Light Gas Gun

摘要

An improved light gas gun launches a projectile in a light gas atmosphere as it travels through a frictionless barrel to achieve high muzzle velocities, decreased acoustic signatures, and increased ranges. The light gas atmosphere is introduced by a purge valve prior to firing or by a muzzle valve that holds a positive light gas pressure on the barrel and breech. The muzzle valve also routes the majority of propellant gases through a suppression canister, reducing the light gas gun's acoustic signature. The frictionless barrel uses light gas propellant routed through gas bearings to keep the projectile centered in the barrel and preclude the projectile from contacting the barrel walls, eliminating barrel wear. The system includes a projectile assembly that stores light gas from the firing and injects it into the boundary layer, reducing drag, increasing range and lethality, and decreasing acoustic signature of the projectile down range.

主权项

1. A light gas gun, comprising:
a projectile of known shape and caliber, to be fired from said light gas gun; a barrel assembly to receive and guide said projectile with a minimum of friction; a breech assembly to load and hold said projectile until application of light gas; means of providing a quantity of a light gas at a predetermined pressure to sequentially purge said barrel assembly of air and propel said projectile through said barrel assembly using the pressure differential between the forward and rearward ends of said projectile, exiting said light gas gun, thereby discharging said projectile at substantially higher muzzle velocities and with a smaller acoustic signature than standard firearms of the same caliber.