US3054329A - Missile launcher and high velocity gun - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 18, 1962 Filed Feb. 19, 1960 l4 I6 22 20 IO 2 l F. J. WILLIG MISSILE LAUNCHER AND HIGH VELOCITY GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

FRANK J. WILLIG ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 F. J. WILLIG MISSILE LAUNCHER AND HIGH VELOCITY GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1960 INVENTOR. FRANK J. WILLIG BY uz -4L0...

ATTORNEY United Patented Sept. 18, 1962 ire MISSILE LAUNfiJEfllR AND HIGH VELOCITY GUN Frank J. Willig, Washington, D.C., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Feb. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 10,007 6 Claims. (Cl. 89-1) (Granted under Title 35, US. Gide (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to high velocity guns, and more particularly, to such guns firing projectiles to muzzle velocities in the range of 3,000 to 20,000 feet per second.

In the design of long range missiles, an important objective is to provide special structures and materials which will enable the missile or projectile to resist burning up on re-entering the earths atmosphere at high velocity. Experimental firing of small high velocity projectiles and missiles, and observations of their behavior in atmospheres of varying densities, are essential steps in the progress of missile research and comprise one of its major programs. The same general type of experiment is also important in ballistics impact studies where it is of interest to observe the effects of high velocity impact upon both a projectile and a target. The methods devised for firing small projectiles are also useful in other fields. For example, when strata of oil and gas are present in layers above the actual depths to which a casing has been drilled, means are employed to perforate the casing at this level to draw off whatever oil or gas is obtainable at this level. The present invention may be used for this purpose and for punching holes in other objects located below the surface of the earth, or in other inaccessible places. In such instances, it is a requirement that a very high impact be obtained with apparatus of limited physical size.

'In each of the three situations above noted, i.e., firing of long range missiles, experimentations and research with regard to these missiles and the third situation where inaccessible objects, such as oil well casings, are punctured, a diflicul-ty is encountered in providing the required velocities and the necessary acceleration to the projectile in the very short distances that are permissible. Consequently, the projectile or missile and even the gun, if it is built to be light and wieldly, is often shattered at the instant of explosion. Shattering of the projectile or missile destroys its experimental value and shattering of the gun, of course, wastes the effect of the explosion and makes its velocity unobtainable.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simply constructed and inexpensive gun or missile launch er for firing a projectile to very high velocity without shattering the projectile or injuring the gun.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide improved apparatus for the study of re-entry velocities and to provide improved apparatus for the study of high velocity ballistics impact.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a ductile gun barrel or missile tube which can expand or blow up like a balloon without rupturing under the impact of a high explosive charge, cushioning the shock and preventing injury to both the projectile or missile and the firing apparatus itself.

Still another object of the invention is to provide not only a ductile gun barrel which expands but also to provide a device wherein an explosive charge is positioned both inside the gun tube or gun barrel and outside of it and surrounding it, and wherein an explosion is initiated inside the gun barrel, expanding it, then travels to the surrounding explosive charge, collapsing the tube, adding further impact within the tube and adding increased velocities to the projectile.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for punching holes in otherwise inaccessible objects such as oil well casings located below the surface of the earth.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the loaded device before firing.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal cross sections of the device shown in FIG. 1 and showing two subsequent and consecutive stages of its firing.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modification of the invention, showing a multiple gun device for puncturing oil well casings and the like.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in loaded condition and before firing, of another modification of the invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the apparatus of FIG. 5 showing subsequent and consecutive stages of its fin'ng.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-section of a further modification.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to an elongated gun tube or barrel, or missile launching tube. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive this tube has a closed end 12. If circumstances permit, however, and if the tube is of sufiicient length, as for example, in certain recoilless weapons, both ends may be open. A schematic showing of such a device is shown and will be described in connection with FIG. 8. In FIG. 1, the tube or gun barrel 10 is made of ductile material such as lead. An explosive charge 14 is positioned within the tube. In FIG. 1, the charge 14 is shown positioned directly adjacent the closed end 12. A detonator in is disposed in contact with the explosive charge and instead of being placed at the rear of the charge as is the usual practice it is placed at the interface, i.e., the side or face of the charge corresponding to the direction in which the projectile is to be propelled, and at the face of the charge which lies in closest proximity to the projectile. A detonating lead 18 is connected with the detonator 16 and is lead from a detonating device shown at 19 which is located outside of the gun tube and safely removed from it. A projectile 20 is disposed within the tube or gun barrel 10 and is slidably fitted within it. It is positioned spaced away from the charge so that a shock-absorbing chamber 22 is provided between the charge 14 and the projectile 20. The chamber 22 is either left filled with air, or a capsule of Styrofoam or comparable crushable material, is inserted therein for the purpose of supporting the projectile and the charge, and retaining them in place during the interval before firing.

The apparatus may be operated without this spacing chamber. However, the spacing chamber provides greater flexibility in choosing other parameters of the device, since this chamber contributes to lessening of the shock of the explosion, both on the projectile and on the firing device. The positioning of the detonator at the forward face of the charge contributes to the same effect, because the explosion begins at this point and the projectile is started moving before the charge has completely detonated, and before the full explosive force of it is felt by the projectile.

