Rifled Mortar Launcher for Controlled Aerial Shell Trajectory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pyrotechnic launchers without rifling features result in less controlled and lower flight paths for aerial shells, requiring more propellant and limiting the complexity of effects patterns in fireworks.
Innovation Solution
A pyrotechnic launching system with a launcher body featuring rifled portions, including spiral or helical grooves along its interior surface, which causes aerial shells to spin and rotate, allowing for higher and more controlled flight paths and reducing the amount of propellant needed, while enabling more complex effects patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional smooth-bore launchers are used, then the launcher structure is simple, but the flight path control is poor and flight height is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies rifling grooves with curved spiral paths inside the launcher bore. These curved surfaces guide the aerial shell to rotate along a controlled trajectory, improving flight path precision and height while maintaining a relatively simple cylindrical launcher structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The launcher bore is segmented into multiple rifling grooves rather than being a single smooth surface. This segmentation creates multiple contact points that collectively guide and control the shell's rotation and flight path, achieving better control without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional smooth-bore launchers are used, then the launcher requires more propellant, but the propellant capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rifling grooves create a rotating motion that generates centrifugal force and stabilizes the shell's flight. This mechanical rotation improves aerodynamic efficiency and reduces propellant consumption by maintaining a more stable trajectory, allowing the limited propellant capacity to achieve greater height and duration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional smooth-bore launchers are used, then the launcher is simple to manufacture, but the effects patterns are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral rifling grooves create controlled rotation that enables complex aerial shell trajectories and patterns. This curved geometry allows for diverse effects patterns while the grooves can be manufactured using standard machining techniques, maintaining reasonable ease of manufacture.
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 rifled launcher system achieves up to 15% less propellant usage, allowing for increased flight height and control, and enables the creation of complex effects patterns in fireworks that would otherwise be impossible with standard launchers.
Implementation Method 1
The launcher body can include one or more rifled portions or rifling features defined along the interior surface of the launcher body. The rifled portion(s) can comprise one or more grooves or channels defined about the interior surface of the launcher body. The one or more grooves or channels can be arranged in a spiral or helical pattern, for example, at least partially along the interior surface of the launcher body. In one aspect, the grooves or channels may cause the aerial shell(s) to spin or rotate as the aerial shell(s) moves along the launcher body during launching/firing thereof.
Implementation Method 2
The interior chamber of the lift portion can at least partially receive a lift charge or propellant operable to generate combustion gases that force or propel the aerial shell(s) along and out of the launcher body and which aerial shell(s) can proceed upward, e.g. to a predetermined height.
Data Source
AI summary
A fireworks launcher assembly can include a sleeve having a cavity defined therethrough, and a firing tube at least partially received within in the cavity of the sleeve. The firing tube can comprising a passage defined therethrough and plurality of rifling features defined about an interior surface thereof. The plurality of rifling features can cause one or more aerial shells loaded into and launched from the firing tube to rotate as the one or more aerial shells move along the firing tube during launching thereof. A wadding insert further can be received at least partially within the passage of the firing tube, and a base portion can be connected to a lower end of the firing tube to maintain the launching assembly in a generally upright orientation before, during, and/or after launching of the one or more aerial shells therefrom.