Recoilless Weapon Gas Flow Control via Projectile-Blocked Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high- and low pressure systems in recoilless weapons face challenges in achieving a balanced expelling of the counter-mass, leading to issues with recoil force, air pressure, and firing range due to rapid or slow gas pressure increases, and the weapons tend to be long and ungainly.
Innovation Solution
A recoilless weapon design with a launch tube, a projectile having an inclined rear part, and a counter-mass with a high pressure propellant chamber inside and a low pressure counter-mass chamber outside the tube, featuring gas openings configured in concentric circles that are successively unblocked by the projectile as it moves, allowing controlled gas flow regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the gas passage is large, then the gas pressure increases fast and the counter-mass is expelled quickly, but this causes too fast expelling of the counter-mass which adversely affects recoil and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The gas passage is segmented into multiple gas openings arranged in at least two concentric circles around the launch tube. This segmentation divides the single large passage into multiple smaller passages, allowing controlled gas flow that prevents too-fast expelling of the counter-mass while maintaining effective propulsion.
2Force
If the gas passage is restricted by reducing the cross flow area, then the gas pressure increases slower and the counter-mass is expelled later, but this causes too slow expelling of the counter-mass which adversely affects firing range
Solution Approach 1:
The gas openings are arranged in at least two concentric circles around the launch tube, utilizing the radial dimension. This multi-dimensional arrangement increases the total gas flow area compared to a single circular passage, allowing sufficient gas flow for adequate firing range while maintaining controlled pressure increase through the distributed opening configuration.
3Force
If the high- and low pressure system is arranged in the launch tube, then the recoil and air pressure are reduced, but the launch tube becomes long and ungainly
Solution Approach 1:
The low pressure part (counter-mass chamber) is arranged outside the launch tube in a coaxial counter-mass tube, while the high pressure part (propellant chamber) remains inside the launch tube. This nested arrangement allows the pressure system to function effectively while keeping the launch tube compact and avoiding excessive length.
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 design achieves a balanced recoil force and air pressure, a compact weapon form, and self-regulation of gas flow and temperature effects, enhancing firing range and reducing recoil forces.
Implementation Method 1
a propellant charge for propelling the projectile and the counter-mass out of the weapon
Implementation Method 2
gas openings between the high pressure part and the low pressure part
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates in general to a recoilless weapon (1) and, in particular to a new high-and low pressure system for recoilless weapons (1). The invention provides a recoilless weapon (1) comprising a launch tube (2) open at muzzle (3) and breech (4) ends thereof, a projectile (5) and a counter mass (6) residing in said recoilless weapon (1), the recoilless weapon (1) further comprises a high pressure part (7) containing a propellant charge (8) for propelling the projectile (5) and the counter mass (6) out of the launch system (1), a low pressure part (9) containing the counter mass (6), a blocking element (16) in the rear part of the launch tube (2) and gas- openings (10) between the high pressure part (7) and the low pressure part (9) The invention is characterized in that the projectile (5) is positioned in a first start position, where the projectile (5) is blocking the gas-openings (10) and where the projectile (5), upon ignition of the propellant charge (8), moves to further positions (12') in the launch tube (2), where the gas-openings, successively, are unblocked by the projectile (5).