The above-description has been specific to FIG. 1 where the construction of the device is shown with its elements in quiescent position and prior to explosion.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the subsequent stages of firing of the device of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the apparatus is shown just after the charge 14 has been detonated. The forward portion of the charge is already exploding and the rearward portion is still quiescent. The tube or gun barrel has begun to bulge in the neighborhood of the explosion and the projectile has already moved a short distance down the tube.

In FIG. 3, the apparatus is shown at the instant when the projectile emerges from the end of the tube, the instant when its muzzle velocity is acquired. It will be understood that the projectile is easily slidable within the tube and that the ductile lead of the tube tenaciously retains its resistance to expansion. Consequently, after the projectile has gotten its initial impulse, less force is required to keep it accelerating than is required to bulge the tube. It has been found that the tube maintains its tubular shape at any given point until after the rearward end of the projectile has cleared that point.

A schematic showing of another form and use of the device is shown in FIG. 4. The device of FIG. 4 is a capsule or housing which may be lowered into inaccessible tubular areas such as oil well casings located below the surface of the earth. In the oil well industry puncturing of the well casing is common practice when it is desired to tap off a stratified reservoir of gas or oil that may exist at some point at less depth than that to which the well has been bored. In FIG. 4, the numeral refers to a tubular casing or capsule of sufficient diameter to slide within an oil well casing or other similar structure. The capsule 30 is constructed to provide for a plurality of radially disposed lead gun tubes 32. The muzzle ends 34 of the tubes 32 terminate in the outer circumferential wall of the tubular capsule 30, forming open gun muzzle ends therein. The breech ends 36 of the gun tubes 32 are joined so as to form a central chamber 38, which is filled with a charge 40 of high explosive. The detonator 42 may be placed at the center of the charge as shown in FIG. 4 or it may be led in in a plurality of places at the breech end of each gun. The projectiles 44 are so disposed within the tubes 32 that shock-absorbing spaces 46 are provided between the projectiles 44 and the explosive charge located in the central chamber 38. A capsule of Styrofoam or other material possessing suitable characteristics may be used in these spaces but the invention can be practiced without their use. It will be noted that spaces 48 are provided surrounding each gun tube, and that the gun tubes, made of ductile lead or other ductile material, expand under the influence of the explosion in the same manner described above in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In operation, this embodiment has achieved projectile velocities in excess of 3,000 feet per second and up to several times the muzzle velocity that is ordinarily obtained in military ordnance. At such velocities, a projectile generally burns up during extended travel through air. This condition, however, is precisely the result which it is desired to study in connection with re-entry of missiles. In the ballistics impact studies and the oil Well punching, as described above, it is to be noted that the targets in both of these cases are placed contiguous to the muzzle of the gun so that the target is reached and struck before the projectile has time to burn up. The invention works to advantage in this connection by providing the desired velocities in a very short accelerating distance before the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun.

Another modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the projectile is given an additional forward impulse by a charge which is located exteriorly of the gun barrel so that the gun barrel first bulges with the initial impact of the beginning of the explosion and collapses as the explosion reaches the exterior.

FIG. 5 shows this form of the invention in its quiescent position before firing. The projectile 50 is fitting within the breech end of a brass gun or missile tube 52.. A

cylindrical casing member 54, made of ductile lead or other ductile material, is open at both ends and is disposed coaxially with the tube 52 sheathing it at its rearward end. A portion 56 of high explosive charge is fitted within the cylindrical casing member 54. A portion 58 of the charge is distributed around the outside of the ductile tube or casing member 54 covering its end and forming uninterrupted continuity with the charge 56. The explosive cap 58 extends forwardly, sheathing the tube to a point which includes the shock-absorbing chamher 60 which separates the projectile 50 from the explosive charge 56. As desired, a Styrofoam capsule may or may not be used in the chamber 60. It will be noted that the section of the charge 58 which surrounds the tube 54 is also spaced therefrom to provide expansion room therefor. This space 62 in the general use of this invention is filled with Styrofoam for support purposes. The detonator 63 and lead 65 thereto are placed at the forward face of the charge 56. Thus, when the charge is fired, as shown in FIG. 6, the initial operation is similar to that described above in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. That is, the explosion begins at the forward face of the charge and travels through contiguous portions. The tube or casing 54 begins to expand in the initial explosion area and the projectile 50 is started gently on its forward motion. As the explosion proceeds rearwardly through the charge 56, it follows a path as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7 coming around to the exterior of the ductile tube or casing 54 and thereafter proceeding in a forward direction. During the initial explosive impact, the projectile travels a distance down the tube and gains all of the velocity obtainable from this stage of the .explosion. There now comes a time when the outside portion of the charge is detonated crushing in the ductile tube and giving a further boost of impulsion to the projectile.

With this device, muzzle velocities of the order of 10,000 or more feet per second have been obtained and velocities up to 25,000 feet per second appear obtainable.

