stabilizing the combustion process and eliminating unstart mechanisms while allowing the cylindrical shoulder design to be maintained.
3Device complexity
If conventional powder-propelled firearms are used, then the device complexity is low, but the projectile velocity is limited due to energy expenditure overcoming friction
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion mechanism is changed from conventional powder propulsion to ram accelerator technology. This involves changing the physical parameters of the propellant (using gaseous propellant instead of solid powder) and the combustion process (combustion pulse acceleration instead of pressure expansion), enabling velocities far greater than conventional firearms while managing energy expenditure more efficiently.
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
This configuration allows for continuous operation without unstarting the projectile, enabling the use of more energetic propellants and increasing thrust by up to double that of conventional ram accelerators, while expanding the operational Mach number envelope.
Implementation Method 1
the projectile compresses and ignites the propellant as it travels through the tube. This results in a combustion pulse being accelerated down the tube
Implementation Method 2
stabilizing the combustion-driven shock wave system
Implementation Method 3
the projectile compresses and ignites the propellant as it travels through the tube
Implementation Method 4
the projectile compresses and ignites the propellant as it travels through the tube. This results in a combustion pulse being accelerated down the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A ram accelerator for accelerating a projectile is provided. The ram accelerator includes a first tube body having a first projectile bore, a second tube body having a second projectile bore axially aligned with the first projectile bore, and a baffle positioned between and operably coupling the first and second tube bodies. The baffle can have an annular baffle wall defining a central bore that is axially aligned with the first and second projectile bores, and a chamber arranged adjacent to the annular baffle wall. The chamber can extend radially outward from the central bore and the annular baffle wall can be configured to sweep a combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile, leading to an unstart mechanism of the projectile in the ram accelerator.