In the device of FIG. 8, the tube 10, the charge 14, detonator 16, lead in 18, firing device 19' and projectile 20 have the same mode of operation described as their corresponding parts described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Where circumstances permit a longer length of tube, a recoilless device may be achieved by leaving the ends of the tube open. In all other respects the mode of construction and operation of the device of FIG. 8, including a Styrofoam capsule, may be understood by applying the description of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

While the invention is shown and described in connection with several forms for illustrative, rather than restrictive purposes, it is obvious that changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A high velocity missile launcher comprising a ductile, deformable and expansible tube, a missile to be launched located in said ductile tube, a high explosive charge placed within said tube, rearwardly of said missile and spaced therefrom to form a shock-absorbing chamber, a detonator placed contiguous to said high explosive charge and at the forward end thereof, a high explosive charge located exteriorly of said ductile tube covering the rearward end thereof, communicating with the explosive charge within the tube and enclosing said ductile tube in spaced relation thereto through a portion of its length, said enclosed portion including said shock absorbing chamber, whereby said ductile tube will undergo expansion and ballooning during the stage of explosion therewithin, and compression during the interval of explosion outside of said tube.

2. A device for imparting in consecutive stages high velocity to a projectile, said device comprising a gun barrel, a cylindrical casing member surrounding said gun barrel at its rear end, said cylindrical member being expandable beyond its elastic limit and therefor expendable, means located within said gun barrel for simultaneously imparting an initial velocity to said projectile and expanding and ballooning said cylindrical casing in the area to the rear of the projectile at any given instant, said means comprising an explosive charge located within said gun barrel, and means for imparting an additional impulse to said projectile, said last-named means comprising an explosive charge located exteriorly of both said gun barrel and said cylindrical casing member, and having continuity with said first-named explosive charge, means for starting a progressive explosion from the forward face of said first-named charge and traveling rearwardly progressively into said exteriorly located explosive charge so that said cylindrical casing member is first expanded under the influence of the initial stage of the explosion Within said tube, and then collapsed under the impact of the explosion taking place exteriorly of said cylindrical member, the collapse of said cylindrical member giving an added impulse and a final velocity to said projectile.

3. A device for imparting high velocity to a projectile, said device comprising an imperforate expandable and expendable gun barrel, means for imparting forward motion to a projectile placed within said gun barrel and simultaneously expanding said gun barrel in the area to the rear of the location of the projectile at any given instant of its travel, the expansion being of such dimension as to produce ballooning of said gun barrel, said means comprising an explosion charge located to the rear of the projectile, a shock-absorbant chamber located between said projectile and said explosive charge, and a capsule of crushable substance located within said shock-absorbant chamber.

4. A device for imparting high velocity to a projectile, said device comprising an imperforate expansible deformable and expendable gun barrel, means within said gun barrel for imparting initial motion to a projectile placed within said gun barrel and simultaneously expanding said gun barrel in the area to the rear of the location of the projectile at any given instant, the expansion being of such dimensions as to produce ballooning of said gun barrel, said means comprising an explosive charge located in said gun barrel to the rear of said projectile and spaced therefrom, means for igniting said explosive charge, said last name means being located at the interface of said explosive charge and in closest proximity to the said projectile.

5. A device for imparting high velocity to a projectile,

said device comprising an imperforate ductile gun barrel, means within said gun barrel for imparting initial motion and subsequent acceleration to .a projectile placed within said gun barrel and simultaneously expanding and ballooning said ductile gun barrel beyond its elastic limit in the area to the rear of the location of the projectile at any given instant, said means comprising an initial explosion at the interface of an explosive charge located within said gun barrel and to the rear of said projectile, said explosion traveling rearwardly through said explosive charge, thereby imparting added impetus and velocity to said projectile.

6. A high velocity missile launcher comprising a gun barrel, a missile located in said gun barrel and slidable therein, a cylindrical open ended member axially positioned with reference to said gun barrel and encasing the rearward end thereof, said cylindrical member being expendable and capable of expanding beyond its elastic limit without rupture, a high explosive charge disposed in said cylindrical member, said charge having a capshaped extension extending rearwardly to cover the rearward end of said cylindrical member and enclose the exterior area of said cylindrical member throughout its entire extent, a detonator placed contiguous to said high explosive charge and at the forward end thereof, whereby an initial explosion of said high explosive charge propels said missile forwardly in said gun barrel and expands said cylindrical member, and whereby the explosion travels rearwardly to and throughout said cap-shaped high explosive, collapsing said cylindrical member and imparting impetus and increased velocity to said missile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,979 Haskell May 24, 1881 819,834 Zalinski May 8, 1906 1,243,253 Bush Oct. 16, 1917 1,661,091 Riabouchinski Feb. 28, 1928 2,202,887 AlOi June 4, 1940 2,386,686 Hunsdorf Oct. 9, 1945 2,406,089 Martineau Aug. 20, 1946 2,559,275 Brown et al July 3, 1951 2,568,080 McGahey Sept. 18, 1951 2,664,156 Allen Dec. 29, 1953 2,681,701 Schlumberger June 22, 1954 2,866,412 Meyer et al. Dec. 30, 1958 2,981,153 Wilson et al Apr. 25, 1961

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